Before the start of the football season, Destrehan coach Stephen Robicheaux said that having a bye week during the regular season has its plusses and minuses — it means a chance for players to rest and recharge, but that you’d like to keep the positive momentum flowing.
So with Destrehan currently in the midst of a Week 10 bye, that second point looms large. Since Robicheaux called his team’s execution and focus lacking in its 31-7 homecoming week victory over Central Lafourche in Week 8, DHS has clicked on all cylinders. The Wildcats have looked untouchable over the past two weeks, trouncing H.L. Bourgeois 56-12 and then nailing down a 51-40 victory over Thibodaux in a game that DHS led 51-20 before lifting its starters.
That win over Thibodaux secured an unbeaten regular season and the outright District 7-5A title for Destrehan.
Robicheaux couldn’t find a willing in-state opponent for this week before the season — with uneven district schedules, there are few teams without a district opponent to choose from, making it sometimes all but impossible to find a match — and talks to play an out-of-state foe fell through.
Does Robicheaux welcome this bye at all?
“I have really mixed emotions about it,” Robicheaux said with a laugh. “Obviously, there is the factor that we give some kids a chance to rest, but we’ve played some really good football over the past two weeks.
“Ultimately, I think our kids have matured and they’ll handle themselves appropriately. We don’t have a game this week, but if we use the time wisely there’s a lot we can get done.”
Robicheaux gave his team off Monday before returning to practice Tuesday and Wednesday. The Wildcats will hit the practice field again today.
Then, after the week’s prep action concludes, Destrehan will learn its first round opponent this weekend.
“We’ve heard we can climb as high as No. 2,” Robicheaux said after last week’s win. “Obviously, that would be welcome.”
Robicheaux said that Destrehan’s seeding will not be hurt by the bye, noting that is the case because the rating is calculated by adding points accumulated and then dividing by the number of games played.
“If we had lost a game along the way, then it might matter a bit more,” Robicheaux said.
Such are the perks of being unbeaten, something Destrehan has become accustomed to over recent years. DHS finished 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2014 undefeated on the football field, and have now added 2015 to that number. Those seasons ended in back-to-back state championships, a semifinal appearance and a state runner-up finish, respectively.
Destrehan entered the postseason as the No. 4 seed in each of the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
The 2014 team and 2015 teams beat opponents by an almost identical scoring margin. This season’s team is averaging 45.6 points per game and allowing 19.7. Last season’s squad scored 36.4 points per game and allowed 10.2.
Destrehan finished the regular season by scoring 51 points or more in 3 of its final four games, topping 62 in a win over East St. John.
Destrehan led 28-20 at halftime against Thibodaux last week but blew things open in the second half, scoring 23 consecutive points take a 51-20 lead.
Karon Taylor led the way for Destrehan (9-0, 6-0), rushing for 193 yards and 3 touchdowns.
“We were clicking on all cylinders tonight,” Taylor said. “In the first half, we weren’t quite there. But in the second half we really came out firing. We got the run game going.”
Justin Jefferson scored two touchdowns for DHS, each on a pass from quarterback Kohen Granier, who rushed for one score and passed for two more.
Thibodaux (6-3, 4-1) entered the game with a chance to secure at least a share of the district crown.
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