While a potential district championship showdown looms with Thibodaux next week, Destrehan must first take care of business this Friday night as it hosts H.L. Bourgeois in the Wildcats final regular season home game of the season. The Wildcats (7-0, 4-0) rebounded — as much as one can ‘rebound’ from what turned out to be a 19-point victory — from a scare at East St. John two weeks ago by dominating at Central Lafourche last Friday night. Destrehan rolled up 540 total yards of offense and running backs Kristian Mosley and John Emery each topped 100 yards on the ground, Emery with eight carries for 128 yards and Mosley with 101 yards on 13 carries. Those rushers have started to make this a habit.
“We’ve had a few (games with two 100 yard rushers) but never this many,” Robicheaux said. “It’s a testament to our offensive line, our offensive coordinator and those two runners. The wide receivers have done a good job as well blocking downfield for them.”
The road performance was a fantastic sign for an offense that underwent a sudden, major change when sophomore J.R. Blood took over at quarterback for injured senior Kohen Granier in Week 4. The 500-plus yard effort, in part lifted by Blood’s 237 passing yards, was the type of offensive effort the Wildcats were rolling to with Granier in the season’s early weeks.
“The thing with J.R. is, he was always there, always listening,” Robicheaux said. “He prepared himself in case he was ever going to be called upon, and so when he got in there it wasn’t like he’d been thrown to the wolves.”
By the same token, Robicheaux said a return for Granier from his leg injury at some point this season isn’t out of the question.
“There’s a chance,” Robicheaux said. “If they can guarantee it’s not something he can hurt further and potentially damage (his opportunity to play in college) then it’s a bridge we’ll cross. He’s done a very good job rehabbing and getting at it.”
H.L. Bourgeois (3-4, 1-2) travels to Destrehan to face off with the LSWA’s third-ranked team in Class 5A. Bourgeois has lost two straight games, to Westgate and Thibodaux, respectively, and now will face Destrehan and Hahnville in successive weeks with their playoff hopes on the line.
Last week, Bourgeois put on a spirited effort against district co-leader Thibodaux (6-1, 4-0) in the first half. The teams were tied at 14 in the second quarter before a late touchdown but Thibodaux ahead 21-14 at halftime. But from there, Thibodaux rolled to a 47-21 victory.
While the Braves utilize two quarterbacks to create different offensive looks, they are led by quarterback Jude LeCompte. LeCompte rushed 17 times last week for 110 yards and a touchdown and his running ability provides the Braves their offensive heartbeat.
“They like to run sweep with the quarterback, and LeCompte does a really good job cutting back and making things happen,” Robicheaux said. “He makes them go. That’s their guy, their playmaker.”
Tailback Rickey Vaughn also can make a big impact. Last week, he tallied 97 yards on 10 carries while scoring two touchdowns.
“He’s a good athlete,” Robicheaux said. “Offensively, they do some things that can put you in a bind. We’ll have to be ready for a number of looks.”
But the great challenge for the Braves will be finding a way to slow explosive Destrehan. Bourgeois allowed 47 points last week, which was the fifth time the team had allowed 27 points or more in a game this season. Bourgeois is 1-4 in those games.
For Destrehan, a Wildcats defense that had to replace nine of its 11 starters from last season has steadily gotten better. One key contributor has been cornerback Terrill Vinnett, who intercepted three passes against Central Lafourche last week.
“I can’t recall anyone who has had three interceptions in one game at Destrehan, at least since I’ve been here,” Robicheaux said.
On the whole, the coach praised the growth of what entered this season as an inexperienced unit, noting it continues to get better each week. At the same time, he said the growth needs to continue.
“We’ve been a bend but don’t break team. We’ve been able to get a couple interceptions deep in our territory to kind of put an end to drives,” Robicheaux said. “But at the same time, people are moving the ball, and I don’t like seeing that. There’s work to do, but they’ve been up to the task so far.”
Mosley scored on a 68-yard run on the second play of Destrehan’s win last week and set the tone on a night his team emerged with a 49-21 District 7-5A victory over Central Lafourche (4-3, 0-3).
The Wildcats led 42-7 at one point in the second half and 35-0 at halftime.
Blood connected for touchdown passes with Mike Young, Justin Jefferson and Emery in the first half as DHS built what became an insurmountable lead.
Mosley scored three times in the game.
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