Game of the Year: For locals, DHS v. HHS just means more

HHS' Stephen Cloud
HHS' Stephen Cloud

For one Friday night each year, St. Charles Parish is the center of Louisiana’s prep football universe.

And that Friday night just so happens to come this week.

Destrehan is set to travel to Hahnville at 7 p.m. tomorrow night to settle the score once again in what’s been long established as the most heated rivalry in the River Parishes, and is among the most heated in the state.

“To beat Destrehan, that would mean everything to our school and to our community,” Hahnville offensive lineman Drew Jones said. “Coming off a loss, we’ve got to come back and win. There’s going to be a lot of people here to watch, that’s for sure. All around school, everyone knows, it’s Destrehan week.”

The Wildcats (3-0) have won three straight games in the series, the last two coming in 2014, as Destrehan bested Hahnville 24-6 in the regular season and then 24-12 in the Class 5A quarterfinals. Before that three-game streak, Hahnville (2-1) bested Destrehan four straight times. Destrehan leads the all-time series 38-22-4.

While this will be the 65th time the teams have clashed, however, the most important game is always in the here and now for two teams always casting an eye toward a championship run. It will be the District 7-5A opener for the two teams.

“It’s a giant of a game, it really is,” Hahnville coach Nick Saltaformaggio said. “Even though it’s only my second year through it, that’s known throughout the state. It’s a shame we didn’t play well (last week against Riverside), because if both teams were 3-0 coming into this week, I think it would be looked at as even bigger.

“I think our football team this year is a bit better than our team last year. Destrehan is still Destrehan. They beat us 24-6, and then 24-12. There’s a gap there, obviously, that we still have to close.”

Saltaformaggio said the game is a measuring stick for his program, and said that Destrehan has set a standard of excellence over the years that he hopes the Tigers can soon emulate.

“Those guys have won 23 regular season games in a row,” Saltaformaggio said. “And outside of a couple of those games, man, in 21 of the 23, they’ve just smashed people. That has a lot to do with talent and coaching, but ultimately, I think a lot of that really has to do with the program and what they’ve established. Our program (under Saltaformaggio) is 18 games in. With (Robicheaux), it’s over a decade. This is a way for us to measure how far along our program is, up against an established program like a Destrehan.”

Saltaformaggio said that his team’s biggest concern is to find a consistent way to generate offense. The Tigers scored 62 points through its first two games after struggling offensively during the preseason, but scored just seven against Riverside last week.

“If we had any kind of consistency in our running game, our passing game, we’d be 3-0 right now,” Saltaformaggio said. “But I live in reality, and the reality is we haven’t been a truly good offensive football team in my 18 games here. We’ll have a gameplan, and we’ll have to execute it Friday. We haven’t done that yet this season.”

Some teams have shied away from running at a Destrehan defensive line featuring Glen Logan, Gerald Wilbon and Jaece Stroud, the former two seniors headed to LSU and Texas, respectively, and the latter a junior in the midst of a red-hot start to the season.  Saltaformaggio said that abandoning the run simply isn’t an option for Hahnville.

“No bones about it, we’re going to run the football,” Saltaformaggio said. “The question is, can we do it effectively? A lot of that comes down to our play calls, what formations we run out of, and ultimately our execution.”

While Destrehan lost a number of star players off last season’s state finalist, the Wildcats have won each of their three pre-district games by double figures, a combined 115-48.

“It’s no accident,” said Saltaformaggio. “When you lose an Alfred Smith and a Kirk Merritt,  but you bring back John Williams, add (Justin) Jefferson and then Tyler Addison from Newman, those guys are exceptional at the skill positions.

“It’s a different animal than Riverside from a few standpoints. Riverside had McGee at quarterback, who made more plays with his legs than his arm. (Kohen) Granier is the opposite, he can make some plays with his legs but it’s mostly his arm. Then Sanders, Riverside’s tailback, likes to run it right at you with power. Destrehan’s guys are slashing, getting upfield, go-go-go.”

Robicheaux said Hahnville’s home loss last week to Riverside doesn’t faze him.

“Riverside is a team that, in my mind, is going to play for a state championship in their division,” Robicheaux said. “We’re playing a very good football team in Hahnville.

“The key is, you play against the team and you don’t worry about all the hype. Let that be for everyone else to worry about”

Unlike the last two matchups, this one will be at Hahnville. While it isn’t much of a road trip for the Wildcats, it presents some difficult elements for his team, Robicheaux said.

“Definitely, when you go there, you’re talking about a place with one of the strongest traditions around,” Robicheaux said. “The stands will be packed, and they’re always packed because they’ve had success over the years. It’s a strong home field advantage.”

Robicheaux said the Hahnville defense has a number of players who stick out on film, including linebacker Peyton Robert, senior safety Justin Young and junior defensive lineman Travon Honor, among others.

“When you see a player and his last name’s Young at Hahnville, you know he’s going to be pretty good,” Robicheaux said. “Honor’s motor never stops. Peyton Robert at linebacker, all you see is a guy making tackle after tackle.”

While Destrehan has left little to chance over its first three weeks — of DHS’ opponents, only Slidell truly posed a threat to win in the fourth quarter — he said red zone execution must get better.

“We’ve bogged down once we’ve gotten there a few times now,” Robicheaux said. “We’ve taken our foot off the gas twice, with Slidell making that comeback and then we allowed Ehret to gain some momentum late last week. We did a good job against Woodlawn, but we need to do a better job week in and week out of finishing.”

In that Ehret game, a 38-18 Destrehan victory, John Williams hauled in four receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns, giving him five total on the season. Chad Serrano scored on a forced fumble and recovery and on a reception — he also recorded an interception in the game. Kohen Granier completed 8-of-18 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns.

In Hahnville’s 10-7 loss to Riverside, Mike Neal finished 13-of-18 for 104 yards and one touchdown, a 15-yard pass to Devonte Cravin.

Anthony Williams led the running game with 65 yards on 11 carries.

 

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