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Week 7: ESJ vs East AscensionESJ defeated East Ascension in the seventh game of the season. ESJ is 2-0 in league play. By WILLIAM WEATHERSSpecial to The AdvocateGONZALES — The bouquets being thrown East Ascension High School’s way belied the unmistakable wafting of mud throughout Spartan Stadium. It also did little to ease the pain of a second straight District 6-5A setback. East Ascension pushed eighth-ranked East St. John to the brink Friday but watched a three-point lead evaporate in the final 10 minutes when the Wildcats scored touchdowns on offense and defense to escape with a 14-3 victory. “We played in a quagmire out there and they did too,” East St. John coach Larry Dauterive said. “We made some mistakes but were able to regain our composure. I don’t know how good we are, but they (the Spartans) a lot better than their record. They’re a much improved team from last year.” The latest bitter pill to swallow for East Ascension (3-4, 0-2) came a week after the Spartans were tied 2-all at halftime with third-ranked Hahnville but imploded in the second half with six fumbles and wound up dropping a 37-2 decision. “Our kids played so hard and I wanted them to have the opportunity to get a win,” EA coach John Lambert said. “I don’t think after the last two weeks this football team deserves to be 0-2 in district.” EA carried out its upset bid farther, keeping East St. John’s potent offense that averaged 37 points and 417 yards under wraps for nearly 38 minutes. The Spartans, thanks to pressure from defensive end Q’Dareus Lomas, limited the Wildcats (6-1, 2-0) to 33 yards on 30 plays through three quarters. Lomas had three of his team’s four sacks of quarterback Henderson, resulting in 26 yards of losses. “That No. 94 killed us,” Dauterive said of Lomas. “He had a phenomenal game.” Running back Reynaldo Young sparked ESJ’s lone scoring drive with a 21-yard gain over the right side that almost went for a touchdown had it not been for a fumble at the Wildcats’ 49-yard line. A 12-yard reverse by wide receiver Dhaquille Williams moved the ball to EA’s 24, and on first down quarterback Henderson found Williams on first down to complete the seven-play, 70-yard drive with 10:07 remaining. “That was it,” Dauterive said of the scoring drive. “We had to do it because we didn’t have many more chances. We kept fumbling the ball, but our defense rose to the occasion and played lights out.” Defensive back Floyd Raven increased ESJ’s lead to 14-3 with 3:13 to go — returning an interception of quarterback Chance Rivett 24 yards. Marco Barrera added his second extra point. That scoring drive helped ESJ finish with 116 total yards on 48 plays, including just 46 yards on the ground on 32 attempts. Henderson, a Tulsa commitment, completed 4 of 14 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. “Our defense played a heck of a game,” Lambert said. “Just like East St. John’s offense, we couldn’t get anything generated in the mud.” EA totaled 95 yards — all on the ground — with Briscoe Davis leading the way with 39 yards on eight carries. Avery Williams added 23 yards on six attempts. Rivett failed to complete a pass in eight second-half attempts and suffered three interceptions. EA’s defense recorded three sacks of Henderson for 26 yards in losses, including two from Lomas, and limited the Wildcats to minus-1 yard of offense — enabling the Spartans to hold a 3-0 halftime lead. EA’s offense put together three of its four first downs, driving 61 yards in nine plays with Michael Stafford knocking through a 25-yard field goal at the 9:22 mark of the second quarter. The Spartans took advantage of a pass-interference penalty on third-and-7 while Williams and Davis had first-down runs of 12 and 13 yards, respectively, to keep the six-minute drive moving. “Our kids played so hard and I’m so disappointed that they can’t taste victory tonight,” Lambert said. “I love these boys. They play hard and I’m sad for them.”
Use the links below to view previous recaps, pics and videos from each game. 8/20/09 ESJ vs McDonogh #35 scrimmage 8/28/09 ESJ vs St. Charles Jamboree 9/4/09 ESJ vs Patterson - Week 1 9/11/09 ESJ vs Istrouma - Week 2 9/18/09 ESJ vs St. James - Week 3 9/25/09 ESJ vs Rummel - Week 4 |
