East St. John seeks to prove mettle as playoff road team

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It has been a very good season for East St. John.

The Wildcats won eight of ten games on the field. After a loss to Hahnville, the Wildcats won five straight games to close the season in a rush.

That included a huge 14-13 win over perennial power Destrehan and big wins over playoff teams Terrebonne, Central Lafourche and Thibodaux.

Then, it rained on the East St. John parade as the Wildcats were forced to forfeit a pair of victories due to an ineligible player.

Undaunted, the Wildcats won their final game in an overtime thriller against Thibodaux.

That qualified East St. John for the Class 5A playoffs as the 24th seed to play at No. 9 Central (8-2) Friday night.

Second-year head coach Brandon Brown feels the setback has motivated his team.

“We self-reported the violation,” Brown said. “We know we are better than our seed and our guys are determined to prove it, though we know the road will not be easy. In year two, I think we are a little bit ahead of schedule. We in from day one trying to change the culture and trying to get East St. John back on good footing and I think we’ve done a good job. From day one we’ve talked about giving our community a reason to believe and we have don so.”

As an East St. John graduate, Brown has a deep appreciation for the position he now holds.

“This job is more than just a job for me,” Brown said. “The biggest thing for our kids and our program is understanding our purpose. To be back home coaching at your alma mater, it just feels great. I’ve got some kids on my team that I played ball with their dads or even went to school with their moms. It’s more than just a team. We’re a family.”

East St. John is led by senior quarterback Sean Shelby and wide receiver Donte Fleming, along with Howard Joseph and Antonio Sanders and Sean Sterling on defense.

“Sean has done an excellent job in leading our team,” Brown said. “He’s a very good player but he’s also a great person. Dontae is a very good player and he and Sean are both students as well. We are winning in the classroom and on the field with great guys like that. Howard is very good in the secondary and Antonio and Sterling are good leaders. Our whole 2020 class has been great in terms of leadership. We’re not real big on names but we are fast.”

Brown has lots of respect for his opponent.

“Central is a very, very good team,” Brown said. “Coach Sid Edwards is doing an excellent job with that program. It’s going to be a great ball game. We’re looking at this as one game, one opportunity. Our goal right now is to be undefeated in November to have a chance to play in December.”

With a talented, hungry team, East St. John figures to make the battle of the Wildcats one of the better matchups in the first round of the playoffs.