Zachary’s strong first-half ending and methodical second-half opening proved too much for Destrehan in a 31-21 nondistrict home victory Friday night.

The Broncos (6-3) from District 4-5A used a balanced offense, led by Jacori Platt’s two passing touchdowns and 230 passing yards. Ethan Kimme was on the receiving end for 173 yards and a score, and Jeremey Patton added 92 yards rushing and a score.

“We’ve been concentrating on that for two or three weeks, just talking about the importance of that,” Zachary coach David Brewerton said about his team’s mid-game flourish. “Defense got a three-and-out deep in their territory, and we were able to kick a field goal before half. Then we came out with a 16-play drive, took (8:05) off the clock and finished with a touchdown. That was big.”

Quarterback Au’shai Smith led the 7-5A Wildcats (7-2) with 116 yards rushing and two rushing TDs, and Malachi Dabney added 73 yards rushing and a score.

“In the first half, not capitalizing in the red zone twice, I thought was the difference in the ballgame,” Destrehan coach Marcus Scott said. “They did a good job, and we stalled in the red zone. You can’t do that against a good team.”

Late in the first half, Van Moore of Zachary pinned Destrehan at its own 2 with a 48-yard punt. The field-position edge helped the Broncos force a three-and-out and a short punt that gave Zachary the ball at the Destrehan 30.

Evan Lopez kicked a 31-yard field goal on the last play of the half to provide Zachary a 17-7 edge. His kick was set up by a pass-interference penalty that put the Broncos in field goal range.

After halftime, Platt’s 1-yard direct-snap run on fourth-and-goal finished off an 80-yard series on the first possession of the third quarter as the Broncos took a 24-7 advantage with 3:55 remaining in the quarter.

Destrehan answered on the ensuing drive, marching 64 yards in 1:12. Dabney’s 5-yard run and Ian Arceneaux’s extra point pulled the Wildcats within 24-14 with 2:34 to go in the third quarter.

But Zachary snuffed out any serious hopes of a Destrehan comeback on the next series. Tylek Lewis’ 13-yard run with 50 seconds left in the third quarter capped a 77-yard drive and gave the Broncos a 31-14 edge.

Smith’s 15-yard TD run with 6:17 left accounted for the final Destrehan score.

The two teams traded first-quarter turnovers. Cameron Florent of Destrehan recovered a bobbled snap at the Zachary 32, but the Wildcats were turned back when Darius Lee intercepted a pass and returned it to the Zachary 14.

The Broncos took advantage of the turnover with an 86-yard touchdown drive. Platt connected with Kylin Jones for a 13-yard touchdown pass as the Broncos went up 7-0 with 1:40 to go in the quarter.

Destrehan drew even midway through the second quarter. Smith took a shotgun snap, cut right and outraced a defender for a 35-yard touchdown as the Wildcats tied the game at 7-7 with 6:48 remaining in the first half.

Zachary answered on the ensuing drive. Platt’s 55-yard touchdown pass to Kimmie put the Broncos ahead 14-7 with 5:04 to go before halftime.