There appears to be no stopping De La Salle and star tailback P.J. Martin. Not in the regular season, at least.
The Cavaliers completed a record-setting season Thursday night in a 33-7 District 9-4A victory against Booker T. Washington to spoil the Lions’ homecoming at City Park’s Tad Gormley Stadium.
De La Salle (10-0 overall, 4-0 in 9-4A) completed just the second 10-0 regular season in 73 years of playing football while Martin rushed 20 times for 183 yards and four touchdowns covering 25, 78, 8 and 1 yard to finish as De La Salle’s single-season record-holder in rushing yardage and touchdowns.
Martin completed the regular season with 1,879 yards and 25 touchdowns on 185 carries, averaging over a first-down per carry, while playing in only nine games.
Ranked both No. 4 in Class 4A and in Metro rankings for schools from 5A and 4A, the Cavaliers under Coach Graham Jarrott won their 12th straight regular-season outing dating to 2021 to match the 10-0 regular-season feat of the 2016 team that finished 11-1. The Cavs are De La Salle’s fifth football team to go undefeated in the regular season.
Booker T. Washington (4-5 overall, 3-0 in 9-4A) entered having won three of its last four outings following a 1-4 start.
How it was won
De La Salle scored on its first and fourth possessions of the first half to establish a 13-0 lead at intermission that would not be relinquished. Martin opened the scoring with a 25-yard run in the first quarter to cap a 68-yard march that also was highlighted by a 52-yard completion from quarterback Evan Arceneaux to wide receiver Jace Bienemy one play before the touchdown. Arceneaux and running back Jeramiah Wills followed two possessions later with a 29-yard scoring pass to culminate a 77-yard drive.
A real pleasant surprise for the Cavaliers was the passing of Arceneaux, who completed 7 of 9 first-half attempts for 144 yards and a touchdown. The Cavs sophomore had been sharing playing time at the position.
De La Salle’s defense completely throttled the Lions’ offense and Tulane-committed running back Arnold Barnes. The Cavaliers limited BTW to 84 yards rushing, 149 total and 7 first downs after a first half in which the Lions totaled 38 yards and 4 yards rushing while limiting Barnes to minus 1 yard on 5 carries. Ranked among the Metro area rushing leaders, Barnes finished with 27 yards on 10 carries.
Player of the game
P.J. Martin, De La Salle
Despite all of his heroics, Martin finished 10 yards shy of becoming De La Salle’s career rushing leader after not playing in the fourth quarter that began with De La Salle leading by the final margin of 33-7. A 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior with offers from Purdue, Nicholls State, Southern, Western Illinois and Incarnate Word, surpassed the single-season rushing record of 1,769 yards set by Anthony Thomas in 2011 via a 10-yard, second-quarter run. Martin eclipsed the former single-season touchdown mark of 24 set by running back Cole Lewis in 2014. Martin additionally can take aim at Montrell Johnson’s career record of 3,361 yards in the playoffs. Martin has rushed for 3,352 yards.
They said it
De La Salle RB P.J. Martin: “It feels great to finally have the (single-season) record. It’s kind of a funny story, when I started the season I was just trying to break Montrell (Johnson’s) single-game rushing record of 340 yards and six touchdowns. But as we got going and the yards started piling up, I figured why not go for the record.’’
De La Salle coach Graham Jarrott: “P.J. deserves (the records). He’s a great kid. He’s battled back from a tough injury last year. He’s a complete back. He runs with speed. He runs with power. He runs with great vision. He did a great job of blocking tonight. It’s just been fun for an old offensive lineman to watch the OL and P.J. work together.’’
Jarrott: “We have a great senior class. I love these seniors. They’ve bought in. We played a very tough schedule to get ready for what we’re about to face. This was a good team we beat tonight, the best team in our district besides us. So I’m happy for these kids (to be undefeated and district champions). But we’re focused on the playoffs and moving forward.’’
Notable
• In addition to this season and 2016, De La Salle’s other undefeated regular-season teams came in 2020 (7-0), 2017 (9-0) and 1960 9-0).
• De La Salle is scheduled to advance to the Division II Select state playoffs. The Cavaliers entered with a No. 4 power rating and can earn a first-round bye by maintaining a top 4 rating.
• Booker T. Washington also is scheduled to advance to the Division I Select playoffs. The Lions entered with a No. 19 power rating.