Washington-Marion’s day began with a bit of hope but ended with heartbreak.
The Charging Indians’ playoff hopes received an unexpected boost in the morning when an earlier loss to Booker T. Washington-New Orleans was turned into a forfeit win by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.
But Rayne quarterback Dylan Judice scored on a sneak on fourthand-goal from the 1 as time expired, and Deuce Comeaux’s ensuing extra point gave Rayne a 42-21 win.
The play made Rayne (6-4, 4-0) outright District 4-4A champions and ended W-M’s playoffs hopes.
There was some confusion after Judice’s touchdown. The play was initially ruled a touchdown, prompting Rayne celebrations. But after the referee gave a signal, W-M (5-4, 1-3) started celebrating.
W-M head coach Jules Sullen said the referee was signaling game over, not that W-M had made a stop.
The game wasn’t over as Rayne needed the extra point to win. Comeaux converted it to give Rayne the win.
The final drive covered 68 yards in the final 3:05 of the game. Judice completed the lone pass attempt for 18 yards and Darian Chevalier ran five times for 42 yards on the drive.
W-M had took a 41-35 lead on a 64-yard pass from Justin Thomas to Tyree Brown with 6:33 left. The Charging Indians made an interception on Rayne’s next drive, but their final possession ended with a turnover on downs at the Rayne 32.
“It was bittersweet,” Sullen said. “Our kids fought their butt off. We had a couple of starters out but we competed well.
“The program is headed in the right direction. (Rayne head coach Kaine Guidry) said we were one of the best teams they have seen all season. That’s a credit to the kids, the coaches and all the work we have done.”
Justin Thomas completed 14 of 16 passes for 219 yards to lead W-M. Ray Thomas ran for 145 yards and three touchdowns.
Judice finished with 314 passing yards and four total touchdowns. Chevalier ran for 128 yards and Kylin Wheeler had 113 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Rayne led 28-22 at the half. The Wolves scored on a 7-yard run by Chevalier, 4-yard run by Joseph Emilien and TD receptions of 12 yards by Breylon Young and 69 yards by Wheeler.
Judice completed 8 of 14 passes for 224 yards in the half.
W-M ran for 180 yards in the half, getting scores on runs of 4 and 80 yards by Ray Thomas and a 6-yard run by Derrick Paul.
Dekhoury Flagg had a 28-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter for W-M.
“I think we did really well this year, even though for every coach the objective is to finish in the top 32,” Sullen said. “The only thing we can do now is take they guys who return, go back to the drawing board and work hard.”