The road warriors are alive and well as the miles and miles of long trips continue for Destrehan.
The 10th-seeded Wildcats are back where they always seem to be, in the LHSAA state football semifinals after outscoring previously unbeaten and No. 2 seed Airline 69-41 in Bossier City Friday night in the Division I Select quarterfinals.
It is the ninth time in 12 years that Destrehan has reached the semifinals and the fourth time in five seasons on the job for Wildcats head coach Marcus Scott.
Speaking on The Three Tailgaters Show on 106.1 The Ticket Saturday morning, Scott said it was a team win.
“We have been unbelievable on offense, hard to stop,” Scott said. “We had a balanced attack and that was the difference. We scored on defense twice as well, two big plays which helped us. The goal was to get two stops per half to steal a possession or two and we were able to do that.”
Once again, sophomore running back Malachi Dabney was superb.
Dabney rushed 36 times for 232 yards and scored five touchdowns. Daney has scored 11 touchdowns in his last two games. Dabney added a catch for five yards.
“He has shown great maturity and he was ready for the moment,” Scott said. “Our senior running back got hurt and he stepped in. It was a learning curve. He practices so hard. He is prepared mentally and physically and he has been so good.”
Airline, with its prolific offense, lived up to its reputation.
The Vikings scored first, taking a 6-0 lead and led 13-6 in the first quarter but it would not last.
The Wildcats took a 21-13 lead after one quarter.
The Destrehan defense contributed to the win, creating three turnovers.
Semaj Walker had a pick-six, returning an interception 35 yards for a score and Damien Richard intercepted a pass and returned it 96 yards to set up a 2-yard touchdown by Dabney late in the first half to provide a solid working margin as the Wildcats took a 48-27 lead into halftime.
It was 62-41 heading to the fourth quarter.
Jackson Fields connected with top recruit Jabari Mack on a 58-yard touchdown pass. Fields was outstanding, completing 13 of 15 passes for 200 yards.
“Jackson is a difference-maker,” Scott said. “He is a team captain. The kids rally behind him. He has a positive leadership style. He is a calming force and a good, accurate passer. They feed off his energy. We are playing well up front, too!”
LSU commit Phillip Wright had a 33-yard touchdown run, Gregory Wilfred added an 8-yard touchdown and Tony Crump had a 2-yard touchdown.
Airline senior quarterback Ben Taylor completed 36 of 51 passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions and added a rushing touchdown, running five times for 15 yards.
LSU commit Kenny Darby had 12 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. DJ Allen rushed 14 times for 120 yards and three scores. Matthew Moore had a 31-yard touchdown reception.
Destrehan has now won eight straight games and the Wildcats are rolling, having scored 60 or more points in three of their last four games.
The Wildcats (10-3), winners of eight straight games, advance to the semifinals where the road miles will continue with another trip to north Louisiana to take on defending state champion and No. 3 seed Ruston.
The Bearcats advanced with a 49-7 rout of No. 6 Southside.
It is a renewal of a great rivalry, controlled by the Wildcats.
Destrehan defeated Ruston 17-10 in the 2022 Division I Non-Select state championship game. The Wildcats ousted the Bearcats 24-10 in the 2021 quarterfinals and defeated Ruston 6-0 in the 2020 quarterfinals. Destrehan beat Ruston 17-10 in the 2008 regional round.
Ruston has won eight state titles while Destrehan has won five championships.
“We’ve played them at different venues,” Scott said. “Coach Jerrod Baugh does a great job. We have a ton of respect for each other and for his program. Every time we play, it is stressful and meaningful. They do it right at Ruston. We’re honored to compete with them again and it is the first time we are going to their stadium.”