Hahnville and Destrehan meet in every sport every year and always deliver a great game for all the fans to enjoy. However, this season’s matchup looks to be the closest since the overtime thriller in 2012. The two teams look to reestablish their position as one of the best rivalries in the state of Louisiana, as well as, one of the best rivalries in the nation. After Hahnville’s coaching change last season the expectations are nothing less than a deep playoff run every season, and Destrehan is coming off of back to back trips to the state semifinals and a Runner-up finish last season.

Hahnville comes to the game with a totally new offense and again with new faces on the coaching staff. This off-season presented the team with a plethora of struggles: the tigers are on their fifth offense of the season. After loosing former offensive coordinator Frank Allelo halfway through the summer, however, new OC Lester Richard is confident in their current offensive scheme. The Tigers also recently lost their offensive line coach, and the assistant coaches (now the head offensive line coaches) had to scramble to teach the linemen the complicated blocking scheme incorporated in this offense.

Despite the struggles the Tigers have had success through their old reliable, the running game. Hahville has always had major success with the run. This year it is through, what Coach Salaformagio calls, a
three-headed monster rushing attack comprising of Drew Dunn, Anthony Williams, And Norquel Flowers. These backs have produced huge amounts of yardage all throughout the season so far. Hahville, like any other run first team, diligently runs the football until they simply tire out the defense and breakout for a big gain. At the same time the when quarterback Mike Neal gets time in the pocket he can make a defense pay, and he has with more than a few passing touchdowns. The Tiger defense is again strong in the secondary. However, when the defensive line can get a push upfront to stop the run and force a team to be one dimensional turnovers can rain down from the secondary. If the Tigers can stop the run initially and give Mike Neal time in the pocket they will win the Battle on the River.

The Destrehan Wildcats had a much less eventful off-season, it was simply business as usual on 1 Wildcat lane. Coming off of the disappointing loss last season in the 5A State Championship the Wildcats are poised to make another run at a State Championship. The Wildcats are again strong upfront on defense with two major division-1 recruits and one committed to the University of Texas as an ESPN top 300 recruit. Just as strong on offense, the Wildcats made a flawless transition even with loosing a large amount of players from last year. When quarterback Cohen Granier is not throwing touchdown passes to John Williams and Justin Jefferson he is handing it off to star running back Karon Taylor. As if Destrehan does not have enough in their starters, the wildcats have another running back in Kristian Mosley, who could easily start on most other Louisiana high school teams. The Wildcats need to avoid becoming one dimensional on the Tigers stout secondary and stop the Hahnville’s creative running attack, and they will win the battle on the river.

These two teams are sure to deliver this Friday night at Tiger Stadium. Fans are in for a real treat and always will be with two of the top teams in the state only miles apart from each other.

Get there early and plan to stay late because this Battle on the river is sure to be one for the history books.