West Jefferson comes first for No. 6 Griffins

GEISMAR - Dutchtown head coach Benny Saia has more than the West Jefferson Buccaneers to worry about this week.

Saia also has to worry about suits and corsages with the school’s homecoming dance scheduled for Saturday.

“You have to win the game for the dance to be good,” Saia said. “We have to focus on the game.”

Dutchtown has taken care of its job so far this season as they move into the second game of a four-game home stand Friday night at Griffin Field. The Griffins’ victories over Redemptorist and Broadmoor have given the team respect as evident by the jump one spot to No. 6 in the Class 5A poll.

“It is an honor,  but I don’t think they are going to put any points on the board for us before the game starts because we are ranked No. 6,” Saia said.  “We want to be ranked at the end of the year. Not at the beginning. If anything it puts a bulls eye on your chest for your opponent.

Everybody likes to knock off a ranked team. It probably makes it a little bit harder for us because it gives the other team incentive.”

Dutchtown (2-0) is coming off a 34-8 victory over Broadmoor, while West Jefferson defeated Edna Karr 19-12 in overtime Saturday. Saia said the Griffins can’t overlook the Buccaneers with a showdown against Catholic, a team Dutchtown defeated in the regional playoffs last season after an earlier loss, looming next week and District 6-5A play beginning the week after.

“Every game is important, but the further end of the schedule you get, the more important they become,” Saia said. “You just are trying to get power points and position yourself for the playoffs. To be honest, district games don’t mean any more than other game now because of how you are seeded in the playoffs.”

Dutchtown defeated West Jefferson 38-18 last season as running back Eddie Lacy scored four touchdowns rushing for 166 yards on 26 carries.

Running back Kelvin York has led the Dutchtown offense so far this season, rushing for more than 100 yards in each of Griffins’ victories as Lacy has been slow to come back from a knee injury sustained in a scrimmage against Zachary. York has 278 yards on 38 carries this season,

including two touchdowns. Fullback Lyndon Holmes has  added three touchdowns to go with 167 yards on 17 carries. Quarterback Wesley Perkins has completed 8 of 19 passes for 141 yards and threw two touchdowns against Broadmoor. Hybrid back Efferm Reed has gained 44 yard rushing on eight totes while catching three passes for 79 yards. Lacy did play last week gaining 62 yards on five carries.

“Kelvin has been a good football player since he has been here,” Saia said. “He is just a good player and we have been very fortunate to have two good running backs and I am not surprised at all at the production that Kelvin has given us and expect that. We are working (Lacy) back into shape. I think when we can get them both on the field at the same time, we will be very dangerous.”

Dutchtown’s defense limited Broadmoor to just 103 total yards. Randy Thackery made eight tackles, while Richard Buckland had six, including three for losses and Grant Medine added five with four going for losses.

Both of West Jefferson’s games have come down to the wire this season. The Buccaneers went for the win in a 14-13 loss to Mandeville and the two-point conversion pass was knocked away in their season opener. Dwayne Lee scored on an 8-yard run in overtime in the Buccaneers win over Edna Karr.

West Jefferson, a member of District 9-5A, is under first-year head coach Marcus Scott. Hank Tierney resigned after last season. The Buccaneers return seven starters on offense and five on defense from a team that finished 5-6 and lost to Destrehan 37-12 in the first round.

Lee rushed for 71 yards on 12 carries last week. Kevin Shief had three receptions for 87 yards a week earlier and has 32 yards on six carries for the year. Quarterback Terrell McCall has thrown for 243 yards and three touchdowns this season completing 18 of 35 passes. His top receiver has been Glen Coleman who has hauled in seven receptions for 82 yards.

“They are a shotgun, four-wide team,” Saia said of West Jefferson. “They throw the ball a good bit. They are big and athletic and they are a good-looking football team. They have beaten a good Karr team and they lost in overtime to a good Mandeville team. (Scott) really has them playing hard.”