It’s that time of year for Destrehan.
The Wildcats (8-3) have won six straight, including last week’s opening round 30-12 win over Ouachita Parish. With a win this Friday night, the Wildcats can advance to the Division I non-select quarterfinals – and enjoy some Thanksgiving donuts next week, a tradition for a program quite accustomed to playing the final week of November.
But it won’t be easy – a long road trip awaits to Shreveport as No. 10 seeded Destrehan prepares to lock up with No. 7 seed Northwood.
Northwood is 10-1 this season and winners of seven in a row. The Falcons have been one of the highest scoring teams in Louisiana, with nine performances of 40 points or more – including last week’s opening round win over Salmen, 54-27.
The program has taken a big step forward in 2024, after a 2023 season that saw the team finish 5-5 with an opening round loss to Rummel in the postseason.
Quarterback Jaxon Bentzler is a first-year quarterback for the Falcons who converted from tight end; he’s clearly a quick study, given the consistency and explosiveness the Northwood offense has displayed.
“He’s a good athlete who can throw it and run it,” said Destrehan head coach Marcus Scott. “We’ve got to do what we can to contain him.”
The featured playmaker in this offense is junior running back Kyran Johnson. The Falcons get it to him early and often, and against Salmen that gameplan resulted in 204 yards over his 32 carries. A week prior against Loyola College Prep, Johnson rushed for 184 yards. He will also line up at wide receiver and gives a defense lots to prepare for.
“They can really present some problems,” Scott said. “They have a very strong run game and they lean on it heavily with their backs and their quarterback. They’ll run play-action and get into the screen game off of that, but for the most part, they’re running their gap scheme and work from there.”
Defensively, Northwood likes to largely operate from a base 3-4 and looks to limit big plays.
The trip to Shreveport will be the longest postseason journey in the Scott era – Acadiana in Lafayette was the previous longest. Shreveport is nearly five hours away from Destrehan.
But, as fate would have it, this Wildcats team has some useful travel experience for this instance – while not quite as far as Shreveport, Destrehan’s week 3 trip to Alexandria offered something to call back on, Alexandria about three hours away.
“The biggest difference is where and when do we stop and do a walkthrough,” said Scott of the difference a long trip like this makes to the usual routine. “Where you’re gonna eat … those kinds of things. Otherwise, the same framework is in place.”
The biggest challenge, he said, is keeping it from becoming a distraction.
“When you’re packing, unloading things, and dealing with a lot of variables, it can tend to distract people from the goal,” Scott said. “The challenge is keeping your mental focus when you’re out of routine.”
THE WRIGHT STUFF – Phillip Wright III’s imprint was on Friday night’s 30-12 victory over Ouachita Parish, as the LSU commit hauled in three catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.
He’s had a knack for coming through with big plays in big games. But even when he’s not catching the ball, Wright’s difference-making speed makes everything easier for quarterback Jackson Fields and the Wildcats’ offense as a whole.
“When you have a Phillip Wright on the field, teams are forced to play you differently and respect his speed,” Scott said. “The beauty of it is now your guys, all of them, can work east and west with more space, with that threat out there on the perimeter any time they go in motion.”
MACK ATTACK – It was another monster game for Jabari Mack, who kicked off the playoffs in style with two touchdown receptions – and 12 catches in total.
Mack piled up 127 yards on his 12 catches, ran four times for 15 yards and even completed a pass – yes, another one – to Wright for 38 yards.
