After absorbing its first loss of the season last week, Destrehan took the field at Fighting Wildcats Stadium Friday night set on turning the page.
It didn’t take the Wildcats long to do so.
Destrehan led 14-0 just five minutes into play and all but put things away in the first quarter as it rolled to a 56-12 victory to move its record to 2-1 on the season.
Coryan Armstrong and Jaylan Ash each scored two touchdowns – one on a reception and another on a kickoff return. The senior wide receiver said he and his teammates were more than ready to get back on the field following last Friday night’s loss to St. Augustine.
“We had a bad taste in our mouth from last week,” Ash said. “We knew we’ve gotta come out, play fast, fix our mistakes from last week and then keep building on that.”
Destrehan head football coach Marcus Scott concurred.
“The main thing was just to get out and play after not finishing the way we wanted to last week,” said Scott. “Our focus was just to come out and get back on track.”
Destrehan’s Malachi Dabney scored on a 54-yard run. Aushai Smith threw three touchdown passes, and backup quarterback Denham Ellsworth scored two rushing touchdowns. Tony Crump added another rushing score.
West Jefferson’s Curnell Cole accounted for both of his team’s touchdowns, the Buccaneers quarterback scoring twice on runs.
Destrehan led 42-0 at halftime, and the second half was played with a running clock.
West Jefferson (0-3( began the second half with a pair of touchdowns, though, and DHS led 42-12. After the second of Cole’s two touchdown runs, the Buccaneers kicked off – Ash fielded the kick and was off to the races.
“It felt amazing. That was the first kick return (for a touchdown) in a long time here, so it felt really special,” Ash said. “I didn’t think he was going to kick it to me, but I got it and I made a play.”
His first score put the Wildcats ahead 14-0 early in the first quarter. After a long gain by Landyn Dugas set Destrehan up at the West Jefferson 1, Smith dialed up Ash for the score.
It’s been a growing connection between Ash and Smith, who is in his first season as Destrehan’s starting quarterback.
“We’ve just been working throughout the whole summer. After last week, we realized we really have to stay connected and keep building that bond that we have,” said Ash. “And it’s just going to get better and better throughout the season.”
Destrehan’s first team defense allowed no points on Friday. Scott noted the defense’s play early on allowed the Wildcats to take advantage of field position early on in Friday’s game, and ultimately take control of it.
