Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Round 1 (Playoffs) Friday November 27

Weekly Record: 8-1 Overall 75-22 Featured Games 7-5

#28 Ouachita Lions (1-4) Vs #5 Destrehan Wildcats (7-1)

It seems as if it has taken forever to get to this part of the season and no team could agree with that more than the Ouachita Lions. The Lions are used to post-season berths but the route they've taken in 2020 is one that they'd soon like to forget. Coach Jeff Fitzgerald's bunch has not hit the field since a tight-knitted loss to district rival, West Monroe way back on the first Friday of November. The long hiatus could have demolished the Lions shot at the playoffs, but a lofty strength of schedule has given the Lions a shot at redemption. Ouachita acquired a #28 seed in the 5A bracket and will travel south to face a perennially great Destrehan team that has lost just one game this season. The Lions have the weapons to beat any team in front of them which would not fare well for Destrehan. QB Zac Shaw has been brilliant through his final campaign as signal-caller for the Lions and he will need to be even more than that if he wants to keep his senior season alive. Alongside of him is another senior, Boris Richard. The 6'1 tailback tallied over 400 yards in 5 regular season games and would've been a household name state-wide had this been a normal season. Junior scatback, Marcell Henderson has also been a treat to watch. The speedster can line up from several positions on offense and his versatility has given him the title as the Lions' "X-Factor". Although the Lions defense has given up some big numbers in some games, over-all this group has what it takes to get big stops. Besides a week 1 bomb vs Union, the Lions have been sound against some very good offenses. Led by junior LB Carmicah Glass, the Lions defense may need to find ways to put points on the board Friday night if they want to upset a very good Destrehan team. I'd be willing to bet that seniors, S Brandon Kimes and DT Eric Pleasant won't want to end their playing careers this week so I'm expecting an all-world performance from them on Friday.

Like Ouachita, Destrehan dropped their first game of 2020, but unlike the Lions they haven't lost since. The Wildcats are one of a few teams that actually played all 8 games of this abbreviated season. In those games they've scored 36ppg while only allowing 10ppg. The Wildcat offense is spearheaded by senior RB Razan Keller who has rushed for 850 yards and 15 scores in the regular season. QB Jai Eugene is also a name to remember moving forward. The 10th grader is the son of former Wildcat athlete, Jai Eugene Sr who was ranked as the #1 DB in the country during his days at Destrehan. After committing to play for Michigan in 2006 the elder Eugene opted to attend LSU to be closer to his son, a move that has obviously paid huge dividends for both. DB Tyler Morton leads the stingy Wildcats defense and provides exactly what all coaches expect at the position. He leads the team in tackles and interceptions. Last week the Nicholls St commit came away with 2 picks and a fumble recovery vs rival Hahnville.

In case you've been sleep or under a rock for the past 20 years, you should have heard of Destrehan. As a matter of fact, these teams have a small history. In the 2004 5A first round, the Lions were beaten by Destrehan 20-18 in what was the first and only time the 2 teams have met. However, since then the Wildcats have made several appearances in the state title game (winning consecutive 5A titles in 2007 and 2008). This could be the type of game that lifts spirits on Milhaven and kick-start a dormant Lions program that some feel has underachieved the past few years. A season ago, the Wildcats lost a thriller in the 5A championship game to Acadiana and I'm sure they'll have their sights set on getting back there to redeem themselves. It's also conceivable that a team as good as Destrehan could look past an opponent with a 1-4 record, but that could be the Lions' saving grace. I think the long break has given the Lions time to get fresh and healthy and this game will go down to the wire. I'm expecting the Richard and Henderson to lead the Lions to an early lead but costly turnovers in the second half catapults the home team to a lead and the win.

Destrehan 34 Ouachita 23

Other Games:

5A

#10 West Monroe 28 #23 Chalmette 13

#13 Ruston 42 #20 Hahnville 16

4A

#4 Neville 44 #29 Peabody 8

#10 Eunice 34 #23 Bastrop 26

3A

#2 Union Parish 51 #31 North Webster 18

#12 Sterlington 34 #21 West Feliciana 10

#13 Carroll 26 #20 Brusly 22

2A

#2 Mangham 48 #31 Madison 8

#7 Ferriday 59 #26 East Feliciana 12

#12 General Trass 41 #21 Rayville 14

#18 Kentwood 26 #15 Jonesboro-Hodge 20

#4 St Helena 47 #29 Vidalia 16

1A

#1 Oak Grove (Bye)

#13 Delta Charter 33 #20 Lasalle 14

#14 Arcadia 12 #19 Delhi 8

#11 Centerville 45 #22 Tensas 6

Division IV

#3 OCS 43 #14 Hamilton Christian 24

#15 St Fred 20 #2 Vermillion Catholic 14

#4 Ascension Catholic 55 #13 Cedar Creek 20

Grissom's Top 10

Final Ranking

1 Union Parish Farmers (7-0)

2 Mangham Dragons (8-0)

3 Oak Grove Tigers (7-0)

4 O.C.S. Eagles (6-1)

5 West Monroe Rebs (4-1)

6 Neville Tigers (4-2)

7 Ruston Bearcats (4-2)

8 Ferriday Trojans (5-1)

9 General Trass Panthers (5-2)

10 Sterlington Panthers (4-2)

Just Missed It: Carroll, Bastrop, St Fred, Cedar Creek

Grissom's G.O.At. Of The Week

Week 8

(Offensive)

Hunter Herring

-OCS Eagles-

9/16 113 Yards

15 Carries, 220 Yards, 5 TDs

GRISSOM'S G.O.AT. OF THE WEEK

WEEK 8

(DEFENSIVE)

ZYHEIM MACKEY

-GENERAL TRASS PANTHERS-

16 TACKLES

42-20 WIN OVER RAYVILLE

GRISSOM'S G.O.AT. OF THE WEEK

WEEK 8

(DEFENSIVE)

ZYHEIM MACKEY

-GENERAL TRASS PANTHERS-

16 TACKLES

42-20 WIN OVER RAYVILLE