De La Salle uses three pick six scores to down Kenner Discovery

With P.J. Martin resting, De La Salle was looking for big plays from other sources Thursday night.

Coming up with big plays without the new Allstate Sugar Bowl Amateur Athlete of the Month was the challenge. The Cavaliers got just that, but not from its offense.

De La Salle rode a trio of interception returns for touchdowns to a 38-7 victory over Kenner Discovery in the District 9-4A opener for both teams at Tad Gormley Stadium in a game aired live on NASH ICON 106.1 FM.

First, it was Drew Poche stepping in front of a Julian Caronna pass, picking it off and returning it 60 yards for a score late in the first quarter after Evan Arceneaux connected with Jeramith Willis on a 12-yard touchdown pass to give the Cavaliers a 14-0 lead heading to the second quarter.

Kenner Discovery then mounted a 65-yard drive, culminating in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Caronna to Donte Morgan to cut the deficit to 14-7 early in the second quarter.

After Connor Butler kicked a 24-yard field goal to make it 17-7, Jordan Scott intercepted Caronna and returned it 44 yards to give the Cavaliers a 24-7 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, it was more of the same as Malik Cornelius returned an interception 24 yards for a score to make it 31-7 before the offense capped the scoring on a 10-yard run by quarterback Mark Dix to account for the final margin.

Kenderick Powell had an interception for Kenner Discovery, which could only muster 91 yards of offense on the evening.

Willis was the offensive star for the Cavalier, rushing 11 times for 159 yards and catching the touchdown pass from Arceneaux.

The Cavaliers rested some starters with only safety Kenny Vaughn dealing with an injury situation.

Offensive lineman Caden Jones sat out, along with linebacker Keidrick Richardson. Also not playing for the Cavaliers were defensive end Lance Joseph and defensive lineman Kolby Coleman.

Most noticeable in his absence was Martin, the state’s third-leading rusher, who simply rested. Earlier in the day, Martin was named the Allstate Sugar Bowl Greater New Orleans Amateur Athlete of the Month for September.

“I don’t know if I have ever seen a game with three pick six scores in a game,” De La Salle coach Graham Jarrott said. “I thought the defense played very hard. Our offense never really got it going consistently. I thought Kenner Discovery played well. Their defensive line got after us. Give them credit. I do feel we did not play as inspired as we have in the first five weeks.”

De La Salle (6-0, 1-0) returns to action in a tough non-district game a week from Saturday at 7 p.m. against Jefferson Davis County of Mississippi at Joe Yenni Stadium in a game that can be heard live on NASH ICON 106.1 FM.

Kenner Discovery (4-2, 0-1) will face Booker T. Washington next Friday night at Pan American Stadium.

“We are 6-0 and proud of that,” Jarrott said. “Dominique McGill played very well. He was in the backfield all night. I cannot wait to measure our team against Jefferson Davis County next week. They may be the best team we play on their schedule. They were the 3A state champs last year.”

FINAL
DLS 14 10 7 7 — 38
KD 0 7 0 0 — 7

Scoring
1st Qtr.
DLS—Jeramiah Willis, 12-yard pass from Evan Arceneaux (Connor Butler kick)
DLS—Drew Poche, 60-yard interception return (Connor Butler kick)

2nd Qtr.
KD—Donte Morgan, 32-yard pass from Julian Caronna (Thomas Rumbelow kick)
DLS—Connor Butler, 24-yard field goal
DLS—Jordan Scott, 44-yard interception return (Connor Mathieu kick)

3rd Qtr.
DLS—Malik Cornelius, 24-yard interception return (Connor Mathieu kick)

4th Qtr.
DLS—Mark Dix, 10-yard run (Connor Mathieu kick)

First Downs:
DLS 13
KD 6

Penalties:
DLS 4 for 41 yards
KD 3 for 15 yards

Turnovers:
DLS 3
KD 2

Sacks:
DLS 1
KD 1

Rushing Yards:
DLS 288
KD 25

Passing Yards:
DLS 33
KD 76

Total Yards:
DLS 321
KD 101

Individual Rushing:
DLS—Jeremiah Willis 11 carries for 159 yards, Kobe Pounds 8 carries for 68 yards, Jason Banks 10 carries for 48 yards, Mark Dix 3 carries for 15 yards and 1 touchdown, Malik Jackson 1 carry for 10 yards, Jace Bienemy 2 carries for -4 yards, Michael Radka 1 carry for -1 yard, Evan Arceneaux 3 carries for -7 yards

KD—Julian Caronna 4 carries for 23 yards, Luke Geraci 9 carries for 10 yards, Braylon Byrd 1 carry for -3 yards, Marcus Clark 6 carries for -5 yards

Individual Passing:
DLS—Evan Arceneaux 3-for-4 for 19 yards, 1 touchdown, Mark Dix 3-for-11 for 14 yards, 1 interception

KD—Julian Caronna 7-for-22 for 76 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions

Individual Receiving:
DLS—Jason Banks 2 catches for -3 yards, Levar Fortenberry 1 catch for 16 yards, Jason Banks 2 catches for 3 yards, Jeramiah Willis 1 catch for 12 yards and 1 touchdown, Josh Scott 1 catch for 7 yards, Kobe Pounds 1 catch for 5 yards, Jace Bienemy 1 catch for 3 yards, Connor Butler 1 catch for 2 yards

KD—Braydon Byrd 3 catches for 28 yards, Donte Morgan 2 catches for 40 yards and 1 touchdown, Lance Rumbelow 1 catch for 6 yards, Landen Boyington 1 catch for 2 yards

Louisiana Prep Football Results from Thursday, Oct. 6
Airline 42, Captain Shreve 14
Ascension Catholic 49, St. John 0
Basile 57, Hamilton Christian 16
Catholic (PC) 42, Sacred Heart (VP) 14
Cedar Creek 52, River Oaks 0
Central Catholic 49, Centerville 0
Cohen 76 Crescent City Christian 18
Country Day 37, Douglass 14
De La Salle 38, Kenner Discovery 7
Delta Charter 52, Tensas 8
Denham Springs 33, Live Oak 0
DeRidder 42, LaGrange 14
Dutchtown 27, Walker 0
Episcopal 55, Capitol 20
General Trass 22, Ferriday 16
Gueydan 29, Elton 13
John Ehret 47, Grace King 7
Loyola Prep 30, Green Oaks 12
Mangham 52, Vidalia 6
Leesville 41, Washington-Marion 18
Madison Prep 39, Port Allen 0
McDonogh (35) 56, Abramson 0
Northlake Christian 42, Springfield 0
Northwood-Lena 46, Montgomery 22
Ouachita Christian 49, St. Frederick 7
Parkway 55, Southwood 6
Riverdale 16, The Willow School 7
Sophie B. Wright 33, Haynes Academy 6
Thrive Academy at Kentwood
Tioga 40, Pine Prairie 6
University Lab 42, Tylertown (MS) 0
Vermilion Catholic 57, Covenant Christian 6
Welsh 43, Grand Lake 7
West Feliciana 44, St. Michael 30
West Jefferson 21, Bonnabel 16
Zachary 33, Woodlawn (BR) 6