Williams scores in final seconds to lead West St. John past Country Day

Wantrell Williams was having the game of his life but his West St. John Rams trailed the Country Day Cajuns 35-34. On homecoming night in the Rams first district game of the season, he decided to make his career night the stuff of which legends are made.

Williams scored on a 7-yard touchdown run with 27.6 seconds remaining. With a successful two-point conversion run, he gave the Rams a 42-35 win against their District 9-1A rivals Friday night.

The Rams needed every bit of the 253 rushing yards on 21 carries and three touchdowns to battle past the Cajns.

West St. John (4-3, 1-0), 7th in the Nola.com Super small school rankings, used a 22 point third quarter to help give them a big lead and Williams late score gave them the win. The score was an answer to the Cajuns’ Justin Ibieta and Tyler Williams, who gave the Cajuns the lead 35-34 with just over 2 minutes to go on a 74 yard scoring pass, the third connection between the two on the night.

The Cajuns had one last chance to tie or win the game, but Ibieta was sacked by Kailey Edwards with the clock reading zero to give the Rams the win.

“It’s tough to be on the sidelines and watch (a game like that),” said head coach Brandon Walters. “Country Day is a (heck) of a team and we had to fight. I’m glad our team showed some resilience and fought until the end.”

Dakyri Jackson did his part for the Rams too, as he finished the game with 126 yards and 2 touchdowns on 12 carries.

As for Country Day (4-3, 1-1) the 6th ranked team in the Nola.com small school rating, it was a disappointing finish after a strong start. The Cajuns got out to a 21-12 halftime lead and moved the ball well on offense. Williams finished with 6 catches for 125 yards and 3 touchdowns while Ibieta had a brilliant night going 21-30 for 389 yards and 5 touchdowns, the other 2 going to CD St. Hilaire who finished with 7 catches for 130 yards. Unfortunately for the Cajuns, Ibieta also threw 2 interceptions, including one at the one-yard line in the late 3rd quarter to squander an opportunity.

“We’ll be alright,” said head coach Joe Chango. “We’ll heal ourselves and be okay. We just have to get some things cleaned up in all phases of the game to be ready for playoff time.”

Williams got the scoring started with his 10 yard scoring strike in the first quarter to make it 6-0 West St. John.

Country Day responded with consecutive scoring drives which ended with Ibieta finding Williams in the end zone from 12 and 4 yards respectfully to put the Cajuns on top 14-6.

The Rams then went 81 yards in 4 plays, ending with Jacksons 1 yard scoring run after runs of 22 and 48 yards respectfully by Williams. A failed two-point conversion attempt made it 14-12.

Ibieta went back to work after that in finding St. Hilaire from 14 yards out to make it 21-12 at half.

The Rams went on a tear after that with Jackson and Williams scoring back to back touchdown runs of 57 and 47 yards respectfully.

Another score from Ibieta to St. Hilaire and a 40 yard scoring Run from Kaejean Kendrick made it 34-28 Rams before the final slew of events tied up a game to remember.