10 Destrehan vs. East St. John eye-catchers

A high-profile River Parishes showdown between a pair of physical, title-minded Class 5A programs lived up to its billing as East St. John and Destrehan traded leads throughout the first half.   But the home-standing DHS Wildcats came away with a couple pivotal second-quarter plays to take control at the break and rode their defense to the 23-13 victory.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDBYdEr26Ic </div></figure>   Dwayne Brown | 5-10, 180 DB/WR | East St. John (2024)   The versatile senior playmaker made his impact felt in a variety of fashions on both sides of the ball. Among the highlights in his defensive back role, Brown played a third-down ball well on Destrehan's second possession to reach out and swat away a break-up and then added a sure fourth-down tackle in the second quarter to force a turnover on downs. He also caught a quick pass early in the third quarter and made multiple defenders miss on a long gain down inside the 10-yard line.   [player_tooltip player_id='285192' first='Kolaj' last='Cobbins'] | 6-3, 215 DL/LB | Destrehan (2024)   Destrehan held East St. John to just a field goal for the final two and a half quarters to take and keep control in the hard-fought, physical and feisty district rivalry matchup. And the disruptive playmaking off the edge by the LSU-committed senior, with two and a half sacks and multiple other hurries and tackles for loss, highlighted the effort as much as anyone in a stout performance overall by the unit, including fellow veteran linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1211820' first='Arrington' last='Adams'], [player_tooltip player_id='505643' first='Myd' last='Gilbert'] and [player_tooltip player_id='710284' first='Semaj' last='Walker'] flying around and making plays in the box.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an-ggDyhGyI </div></figure>   Ryan Lacy | 5-10, 140 K | Destrehan (2024)   Probably no better way to emphasize the impact of the senior kicker in the Wildcats' victory than pointing out his 11 points in what proved to be a 10-point victory. Both he and counterpart Jason Coello of East St. John took care of their respective business with a combined 5-for-5 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points. Lacy had three of those field goals and two of those extra points as a consistently reliable option for Destrehan when drives stalled in the red zone.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F2NdWr9XIo </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='212340' first='Jabari' last='Mack'] | 6-0, 185 WR/ATH | Destrehan (2026)   The Wildcats' promising sophomore pass-catcher provided a reception or two to the production of the team's loaded receiving corps on a night when East St. John presented as many challenges and as much resistance as arguably any opponent this season. But Mack also had one of the game's most pivotal plays on special teams as he pounced immediately on a fumble forced by Gilbert on a kickoff return. Destrehan had just tied the game, 10-10, in the second quarter, and the recovery set up a 17-10 lead at the break on what proved to be the game's final touchdown, a goal-line keeper by fellow sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='401763' first='Jackson' last='Fields'].   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqhHLH8UbB4 </div></figure>   Charles Rayfield | 6-3, 175 DB | East St. John (2024)   The long, lean defensive back came away with one of East St. John's two interceptions, joining fellow senior Jahyi Jones who secured a diving catch of a deflected ball before it hit the turf on Destrehan's game-opening possession. Rayfield flashed some speed, timing and hands on his third-quarter pick, making up some solid ground, snatching an under-thrown ball and quickly turning the other way for a short return.   [player_tooltip player_id='291153' first='Johnnie' last='Thiel IV'] | 6-1, 180 WR/DB | Destrehan (2025)   One of the standout juniors in Destrehan's loaded receiving corps and secondary played well on both sides of the ball, particularly as a leading receiver with an impressive, leaping sideline catch in the second quarter as a highlight.   [player_tooltip player_id='1221199' first='Kendall' last='Walker'] | 5-10, 160 WR | East St. John (2025)   Destrehan covered East St. John's own strong receiving corps well, particularly limiting the senior duo of Koyal Gray and [player_tooltip player_id='677948' first='D'Khai' last='Joseph']. But Walker stood out with a couple catches, including a 45-yard catch and run for the team's only touchdown on which he tracked a hard-thrown ball well, snatched it up over his head in stride and kept dashing and winding his way through the secondary to the end zone.   [player_tooltip player_id='1221216' first='Shane' last='Ward'] | 5-8, 175 RB | Destrehan (2025)   The junior running back shouldered the bulk of the rushing load for Destrehan as senior teammate [player_tooltip player_id='285276' first='Shane' last='Lee'] healed up in preparation for the upcoming playoffs. And Ward did well with the responsibility, dashing 11 yards to the end zone for the game's first touchdown and his team's first lead. He finished with a game-high 89 yards on 20 attempts.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4aJpyAh2eo </div></figure>   Jamarion Zeno | 6-3, 260 DL | East St. John (2024)   The big, physical senior was among the playmakers on the front line of East St. John's solid defensive effort, battling through blocks and showing the closing speed to chase down ball-carriers near and behind the line of scrimmage.   Lorenzo Zeno | 6-2, 210 QB | East St. John (2024)   The senior quarterback led his Wildcats' offense with 145 yards passing, including the 45-yard touchdown strike, and also rushing for a team-high 31 yards with his mix of athleticism and physicality. And whether making plays with his arm or his legs, Zeno largely took care of the football with East St. John's only giveaway coming on special teams.

A high-profile River Parishes showdown between a pair of physical, title-minded Class 5A programs lived up to its billing as East St. John and Destrehan traded leads throughout the first half.