Big Time Players Make Big Plays When It Is Time – St. James Wildcats host the Union Parish Farmers 3A Semi Finals

It was going to be a battle of offensive fire powers and defensive stops for the 3A Semi-Final matchup between the St. James Wildcats and the Union Parish Farmers. The winner would advance to the LHSAA 3A State Championship game next Friday at the Superdome.

Union Parish came into the game with one of the most talented, up and coming running backs in Louisiana for the Class of 2023, Treyvion Holly.  They also have one of the top athletes in the state for C/O of 2021 Trent Ginn.  Ginn plays quarterback for the Farmers but is projected as a slot or running back at the next level. Defensively they are physical and came into the game looking to keep St. James unbalanced offensively.

St. James would bring one of the top wide receivers in Louisiana for C/O 2022, Shazz Preston, along with running back 2020 Sean LeBoeuf (Navy Commit), and one of the top athletes (ATH) in Louisiana, 2020 Shamar Smith who is a UTSA Commit.

Defensively for the Wildcats they are stacked with talent.  LSU Target, 2021 Saivion Jones and 2020 DE Chase Geason anchor the edges for the Wildcats, while a host of very talented linebackers and defenders in the secondary (#4 2020 FS Tyler Steib, #6 2020 MLB Lamon Lewis, and #10 2021 LB Kaleb Brown to name a few) fly to the ball and have provided some of the best coverage during games all season.

The Wildcats would receive the opening kick of the game and return it to the 48 yard line setting up the offense in great position to move the ball down the field. Smith and Preston connected on a 40 yard pass play to put the Wildcats deep into Union Parish territory.  Smith would then take the snap and run the ball in from the 12 yard line for the score, putting the Wildcats on the board first, 7-0 with 6:33 left in the 1st Quarter.

On the ensuing drive, it took Union Parish one play to answer the Wildcats as Trey Holly (12 Carries, 137 Yards) took the toss from Ginn.  Holly avoided a would be tackler, hurdled another and was off down the sideline for a 74 yard touchdown run, bringing the score to 7-6 (extra point no good) 6:14 left in the 1st Qtr.

In the second quarter it was more defensive stops by both teams as they tried to match up with the opposing offenses.  The Farmers were able to get two big defensive stops, 1.) when the Wildcats decided to go for the field goal try on 4th down but instead ran a fake.  Union Parish was not fooled and the Wildcats turned it over on downs. Then again, 2.) with 2:16 left in the half Smith scrambled and launched a pass in the air that was picked off by Union Parish’s Devontae Dismuke.

St. James would answer with their own defensive turnover as senior defensive end Chase Geason hit Ginn in the backfield dislodging the ball and junior outside linebacker Kaleb Brown jumped on the loose ball to make the recovery.

That fumble recovery would then lead to an offensive touchdown when Smith hit Preston for a completed pass at the 8 yard line and Preston then would claw and fight his way into the endzone for a touchdown, bringing the score to 13-6 Wildcats. (Extra point no good)

That would be the halftime score in the ballgame.

Union Parish would get the ball first after halftime.  They would proceed to take the ball 9 plays and 80 yards for a touchdown, as Sophomore running back Ja’Quarious Donald bullied his way in for the score from the 10 yard line.  The Farmers would then convert the 2 pt conversion by Trey Holly, which would give them their first lead of the game, 14-13 with 7:18 left in the third quarter.

The Wildcats would then get the ball back.  It didn’t take long for Shamar Smith and Preston to connect again and again and again, in fact four straight completions between Smith and Preston brought the ball deep into Farmers territory.

On a 4th and 3, ball on the 34 yard line, with 11:16 left in the game the Wildcats were going for it.  This would set up the most dramatic play and the play of the game.  Shamar Smith would scramble out of the pocket, rolled to his left, then did a reverse spin and stepped up to launch a 34 yard pass.  The pass was caught in the endzone by Freshman running back Kaden Williams.  Extra point would be no good, but the Wildcats would regain the lead 19-14 with 11:16 left in the game.

Later in the 4th quarter, the Wildcats would again get the ball and look to secure the win.  On 3rd and long Smith would find his favorite target of the night, Preston over the middle for a big first down.  That play would give the Wildcats a much needed first down to help run down the clock.  Again with 3:48 left and needing to convert of 3rd down, Smith would take the ball and scramble 10 yards to continue running the clock.

Continuing to hold on to a tight lead over the Farmers, 19-14, the Wildcats would find themselves with a 3rd down and 12.  Smith would roll out of the pocket scramble to his left and connect with Shazz Preston on an 18 yard spectacular diving catch that would bring the down markers to the 4 yard line with 2:36 left in the game.

A few plays later, Shamar Smith would take the snap and head into the endzone for a touchdown to secure the win for the Wildcats and bring the score to 25-14 St James 1:17 left in game. You could feel it in the air, it was looking like The Superdome was in the Wildcats sights.

Smith finished the game with 15-of-24 Passing, 211 Yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT.  He also carried the ball 15 times for 73 yards and a Touchdown.

His biggest target of the night was to 2022 WR Shazz Preston (LSU Target) finished the night with 12 catches for 185 yards and a Touchdown. “Big time players make big time plays in big games, ” stated Coach Valdez referring to Preston and the entire Wildcat team.

The entire defense for the Wildcats played an outstanding game.  They did a great job maintaining their gaps, securing the edges and keeping pressure on the Farmers offense to minimize big run plays and taking out the passing game.  One of the standout players for the Wildcat defense was 2021 OLB Kaleb Brown.  He may not be the tallest player on the field, but he is the most fiercest player you will find as part of the St. James Wildcat defense. #10 2021 OLB Kaleb Brown was all over the place last night and there is a reason he has “CAUTION” on his back plate!

“You can’t describe it,” stated St. James Coach Robert Valdez.  “We have such a great community and great supporters. The kids put in a lot of work and it has been a real process to get to this point.  This is for beautiful downtown Vacherie and all the alumni, family and friends.”

With the victory the Wildcats will face No. 22 Jennings in the State Finals on Dec. 13 at The Superdome in New Orleans.