During Friday night’s Hahnville and McDonogh 35 game, it wasn’t much fun to be a defensive coordinator.
The Tigers and the Roneagles combined for 53 points in the first quarter and both offenses continued to light up the scoreboard throughout the rest of the contest. But Hahnville’s defense made a few big plays when it counted in the second and third quarters, which proved to be the difference in the 57-38 Tiger win.
In what would prove to be a video-game like first quarter, the Tigers struck first on a 53-yard pass from Easton Melancon to Jaylon Bryant that put Hahnville up 7-0 with 9:44 left in the first quarter.
But only seconds later, McDonogh 35 would take the lead on a 95-yard kick off return by Kedric Banks. Carlos Henderson scored a two-point conversion to give the Roneagles an 8-7 lead.
Hahnville looked like they were building momentum a few minutes later when Ernest Thompson scored on an 11-yard run. The Tiger defense held the Roneagles at bay on their next possession and forced a punt from deep within McDonogh 35 territory. Because of a bad snap on that punt attempt, the Tigers would record a safety and take a 16-8 lead with 5:41 left in the quarter.
Hahnville running back Travis Fauceaux increased the Tiger lead to 22-9 on a 23-yard scamper and it looked like the Tigers were about to put the Roneagles away early. But McDonogh 35 scored less than a minute later on a 79-yard run by Henderson that cut the Hahnville lead to 22-16.
The Tigers took nearly three minutes off the clock on their next possession, which ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Melancon to Mike Ford. That put the Tigers up 28-16 with 1:18 left.
But that was plenty of time for the Roneagles. Henderson returned the kickoff 82 yards and then scored on a 4-yard run. Henderson walked into the end zone for the two-point conversion, which cut the Hahnville lead to 29-24.
In the second quarter though, the Tigers started to establish themselves.
Faucheaux scored his second touchdown on a 4-yard run and Melancon added another touchdown pass, this time a 9-yard strike to Kailon Carter, to put Hahnville up 43-24 heading into halftime.
The Tigers officially put the game away in the third, recovering an onsides kick and driving 49 yards to go on top 50-24.
Click here to view pictures from the game.
Dutchtown 28 Destrehan 7
The Destrehan Wildcats played toe to toe with the #2 ranked Dutchtown Griffins Friday night, but missed opportunities were to blame for their 28-7 loss.
The first blow was struck by Dutchtown on their first play of the game. Running back and highly touted prospect Landon Collins broke through the Destrehan defensive line and ran 74 yards for a touchdown.
However, the Wildcats held the Griffin offense in check the rest of the first half, giving their offense the chance it needed to mount a comeback.
The offense responded with a show churning drive from their own 17-yard line to the Griffin 13. Running back Kevin Smith was called upon to lead the charge, even gaining six yards for a first down on a fake punt to extend the drive. But the ball was fumbled inside the 10-yard line and was recovered by Dutchtown who returned it across midfield.
Destrehan defensive back Antonio Coleman then came up with a big play as he recovered a Dutchtown fumble at the Wildcat 22-yard line.
The offense then again began what was an uncharacteristically methodical drive down the field, led again by Smith who had 95 rushing yards on 28 carries in the game. Quarterback Dillon Dent was key as well, completing five passes on the drive which ended up at the Griffin seven. However, the Wildcats fumbled again and allowed the Griffins to return the ball to the Wildcat three-yard line with 30 seconds left in the first half.
The defense stood its ground once more and kept the Griffins off the board with a missed field goal.
The second half began much like the first as Dutchtown marched down the field and scored on a 39-yard touchdown run by quarterback Mason Nickens, putting them up 14-0.
The two teams then traded punts and turnovers until the middle of the fourth quarter when the Griffins scored again to take a 21-0 lead.
Then Destrehan finally activated its big play offense as Dent heaved the ball
down the field to a leaping Rickey Jefferson who came down with a 56-yard reception. Dent then hit Smith and Jefferson again to bring the Wildcats to the Griffin 12. From there, Dent and Smith took care of the rest, with Smith finding the endzone on a one-yard run to bring the score to 21-7.
The Wildcats tried an onside kick, but Dutchtown recovered it. And any hopes of a comeback were dashed after Destrehan was flagged for two personal fouls in a row, giving the Griffins a short field at the Wildcat 10. Nickins would take it in two plays later to bring the score to 28-7.
On the ensuing drive, Destrehan had one big play left in them as Smith took the snap then flipped it to Dent who found wide receiver Dexter Lawrence streaking down the sideline for 57 yards. But the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs four plays later, ending the game.
Dent was 14 for 23 in the game for 227 yards while Jefferson led the receivers with five catches for 72 yards.
The loss causes the Wildcats to fall to 2-3. They will begin district play next Friday as they host Higgins at 7 p.m.
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