FOOTBALL

Eagles too much for East Iberville

PETER SILAS PASQUA ppasqua@postsouth.com
Left, St. John's Nicholas Alexander rushes against White Castle earlier in the season. Right, East Iberville's Devin Johnson carries against White Castle earlier in the season. The Tigers fell to St. John 47-16 in District 8-1A play on Friday night. Alexander rushed for 114 yards and one touchdown in the Eagles' victory. POST SOUTH PHOTO/Peter Silas Pasqua

PLAQUEMINE - St. John the Evangelist High School stormed out to a 26-point halftime lead and cruised to a 47-16 District 8-1A victory over East Iberville on Friday night at the City of Plaquemine Activity Center.

The Eagles (2-6, 2-1), under coach Oliver "Crickett" Crockett, amassed 352 yards rushing while limiting the Tigers (0-8, 0-3), under coach John Young, to 113 total yards.

"We played pretty well," Crockett said. "We scored early and were able to work in a lot of kids. I thought our lineman did the same thing they did last week. They are really starting to come together."

Gavin Primeaux and Willie Williams each scored two touchdowns for the Eagles. Nicholas Alexander rushed for 114 yards and one touchdown and Benjamin Poirrier and Clay Payne each scored once.

"Alexander had a great game," Crockett said. "He is really coming around like most of our young guys are and works well for us. It is starting to come together."

Junius Chong and Joseph Bailey each scored one touchdown for East Iberville.

"We have a bunch of young kids and future looks real bright," Young said. "They have been sticking together and the effort was a lot better. We showed some resiliency, put together some drives and scored some points."

Poirrier recovered a fumble in the end zone to put St. John on the board in the first quarter.

Williams' touchdown runs from 7 and 15 yards increased the lead to 20-0 still in the first frame after Nicholas LeFebrve ran in a two-point conversion. Primeaux added a 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Primeaux's 10-yard scamper into the end zone opened the second half before Alexander's 13-yard burst. Tyler St. Germain converted both point after touchdown attempts to increase the lead to 40-0.

Bailey's 2-yard touchdown run put East Iberville on the board before Chong connected with Shawn Griffin on the conversion to cut it to 40-8.

Chong's 1-yard run and conversion pass to Griffin reflected the final tally after Payne's 4-yard touchdown run and St. Germain's kick.

St. John travels to West St. John (6-2, 3-0) on Friday night in Edgard. The Eagles are in a three-way tie for second place in league standings with White Castle and Ascension Catholic behind the Rams.

"We feel like we are playing for a district championship this week," Crockett said. "West St. John does a great job, they are very well coached and have great athletes but we have always played great games against them. Very physical and tough ball games and we are looking forward to it."

East Iberville hosts Ascension Christian (1-7, 0-3) on Friday night in St. Gabriel for homecoming.

"Just like we have them circled on the calendar, they have us circled, too," Young said. "We can't underestimate them. They are a lot better than last year and have been waiting for it too."