Lumberjacks move to Superdome in thriller

After six months of training, 13 hard fought games and 46 and a half grueling minutes against West Feliciana, just one and a half yards stood in the way of Patterson and their season-long goal of making the Louisiana Superdome.

Lumberjacks coach Tommy Minton gave the ball to All-American halfback Kenny Hilliard n and the rest is history.

Mission accomplished, Patterson is going to the Dome to battle for the 3-A Championship.

In a stunning come from behind thriller, the Lumberjacks scored with just more than a minute to play to bring the score to 21-20.

After an offsides penalty on the extra point try inched the ball closer to the goal line, the Lumberjacks changed their plans and went for two and the win.

From there, the play call was easy.

“I’m putting the ball in 4’s hands,” Minton said. “He’s the best damn player in this state. I’m putting the ball in his hands.”

Minton did, giving the ball to Hilliard off the right guard. The All-American halfback was met at the line of scrimmage, but kept driving forward and into the end zone, securing the completion of the comeback and the 22-21 win.

“We were down, but we just never gave up,” Hilliard said, shaking off tears after the game. “They just put it on my shoulders. They said, ‘4, put that thing in the end zone. You’ve got to do what you do best,’ and that’s what I did. Through the grace of God, that’s what I did. I can’t explain it.”

Left tackle Treylon Jenkins can explain it n he said it’s the work of the best prep football player to ever play in Louisiana.

“There was never any doubt,” Jenkins said. “He was going to get into the end zone no matter what. He did what he had to do and we blocked up front. There was no doubt at all.”

Hilliard’s dramatics stretch far beyond the 2-point conversion to seal the win.

West Feliciana held a 21-14 lead and had the football with less than two minutes to play with the Lumberjacks holding no timeouts.

Game over?

Not a chance.

Hilliard forced a fumble, deflecting Saints’ quarterback DeShawn Morrison’s second down option pitch to get the Lumberjacks the football, which allowed the magic to happen.

Patterson scored on the very next play on a 50-yard pass from Lumberjacks quarterback Justice Jones to Jaydrick Declouette to bring the deficit to one, before Hilliard sealed the win.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, there was hardly a dry eye in Patterson, as the victorious Lumberjacks shed tears of joy in triumph, while the opposing Saints mourned their heartbreaking loss.

Fireworks lit up the night sky in celebration and the Patterson faithful stormed the field to celebrate their win as a community.

“We’re going to the Dome,” Lumberjacks reserve quarterback Denzel Johnson said. “I’m just so excited. I don’t have many words, but I just know I’m happy. I love my team.”

Jenkins agreed and said there was “no way,” a little adversity would keep the Lumberjacks from the Superdome.

“We worked too hard all summer for it to end here on our home field,” Jenkins said. “I just told them boys, to keep their heads up, because we’re a fourth quarter team. We always come back in the fourth quarter. This just feels great.”

Even with the monumental win, there still is one more challenge on the table for the Lumberjacks.

Patterson will play this Friday in the Class 3A State Championship Game against Parkview Baptist, who beat the defending champions Notre Dame 17-0 in the Semifinals.

Parkview is 11-2 on the season and will mark the Lumberjacks’ third-consecutive playoff opponent from District 7-3A.

But Patterson’s focus will be less outward and more inward. The Lumberjacks turned over the football five times against West Feliciana, including two fumbles by Hilliard and a fumble and two interceptions by junior quarterback Justice Jones.

Cleaning those things will be the team’s focus this week, as well as staying grounded after emptying their tank in the semifinals.

“It feels good, it does feel good,” Minton said. “But we turned over the ball five times. And in a game of this caliber, you’re not supposed to win turning it over five times.”

Either way, they’re on to the dome.

“Everyone come to the Superdome and see us play,” Hilliard said. “We love when we have support, so we want everyone in Patterson, Morgan City, everywhere around to come and support us. It’s going to be a great night.”

Members of the Patterson football team celebrate as the final seconds tick off the clock in Friday’s win against West Feliciana. With the win, the Lumberjacks are going to the Louisiana Superdome for the Class 3A State Championship Game. CASEY GISCLAIR