A slow offensive start for Destrehan led to a hole the Wildcats could not dig out of in a 31-21 loss at Zachary Friday night.
Zachary led 17-7 at halftime. That lead was extended to 24-7 with 3:57 left in the third quarter on quarterback Jakori Platt’s 2-yard touchdown run, the first in a flurry of scores to end the third quarter.
It took just a little over a minute for Destrehan to respond. Aushai Smith got loose on a long run which set up a Malachi Dabney 2-yard touchdown run out of the Wildcat formation to make it 24-14.
Tylek Lewis punched in a score to put Zachary (6-3) back ahead by 17, 31-14, after a long reception by Ethan Kimmie from Platt set up the Broncos inside the DHS 10.
Smith cut the lead to 10 on a touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter, but Destrehan could draw no closer.
Destrehan head football coach Marcus Scott said it was a disappointing outcome, in particular due to some redzone possessions that the Wildcats were not able to convert on. That, he said, echoed a similar issue in Destrehan’s only other loss this season in Week 2 to St. Augustine.
“We had opportunities two different times in the redzone and didn’t convert. That was probably the difference in the game,” said Scott. “Whenever you have chances with a short field, you have to come away with seven.”
Scott credited a balanced attack from the Zachary offense for keeping the Destrehan defense on its heels.
“They had a steady dose of run and then they were able to hit over the top with Kimmie on a post route,” said Scott.
“Tonight was disappointing because the last time we lost, it was three opportunities against St. Aug inside the 10-yard line that we didn’t get points from, and tonight was a similar story.”
Destrehan’s first touchdown came on a 35-yard run by Smith, tying the game 7-7 in the second quarter.
Destrehan (7-2) remained a top 4 ranked team in power points following the loss, while Zachary climbed to 8 from 10. Destrehan ranked second before the game.
