Zachary special enough to edge West Monroe in Class 5A semifinal

Special teams was just that for Zachary in a 29-27 win at No. 1 West Monroe sending the Broncos to the Class 5A football state championship game for the second time in three seasons.

Zachary kicker Martell Fontenot nailed three field goals and was 2-of-2 on extra point kicks to help propel his team to the road victory.

“We knew coming in that he was outstanding,” West Monroe coach Jerry Arledge said of Fontenot. “That was really the difference in the ball game.”

After Zachary went up 17-7 at halftime, just the second time West Monroe (13-1) has trailed at halftime all year, the Broncos forced the Rebels to punt on the first possession of the third quarter and later Fontenot built the team a 20-7.

West Monroe sophomore Garrett Kahmann then entered the game in place of Alabama commit and senior Slade Bolden. Bolden moved to slot receiver for the fourth quarter.

Kahmann lit a fire under the Rebels with 141 yards and a touchdown on 9-of-12 passing and set up a four-yard touchdown run by junior Cameron Wright that briefly gave the Rebels the lead after a PAT kick by Reece Aultman

Zachary retook the lead for good on a Kellon Brown touchdown pass of 35-yards to Kris Simmons. Fontenot made another field goal before Kahmann hit a couple more big pass plays including a three-yard touchdown strike to Ethan Snowden.

The ensuing two-point play was a pig tail route to Bolden which the Zachary secondary tipped away. The Broncos then recovered a West Monroe onside kick to preserve victory.

Zachary will advance to meet Hahnville in the Class 5A championship game Saturday at 7:30 p.m. inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.