After securing a 21-14 win over previously unbeaten Thibodaux, the second-ranked Destrehan Wildcats hope to keep that momentum going when they travel to Central Lafourche on Friday.
Destrehan gained the upper hand over Thibodaux in a hard-fought battle by scoring two late touchdowns to remain undefeated. Wildcat running back Will Matthews was the catalyst for the victory, running for scores of 12 and 19 yards to will his team to the win.
“He runs so hard and has great vision,” Destrehan head coach Stephen Robicheaux said of his star back. “He runs the inside zone as good as anyone I’ve ever seen. The offensive line gives him a crease and he just makes a play.
“He runs hard, low to the ground and he is just a powerful kid. For the 10-to-12-yard run, he is tremendous.”
Matthews has been the bright spot of the Destrehan offense so far. With the passing game struggling in recent weeks, the Wildcats have turned to Matthews for a boost late in games.
Robicheaux knows his team needs to improve offensively, but says that they have a different identity from the one that racked up points through the air last season.
“Honestly we are not throwing the ball like we did, but this is a different team with a different identity,” he said. “We are not going to win 49-20, our defense is playing well and we will take a 17-10 win. We are going to win games the old fashioned way with ball control and defense.”
Plus, Robicheaux said many people don’t realize how good Thibodaux actually is.
Destrehan took the lead in the first quarter after an interception return by defensive lineman Glen Logan, but Thibodaux responded with a 14-play scoring drive to start the third.
Matthews eventually gave the Wildcats a 14-7 lead in the fourth, but Thibodaux tied the game again late in the quarter. Even after Matthews rumbled 19 yards to put the Wildcats up 21-14 with 34 seconds left, Thibodaux kept fighting.
“Thibodaux has a very good football team and it was a great game with a great atmosphere. Those guys fought and kept fighting,” Robicheaux said. “We got better because of it and beat a tough team on the road.”
The Wildcats will hit the road again on Friday when they travel to Central Lafourche, who is 3-3 on the season.
Central Lafourche opened the season with wins over Franklin and Clark, and beat H.L. Bourgeois 28-14 to start district play.
They lost a heartbreaker to East St. John before falling to South Lafourche in a shootout, 44-27.
Central Lafourche’s offense is led by running backs Da’Quan Gray and Thomas Wesley. Last week Gray had 83 yard on 15 carries while Wesley rushed for 39 yards on just six carries.
“They have a running back in Thomas Wesley that I noticed in the spring and fall. He is really good and a playmaker,” Robicheaux said. “Gray also does a good job for them. They run a lot of counter and power, and even though they are 3-3 they are not a bad football team.”
But it has proven hard for any offense to find success against Destrehan’s defense, who is giving up just 10 points per game. In addition to Logan’s 43-yard interception return for a touchdown, Destrehan cornerback Kendell Anderson had two interceptions against Thibodaux.
“Our defense has played extremely well,” Robicheaux said. “We just have to keep on doing what we do and keep working and getting better. [The defense] has gotten big plays for us when we need them to.”
Meanwhile, Central Lafourche’s defense is giving up more than 26 points per game in district play. Robicheaux said his team needs to continue attacking defenses how they have in the past.
“We are going to keep running the football and playing hard,” he said.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday at Central Lafourche.
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