
Before the season, Destrehan head coach Marcus Scott noted the versatility of junior wide receiver Jabari Mack, who he said was capable of playing each skill position on offense.
Mack proved his coach right on Friday night – and also that he could do even more.
He threw what proved to be the game-winning touchdown pass to Greg Wilfred deep down the field late in the fourth quarter of Destrehan’s dramatic 46-42 victory over Captain Shreve (4-3) Friday night at Wildcat Stadium, then minutes later recorded a tackle behind the line of scrimmage at the DHS 3-yard line, sealing a stop and saving the game as time ran out on the Gators.
As quarterback in the Wildcat formation on fourth and five at midfield on Destrehan’s final offensive possession, he took the snap, ran right – then rose up and fired down field to a wide open Greg Wilfred, who scored with just over three minutes left to give the Wildcats (4-3) the lead.
“Really, right before, I felt like I missed a big game-changing catch,” said Mack, who wasn’t able to come down with a contested ball on the third down prior. “My coaches still felt they could put their trust in me to get it to Greg, and I couldn’t let them down … that’s something we practiced on.”
Destrehan head coach Marcus Scott called Mack a special talent.
“He’s so versatile,” Scott said. “He can impact the game at different positions. A lot of people can line up in different places, but the impact is minimal. He can change the game from different places.”
Mack posted a rare trifecta – he finished the game with more than 50 yards passing, 50 yards rushing and 50 yards receiving. His rushing numbers were quite a bit higher than that, with 7 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown.
This was a significant win on several levels for Destrehan. A slow start through an injury-riddled early season saw DHS push its way to a trio of victories, but fall short in its chances to score a signature win – most notably a dramatic, close loss to Catholic-Baton Rouge to begin the season.
This time, Destrehan came through in the clutch against one of the state’s most talented teams. Shreve was coming off of a 77-76 win over Evangel in overtime a week earlier and a 69-68 loss to Airline the week before that. The first of those wins captured national attention and set some national prep records as well.
Scott called Captain Shreve’s offense likely the best he’s coached against throughout his career. The Wildcats, nevertheless, went blow for blow – and got the defensive stop when it had to.
“It’s been very upbeat,” Scott said of team meetings and practice since the victory. “It’s always like that after a close win. And it was something that we needed. We’d been in a couple of tight games in Catholic and Terrebonne … to get this one, and win at the end on a goal line stand, it was a pretty special moment.”
Next up, Destrehan looks to make it three in a row as it welcomes Central Lafourche to Wildcat Stadium.
Central Lafourche has already won more games this season than last – the Trojans won a single game in 2023. The 2024-win total equals the program’s combined 3-wins over the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Jeremy Cleveland is the team’s starting quarterback, and he’s experienced. The team has a deep group of running backs and the offensive line has a lot of size.
There’s a powerful runner behind that line, too. Zacchaeus McNabb is 6’0, 240 lbs., and plays both offense and defense. He doubles as the team’s middle linebacker.
“They have a good quarterback in that spread attack, and some very capable skill guys,” said Scott, who noted McNabb as a standout. “He’s a versatile player and he’s effective in the run game (and as a pass receiver).
Nose guard Damoz Price is tough to move on the inside of the line, and defensive ends Victor Ellison and Johntras Payne are disruptive as well.
But McNabb impacts the game in a big way in the middle of that defense, just as he does on offense.
“He has a way of controlling things. They trust him to do a lot of different things and he plays a major role in their operation. Everyone there feeds off his energy and they go as he goes,” Scott said.
BREAKING THROUGH – Sophomore rusher Malachi Dabney had a sensational night to pace the Wildcats’ offense. Dabney rushed 14 times for 241 yards and four touchdowns – including one on the very first play from scrimmage. It was a huge breakout game for the talented sophomore running back.
Dabney wasn’t expected to play such a large role early this season, with the return of senior back Shane Ward, but an injury to Ward left the Wildcats in need of players to step up in the backfield. Dabney has been one of those, and Friday was the result of his continued progress week after week.
“We’ve asked a lot of him, as well as Tony Crump, as sophomore backs,” said Scott. “We’ve seen the things (Dabney) can do with the ball since middle school. He’s such a young kid, skills still so raw, and he has huge upside … he seeing the holes develop a lot faster now. A lot of time, young kids with talent can just beat people around the edge and get away with it (before high school). At this level, you have to be able to follow your blockers and make the correct cuts.”
ALL IN – Scott stressed above all else that Friday’s win was the epitome of a full team effort. For sure, there were major contributors up and down the Destrehan lineup.
Myd Gilbert made 17 tackles – including two for loss – adding to a monster defensive season. He also broke up a pass. Phillip Wright III had four catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Wilfred hauled in 57 receiving yards and the game winning score, his 55-yarder from Mack. Jackson Fields completed 8 of 13 passes with 163 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions. Johnnie Thiel had an interception to go with six tackles.