With a roller coaster ride of a game tied at 28 with 10 seconds left, and the eyes of seemingly all of St. Charles Parish focused on the field, Bradley Quinn came through for his team. The first-year Destrehan kicker’s 27-yard field goal attempt was true with seven seconds left, lifting the Wildcats to their fifth consecutive victory over archrival Hahnville, 31-28 in a wild District 7-5A opener for both teams.
“What a tremendous effort by both teams,” Destrehan coach Stephen Robicheaux said. “There wasn’t a loser here tonight, both teams played extremely well. Coach Salt had an unbelievable gameplan. He hurt us where they needed to. You’ve gotta have (heart) and be able to win these kinds of games. For a first-year kicker to make that field goal, it’s truly amazing. It’s really something else.”
Destrehan led 14-0 at halftime, but Hahnville scored 28 second half points to turn this one into a classic.
Both teams suffered critical injuries throughout the night. Hahnville temporarily lost its most dangerous offensive threat, Anthony Williams, who injured his shin early in the game and missed almost the entire first half. He returned after halftime to make several key plays.
Destrehan, meanwhile, lost quarterback Kohen Granier to an apparent leg injury late in the first half after the quarterback attempted to make a tackle on an interception return by Hahnville’s Elgin Collins. He did not return, watching the second half on crutches from the sideline. He was replaced by sophomore J.R. Blood, who came up big in several clutch situations down the stretch.
“We think (Blood) is going to be special and the future is real bright for him,” Robicheaux said. “We feel we can win a lot of games with him in there. He’s working hard every day and he came up big for us tonight.”
Hahnville struggled to move the ball without Williams in the first half but found its groove after halftime. A deep pass from Austin Perrin to Jamel Byrd drew a pass interference call, setting up Devonte Clark for a 17-yard touchdown run off tackle to make it 14-7.
On Destrehan’s next drive, it drove into HHS territory before the Tigers defense held on a fourth and one play, Blood’s pass over the middle intended for Mike Young incomplete. Hahnville capitalized on the momentum wave when Williams popped off a big run to the Destrehan 9. On fourth-and-5 from the 9, Perrin pulled the ball down and scrambled in for a game-tying score.
Destrehan took the lead again on Blood’s third-and-13 pass down the seam to Kristian Mosley, who made a juggling reception and was off to the races for a 46-yard score to push the Wildcats ahead 21-14.
But there was Williams again for Hahnville on the next drive, making four consecutive runs of seven yards or more and setting up Perrin for a 1-yard sneak for a touchdown. The extra point attempt was no good, so Destrehan retained the lead.
The teams traded blows in the fourth, just as they had in the third. John Emery scored on a 51-yard run to lift Destrehan again, this time to a 28-20 advantage. But Hahnville responded instantly. Williams made a spectacular run, reversing field in the backfield to gain 15 yards, and a facemask penalty set up Cade Miguez’s 30-yard touchdown run to pull HHS within two. Perrin’s 2-point pass to Williams tied the game.
Blood stepped up for Destrehan, converting two third downs with passes to Quinton Torbor and then scrambling to buy time before finding Mike Young open deep at the Hahnville 10. But the Tigers blocked a fourth down field goal attempt took over at midfield.
Hahnville couldn’t take advantage as the offense stalled. After an HHS punt, Blood connected with Torbor and Kendrick Lea to help move his team into Hahnville territory. A 15-yard run by Mosley followed by a 7-yarder by Emery set Destrehan up at the Hahnville 10 with 10 seconds left. Quinn took care of the rest.
Williams finished the night with 110 yards on 12 carries.
“We thought he actually broke his tibia, but he’s tough as a $2 steak,” Hahnville coach Nick Saltaformaggio said. “He’s a great, great player.
“We’ve got to find ways to win these games,” he added. “We’re better than a 2-2 football team, but we have to keep working and building our program.”
Destrehan’s Justin Jefferson was named the Great Rivalry Series game MVP after hauling in 158 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions.
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