The Destrehan Wildcats just refuse to lose. The team made their reservations for the Superdome with a 21-14 win over Baton Rouge Central last Friday, stretching their win streak to 28 games in the process. However, that streak won’t be nearly as memorable if Destrehan can’t come away with No. 29 on Saturday against West Monroe.
Last week, Destrehan fought off four turnovers and pulled out a huge win over Central. Central had been a giant killer in the postseason, knocking off No. 4 seed Brother Martin and No. 6 seed Acadiana. And for a while, it looked like they might take down No. 2 seed Destrehan.
Central’s Ed Cutno gave his team a first quarter lead after scampering 21 yards to pay dirt. The score stayed 7-0 all the way through the first, and it wasn’t until Destrehan’s Antonio Parker picked off a Cutno pass in the endzone and returned it 102 yards for the score that the Wildcats got on the board.
Though Destrehan missed the point after, they would take the lead for good in the third after quarterback Wynrick Smothers connected with Brandon Armstrong for a 40-yard strike. The Wildcats would make the two-point conversion and go on top 14-7.
In the fourth, running back Marshall Charles came through with a 14-yard touchdown that proved to be the deciding factor since Central drove all the way down the field and scored again shortly after to cut the Destrehan lead to 21-14.
“I thought we played good and Central was a good team – there was a reason they were playing in the semifinals,” Destrehan head coach Stephen Robicheaux said. “We made some mistakes, but we also made them make some mistakes. Coming away with the win was just a great feeling.”
Though Destrehan has come close to defeat a couple of times this season, the team has found a way to win in each case. Robicheaux said that’s because of his team’s work ethic and drive.
“This team is very special to me,” he said. “They don’t have a ton of playmakers, but they are blue collars guys that work hard. I am just excited for all these great kids.
“They are fun to be around.”
The Wildcats will have to be well prepared on Saturday when they take on top-seeded West Monroe. The Rebels are also undefeated this season, and picked up big wins over Ruston, Leesville and Ouachita Parish in the regular season. They have been just as impressive in the postseason, beating St. Thomas More 41-28, Ouachita Parish 37-16 and Barbe 47-12.
“They are big, fast and physical and we know we are going to have to play a really good game in order to beat them,” Robicheaux said. “It used to be that you just had to worry about stopping their run, but now they spread the ball out and throw it around.
“There is a reason they are undefeated and we are real excited to play them.”
One thing Destrehan does have going in its favor is that most of their players have already played in the Dome. For all of the West Monroe Rebels, this will be their first time.
“Anything you can do to gain experience is a plus and we gained a lot of experience playing in the Dome last year,” Robicheaux said. “Our kids are not going to be shell-shocked and they get to sleep in their own beds Friday night while West Monroe has to travel down here.
“That’s a big advantage for us.”
Be the first to comment