Pearl River entertains East Jefferson tonight

Pearl River’s Rebels play host to the East Jefferson Warriors tonight in a District 9-4A match up.

Pearl River (5-3, 1-1) enters play tonight after suffering a 48-0 loss to undefeated Franklinton. East Jefferson (5-3, 0-2) is coming off a 17-14 non-district overtime victory over Warren Easton.

The Rebels won last year’s game 29-14.

Fans will want to make sure they are on time as this one has the makings of a quick game since both teams like to run the ball and control the clock.

Pearl River will rely on the feet of fullback James Gillum and half back Kendall Twillie. Halfback Jeremiah Levy is out for the year with a torn ligament in his foot. PRHS Joe Harris said Levy’s spot will be done by committee with junior Tyler Brady and sophomore Julien Carter both seeing time.

Last week, the offense struggled. Gillum gained just 15 yards on 14 carries in the first half. Pearl River’s only first down in the first half came on a fake punt. Defensively, the Rebels run an odd stack.

The unit opened last week’s game by forcing Franklinton to turn the ball over on downs, but they had trouble after that against a tough Demons’ squad.

For East Jefferson, the Warriors have turned things around. Going into this year, East Jefferson went 3-26 over the last three years, but are now in a battle for a playoff berth.

Warriors’ coach Dominic Saltaformaggio’s goal this year has been six wins since he feels that will get his team to postseason, but at least give his club a winning-record.

“No matter what happens, six wins makes you a winner and at this stage where this school’s been the last few years, it will help this school and its football program,” he said.

Saltaformaggio also said his team beat a quality group last week.

In last week’s victory, East Jefferson scored its touchdowns on a pair of 99-yard drives. One was a 15-play possession and the other was 17-plays.

Kicker Alex Perdomo kicked the go-ahead field goal on the first possession of overtime and then the defense held Warren Easton out of the end zone. They were on the field for seven plays in the OT. Warren East got pushed back to the 30, but on third down, East Jefferson was called for pass interference, moving the ball to the 15.

“There were times in East Jefferson football they would’ve quit,” Saltaformaggio said. “These guys want to keep on playing. They lift hard and practice hard.”

Saltaformaggio said his team was in goal-line defense for 19 plays last week.

Offensively, East Jefferson runs the flex-bone.

Harris said Pearl River expects to see a lot of rushing plays against his defense.

“We’ve seen them do other things, but we think they’ll try to beat us with the run,” Harris said.

Junior quarterback Jarred Lewis leads the Warriors. He tops the squad with 589-rushing yards and five touchdowns, while throwing for 314 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Last week, Lewis ran for 232 yards on 32 carries.

The main running back is senior De’Jon Holmes, who has 408 yards on 78 carries to go with two scores.

Sophomore Justin Rebennack has 75 yards and three touchdowns.

The leading wide receiver is senior wide receiver Richard O’Quinn, who has six catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, East Jefferson has a four-man front with different looks.

Senior back Sargent Huntley and junior linebacker Jerald Robbins lead the unit.

Going into last week’s game, Huntley had 44 total tackles, 34 solos to go with two sacks, one interception and a forced fumble.

Robbins entered last week’s play with 66 stops, 49 individual, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and a blocked punt.