Lutcher downs Destrehan on final play of jamboree

DESTREHAN – Don’t tell these two teams that it does not count.

A pair of elite River Parish teams accustomed to going deep in the playoffs and winning state championships hooked up in the Ed Reed Jamboree a night earlier than originally scheduled.

Once again, the two powers looked the part of genuine contenders in a hotly contested practice game.

Alec Brand calmly booted a 22-yard field goal as time expired to lift Lutcher to a 23-21 victory over Destrehan.

The game-winner capped an impressive 14-play, 67-yard drive that ate up the final 7:28 of the game.

“This is why we come over here each year to play,” Lutcher head coach Dwain Jenkins said. “These are two great River Parish football programs with a ton of history and a ton of tradition. We both expect to play late in the playoffs. It’s just been a war every time we’ve played this thing for as long as I can remember. It’s always a great way to get your season started.

“I’m proud of my young kids. That was a big drive at the end against a very good football team.”

Both teams started very quickly on offense.

Destrehan took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in 11 plays, taking 2:48 off the clock with John Emery scoring on a one-yard run on fourth-and-goal. Emery had a 36-yard run on the drive to set up the score.

Lutcher answered on its first possession, driving 82 yards in 12 plays with Jacoby Williams scoring on a one-yard run. Alec Bland’s extra point tied it 7-7 with 7:13 to play in the half.

The defenses then stiffened and Destrehan came up with a huge play when senior defensive back Macon Clark picked off a Kolby Bourgeois pass in the right flat and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-7 with 1:05 to play in the half.

Lutcher answered with the big play as Bourgeois rebounded by connecting with Gregory Clayton on a 47-yard touchdown pass with just 13 seconds left in the half, capping a six-play, 71-yard drive in just 45 seconds to tie the game 14-14 at halftime.

The Bulldogs took their first lead of the game on the first possession of the second half, driving 56 yards in six plays, taking 3:32 seconds with Bourgeois connecting with Rondell Mealey, the son of the former Destrehan and LSU star of the same name, on a 32-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was botched and Lutcher led 20-14 with 11:28 to play.

The Wildcats responded as J.R. Blood hit Carl Lewis with a 41-yard touchdown pass. Stratton’s extra point gave Destrehan 21-20 lead with 7:35 to play, capping a six-play, 51-yard drive in 3:48.

That set the stage for the game winning drive, with Lutcher running it extremely well, 12 times in 13 plays. The only pass play was the biggest play of the drive, a 20-yard pass to Gregory Clayton from Bourgeois.

Taking the place of LSU signee Jontre Kirklin, Bourgeois completed 8-of-15 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He rushed six times for 36 yards. Clayton caught four passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. Mealey had three catches for 30 yards and a score and rushed four times for 18 yards.

Daevon Adams rushed 12 times for 69 yards and caught one pass for seven yards. Jacoby Williams rushed seven times for 40 yards and caught one pass for four yards.

For the Wildcats, Blood was 7-of-14 for 83 yards and a touchdown. Lewis had three catches for 54 yards and a score. John Emery rushed seven time for 50 yards and a touchdown and Kyle Edwards rushed four times for 38 yards.

“We saw some good things,” Destrehan head coach Steve Robicheaux said. “That is what jamborees are for. I thought we played a good football team tonight. A couple of turning points could have made it different. My hat’s off to them. They made plays when they had to and we didn’t stop them when we needed to. One concern we had going in was the size of our defensive line and I thought that kind of hurt us a little bit. I think we will be okay.”

In the junior varsity portion of the jamboree, Lutcher prevailed 12-6.

Destrehan opens its regular season at home against Slidell while Lutcher hosts East Ascension next Friday night.

Final
LHS 14 9 — 23
DHS 14 7 — 21

Rushing Yards
Lutcher 163
Destrehan 102

Passing Yards
Lutcher 133
Destrehan 83

Total Yards
Lutcher 293
Destrehan 185

First Downs
Lutcher 19
Destrehan 10

Penalties
Lutcher 3 for 38 yards
Destrehan 4 for 42 yards

Turnovers
Lutcher 1
Destrehan 1