While Friday’s game between Destrehan and Hahnville is the center of a great deal of attention from prep fans and media, few, if anyone, can provide quite the perspective of those gearing up for the game this week like the teams’ seniors.
Make no mistake: the Destrehan senior class wants to walk away from the rivalry with the Tigers having beat them four times in a row. And the Hahnville senior class will do just about anything to conquer their rivals and stop that from happening.
Barring a Class 5A playoff matchup between the teams — a rarity, but an occurrence that was realized just last season — this will be the last time the seniors on the teams will face off against one another, another layer to what is always an emotional contest on the field.
“It’s Destrehan,” said Hahnville senior linebacker Peyton Robert. “I think it’s the best game throughout the state. We’re in the same parish, so it gets that attention from everybody. They beat us last year so you know we’re coming with that heat this time. But it’s always a good game, every year. You know that.”
The best part about the game?
“The crowd,” Robert said without hesitation. “I love playing in front of a big crowd. That gets all players hyped.
“This could be our last time playing Destrehan. We’ve got to play to win. I’m not excited about the idea of losing to those guys in (the seniors) last game against them.”
Destrehan senior defensive lineman Glen Logan, an LSU commitment, said he and his teammates must do their best to put the hype aside and focus on the Tigers’ on-field strengths.
“Everybody’s got to do our jobs and keep our technique,” Logan said. “There’s a lot of hype but you have to put your emotions aside and stay focused. It would be great to win … you don’t want to lose any game, especially to our rivals.
“It’s exciting. There are a lot of people out at the game. We all grew up together. We all know each other. It’s exciting when we play one another.”
Destrehan offensive lineman Jacob Wentz said he and his senior teammates have no plans to let their streak of victories over Hahnville end at three.
“We want to keep it going,” said Wentz. “We don’t want to be the senior class that loses. We tell the younger guys, keep calm and play your game.”
He said the best part about the rivalry matchup is the intensity it yields each year.
“It’s always a close game, a big game. It’s expected to be a really good game every single year,” Wentz said. “There’s more energy in the building when we play Hahnville.”
Hahnville running back Drew Dunn minced no words when asked about the importance of Friday’s game. While Logan and Wentz spoke of continuing Destrehan’s winning ways in the rivalry, Dunn said he is hungry for his first victory over the Wildcats as a varsity starter.
“It is the biggest game we play all year, outside of the playoffs,” Dunn said. “This is our last chance to beat Destrehan.
“We haven’t beat them yet since I’ve been on varsity. We’ve got to practice harder than we did last week.”
He said to nail down a victory, focus is key.
“We’ve got to be very disciplined,” Dunn said.
“We can’t hold. We can’t have many flags. We have to work our butts off and be ready to play.”
Joining Dunn and Robert, among Hahnville seniors, are Norquell Flowers, Justin Young, Kevin Comardelle, Mike Neal, Dylan Crockett, Jamonte Williams, Eric Gilmore, Caleb Brimmer, Devonte Cravin, Chris Marshall, Jamonte hunter,Lee Vial, Kiel Bates, Carmichael Critton, Terrence Johnson, Chris Jones, Cameron Sandolph, Ja’Quan Thompson, Drew Melancon, Lee Robicheaux, Chandler Fremen, Braiden Laurent, Stephen Cloud, Jacob Plache and Aaron Bourgeois.
Joining Logan and Wentz on the Destrehan side, the seniors are Kendell Anderson, Tramaine Armstrong, C.J. Prieto, Matt Young, Chad Serrano, Deonte Flowers, Deontre Flowers, Karon Taylor, John Williams, Tyler Addison, Jayce Brown, Will Sirmon, Christian Edwards, Alvin Joseph, Baron Whittenberger, Sean Wright, Jacobi Cage, Alex Zayed, Devin Rebstock, Tyjon Sanchez, Kalen Brown, Hunter Breit, Andres Arauz, Neil Fontenot, Justin Schmidt, Gerald Wilbon, Colby Duhon, Ryan Young and Perry Charles.
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