(EDITOR’S NOTE: This week’s game has been rescheduled to be played Sunday, Sept. 15, at noon, due to Hurricane Francine. Hahnville’s Week 2 game with McMain has been cancelled.)
This week represents some rather unfamiliar territory for Destrehan.
In a classic prep game – played in some memorably rough weather conditions – the Wildcats fell in a regular season game for the first time since Week 1 of 2020. That represented a 33-game regular season winning streak snapped by Catholic-Baton Rouge, the defending Division I select state champions.
Amari Clayton’s long reception inside the Destrehan 5-yard line set up Jayden Miles for the game-winning touchdown run in a 23-20 Bears victory on a very rainy night at Wildcat Stadium.
For the first time since 2020, Destrehan must shake off a loss and return to action a week later.
“It’s a tough deal. They’re not used to being in that situation,” Destrehan head coach Marcus Scott said. “But (Monday) we had a team meeting and the main focus was on acknowledging the things we need to improve on. When you lose a game, there are several reasons why, not just one.”
The game was a matchup of state champions of the past two seasons, with Destrehan’s crown in Division I non-select in 2022, and lived up to the hype – even if those fans braving the elements had to wait a little longer than usual to see its conclusion.
The heavy rain on Friday caused portions of the Wildcat Stadium field turf to bubble up, leading to a delay – and uncertainty as to whether this battle of top contenders would conclude that night. But after a long halftime, the field issue subsided and the surface was safe to play on once again.
“It was kind of a weird time for everyone because when we have a lightning delay, we know based on the timing of the strikes how long we actually have to wait,” said Scott. “We didn’t know here. We just had to keep the kids in it mentally during the delay.”
Destrehan led 14-0 in the first half and 14-8 at halftime.
Once the third quarter began, Catholic quickly took the lead. Sam Norman’s interception of Jackson Fields led to CHS driving down to the DHS 2. Baylor Graves took the snap and powered in to push his Bears ahead by 1, 15-14.
Destrehan answered, their ensuing drive capped by a Jackson Fields 2-yard touchdown run – utilizing the “push” play made famous by the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. That run made it 20-15.
With less than four minutes left in the game, Catholic forced a Destrehan punt. The Bears quickly faced a fourth and five – essentially with the game on the line. Miles took the carry to the right side and Destrehan surged to meet him near the line to gain for the first down.
A measurement was required – and it was very close. Catholic got the first down by a nose.
“I thought we had them stopped, and that didn’t happen,” Scott said. “We had to continue on. (Catholic) made some plays at the end and it was a great effort by those kids.”
Time was running down. Catholic had approximately 90 seconds to drive from midfield, in conditions not conducive to passing.
But with less than a minute left, Graves heaved the ball down the left sideline – and found Amari Clayton, whose falling catch set Catholic up at Destrehan’s 5-yard line with less than 30 seconds left.
Miles took the ball on the handoff and scored to lift Catholic to a 23-20 lead after the Bears added the two-point conversion with 18 seconds left. Catholic recovered the ensuing short kickoff and kneeled out the rest of the clock.
This week, Destrehan looks to get back to its winning ways as it hosts Bonnabel at Wildcat Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The two teams have been frequent early season opponents, facing off in each of the past three seasons as well as in 2019 – a scheduled 2021 matchup was cancelled due to Hurricane Ida.
Destrehan has won each of those four meetings, including a 48-7 win at home last season. Bonnabel went 4-7 last season, falling in round one of the Division I select playoffs.
This will be head coach Dwayne Thomas’ second game with the team, after succeeding former Bonnabel coach B.J. Cohen. In his playing days, Thomas starred for LSU under then-head coach Les Miles, recording 110 tackles, 16.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks, 21 pass breakups, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in his Tigers’ career.
Last week, Bonnabel won its opener 23-0 over Sophie B. Wright.
“They’ve got a new coach in his first year there, so there’s not a whole lot we have to go on besides the film (of the past few weeks),” Scott said.
Samage Robinson is one player who’s caught Scott’s attention. Robinson plays on both sides of the ball, primarily at wide receiver and cornerback.
“He’s probably their best all-around player,” Scott said.
Scott added that overall, Bonnabel boasts some dangerous skill position players in addition to Robinson.
Running back Brandon Lewis was an All-District selection last season and is back in 2024.
This is a very fast defensive team, Scott noted.
“They have a lot of speed and they mix up coverages – they play both man and zone, and they fly to the ball with that speed,” Scott said.
