Dutchtown earns first football win over Destrehan

Not only did the Dutchtown (Geismar, La.) football team finally beat Destrehan for the first time ever, but the third-ranked Griffins did so emphatically in roaring to a 44-10 victory in the District 6-5A opener for both teams.

Dutchtown running back Effrem Reed carried nine times for 101 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Leon Blouin rushed nine times for 126 yards and a touchdown and threw for 25 more.

"(Blouin) and Reed are what make us go," Dutchtown coach Benny Saia said. "They were consistent and executed our game plan. You can't ask for more than that out of your big-time players."

Blouin and Reed each scored on a 2-yard runs. Reed added a 45-yard touchdown scamper in reaching the end zone for the 11th and 12th times this season. Dutchtown improved to 6-0 overall while Destrehan, the 2007-08 state champion, fell to 2-4.

"They sure have been a thorn in my side," Saia said of Destrehan. "This is our first win in eight tries against them, so it's huge. Whenever you beat a program of their stature, it's a great thing for your program."

Two freshman quarterbacks replaced regular Destrehan starting quarterback Dillan Dent, who sat out the game after sustaining a concussion a week earlier. Mark Trudeaux lead Destrehan with 10 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown.

JESUIT DERAILS FOURNETTE
Jesuit (New Orleans) finally slowed down sensational St. Augustine (New Orleans) freshman running back Leonard Fournette in upsetting the fourth-ranked Purple Knights in the District 10-5A opener for both teams, 14-13.

After four consecutive 200-yard games, Fournette was held to 49 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Fournette, 15, sat out the second half after bruising a knee sometime during a first half that saw St. Augustine grab a 13-7 lead.

Fournette had been averaging 239.3 yards rushing per game and 10.1 yards per carry. His 5-yard touchdown run, which was his 14th of the season, opened the scoring for St. Augustine. But it wasn't enough to keep the Purple Knights from losing to their Catholic League rival for the second year in a row.

Jesuit scored its game-winning touchdown on quarterback Connor Mcmahon's 4-yard run around the right side with 3:08 to play. Ralph Freibert provided the decisive extra-point kick.

McMahon capped a four-play, 56-yard drive that featured tailback Dylan Richard's runs of 30 and 12 yards prior to McMahon's score. Jesuit had gained possession when linebacker Deion Jones stopped St. Augustine's Terry Lucas for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 from the Jesuit 43-yard line.

Jesuit's defense stood firm, again, on St. Augustine's final drive. After the Purple Knights gained 34 yards and two first downs to reach the Jesuit 46-yard line, a host of defenders tackled Lucas after a 1-yard gain on fourth-and-6. Jesuit improved to 5-1 with the victory while St. Augustine had its three-game winning streak snapped in falling to 3-2.

Jesuit's Richard finished with 25 carries for 185 yards.

MITCHELL THROWS SIX TOUCHDOWN PASSES
More than a fourth of quarterback Chris Mitchell's completions resulted in touchdowns, as he tossed six scoring passes in Natchitoches Central's 38-6 victory over winless Southwood (Shreveport) in District 1-5A action.

Mitchell completed 23 of 35 passes for 372 yards, including three touchdown passes to Juston Roberson, who finished with seven receptions for 130 yards. Roberson's touchdown catches covered 15, 22 and 47 yards.

Natchitoches Central held a 24-6 halftime lead and then scored on the first possession of the third quarter when Mitchell capped an eight-play, 60-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Aaron. Aaron also had a 6-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter and finished with six receptions for 118 yards.

"We have four guys that can catch the football, and we have a guy that can throw it," Natchitoches Central coach Brandon Helms. "That's what we do. We throw the ball to set up the run."

Southwood scored its only touchdown a minute before halftime on quarterback Chester Bates' 6-yard pass to Jeremy Washington.

VANDEBILT CATHOLIC EARNS EMOTIONAL VICTORY
Playing its first game since the death of starting quarterback T.J. Cantrelle and safety Ian Haydel, 10th-ranked Vandebilt Catholic (Houma) took care of Belle Chasse, 24-13, in the District 8-4A opener for both teams. Cantrelle and Haydel died along with two other students in a single-vehicle accident Sept. 26. Vandebilt Catholic canceled its regularly scheduled game with Hahnville that week.

Freshman Elijah McGuire paced Vandebilt Catholic's return to action with 23 carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns. His 10-yard scoring run with 44 seconds left provided the Terriers with a much-needed insurance touchdown.

"Those guys played with a lot of heart," Vandebilt Catholic coach Laury Dupont said. "We beat a good football team."

Belle Chasse quarterback Farron Jones accounted for 127 yards while throwing two touchdown passes to Ashphenn Gaines.

BASKETBALL: GLEN OAKS' DRYE COMMITS
Glen Oaks (Baton Rouge) 6-foot-6 senior forward Trevante Drye has committed to Tulane and plans to sign a basketball scholarship during the early signing period in November. Drye averaged 19 points and 13 rebounds as a junior when Glen Oaks reached the Class 4A semifinals.

Drye earned All-Metro and Class 4A all-state honors as a junior and currently carries a 3.6 grade point average.
Drye said he "enjoyed being recruited, but I'm glad it's over. I like the fact that Tulane is close to home, but not too close. The academic programs, and the chance to get a degree there, are too good to pass. The coach (first-year coach Ed Conroy) is determined to build a winning program. And I like his style of play, too."