ST. JAMES FOOTBALL 2009	(Playoffs: Second Round) vs Patterson
St. James' rough season comes to end in 48-21 loss to Patterson By Kenny Hymel www.stjameswildcats.com November 20, 2009  ST. JAMES, LA -- The 2009 St. James Wildcats will forever be remembered as a team who overcame an ultimate downfall to still achieve a mark of accomplishment. Now, an example has been set for future Wildcat teams who may run into a season of adversity. The Wildcats opened up with a 0-5 record before bouncing back to win district and reached the second round of the playoffs. Tonight's Regional playoff game took place in St. James but the stadium could never find its usual atmosphere on this night. The Patterson Lumberjacks' Kenny Hilliard showed everyone why he got a full-page article about him in Sports Illustrated, the nation's most highly regarded sports publication. Hilliard quieted the home St. James crowd with a 4-touchdown performance. The game began in seesaw fashion and Patterson was first to score when a Patterson receiver caught a deflected pass in the end zone. The extra point was good, giving the Lumberjacks a 7-0 lead with 4:48 left in the first quarter. St. James then answered when sophomore Kenneth Armant took it around the corner for a 53-yard scoring run. Jaleel Steib's extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 3:08 left in the first quarter. Patterson's Hilliard then struck with his first touchdown of the game, taking a snap out of the "Wildcat" formation, turning the corner, and then blasting up-field 76-yards for a score. The extra point was good making it 14-7 with 2:41 left in the first quarter. At the 8:24 mark in the second quarter, Hilliard scored his second of the night when he took in a 1-yard dive play. The extra point was good extending Patterson's lead to 21-7. St. James again answered and again it would come from Kenneth Armant. Armant took a handoff and timed his bounce to the outside perfectly in route to an 11-yard scoring run. Steib's extra point cut into the Patterson lead 21-14. The Lumberjacks would score twice before halftime. The first score came with 1:30 left in the half when Patterson scored on a 12-yard sweep play. St. James was forced to punt after a very quick three-and-out. With 5 seconds left before halftime, Patterson's quarterback threw a screen pass to Hilliard and Hilliard overpowered his way downfield before ultimately finding the end zone. This would be the dagger in the heart for St. James as Patterson now led 35-14 at halftime. In the third quarter, Hilliard would score his fourth and final touchdown when he took in a 25-yard run. With 8:48 left in the third quarter, Patterson extended their lead to 42-14. The Lumberjacks got one final score in on a 4-yard quarterback keeper. Late in the fourth quarter, St. James' Kenneth Armant would put the Wildcats on the board one last time. Armant scored his third of the night when he took in a 16-yard run. Lester Verret kicked the extra point to produce the game's final score of 48-21. Patterson will advance to play Parkview Baptist in the quarterfinals. For St. James, a very frustrating -- but a few times glorious -- season comes to an end. The Wildcats will graduate a senior class of about 20, but a very hungry sophomore and freshmen class should be ready to complement next year's seniors. NOTABLES Coach Gaille reminded his team that while this year felt like a disappointment, it was still a year of accomplishment. "Many people counted you out back when you were 0-5 walking off the field at Salmen," Gaille said. "They said you were done and yet you fought back to win district and reach the second round of the playoffs. You won district because you didn't listen to the critics and you wanted it and that's a lesson that will carry over to everyday life." RETURN TO HOME