St. James 42 West St. John 0
Wildcats Shutout Rams 42-0
By Kenny HymelSeptember
1, 2006
ST. JAMES, La – Wildcat Luther Ambrose provided another night of entertainment as he rushed 9 times for 173 yards and 3 touchdowns and added a 34-yard touchdown pass reception as St. James shutout West St. John 42-0 before a home crowd at Wildcat Stadium.
At many times, the Wildcats looked very sluggish and many will agree that they did not play up to their full capabilities. However, while the Wildcats bent, they surely never broke.
West St. John actually put up the first points for the Wildcats as a bad snap went over the Rams punter’s head and the punter did the smart thing by taking the intentional safety. Three minutes into the game, the Wildcats led 2-0.
The Wildcats came down the field and scored when Antonio Phillips hit Luther Ambrose for a 34-yard touchdown pass. Jaurelle Narcisse’s extra point was good and with 4:32 left in the first quarter, St. James leads 9-0.
Wildcat linebacker Johnus Thomas had a great game and came up with a spectacular one-handed “defected-into-own-hands” interception. This set up the Wildcat’s second score.
Antonio Phillips hit Terry Isom for a 26-yard touchdown pass. Narcisse’s kick was good and St. James led 16-0 with 2:01 left in the first quarter.
The Wildcats then played a very sluggish second quarter with the only bright spot being a blocked punt by Johnus Thomas.
The start of the second half wasn’t much different until 2:01 left in the third quarter. Luther Ambrose found a hole and hit it very fast, sprinting up the middle for an untouched 70-yard scoring run. With Narcisse having trouble with cramps, sophomore Romell Steib went in as kicker and missed the extra point. St. James led 22-0 at that point.
West St. John’s Daron Bartholomew deserves much credit. Bartholomew made some terrific runs for the Rams and should be their key player this season.
West St. John would have another bad snap on a punt and this time, the Wildcats tackled the punter at the 1-yard line.
Luther Ambrose then took it in from there and with a missed extra point; St. James led 28-0.
When the Wildcats touched the ball again, it was from their own 20-yard line. Just like the previous two drives for the Wildcats, this one only lasted one play. Luther Ambrose took it outside and found open field. 80-yards later, Ambrose was standing in the end zone. Romell Steib hit the extra point and with 7:39 left in the game; St. James led 35-0.
The Wildcats second unit would score one more touchdown as Kenny Zenon took in a 1-yard run. Wildcats win 42-0.
The Wildcats will travel down to Houma next week for a battle with the 5A Terrebonne Tigers.
NOTABLES Luther Ambrose provided the three consecutive 1-play scoring drives. In those three straight plays of offense, Ambrose rushed for 151-yards and 3 touchdowns and I’m not sure he was even touched on any of those three runs.
The St. James Wildcat Marching Band and Dance Team provided a very entertaining halftime show. Many have said that this is the best they have seen the band in years.
Honored during halftime was Former Wildcat basketball coach Lionel Ezidore. Coach Ezidore coached for over 30 years at St. James and brought home two state basketball titles. He was also an assistant football coach on the 1979 state championship team.
A great moment was when game announcer Elvis Cavalier stated one of Coach Ezidore’s most favorite lines – “Get your mind right boy!”
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