The Destrehan Wildcats made a statement Friday night by running all over East St. John in a 68-14 victory. With the win, the Wildcats advance to the quarterfinals of the Class 5A playoffs where they will face parish rival Hahnville.
It was the second time Destrehan has beaten East St. John in the last three weeks. Last time the two teams faced off, East St. John stormed out to a 14-0 lead before the Wildcats regrouped to win 28-14. This time, Destrehan scored on the first play of the game and never looked back as they cruised to the win.
After East St. John squibbed the opening kickoff, Destrehan’s Kirk Merritt raced down the left sideline for a 55-yard score on the first play from scrimmage. The Wildcats fed off the momentum, with Brandon Scott blocking an ESJ punt later in the quarter to give his offense the ball at the ESJ 31-yard line.
A play later, Destrehan running back Will Matthews rushed for a 31-yard score to put the Wildcats up 14-0 with 3:29 remaining in the opening quarter.
Destrehan’s offense stayed hot to start the second quarter, with quarterback Kohen Granier finding a wide open Merritt for a 59-yard score. Two minutes later, Destrehan kicker Randy Harvey nailed a 27-yard field goal to put the Wildcats up 24-0 with 9:17 left until the half.
Destrehan rotated quarterbacks throughout the first half and Marquise Darensbourg got a touchdown pass of his own when he connected with Alfred Smith for a 38-yard score.
A few minutes later, the Wildcats struck again when Matthews rumbled up the middle for 33 yards to put Destrehan up 38-0.
East St. John got on the board just before half when quarterback Xavier Lewis, who missed much of the first half after sustaining an injury, threw a 19-yard touchdown to Shedrick Colbert. However, ESJ couldn’t come up with the two-point conversion and trailed 38-6 heading into the third quarter.
East St. John inched closer in the third with a 48-yard touchdown, but Destrehan fired back, with Darensbourg finding John Williams for a 59-yard score to give the Wildcats a 45-14 lead.
Destrehan scored again on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Darensbourg to Tramaine Armstrong, got a safety and ended the 68-14 rout with a 33-yard fumble return for a touchdown by linebacker Kalen Brown.
Destrehan will host Hahnville on Friday, Nov. 28. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Click here to view pictures from the Destrehan vs. East St. John game.
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