Among the primary focuses of Hahnville’s preparation for game day over the past few weeks has been simple: get off to a fast start, then keep the pressure on.
Against East St. John on Friday night, the Tigers again did just that – it’s starting to become habit.
Hahnville scored 28 first quarter points in what became an eventual 42-7 victory over the Wildcats at Tiger Stadium. It was the Tigers’ fourth victory in a row and one that sets up a major clash next week on Halloween night against Destrehan with plenty of district implications hanging in the balance.
Fabian Celestine scored two touchdowns, Landen Teague connected for three scoring passes and Chad Stroyewski scored on a fumble recovery to help lead the way.
“It comes down to our preparation all week,” said Celestine. “We felt like we were lagging a little bit, we wanted to fix that … we came out and did what we had to do. We feel like we should score 28 points in a quarter, that’s just us.”
With 49, 34, 48 and 38 points scored over the past month, the Tigers offense seems to be peaking at just the right time.
“We’re almost there, almost there,” Celestine said.
Hahnville (7-1, 4-1) landed its first punch on Celestine’s first scoring run, a 2-yarder that made it 7-0.
After a punt team mistake for ESJ (1-7, 1-4) resulted in a turnover on downs, Hahnville scored again on a very short field, this time on Teague’s first touchdown pass, a jet touch to Kevias Singleton for a 5-yard score to make it 14-0.
Next came an explosive passing play from Teague to Bennett Naquin over the top of the defense for a 41-yard touchdown to make it 21-0.
The Tiger offense had barely made it back to the sideline before the defense added its own scoring play, a fumbled snap into the endzone scooped up by Stroyewski to make it 28-0.
“We came out with a lot of energy. Continued to stress coming out fast on both sides of the ball. That was the first time in a few weeks that I felt like we came out, both sides, high energy –flying around on defense, executing on offense. A few mistakes we still need to clean up. But early on, a high level of football,” said Hahnville head coach Greg Boyne.
Celestine scored on a short run in the second quarter for his second touchdown of the night. Teague connected with Michael Propps in the third quarter to round out the Hahnville scoring.
East St. John scored in the fourth quarter on a long pass from Da’Mon Scott to Cast Burl.
Boyne said the Tigers got pressure throughout the night and it paid dividends.
“We generated some pressure. We benefited from a few bad snaps, but sometimes if you generate pressure early, that can get in a center’s head,” Boyne said. “I was very pleased with the D-line and I thought we covered well. Fleming’s a good receiver. But when you have the quarterback running around, it makes it hard to get the receivers the ball.”
Next week will be a special kind of night for the annual Battle on the River, Hahnville hosts Destrehan on Halloween night.
“I’m going trick or treating,” Boyne joked. “I think the kids have put themselves in position to make it a big game. Coach (Marcus) Scott tells the kids all the time, that’s why you go there. And same here – that’s why you come here, to play in that game where it means something. I hope people go trick or treating early and come out. We need a big crowd. Our kids feed off the crowd – hopefully they come in with a sugar rush.”
