E.D. White takes showdown with St. James to win district, 28-19

THIBODAUX – E.D. White and St. James had a lot riding on the line Friday night at Harvey Peltier Stadium.

The Cardinals were looking to have an undefeated regular season, an outright District 9-3A title and a top two seed in the LHSAA Division II playoffs. The Wildcats were looking to extend a three-game winning streak, earn a share of the 9-3A championship and a top two seed in the LHSAA Class 3A playoffs.

Something had to give.

E.D. White won the battle in trenches and held off a comeback effort by St. James in a 28-19 victory.

The win clinched the first undefeated regular season for the Cardinals since 1992 and first outright district championship since 2018.

E.D. White head coach Kyle Lasseigne took a moment to look at his players, coaches and fans in celebration and elation of this accomplishment. The season is not done yet but his Cardinals have much to savor already.

“It was a back and forth game. It’s going to be like that when you go against great athletes like St. James has,” said Lasseigne. “We didn’t play perfect football but we played well enough to win. I’m very proud of my kids. Diedrich protected the football, ran hard and got us some important first downs, He didn’t play like a 10th grader.”

E.D. White set the tone early with a 65-yard drive on 10 plays to lead 7-0 on a one yard touchdown by Jeffery Diedrich.

The Cardinals defense stepped up forcing a fumble by Brayden Williams, recovered by Aidan Clements. Diedrich struck again with a 47-yard touchdown extending the lead to 14-0.

St. James cut the deficit to 14-7 with a 4-yard touchdown by Kobe Brown. Then the Wildcats special teams stepped up when E.D. White’s Collin Gravois mishandled the snap for the punt, eventually being tackled by Marquel Walker at the Cardinals 44-yard line. Alec Mahler hit a 45-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-10 at the half.

The Cardinals had a huge start to the second half matching the opening of the game with an 80-yard drive on eight plays. Jace Gros scampered for a 40-yard touchdown to make it 21-10.

The Wildcats answered with an 64-yard drive on 10 plays but could not hit paydirt. Mahler hit a 26-yard field goal to make it a one-score game at 21-13.

E.D. White had another grinder of a possession in them, this time crafting an 80-yard drive on 11 plays and melting 6:07 off the clock. Diedrich scored his third touchdown on a two-yard run, and the Cardinals took a commanding 28-13 edge.

“I came here to do what I do and had a great offensive line to block for me to get it done,” said Diedrich. “We always talk about controlling the ball and controlling the clock. That’s what we did today.”

St. James just didn’t go away easy. Marquell Bergeron connected with Shazz Preston for a 22-yard touchdown but a failed conversions left them behind nine points. Then the Wildcats recovered an onside kick with 4:43 to go in the fourth quarter but Bergeron was intercepted by E.D. White’s Ethan Lee, putting the game away for the Cardinals.

E.D. White had 406 total yards that includes 373 rushing yards. Diedrich led the way with 30 carries for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Gros had three carries for 51 yards and a touchdown.

St. James had 301 total yards with 256 passing yards. Carrying the air attack, Preston had 15 catches for 181 yards and a touchdown. Bergeron completed 15 of 24 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown.

“We knew it was going to be a grind and a slugfest. The biggest thing is that we walked outta here hopefully injury free and we start the playoffs next week,” said St. James head coach Robert Valdez. “We got to continue make plays and grow. Right now, we are in a single elimination tournament and we got to be on point.”

E.D. White finished the regular season 8-0 with a 5-0 district mark. St. James is now 6-3 including 3-2 in 9-3A. Both teams will find out their position and opponent this Sunday at the LHSAA Playoff Pairings.