Week 1 of the 2020 season.
That’s the last time – and only time – the Marcus Scott-led Destrehan Wildcats lost a regular season game, in Scott’s very first game as DHS head coach.
But Destrehan isn’t afraid to put that streak on the line – that much is clear as DHS begins the season with the kind of super-marquee matchup generally reserved for later season fare in the prep ranks.
The Wildcats welcome visiting Catholic-Baton Rouge for a titanic matchup of championship programs. Catholic is the defending Division I Select champion, going 12-2 last season, including a dominant 55-31 victory over Acadiana in the Superdome to seal the deal. Catholic dominated in that championship game, scoring on eight of nine possessions, in a way rarely seen against a program of Acadiana’s stature.
This will be a different Catholic team, after the departure of key players including star quarterback Daniel Beale, who led the program to wins in two different trips to the state championship round. But this remains a very talented group nonetheless.
This game, of course, pits a defending 2023 champion against a team just one season removed from its own championship, Destrehan’s 14-0 campaign in 2022, and a DHS squad that’s lost just once in the past two seasons.
“We both had trouble finding games,” said Destrehan head coach Marcus Scott. “They had multiple (open dates) and we had a couple too. We were able to match up on this one. It’s certainly a more high-profile game than we’d normally play at this point, but it’s a good thing. You play against talented, well-coached football teams and I think it only makes you better.
“This is the only way you find out who you really are and make adjustments and improvements – to face people who can push you to the limit. These games show you what you have to fix and how far you have to go.”
Destrehan quarterback Jackson Fields was among Louisiana’s most prolific passers last season, and he has an armory of returning weapons in the passing game: Johnnie Thiel IV, Jabari Mack, Greg Wilfred and Phillip Wright III all return in the wide receiving corps. This game figures to be one of the stiffest tests for that passing game, as Catholic’s secondary duo of brothers Jacob and Blaine Bradford are among the stars on a loaded roster.
At quarterback, Catholic will likely show a couple of different looks – Baylor Graves and Turner Goldsmith are talented players who should both see action if preseason play is an indication.
“Both guys can hurt you,” Scott said.
The Catholic running game historically presents a challenge for any defense, and the offensive line, Scott said, is a typical Bears line – “they’re always strong, and they’re strong across the board.”
This game will see two of the state’s strongest wide receiver corps take the field, featuring Amari Clayton, Chase Cathey and Cohen LeBlanc. Clayton has size at 6’2 and is a state champion track star who ran anchor in Catholic’s 4×400 state relay championship squad.
Defensively, Scott said the Bears are sound up and down the lineup. The secondary is stout, led by the Bradford brothers.
“They are exceptional players,” Scott said. “They have several returning starters and we know they play at a very high level.”
One tough blow Destrehan will have to deal with: the loss of senior running back Shane Ward, by far the team’s most experienced rusher. Ward suffered a preseason injury and Scott said he will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
In his stead, sophomore Malachi Dabney started the jamboree and the Wildcats are high on his potential, as they are on another young rusher, Tony Crump. Both players will see time, along with Damien Richard, who moved to cornerback from running back over the offseason, and Mack, who the coaching staff already planned to mix in at running back in addition to his starting receiver role.
“We’ll do it be committee,” Scott said. “We try to cross train as many of our kids as possible (at different positions) just for situations like this.”
DESTREHAN 7, LUTCHER 3 – This was a defensive slugfest as two of the state’s premier programs matched up for one final tune up for the regular season.
Destrehan came out the home field victor in this jamboree exhibition, courtesy of a Jackson Fields rushing score on the Wildcats’ final drive of the night.
Fields’ touchdown capped a drive that saw Destrehan take over with two minutes left and no time outs.
That play was set up by a 30-yard completion from Fields to Johnnie Thiel IV – including an impressive catch and run that saw Thiel cut to the inside and rack up extra yards after the catch.
“You want to see your kids in situations that will come up during the season, so it’s great to see us get the ball back with two minutes left, no time outs and go down and score,” said Scott. “Lutcher’s a very tough opponent as well and we got better from it. I was proud of our guys.”
