489 yards and 11 touchdowns.
For a prep running back, those are numbers just about anyone would be rather pleased with over a month-plus of action. Through half of a regular season, that would be nearly 100 yards and two touchdowns a game. Nice work.
For Malachi Dabney, however, that’s just the past two weeks of postseason action for a sophomore back whose star has risen.
Last week, it was 35 attempts for 219 yards and five touchdowns in a 69-41 quarterfinal win over No. 2 Airline.
Two weeks ago, it was 26 carries for 270 yards and six touchdowns in Destrehan’s 63-21 win over Northwood in round two.
Destrehan – not when it was 2-3, and not now – was ever looking at 2024 as a retooling or rebuilding season. As it takes aim at its ninth straight win this Friday night, the Wildcats and their dominating running game are serving notice that this is the time of year that great programs rise to the top. The Wildcats have an eye squarely on a second state championship in three seasons.
To get there, Destrehan will have to go through the same team the Wildcats defeated for their 2022 state crown and another program used to winning, and winning, and winning in November and December: the Ruston Bearcats. Third-seeded Ruston will host No. 10 Destrehan in a Division I non-select state semifinal matchup. The winner moves on to the Superdome.
This is a matchup of the past two state champions in Division I non-select.
In 2022, these teams battled in a classic state final, with Jai Eugene’s game-winning 29-yard touchdown run the deciding points in a 17-10 victory, cementing an undefeated season for Destrehan.
Last season, Ruston was the team celebrating at season’s end, a 31-17 winner over Zachary in the state championship game.
Ruston (10-2) reached the semifinals this season by going through Zachary, 42-21, in round two and Southside, 49-7, in the quarterfinals. The Bearcats earned a bye in round one.
Just as Destrehan (10-3) has set a physical tone up front in its postseason run, Ruston prides itself on doing that exact thing as well. This is a team that establishes the run and looks to grind opponents into dust.
And a big part of that comes in the form of quarterback Josh Brantley, who can certainly throw the ball with proficiency but also is a big and physical runner at 6’4, 215 pounds. He rushed for 37 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s win over Southside, to go along with 158 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
Ahmad Hudson (two receptions for 52 yards) and Darius James (two for 66) were his top receivers in that game.
But a week after Thanksgiving, Destrehan can expect quite a large serving of Ruston’s dynamic running back duo of Jordan Hayes and Dylone Brooks. Hayes, nicknamed “Jet,” brings a big play element – he scored on an 80-yard run last week. Brooks, meanwhile, is a bruising power runner.
Defensively, Ruston boasts some playmakers. Aidan Anding is an LSU committed defensive back. Zheric Hill is a tackling machine in the middle of the defense and a Louisiana Tech commitment. The Bearcats are seemingly always stingy defensively at this time of year – it finished the regular season with two consecutive shutouts, and has allowed just 21 total points in the playoffs.
It was noted above that strong programs win in November and December: and these are those such programs, through and through. Destrehan will play in its ninth semifinal in 12 seasons on Friday. Ruston has reached at least the quarterfinal round seven years in a row. Ruston has won nine state championships, Destrehan five.
It’s no wonder, then, that these teams have played one another several times in the playoffs.
Destrehan has had Ruston’s number in recent years. In addition to the 2022 state championship, the Wildcats eliminated Ruston in 2020 and 2021. In all three games, defenses stood tall. In 2021, Destrehan beat Ruston 24-10 at Destrehan. In 2020, it was a 6-0 slugfest in the rain, with Tyler Morton’s scoop and score of a fumble the night’s only points.
While Dabney and the Destrehan offensive line have dominated this postseason, the Wildcats’ passing game has thrived as well. Jackson Fields has been razor sharp this postseason when called upon.
Last week, the junior passer completed 14 of 17 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown. Jabari Mack was his top receiver with five catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. Against Northwood, Fields was 9-for-13 for 130 yards and two touchdowns. And in the opening round against Ouachita Parish, Fields was 19-for-26 for 266 yards and three touchdowns.
