Team can make a statement with victory in Alexandria
The Destrehan Wildcats provided a preview of the 2006 team last Friday night when they took on the Riverside Rebels in the second night of the Ed Reed River Parishes Jamboree. The Wildcats showed no mercy as their offense was nearly unstoppable and their defense held the Rebels scoreless. The Wildcats took the victory 21-0 and showed the fans of the garnet and gray that the eastbank of St. Charles Parish may be in for a great season.
At quarterback, the torch has been passed for the Wildcats. What was Jai Eugene’s team the past two years has now been turned over to new quarterback Jordan Jefferson, and Jefferson proved that he is more than capable last Friday night, completing 10 of 16 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns.
The running game was also impressive as Jerico Nelson and Joel Banks both carried for 36 yards a piece.
Jefferson spread the ball around to five different receivers. Leading the way was Demaris Johnson with three catches for 61 yards. Lionel Washington also had three catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. Nelson had two catches for 29 yards while Tim Molton and Terrance Williams both had touchdown catches of 13 and three yards respectively.
The Wildcats drove down the field early in the game but fumbled at the Rebels’ six-yard line. However, they got the ball right back on a fumble recovery by defensive lineman Quince Perrilloux, and on the next play, Jefferson found Molton in the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown. Nelson provided the extra point and the Wildcats took a 7-0 lead with just under six minutes to go in the first half.
The Wildcats turned the ball over again early in the second half on an interception, but Perrilloux helped them get the ball back again with a key pass deflection on fourth down. Then from the Wildcat 31-yard line, Jefferson connected to Johnson to cross midfield. Three plays later Jefferson threw a long bomb to Washington for a 41-yard touchdown. After the Nelson extra point, the Wildcats had a 14-0 lead with nine minutes to go in the game.
On the next Rebel possession, Milton Betton and Darrington Sentimore provided a key sack and forced Riverside to punt. Then, starting from the Rebel 48, the Wildcats made their final march toward the end zone. After a 13-yard Nelson run and an eight-yard pass to Johnson, Banks broke out a 17-yard run to put Destrehan at the Riverside 10-yard line. Three plays later, Jefferson connected with Williams on a three-yard touchdown pass. Nelson provided the extra point, and the Wildcats put up the final score of 21-0.
On Friday the Wildcats will travel to Alexandria to face the Alexandria Trojans. The Trojans were a force to be reckoned with last year as they sported running back Chris Brown who is now at Oklahoma and quarterback Adam Roy who is now at Northwestern State. This year, the Trojans return only one starter from last year’s dynamic offense. The Wildcat defense will be tried, but not as much as it will be later on this season.
If the Wildcat defense can keep the scoring down, the offense showed that it can score and score quickly in the jamboree last Friday. The Trojans, however, have several starters returning on one of the top defenses in the state. Manning the line for Alexandria are Division I prospects Kenneth Newman and Denzel Sneed.
The Wildcats can make a statement this week with a decisive victory. And the new offense headed by Jordan Jefferson, Edwin Reed and Jerico Nelson will have its hands full with the Trojan defense. If the Wildcats can come out on top, it bodes well for their chances of having a successful district season.
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