August 2013 Bayou Catholic - Football Guide

Bayou

Catholic

2013 Football

Kicking off a new season LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Contents Nicholls State University Colonels

46 E.D. White Catholic High School Cardinals

52 H.L. Bourgeois High School Braves

Central Catholic High School Eagles

49 South Lafourche High School Tarpons

54 Morgan City High School Tigers

Vandebilt Catholic High School Terriers

50 Thibodaux High School Tigers

56 South Terrebonne High School Gators

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58 Terrebonne High School Tigers

64 Louisiana State University Tigers

70 Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2013

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60 Ellender Memorial High School Patriots

66 Tulane University Green Wave

74

Central Lafourche High School Trojans

68 New Orleans Saints

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Football

2013 Louisiana College Team Schedules Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Sat. Aug. 31 ......................................... North Carolina State Sat. Sept. 7 ................................................................LAMAR Thurs. Sept. 12 ......................................................TULANE* Sat. Sept. 21 ............................................................... Kansas Sat. Sept. 28 .................................................................. Army Sat. Oct. 5 ........................................................UT – El Paso* Sat. Oct. 19 ................................................ NORTH TEXAS* Sat. Oct. 26 ........................................ Florida International* Sat. Nov. 9 ................................SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI* Sat. Nov. 16 .................................................................... Rice* Sat. Nov. 23 ...............................................................TULSA* Sat. Nov. 30 ..............................................UT – San Antonio*

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HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes Conference USA games

UL Lafayette Rajun Cajuns Sat. Aug. 31 ............................................................ Arkansas Sat. Sept. 7 ....................................................... Kansas State Sat. Sept. 14 ...........................................NICHOLLS STATE Sat. Sept. 21 ................................................................. Akron Sat. Oct. 5 .................................................... TEXAS STATE* Tues. Oct. 15 ...........................................Western Kentucky* Tues. Oct 22 or Wed. Oct. 23 ......................Arkansas State* Sat. Nov. 2 ......................................... NEW MEXICO STATE Thurs. Nov. 7 .............................................................. TROY* Sat. Nov. 16 .....................................................Georgia State* Sat. Nov. 30 ....................................LOUISIANA-MONROE* Sat. Dec. 7 ....................................................South Alabama*

McNeese Cowboys Sat. Aug. 31 ..................................................... South Florida Sat. Sept. 7 ................................ ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF Sat. Sept. 14 ............................................. WEST ALABAMA Sat. Sept. 21 .................................................WEBER STATE Sat. Sept. 28 ...................................................Northern Iowa Sat. Oct. 5 ................................................ Central Arkansas* Sat. Oct. 19 .................................. SAM HOUSTON STATE* Sat. Oct. 26 .................................................... Nicholls State* Sat. Nov. 2 ........................SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA* Sat. Nov. 9 ................................................Stephen F. Austin* Sat. Nov. 16 .............................. NORTHWESTERN STATE* Sat. Nov. 23 ................................................................ Lamar* HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes Southland Conference games

Southern Jaguars Fri. Aug. 30 .......................................................HOUSTON** Sat. Sept. 7 ...........................................North Western State Sat. Sept. 14 .....................................PRAIRIE VIEW A&M* Sat. Sept. 21 ..................................Mississippi Valley State* Sat. Sept. 28 ...........................................JACKSON STATE* Sat. Oct. 12 ............................................... ALABAMA A&M* Sat. Oct. 19 ..........................................Arkansas-Pine Bluff* Sat. Oct. 26 ...............................................ALCORN STATE* Sat. Nov. 2 ....................................................Texas Southern* Sat. Nov. 9 .....................................................Alabama State* Sat. Nov. 16 .............................................. CLARK ATLANTA Sat. Nov. 30 ................................. GRAMBLING STATE* ** HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes Southwestern Athletic Conference games **Denotes games played at a neutral location

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HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes Sun Belt Conference games

Grambling Tigers Sat. Aug. 31 .............................................. ALABAMA A&M* Sat. Sept. 7 ............................................... Louisiana-Monroe Sat. Sept. 14 .........................Lincoln University of Missouri Sat. Sept. 21 .................................................Alabama State* Sat. Sept. 28 ..............................................................LAMAR Sat. Oct. 5 ............................................... Prairie View A&M* Sat. Oct. 12 .......................................................Alcorn State* Sat. Oct. 19 .................................................... Jackson State* Sat. Oct. 26 .........................................TEXAS SOUTHERN* Sat. Nov. 2 ..........................MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE* Sat. Nov. 9 ..................... University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff* Sat. Nov. 30 ......................................... Southern University* HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes Southwestern Athletic Conference games Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2013

Craig Hebert, PT • Craig Pate, PT 104 East Bayou Rd. (Hwy 308) ~ Thibodaux, LA 70301 ~ (985) 446-3736 www.thibodauxpt.com

About our

sports writers Ed Daniels has been sports director at WGNO Channel 26 in New Orleans since 1993. A native of New Orleans, Daniels graduated from Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie and later received a degree from Loyola University in New Orleans. Daniels started in television in 1977 as first sports intern at WVUE Channel 8 in New Orleans. In 2001, Daniels created “Friday Night Football,” the first high school football show in New Orleans. He was named Louisiana Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association in 1997.

Jeremy Becker, a native of Thibodaux and resident of Schriever, graduated from Nicholls State University in 1995 with a degree in marketing and in 1997 with a master’s of business administration.

While working on his master’s, he was a graduate assistant with the Nicholls Colonel Club and is currently president of the Colonel Athletic Association. Becker is director of the Office of Stewardship and Development for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

Steve Caldarera, a native of Vacherie, has been the Bayou Catholic’s Tulane columnist for many years. He graduated from Nicholls State University with a degree in communications. Caldarera has experience in announcing sports for radio and doing play-by-play for Nicholls State University. He was the first advertising manager for the Bayou Catholic and currently works in insurance and investments with the Steve Caldarera Group.

Wil Touchet, a native and resident of Houma, LA, graduated from Vandebilt Catholic High School in 1997 and received a bachelor of arts in mass communication from Nicholls State University in 2001. He has been a sports correspondent for The Courier and Daily Comet since 2008 and a Bayou Catholic contributor since 2009. Touchet currently teaches and coaches at West Thibodaux Middle School.

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Football

Nicholls State University Colonels

Coach Charlie Stubbs

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Sat. Aug. 31 ......................................................................................Oregon Sat. Sept. 7 .................................................................... Western Michigan Sat. Sept. 14 ............................................................... Louisiana-Lafayette Sat. Sept. 21 ............................................................................LANGSTON Sat. Sept. 28 ................................................................ ARKANSAS TECH Sat. Oct. 12 ................................................... NORTHWESTERN STATE* Sat. Oct. 19 ................................................................... Stephen F. Austin* Sat. Oct. 26 .................................................................. McNEESE STATE* Sat. Nov. 2 ........................................................................................Lamar* Sat. Nov. 9 .................................................................. Sam Houston State* Sat. Nov. 16 ......................................................... CENTRAL ARKANSAS* Thurs. Nov. 21 .................................................... Southeastern Louisiana* HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes Southland Conference games

Big year for Nicholls football and Coach Stubbs

By JEREMY BECKER oming off of back-to-back 1-10 campaigns, there are not too many people thinking that the 2013 version of the Nicholls State University Colonel football team will be much different from the previous two teams. But do not tell that to fourth year head coach, Charlie Stubbs, the 53 returning lettermen, or the incoming class of freshmen and transfers.

This will be a big year on the field for Stubbs for quite a few reasons, but one of the biggest reasons will be that this year’s Colonels will consist of nearly all of “his” players, as only three players on the current roster were not signed by Stubbs to play for Nicholls. Many college football analysts consider the fourth year for a head coach as the most important year in terms of measuring a coach’s ability to win since the coach now has “his” team and to certain extents, that level of measurement can be applied to Stubbs.

Before more discussion can take place about the Colonel football team’s on the field performance, the players’ performance off the field must be mentioned as Stubbs’ dedication to academic accomplishment must be complimented. Since Stubbs has been at Nicholls, the football team’s NCAA Academic Progress Rate,

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2013

which measures the academic, retention and graduation rates from student-athletes over a fouryear cycle, has gone from one of the worst in the Southland Conference to one of the best. Additionally, Nicholls was tied with one other school for the most players on the Southland All-Academic team with five and had a total of 34 players named to the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll.

Returning to the production on the field, Nicholls fans are anxious to see some Colonel victories and after Stubbs’ initial season saw the Colonels end with a somewhat surprising 4-7 record including a strong finish with back-to-back wins over Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana, there was some excitement beginning to brew in Thibodaux as Stubbs was now starting to bring in more players that fit his style of coaching.

Unfortunately, that strong finish did not carry over. To make the desire for wins even more difficult this season, Nicholls will open with the most difficult schedule in the Football Championship Subdivision as they open at Oregon, who will be a top five preseason pick, at Western Michigan and at UL-Lafayette, who is coming off of their second consecutive New Orleans Bowl win. Facing three Football Bowl Subdivision schools

in one season is never easy, but it is even more difficult to do it for three weekends in a row and all on the road.

Following the three extremely difficult games, the Colonels will be at home for three consecutive games against Langston, Arkansas Tech for Homecoming and Northwestern State, which will also be the Southland Conference opener.

Following the “Battle of the NSUs,” Nicholls have their traditional SLC games with Stephen F. Austin, Lamar, Sam Houston State and Southeastern Louisiana on the road and McNeese State and Central Arkansas at home.

With four recruiting classes under his belt, combined with his stress on academic performance, Stubbs will be entering this season with what is likely his deepest team at every position.

The position where the amount of depth is most evident is along the offensive line as the Colonels will return four starters from last year, including Honorable Mention All-SLC tackle Abasi Salimu.

Additionally, the Colonels will see the return of Rafe Plaisance, a South Lafourche product, along with three FBS transfers and a number of returning sophomores and redshirt-freshmen, to give Nicholls what will be the most depth along the line in the past few years.

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With a better performing line, the offense should be able to move the ball better, especially through the air as junior quarterback Beaux Hebert will be looking to lead the pack. With last year’s starter, Landry Klann, being injured and not able to participate in spring drills and is likely to be out for the 2013 season, Hebert has to be able to take more snaps in practice.

Nicholls will continue to run a type of two-quarterback offense with the second QB being more of a runner and that position will be held by sophomore Tuskani Figaro who made a big splash early on last season before suffering a season ending injury.

To further illustrate the potential of the Colonel offense, Nicholls will also be returning All-SLC performers in senior running back Marcus Washington and junior tight end Nick Scelfo. Another position that will look to be improved will be the receivers as they have a good core of returning players along with quality newcomers looking to make a splash on the field.

The Nicholls defense is looking

TALBOT CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

Erik Buchanan

to be much more improved as there will be senior leadership spread all over the field. On the defensive line, seniors Edet Udoh and Lorenza Young will be the anchors and senior Chris Bermond will have to be the cornerstone of the linebacking corps.

The defensive backfield will have a good concentration of seniors. The two safety positions will see three seniors rotating in the positions in Jordan Hanberry, T.J. Lumar and Siegan Vergenal along with senior Brian Lewis at one of the corners.

The senior leadership will continue with special teams as senior Andrew Dolan, an All-SLC kicker, returns.

With experienced leadership and quality depth, Coach Stubbs’ 2013 version of Colonel football has the potential be a good and respectable team, which is important in the fourth year of a coach’s tenure.

What is considered good and respectable – winning SLC games.

Will Coach Stubbs’ position be on the line with another disappointing season, possibly; but with his team’s performance off of the field, he has the support of the athletic administration. If this Colonel team can make it through the gauntlet of the first three games relatively healthy, this team has the potential to match the six wins of Stubbs coaching career this season, if not more.

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Football

Quarterback Beaux Hebert

Photos by Talbot Creative Photography

48

Josh Hanberry

Jordan Hanberry

LHSAA new ruling

Andrew Dolan Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2013

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) voted in January to break the playoffs into five public (non-select) classes and four private (select) divisions, which means that in the postseason public schools will only compete against public schools, and private schools will only compete against private schools. In total, nine LHSAA state football champions (five public and four private) will be named.

E.D. White and Vandebilt will compete in the Division II playoffs which will feature 16 teams. Central Catholic will compete in the Division IV playoffs which has 30 teams. The public high schools featured in this publication will compete in the Class 4A and Class 5A playoffs, which will each feature 32 teams.

Read high school football forecasts for coaches’ comments about the change.

Central Catholic Eagles Fri. Sept. 6 ........................................................................ LOREAUVILLE Fri. Sept. 13 .............................................................. LUSHER CHARTER Fri. Sept. 20 ............................................................................... E.D. White Thurs. Sept. 26 .............................................................. Highland Baptist* Thurs. Oct. 3 ..................................................VERMILLION CATHOLIC* Fri. Oct. 11 .................................................................... Hanson Memorial* Thurs. Oct. 17 ................................................ ASCENSION EPISCOPAL* Thurs. Oct. 24 ............................................................ Lafayette Christian* Fri. Nov. 1 .......................................................Metairie Park Country Day Fri. Nov. 8 ................................................................................GUEYDAN* Coach David Fuhrer

HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes District 7-1A games

Young Eagles team hopes to soar in 2013

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By Wil Touchet he Central Catholic baseball team made a run to the Class 1A state title game this past school year.

And while that was a positive for the school, the football team wasn’t able to do much during spring practice because many of its members play baseball as well.

Central Catholic has 36 football players this season and is coming off a 6-5 mark in 2013 in which it went 3-1 in district and lost 26-19 to Cedar Creek in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs.

“Our baseball team made it to the state championship, so we didn’t have much of a spring,” Eagles coach David Fuhrer said.

“We didn’t go in pads. We just went out and got a jump start on summer workouts. We need to be in shape because we have a lot of guys who are playing for the first time and we have a lot of guys who will be playing both ways. We also had a good summer. We have some experience coming back, but we will still be fairly young. I think the seniors we have coming back will help out a lot.”

The Eagles lost 12 seniors from last year’s team and have six seniors this season.

“I think one weakness will be our offensive line. We have only two returning starters, and we don’t have much depth there,” Fuhrer said. “That is a concern. We have to get some young kids going. They have to learn the system. That is an area of emphasis right now. We play a tough nondistrict schedule.

We have to just play mistake-free football early on, and we have to be in good physical condition to play four quarters. The young guys we have will have to grow up early, and we will have to rely on some senior leadership throughout the season.”

On offense, Fuhrer said the Eagles will count on senior offensive linemen Collin Conner and Joe Michel and that Tyler Hoffpauir, Stephano Guarisco and Nick Case are battling for the starting quarterback spot.

On defense, Guarisco and Hoffpauir in the secondary, linebacker Garret LeBlanc and Conner, Michel and T.J. Ruffin along the defensive line are expected to lead the way.

Central Catholic will compete in the new District 7-1A with Ascension Episcopal, Gueydan, 49 Hanson Memorial, Highland Baptist, Lafayette Christian and Vermilion Catholic.

“We don’t know too much about Highland Baptist and Lafayette Christian yet because they just started programs,” Fuhrer said.

“They have a few new coaches in the district so there are even more unknowns. We know Vermilion Catholic will be doing the same thing with some excellent athletes.

They have been district champs the last few years. It will be another tough district.”

Central Catholic will automatically make the playoffs and will compete in the Division IV playoffs, which will feature 32 spots. There are 30 teams in Division IV and the top two teams will receive first-round byes.

With regard to the LHSAA ruling, Fuhrer said, “I don’t like it. I don’t think it’s good for the association. I just hope it does not lead to the splitting of other sports.

It might become an issue in other sports. I just don’t think it was a good thing.” www.bayoucatholic.com

Football

Vandebilt Catholic Terriers Fri. Sept. 6 ................................................................................. E.D. White Fri. Sept. 13 ...........................................................................THIBODAUX Fri. Sept. 20 .............................................................................. ST. JAMES Fri. Sept. 27 ........................................................................... PATTERSON Fri. Oct. 4 ...................................................................BROTHER MARTIN Fri. Oct. 11 .................................................................... South Terrebonne* Fri. Oct. 18 .........................................................................................Brusly Fri. Oct. 25 .............................................................................. Assumption* Fri. Nov. 1 ..............................................................................Morgan City* Fri. Nov. 8 ...................................................................... A.J. ELLENDER* HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes District 7-4A games

Coach Brad Villavaso

Terriers hope to carry last season’s success into this season

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By Wil Touchet andebilt Catholic football coach Brad Villavaso has been asked the question many times this offseason.

After the state’s leading rusher 50 in 2012 – Elijah McGuire – ran for 2,603 yards and led the Terriers to an 11-2 record, a district championship and to the Class 4A quarterfinals where the run ended with a loss at Neville, people have wondered what the Terriers are going to do without McGuire, now at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, in 2013.

“When people ask me, ‘What are you going to do without Elijah?’”

Villavaso said. “I tell them we are going to score in eight plays instead of one.”

Villavaso said he is hoping the success of last season proves

valuable for this year’s team.

The Terriers, who have 87 players, boast eight returning starters on offense and eight on defense.

“We have a lot of guys coming back,” Villavaso said. “We have a lot of guys who know how to win.

They are working hard in the weight room right now, and they understand they can’t wait for one guy to do it. We got into some situations last year where I thought our team was waiting for Elijah to make something happen. That factor is not there now. I think our guys understand we have to have a lot of guys make plays and not just one. Everybody has a chance to be the guy.”

On offense, Villavaso pointed to the offensive line, led by senior right tackle Tyler Bourque, a returning all-state player, senior

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tight end Chase Hawthorne, junior quarterback Bailey Pere and running backs Seth Popay (senior) and Gage Corte (junior) as keys.

“I think with Bailey Pere stepping in at quarterback, we have a kid who makes good decisions and is a little better thrower than Elijah so we will be able to throw the ball a little more,” Villavaso said. “We have to be more balanced. We can’t run the ball as much as we did, but Elijah kept us out of passing situations. I think this year we will have to pass, and we can do it.

We are going to have to control the football and have some long drives.

That will help our defense stay a little more rested.”

Villavaso also said the play of the defense will be important in 2013. Defensive linemen Austin “Chief” Boquet (senior) and Benton Bourgeois (junior),

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middle linebacker Dylan Ward (junior) and returning all-state safety Jordan Bergeron (senior) will lead that unit.

“We have a lot of guys coming back on defense,” Villavaso said. “We have our two safeties coming back and almost our whole defensive line is coming back, and we are losing only one linebacker and two cornerbacks so we are expecting good things from the guys we have back.”

The Terriers will play in the new District 7-4A this season with Assumption, Ellender, Morgan City and South Terrebonne.

“Assumption will be as good as they always are.

Morgan City has a new coach. Ellender gave us trouble for a half last year, and they have all those guys back with the quarterback,” Villavaso said. “South Terrebonne is South Terrebonne and it is always a fight.”

Vandebilt will compete in the Division II playoffs.

There are 17 teams in Division II, but only 16 teams are eligible for the playoffs. So the Terriers, along with every other team in the division, are automatically in.

With regard to the LHSAA ruling, Villavaso said, “We can’t control that, so we really aren’t going to worry about it. I don’t want the kids and coaches worrying about that. If things stay the way they are, we are going to make the playoffs before we even strap our helmets on. We are going to just do what we do and play football.

I think we have the players and coaching staff to have a successful season. I think we have a good football team.

If we work hard, stay healthy, and continue to do what we are doing and the leadership rises up, I can see us being as good of a team as we were last year.”

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Football

E. D. White Cardinals Fri. Sept. 6 ..............................................................................VANDEBILT Fri. Sept. 13 ................................................................................. St. James Fri. Sept. 20 ........................................................... CENTRAL CATHOLIC Fri. Sept. 27 ................................................................ Catholic-New Iberia Fri. Oct. 4 ................................................................ ARCHBISHOP SHAW Fri. Oct. 11 .............................................................. DONALDSONVILLE* Fri. Oct. 18 ................................................................................... Franklin* Fri. Oct. 25 ........................................................................... PATTERSON* Fri. Nov. 1 .................................................................................Assumption Fri. Nov. 8 ..................................................................................... Berwick* HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes District 9-3A games

Coach Kyle Lasseigne

Cardinals getting back to running the football 52

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By Wil Touchet fter a couple of seasons of implementing more of a passing offense, the E.D. White Catholic football team is getting back to its smash-

mouth ways.

Cardinals coach Kyle Lasseigne said the Cardinals will focus on the running game more this season out of the triple-option alignment.

“Offensively, we are going back

to the old triple-option,” Lasseigne said. “We never really got rid of it, but the version we are going to run will suit the quarterbacks we are going to have a little better. That will be our focus. To run that,

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you have to have great timing and make good decisions and you have to be physical up front. We have to grow up quick on the offensive line and be physical. That is what we are working on over the summer, in addition to getting our kids as strong as they can get.”

The Cardinals were 6-5 and 2-3 in district last season and fell in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs to district foe Brusly. This year they have 105 players and 18 seniors after losing 15 seniors last year.

Lasseigne said the defense, led by senior linebacker Justin Theriot, senior defensive lineman Scottie Sanders and senior safety Seth Ledet will be one of the team’s strengths.

“Defensively, we bring a lot of kids back. We had some kids on defense that in the spring switched positions, so they are kind of learning a new spot,” Lasseigne said. “It will take a while for them to get accustomed to it, but there are a lot of defensive kids who saw action on Friday nights, so I think that is the strength of our football team. We’ve got experience in a lot of different places on defense. Most of them are seniors and you can’t trade that experience. We run a little better than we have since I have been here on defense. We are not really, really big, but we have pretty good speed.

Once our guys on defense get their assignments down, I think we will be fine because we have some kids who are really aggressive. We have to fly around and turn the ball over to our offense.”

Lasseigne, who added the participation at summer workouts was the best since he has been at the school, said senior center Taylor Casteigne and running backs Darius Charles (junior), Jeremy Rounds (sophomore), Thomas Legendre (junior), Josh Chiasson (senior) and Dannon Steib (senior) will be keys to the offense.

E.D. White will get a new turf field this season and there will be other improvements to Yockey Bernard Field at Harvey Peltier Memorial Stadium. The team will play in the new District 9-3A with Berwick, Donaldsonville, Franklin and Patterson.

“We are back to the Highway 90 district,” Lasseigne said. “We were familiar with them a few years back.

Patterson and Franklin have great athletes, Berwick is an up-and-coming program and Donaldsonville also has great athletes. The district is loaded with athletes and lots of speed. That is always a challenge for us. We have to be assignment sound defensively and control the ball on offense, and that is how we are going to have to play in our new district.”

In the playoffs, E.D. White will compete in Division II. There are 17 teams in Division II, but only 16 teams are eligible for the playoffs. So the Cardinals, along with every other team in the division, are automatically in.

With regard to the LHSAA ruling, Lasseigne said, “To say the least, I think it will be different. Knowing you are going to have nine champions in Louisiana high school football waters things down a little bit. We have never shied away from anybody. We are willing to play anybody. We are going to compete, but I just think it’s disappointing you are not going to compete against your entire class. It’s also disappointing that we are getting thrown in with 4A in the playoffs. It’s not the way the LHSAA ever thought it should happen.

I don’t know what the answer is, but in Week One the excitement will be there and our kids will play hard.

Our goal is ultimately to win a state championship, so that is what we are going to focus on.”

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Advocacy for Young People Part of the mission of our office is to successfully guide young people to make Christian choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values and vision of the Catholic Church. We do this through the following youth programs: • Christian Leadership Institute • Teens Encounter Christ • Monthly aNew Experiences • Youth Rally • Junior High Faith Experience • Social justice opportunities • Trips to national conferences • Support Steubenville on the Bayou

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Football

South Lafourche Tarpons Fri. Sept. 6 ...................................................................LANDRY/WALKER Fri. Sept. 13 ................................................................. South Plaquemines Thurs. Sept. .............................................................. 19 Archbishop Shaw* Fri. Sept. 27 .................................................................... EAST ST. JOHN* Fri. Oct. 4 ......................................................................... TERREBONNE* Fri. Oct. 11 ................................................................... Central Lafourche* Fri. Oct. 18 ......................................................................... H.L. Bourgeois* Fri. Oct. 25 .......................................................................... DESTREHAN* Fri. Nov. 1 ............................................................................THIBODAUX* Fri. Nov. 8 .................................................................................. Hahnville* Coach Dennis Skains

HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes District 7-5A games

Granier to help lead Tarpons into season

S

By Wil Touchet econd-year South Lafourche head coach Dennis Skains will tell you that no single player is bigger than the Tarpons football team itself.

But this season, the team’s biggest player – 6-foot-7, 330-pound 54 offensive lineman Bailey Granier – has offers from some of the nation’s biggest colleges, including Alabama, Arizona, Florida State, Houston, Kentucky, LouisianaLafayette, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, San Diego State, Southern Miss, Tulane, Central Florida and Vanderbilt.

Granier, now a senior, and South Lafourche are coming off a season in which they won a district title and finished the regular season at 9-0 before falling to Ruston 28-13 at home in the first round of the playoffs.

The Tarpons, who have around 90-95 players set to go for 2013, lost 23 seniors off that team and have around the same amount of seniors on this year’s team.

“We had a group of seniors last year that were very hungry, and I think the success came when the 12 coaches came together and the kids bought into what we were teaching them,” Skains said. “They wanted to leave their own mark.

That is what we are trying to do this season. We are throwing in a few little ideas, but it is all built on the same ideas. We are trying to allow this senior group to make Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2013

their mark on the program like the kids who came before them have.”

Skains said this senior class is more than capable of doing that.

“We lost a lot of seniors, but we have a lot of people back who know what to expect now,” Skains said.

“They know what we expect in practice. They know the system.

They know the plays. This group is ready to learn a little more.

Experience coming back is key.

We have some key guys back and some guys we are comfortable with filling in some key areas.”

But with the exception of senior starting tailback Jake Williams, who ran for over 1,000 yards last season, the Tarpons will have to fill some key offensive skill spots this season and will also look to build some depth on defense before the regular season kicks off.

“We have plenty of guys who are capable,” Skains said of his offensive playmakers. “One day it’s one kid. They next day it’s another, so that may not be a bad thing. We are looking for one offensive guy to rise up, and on defense, we are looking for depth in certain areas.

We want to get those new starters used to making the plays.”

Skains said Dominic Fillinich, a junior, is set to be the starting quarterback this year, while on defense Skains said he is expecting leadership from defensive tackles Mason Boudreaux (senior) and Steven Dye (senior) and middle linebacker Peyton Guidry (senior),

who was also offered a scholarship

by Northwestern State recently.

The Tarpons will be in the new District 7-5A with H.L. Bourgeois, Central Lafourche, Destrehan, East St. John, Hahnville, Terrebonne and Thibodaux.

“Overall it will be a more talented district,” Skains said. “Success from all the teams is a good thing for each of the teams in the district, so we are excited about it. We want to win. That is our goal. We’ve done a lot in the last two years to make sure the kids aren’t embarrassed to say they want to win. We want to make noise in the playoffs. Our goal is a state championship, but we also know there are a lot of things that have to happen for us to get into a position to reach that goal. We need great leadership when things get tough.”

If the Tarpons make a return trip to the postseason, they will be competing in the Class 5A playoffs.

With regard to the LHSAA ruling, Skains said, “I’m not a fan of it. Competitively, I don’t like it. I wish we could all stay together. I always want to have the opportunity to play the best teams, and anytime you split, there’s always an opportunity you aren’t going to be playing the best teams.

I want to play the teams that deserve to be there. There are some things that need to change for us to all be together, but I don’t think this is the answer.”

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Football

Thibodaux Tigers Fri. Sept. 6 .............................................................ARCHBISHOP SHAW* Fri. Sept. 13 ..................................................................................Vandebilt Fri. Sept. 20 ........................................................................ ASSUMPTION Fri. Sept. 27 .........................................................................HAHNVILLE* Fri. Oct. 4 ........................................................................... H.L. Bourgeois* Fri. Oct. 11 ................................................................................ Destrehan* Fri. Oct. 18 ....................................................................... TERREBONNE* Fri. Oct. 25 ........................................................................... East St. John* Fri. Nov. 1 ....................................................................... South Lafourche* Fri. Nov. 8 ........................................................CENTRAL LAFOURCHE* Coach Chris Dugas

O

HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes District 7-5A games

Senior-laden Thibodaux looking to be strong in 2013

By Wil Touchet n the final Friday night of last high school football season, Thibodaux High coach Chris Dugas told his team that the 2013 season started that next day.

He felt getting bigger, faster 56 and stronger would be key for the Tigers heading into this season after a 3-6 overall mark and a 2-4 district record in 2012.

“The biggest thing for us was the offseason,” Dugas said. “Getting bigger, faster and stronger, and I think we did a lot of that in the offseason. We accomplished some of those goals. We were in the weight room the next day. We got pushed around last season. We weren’t big enough. We had to get stronger and become more aggressive.”

Dugas said he will also be leaning on his 32 seniors heavily this season and enters it with the hope the team stays healthier than it has been the last two years.

“We need good senior leadership,” Dugas said. “I think that will be a big strength for us. I think you will see it. Then we have to stay injury free. We weren’t able to do that the last two seasons.”

Senior running back Donta Johnson will also see time at quarterback for the Tigers this season after going over 1,400 yards rushing last season and being named first-team all-state, and senior wide receiver Jason Richard will be the team’s top receiving target on the outside.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2013

“We have some other guys who are going to contribute on offense, but if I had to pick two guys, Johnson and Richard are the top two,” Dugas said.

The Tigers, who will have between 80-85 players this season, will also look to get a boost from their offensive line.

“Through the spring and what we have seen so far, it looks like the offensive line is definitely going to be a strength for us,” Dugas said.

“We ran the ball really well against E.D. White in our spring game, and we are looking strong at the running back position.”

On defense, Dugas said senior linebacker/defensive end Victor Bimah will lead the way with other players filling in nicely around him.

He added the linebackers should be the strength of the defense.

“Victor is very versatile. He will play a walk-down linebacker spot for us. He is probably our smartest guy on defense,” Dugas said. “He knows what everybody is doing. He started as a safety and worked his way down to linebacker so he knows what’s going on all over on defense.

He is our most valuable person on defense, and Jake Bergeron (senior middle linebacker), who is a small guy, sticks his nose in there and led us in tackles last season. He makes a whole lot of plays. In the secondary, Chris Bryant (junior) has really stood out in the spring.

He makes big plays and is a very physical corner. The kids rally around him.”

The Tigers will join H.L. Bourgeois, Central Lafourche, Destrehan, East St. John, Hahnville, South Lafourche and Terrebonne in the new District 7-5A. “It’s absolutely going to get tougher with the addition of the three schools from the River, Hahnville, Destrehan and East St. John,” Dugas said. “South Lafourche lost some seniors but they will be physical and strong.

(Coach) Gary (Hill) at Terrebonne will be good, and I hear H.L. Bourgeois with (new coach) Daron Franklin has some good things going on. I know (new coach) Keith Menard at Central Lafourche has won everywhere he has been so there won’t be any easy games.”

If the Tigers make the postseason, they will compete in the Class 5A playoffs.

With regard to the LHSAA ruling, Dugas said, “We could see the split coming. We saw the vote was going to have momentum. We did not vote for it. I don’t see how it really affects us in 5A. We lose some schools out of the Catholic League in New Orleans, but I think no matter what in 5A, you still are going through West Monroe, Acadiana, Carencro; you still have to go through those power-house schools in the public division. I really don’t think it affects us in 5A, but I understand the argument in the other classes.”

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Football

H.L. Bourgeois Braves Fri. Sept. 6 ...................................................................... South Terrebonne Fri. Sept. 13 ............................................................................A.J. Ellender Fri. Sept. 20 ............................................................................ST. AMANT* Fri. Sept. 27 ................................................................. Central Lafourche* Fri. Oct. 4 .............................................................................THIBODAUX* Fri. Oct. 11 ........................................................................... East St. John* Fri. Oct. 18 ............................................................SOUTH LAFOURCHE* Fri. Oct. 25 ...........................................................................HAHNVILLE* Fri. Nov. 1 ................................................................................. Destrehan* Fri. Nov. 8 ........................................................................ TERREBONNE* Coach Daron Franklin

HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes District 7-5A games

Franklin takes over at H.L. Bourgeois

A

By Wil Touchet s the fourth head football coach since 2010 at H.L. Bourgeois, newly hired Daron Franklin said he has accepted the challenge of turning the Braves back into 58 winners.

The New Orleans native spent a year as an assistant at Belle Chasse High last year and has also been an assistant at O.P. Walker, Frederick Douglas and at St. Augustine in New Orleans and was also an assistant in Texas. He played football at Langston University.

“The main area of focus is building those kids and their focus and their knowledge of football,” Franklin said. “We have to make sure they are successful right away. We have to win now. We want to play fast both mentally and physically and play with confidence. We have to be aggressive both mentally and physically, and we have to be fundamentally sound. Once we do that, the wins and losses will take care of themselves.”

The Braves, who have not been to the playoffs since 2007, have between 80-90 kids out for summer workouts after the team went 2-8 and 0-6 in district last season.

Franklin said he’s excited about the fact that close to 140 players could be signed up to play once school starts.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2013

“I am very excited about the opportunity,” Franklin said. “I have coached a lot of different kind of kids. I have coached some city kids and suburban kids. I have coached at a private school and at public schools. I have coached rural kids, so all of those experiences have prepared me for this job. I also completed my master’s at Xavier University in education and leadership.”

Junior quarterback Todd Adkins, senior offensive lineman Brett Rome and senior wide receivers Chris Harris and Tylone Johnson will be key for the H.L. Bourgeois offense this season, while middle linebacker Claude Verdin Jr. (senior) and defensive lineman Victor Hawkins (senior) will be two of the defensive leaders.

“I would say one strength we have is that we have two incoming classes,” Franklin said. “To be able to have a ninth grade and a 10th grade class coming in at the same time is very intriguing. That is a strength. We have a lot of potential.”

Franklin said with so many young players on campus fighting for starting spots, the Braves could have some youth in key areas.

“We may take some lumps early because a lot of those guys don’t have the experience of high school football,” Franklin said. “But by

Week Five or Six the game is going to slow down for those guys so I think they are going to be successful.”

The Braves, who have lost 23 district games in row, will be in the new District 7-5A with Central Lafourche, Destrehan, East St. John, Hahnville, South Lafourche, Terrebonne and Thibodaux.

“I was born and raised in New Orleans so I know the River Parish and Bayou teams are always competitive,” Franklin said. “I played against East St. John when I was at McDonogh 35, and I coached against Hahnville at St. Aug. It’s one of the most competitive districts from top to bottom in the state. It’s like a college game almost every week. You have to be ready. I am very excited to help make a difference in these young men’s lives. I think we are going to be successful.”

If the Braves do make the postseason, they will compete in the Class 5A playoffs.

With regard to the LHSAA ruling, Franklin said, “It will be an opportunity for more kids to be successful and raise trophies.

But at the end of the day, it’s still football. It’s still high school football.”

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Football

Morgan City Tigers Fri. Sept. 6 .............................................................................. White Castle Fri. Sept. 13 .............................................................. Central-Baton Rouge Fri. Sept. 20 .....................................................................WEST ST. MARY Fri. Sept. 27 ..................................................................................... Livonia Fri. Oct. 4 ..................................................................................FRANKLIN Fri. Oct. 11 ....................................................................................... Rayne* Fri. Oct. 18 ..................................................................... A.J. ELLENDER* Fri. Oct. 25 .................................................................... South Terrebonne* Fri. Nov. 1 ............................................................................. VANDEBILT* Fri. Nov. 8 ............................................................................... Assumption* Coach Dennis Lorio

HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes District 7-4A games

Lorio takes over at Morgan City

T

By Wil Touchet he man now responsible for helping to get the Morgan City High football program back to the playoffs after a 15-year drought is a man familiar with football success.

Dennis Lorio, who coached Thibodaux High to the Class 60 5A state title in 1991 and later returned to coach Thibodaux to a 22-12 overall record from 2008-10 and to the 5A quarterfinals in 2008 and 2009, takes over at Morgan City for Brandon Nowlin, who left for an assistant spot at Nicholls State after two years with the Tigers.

Lorio, who also coached at a handful of other places, was most recently an assistant coach at East St. John in 2012, and he also worked as an assistant at LSU from 1992-94.

Morgan City is coming off a 4-5 season in which it went 0-4 in district, but Lorio said he has seen some positives so far during his short time with the program.

“We are really pleased with our core group of players we have,” Lorio said. “Our offensive and defensive lines are doing really well. Our skill kids are learning a new system. They are doing some good things. We played some 7-on-7 this summer. We are learning. The kids that we have are progressing very well. The problem is when you have a school that hasn’t made Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2013

the playoffs in 15 years, football is not cool yet. We are working to get more kids involved.”

Lorio also said there will be between six and eight faculty coaches with the team this season after there were just three last season, and the school has made renovations to the locker rooms and has gotten new uniforms, helmets and shoulder pads for the players.

“We are doing those things to attract more kids and allow us some depth to be able to rotate people. We like the kids we have, but we are a little thin,” Lorio said.

“We are taking steps to remedy that.”

Lorio said he expects to have around 55 players, not counting freshman, out for fall practice.

“We know we have some shortcomings, but we want to focus on the positives and improve every day. We want the kids to be allowed to be coached,” Lorio said.

“A lot of the kids are used to getting coached. We also try to teach them to never quit.”

Up front the Tigers, who have seven seniors, will rely on senior Ben Vining, junior Anthony Rink and senior Joseph Jones to do a lot of the work along the offensive line, and junior Jalen Jones is a top candidate to play quarterback.

“We believe the secret to success is to have a solid running game and build the passing game with some play action,” Lorio said. “We want

to play solid defense and hope we are in some close games and hope we can win. The kicking game can be huge. We have a returning alldistrict kicker (Sergize Flores). He has some capabilities.”

On defense, Rink at linebacker, Buddy Humphrey (who also plays some receiver) at defensive back and Kolbie Chatman (who also plays some offense) at defensive back are expected to be key contributors.

The Tigers will play in the new District 7-4A with Assumption, Ellender, South Terrebonne and Vandebilt Catholic.

“We are familiar with South Terrebonne and Assumption and those guys do a great job,” Lorio said. “Vandebilt has been a district champion, and they have a solid, consistent program, and Ellender is probably the most improved team in the district. They have some real athletes there so we are in last place, and we need to claw our way out. Step One is to win one district game and get out of last place. Step Two is to break that playoff string.

It’s easy to say, but hard to do.”

If Morgan City does break its playoff drought, it will compete in the Class 4A playoffs.

With regard to the LHSAA ruling, Lorio said, “We are in the association, and we will play by this rule. The good teams are still going to be good.”

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Football

South Terrebonne Gators Fri. Sept. 6 .................................................................... H.L. BOURGEOIS Fri. Sept. 13 ...............................................................................Terrebonne Fri. Sept. 20 ...............................................................JOHN MCDONOGH Fri. Sept. 27 .......................................................................... Belle Chasse* Thurs. Oct. 3 ..............................................................WARREN EASTON* Fri. Oct. 11 ............................................................................ VANDEBILT* Fri. Oct. 18 .............................................................................. Assumption* Fri. Oct. 25 .......................................................................MORGAN CITY* Fri. Nov. 1 ............................................................................. A.J. Ellender* Fri. Nov. 8 ................................................................................... CECILIA* Coach Richard Curlin

HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes District 7-4A games

Gators look to tighten up defense in 2013

I

By Wil Touchet n 2013, the South Terrebonne football team started numerous young players on defense, and that led to the Gators allowing an uncharacteristic 31 points a game.

62 The result?

A 3-6 overall mark, a 2-2 district record and no trip to the postseason.

This season the Gators are hoping many of those young players from last year’s team will develop into key contributors on defense, and on offense, the hope is they can execute their Wing-T. “We are going to be stronger defensively. We have a lot of experience coming back. Last year, we were very, very young on the defensive side,” South Terrebonne first assistant coach and athletic director Francis Labat said. “I think the leadership of this senior group will be better than we had last year. We are going to have to do a great job in running the offense so we can have some long, sustained drives.”

The Gators finished spring practice with 60 players, lost 17 seniors last year and have 20 seniors this season.

Labat said getting the passing game will also be key to the team’s offensive success this season.

“Historically, we have been a running team, but we have been Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2013

able to develop a passing game the past few years that has really helped us to be more balanced,” Labat said. “This year we will try and develop more of a passing game so teams can’t just lineup and stop our run. We are definitely working on our passing game. With the Wing-T we run, we can use misdirection, but you also have to be able to keep teams on their toes with the pass.”

Senior Matt Benoit and junior Tyeson Verdin have battled at quarterback for the Gators in the spring and other offensive contributors are expected to be offensive linemen senior Dylan Adams, junior Keagan Glynn, junior Dyon Perque, senior tight end Chandler Arceneaux and junior running back Christian Wallis.

On defense Labat said the Gators will look to senior linebacker David McCormick, senior defensive back Rodney Carvin, senior defensive end Robert Conklin, junior defensive Randall Norman and junior safety Adam Cook, who is returning after an injury, for leadership.

The Gators will play in the new District 7-4A with Assumption, Ellender, Morgan City and Vandebilt Catholic.

“We know that Ellender and Morgan City have improved a lot,” Labat said. “And you always

have Assumption that is solid every year. They do a good job at Vandebilt, too. We really believe (the district title) will be up for grabs this year. I don’t think you can hang your hat on just one team.

We are just hoping we can improve off last year and get back to where we belong – in that race for the district championship, but those nondistrict games are important too because you need power points.

Still, there will be no easy wins in the district.”

If the Gators reach the postseason this year they would compete in the Class 4A playoffs.

With regard to the LHSAA ruling, Labat said, “We have talked about it a long time as coaches how private schools have an advantage.

They can draw players from all around the state of Louisiana, and in some cases outside of the state, and we are limited by our boundaries of our school. We don’t have that advantage, and we felt like something needed to be done.

We can live with having separate playoffs. Keeping the regular districts the same is good for travel reasons. I am glad they kept that together. As far as the playoffs are concerned, I think it was a good idea. I think it’s moving in the right direction.”

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Football

Terrebonne Tigers Fri. Sept. 6 ..................................................................... REDEMPTORIST Fri. Sept. 13 .........................................................SOUTH TERREBONNE Thurs. Sept. ....................................................................... 19 A.J. Ellender Fri. Sept. 27 ........................................................................ DESTREHAN* Fri. Oct. 4 ........................................................................ South Lafourche* Fri. Oct. 11 ...........................................................................HAHNVILLE* Fri. Oct. 18 ................................................................................ Thibodaux* Fri. Oct. 25 ................................................................... Central Lafourche* Fri. Nov. 1 .......................................................................EAST ST. JOHN* Fri. Nov. 8 .......................................................................... H.L. Bourgeois* Coach Gary Hill

HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes District 7-5A games

Tigers looking to build off playoff season

T

By Wil Touchet he Terrebonne High football team fell short in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs last season, falling at Barbe, the eventual state runner-up, 24-7, to cap a 6-5 season.

But Tigers coach Gary Hill said the lessons learned from that game can be used as a positive for his 2013 Terrebonne team, which is expected to have around 70 64 players.

“Last year we started off real young and slow and it took a while to start developing that confidence in themselves,” Hill said. “But the way we played at Barbe was great for our confidence. We would have liked to win. A couple of simple mistakes cost us a chance to win that game, but it gave our kids a chance to show what they are capable of if they can eliminate some of those mistakes.”

Terrebonne has 16 seniors and lost 14 from last year’s team.

“I find we have a little more togetherness, and we will have more continuity once we get going,” Hill said. “The building blocks aren’t starting over with a foundation.

We kind of have an idea of what needs to get done and how we need to do it. We can do a little more earlier in the year, and it will be a better situation for us. Our experience will be our strength because a lot of guys coming back will be able to pick up from where we left off. We will be young in a lot of areas, but our leadership should carry us. We just have to stay healthy with our key guys and have those younger guys go out there and possibly overachieve and improve on a daily basis.”

Some of the key players Hill pointed to included senior quarterback Colby Stewart, senior offensive linemen Alex Bonvillain and Zack Chapman, senior linebacker Storm Chauvin, senior defensive back Quinn Malbrough, junior linebacker Charles Clark and senior defensive lineman Corey Lebouef.

But he added that some of the younger players on the team will play big roles as well.

“Our young skill guys need to get a better grasp of the game and better understand what their roles are going Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2013

to be on both sides of the ball,” Hill said. “We have some young backs and some young receivers who are going to realize a four-yard run or a five-yard catch is a good play. Our guys in the secondary and our linebackers need to realize how to make the right play and we need them to hit that learning curve quickly. We are going to have to work harder at getting better at what

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we do and we have to try to increase our potential.”

The Tigers, who went 4-2 in district last season, will be in the new District 7-5A with H.L. Bourgeois, Central Lafourche, Destrehan, East St. John, Hahnville, South Lafourche and Thibodaux.

“We lost two good teams (New Iberia and Westgate), and we are adding three good teams (Destrehan, East St. John and Hahnville),” Hill said. “You are adding another quality opponent to the district. It has gotten tougher, and everybody locally is looking to improve as well. If we stay healthy, we can compete on Friday nights.”

If the Tigers make a return trip to the postseason they would compete in the Class 5A playoffs.

With regard to the LHSAA ruling, Hill said, “We made the playoffs four times in my time at Terrebonne.

We have been beaten by public schools twice. We have been beaten by private schools twice. It seems like each time we have lost to somebody they end up making that (Superdome) run that year or the following year.

In some cases you understand the split and other times you don’t. It is the decision that has been made by the principals, so we are going to play who they tell us to play. We really don’t worry about who we play. We just go out there and try and do what we are supposed to do.”

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Ellender Memorial Patriots Fri. Sept. 6 .............................................................................Madison Prep Fri. Sept. 13 .................................................................. H.L. BOURGEOIS Thurs. Sept. 19 .................................................................. TERREBONNE Fri. Sept. 27 ............................................... POINTE COUPEE CENTRAL Fri. Oct. 4 ........................................................................WEST ST. JOHN Thurs. Oct. 10 ................................................................... ASSUMPTION* Fri. Oct. 18 .............................................................................Morgan City* Fri. Oct. 25 .....................................................................................Franklin Fri. Nov. 1 ..........................................................SOUTH TERREBONNE* Fri. Nov. 8 ...................................................................................Vandebilt* Coach Terry Washington

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HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes District 7-4A games

Explosive Ellender eyeing postseason in 2013

By Wil Touchet fter snapping a 32-game losing streak last season that dated back to 2008, the Ellender Patriots are in search for more than just a

victory in 2013.

Coming off a 4-6 overall record in 2012, which featured that streakbusting win – 26-7 over Terrebonne on Sept. 2, 2013 – Ellender is thinking about a possible district

title and the playoffs this season.

It will compete in the new District 7-4A with Assumption, Morgan City, South Terrebonne and Vandebilt Catholic.

“This year going in I think

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we are going to be in the picture (for the district title) unlike previous seasons when we were just hoping to be competitive,” third-year Patriots coach Terry Washington said. “I think we can compete for a district title. There is no clear-cut favorite. It’s wide open. I think the district is so competitive that it will come down to who plays with the most consistency on each Friday night. We will be there. We will definitely be there.”

Armed with senior quarterback in Dustin “Doogie” Creppel, and lots of skill players around him on offense, Ellender is looking to score points like it did last season when it averaged 32.6 points an outing.

Creppel was one of the top quarterbacks in the state with nearly 2,700 yards passing and 34 touchdowns.

His top receiving threats will be seniors Kevin Lucien, Jared Turner, Thomas Johnson and Dan Mitchell, and South Terrebonne transfer Justin Johnson is set to be the starter in the Patriots backfield.

“We have a wealth of talent.

Dustin is our leader, but we also have those four receivers around

him along with Justin Johnson.

It will be hard for a defense to key on us.” Washington said. “We return all of our receivers and skill guys, with the exception of Ralph Singleton. With all those guys and the three offensive linemen we return who had experience from last year, this team could make some serious noise. Offensively, we should do what we should have last year.”

Washington said the Patriots, who are expected to have close to 70 players out in the fall and who lost five seniors last year and have 17 on this team, must fill a few holes on its defense, which will be led by defensive back Jaharri Gauno and defensive lineman Deric Hebert.

“On the defensive side of the football, we lost (defensive lineman) Justin James, and we also lost Wilshawn Jones at linebacker so we have to shore up those positions, but we are deep in the secondary with Jaharri Gauno and other guys back there,” Washington said. “The strength on defense will be in the secondary. If the linebackers and the other defensive tackle can step in and play well for us, we will be

okay.”

If the Patriots reach their goal of making the playoffs, they will compete in the Class 4A playoffs.

With regard to the LHSAA ruling, Washington said, “It’s a tough situation, but at the end of the day whatever the association puts forward, we have to deal with it. Hopefully we can be in that 32 at the end of the (regular) season. It will be a little different having nine championship games this year. It’s a change, but hopefully soon we can get everybody playing back in the same place.”

Washington said this Ellender team can accomplish special things if it stays healthy.

“If we can stay away from injuries, I think we can achieve a lot of our goals,” Washington said.

“Our goals going into the season are simple. We want to compete every Friday night and make it to the playoffs. That’s the bottom line.

I really think the product we put on the field last year turned some heads, and now I think it’s time to take it to the next level.”

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Football

Central Lafourche Trojans Fri. Sept. 6 ................................................................................FRANKLIN Fri. Sept. 13 ............................................................................ J.S. CLARK Fri. Sept. 20 ............................................................................. Mandeville* Fri. Sept. 27 .................................................................H.L. BOURGEOIS* Fri. Oct. 4 ............................................................................. East St. John* Fri. Oct. 11 ............................................................SOUTH LAFOURCHE* Fri. Oct. 18 ................................................................................ Destrehan* Fri. Oct. 25 ....................................................................... TERREBONNE* Fri. Nov. 1 ............................................................................HAHNVILLE* Fri. Nov. 8 ................................................................................. Thibodaux* Coach Keith Menard

HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes District 7-5A games

Menard takes over at Central Lafourche

K 68

By Wil Touchet eith Menard enters his first season at Central Lafourche as the school’s fifth head football coach in the last four years.

But Menard said his 27 years of coaching of experience (25 as a head coach) has helped prepare him for that challenge.

“I have loved every job that I have had,” Menard said. “I think all my years of coaching experience have suited me well so far. I can bring the coaching staff together and get them to start believing in what we are doing. They have bought in.

Now it’s about getting the kids to buy into what we are doing. We have changed everything and they

have done great so far. I think my experience at being at different kinds of schools has helped me understand what kind of changes we have to make.”

Menard coached for three successful seasons at Catholic High of New Iberia the last three years and led Many High to the Class 2A quarterfinals in 2008.

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He said changing from a runoriented triple-option offense to more of passing attack will be a challenge for the Trojans, who have 75 players and are coming off a 3-6 season that included a 2-4 mark in district.

“Changing the offense from the triple-option to a more multiple look with more passing will be a challenge,” Menard said. “Losing starting quarterback Luke Falgout in the spring game was difficult, but we have some guys battling for that spot. It will be interesting to see how that progresses.”

Menard said that senior offensive lineman Ty Verret, Mason Thibodaux, Brady Bourgeois and Benton Pierce will help lead the offense and skill players Josh Joseph (senior), Daquan Gray (junior) and Thomas Wesley (junior) will be looked upon to make plays.

“We have four seniors back on our offensive line. I think those guys can set the tone for where we want to go offensively,” Menard said. “We are going to have some skill players, and from what I have seen, defensively, we play

extremely hard and run to the ball.

We will need to do that, but we will also have to adjust to a new style of defense, which will be key. We also have a good kicker and punter (Brader Dufrene), and he is only a junior so that’s always nice to have.”

Returning starters Garland Sylvester, a senior defensive lineman and Simon Braud, a senior defensive back, will help lead the defense.

“We will play a lot of kids who will play hard,” Menard said.

“Anytime you bring something new to a school, you want to have early success. I think the kids have bought into what we are doing so far, and I think we are going to do it for the long haul. It’d be nice to get some early success and let our kids taste some winning and see what happens. We also need to stay healthy like all programs. We also must play as a team all the way through. It may take some time, but I think we will get there.”

The Trojans will be in the new District 7-5A with H.L. Bourgeois, Destrehan, East St. John, Hahnville, South Lafourche,

Terrebonne and Thibodaux.

“We are going to do everything we can to compete for a district championship,” Menard said. “If we are not doing that, then why are we here? Why have we been working so hard this summer if we are not going to compete? We know they have a bunch of good teams in this district. You can’t run from anybody. You can’t hide. We are going to have to be ready to play every Friday night.”

If the Trojans make the postseason they will compete in the Class 5A playoffs.

With regard to the LHSAA ruling, Menard said, “I’ve coached at public schools and private schools.

I believed in the system that was in place for a long time. We have lost to Evangel in the quarterfinals.

The membership has spoken, and I am always willing to go with what is voted on. That’s the hand you are dealt and now you just have to play football. The democratic system has spoken. We are just going to play football on Fridays and see if we can get into the playoffs.”

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Football

LSU Tigers

Coach Les Miles

Sat. Aug. 31 ....................................................................... Texas Christian Sat. Sept. 7 ..........................................................................................UAB Sat. Sept. 14 ......................................................................... KENT STATE Sat. Sept. 21 .............................................................................. AUBURN* Sat. Sept. 28 ..................................................................................Georgia* Sat. Oct. 5 ...................................................................... Mississippi State* Sat. Oct. 12 ................................................................................FLORIDA* Sat. Oct. 19 .................................................................................. Ole Miss* Sat. Oct. 26 ..............................................................FURMAN PALADINS Sat. Nov. 9 ....................................................................................Alabama* Sat. Nov. 23 ...........................................................................TEXAS A&M* Fri. Nov. 29 ............................................................................ ARKANSAS* HOME GAMES IN CAPS *Denotes Southeastern Conference Games

Can Tigers shock nation again?

T 70

By Ed Daniels he 2006 season ended with LSU routing Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.

In April, four Tigers, quarterback JaMarcus Russell, safety LaRon Landry, and wide receivers Dwayne Bowe and Craig “Buster” Davis were all selected in the first round.

The 2007 season was very much an iffy proposition.

That season was the year LSU became the first school to lose two games (both in triple overtime) and win the BCS national championship.

Fast forward six years.

LSU had nine players selected in the 2013 draft, including six of the first 95.

Those nine departures are a big reason why expectation for the 2013 Tigers is tempered.

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The Tigers open the season against TCU in Arlington, Texas.

And, the conference schedule is particularly hazardous with road games at Georgia and Alabama.

Plus, the defensive line must be rebuilt.

Four Tigers were drafted, including end Barkevious Mingo, who was the sixth pick overall by the Cleveland Browns.

And, there’s the murky status of leading rusher, Jeremy Hill. Hill was suspended indefinitely after his alleged role in an assault outside a Baton Rouge bar. Even without Hill, LSU has a chance to again make a giant leap offensively in 2013.

New offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, the former offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, has his players believing in his system after one spring.

Tailbacks Alfred Blue and Kenny Hilliard return.

LSU’s top three receivers, Odell Beckham Jr., Kadron Boone and Jarvis Landry all return.

Injuries on the offensive line in 2012 have turned this year’s line into one that is young and experienced.

And, according to a source, three of LSU’s best young players are true freshman who play offense.

Quarterback Anthony Jennings, who enrolled at LSU in the spring, has taken over the No. 2 quarterback spot from sophomore Stephen Rivers.

Jennings could be the next outstanding LSU signal caller.

He can make every throw and is an above average runner.

Wide receiver John Diarse, another early enrollee from Neville High School in Monroe, is expected to play and contribute.

Diarse, the 2012 Class 4A most outstanding player, was a hit in the spring.

And lineman Ethan Pocic, at 6-7 and 285 pounds, will back up starter Elliott Porter at center, and also compete for time at tackle.

Pocic has quickly lived up to his billing as one of the top offensive lineman in the nation in the class of 2013.

The 2007 Tigers won with an explosive offense and a huge advantage in turnover margin.

That season LSU averaged a whopping 38.6 points a game and a plus 20 turnover margin.

2013 is also the year that offense will have to carry the load.

Starting quarterback Zach Mettenberger is far less of a question mark now than Matt Flynn was in 2007.

In 2006, Flynn threw only 20 passes, completing 12.

Mettenberger had two outstanding games in November against Alabama and Ole Miss.

But, in the final two games, a win at Arkansas and a loss to Clemson in the Chick Fil-A Bowl, Mettenberger regressed.

Under the tutelage of Cameron, he is the Tiger with the biggest chance to make a leap forward.

The last time, LSU had “plus” play at quarterback, the Tigers shocked the nation’s best league.

Could it happen again?

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Football

PHOTO COURTESY LSU SPORTS INFORMATION

PHOTO COURTESY LSU SPORTS INFORMATION

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Football

Tulane Green Wave

Coach Curtis Johnson

Thurs. Aug. 29 ...............................................................JACKSON STATE Sat. Sept. 7 ..................................................................SOUTH ALABAMA Thurs. Sept. 12 ..................................................................Louisiana Tech* Sat. Sept. 21 ..................................................................................Syracuse Sat. Sept. 28 .................................................................. Louisiana-Monroe Sat. Oct. 5 ........................................................................NORTH TEXAS* Sat. Oct. 12 .................................................................. EAST CAROLINA* Sat. Oct. 26 .................................................................................... TULSA* Sat. Nov. 2 ........................................................................ Florida Atlantic* Sat. Nov. 9 ....................................................................... UT- San Antonio* Sat. Nov. 23 .......................................................................................UTEP* Sat. Nov. 30 ..........................................................................................Rice* HOME GAMES INCAPS *Denotes Conference USA games

Things are looking up for Tulane

‘O 74

By STEVE CALDARERA h, Brother!” Words of concern often uttered by beloved, long-time Tulane football play by play announcer Bruce Miller during game broadcasts that many of us

grew up listening to week in and week out. “Man alive!” is another Miller reaction that, otherwise, might give you encouragement that good things were about to happen to the Green Wave’s fortunes on the playing field. Miller passed

away in March taking with him a piece of Tulane football history, the good, the bad and the ugly of his 17-year stint as the “Voice of the Green Wave.”

Second year TU Head Coach Curtis Johnson cannot reflect

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Ryan Grant

on Tulane history any more than his 51 years allows him. Johnson is slowly making his way toward changing the culture of Tulane football as he and his staff looks forward to Season 2013 and beyond (Tulane leaves Conference USA for the new American Athletic Conference in ’14.). Last year’s 2-10 mark is gone from “CJ’s” memory as well. Johnson and his coaches continue to make significant strides in recruiting that should begin to show immediate, positive results on the field. Green Wave fans are excited by the notable transfers of QB Nick Montana (junior college standout) and DT Chris Davenport, an LSU grad caught up in the numbers there who elected to play his final year for Johnson and Tulane.

Replacing a very productive Ryan Griffin will be a tall order for Montana, son of Joe, and his counterparts, redshirt freshman Devin Powell, and incoming freshman, the highly touted Tanner Lee (Jesuit-NO).

The stable of running backs is full: a 100 percent healthy senior Orleans Darkwa will work with veterans Dante Butler, Rob Kelley and Josh Rounds. Add RS freshman Lazedrick Thompson and true frosh Sherman Badie (John Curtis) to the mix giving CJ a pleasant quandary over who else to redshirt besides Thompson. The key to getting any and all of this rushing talent to gel is an improved offensive line. Start with the return of senior center Zach Morgan, out all last season with an injury.

Complement that with returning talent and freshman like three-star recruits Kenneth Santa Marina and Chris Taylor, both home grown and well over 300 pounds. The TU faithful should see markedly higher numbers in the running game.

The position on offense that lacks depth is tight end where junior Matt Marfisi and soph Sydie London compete. The wide receiver corps is in good shape with senior standout Ryan Grant leading the way. While Justyn Shackleford, Xavier Rush and Marc Edwards are very experienced, the coaches are high on redshirt “athlete” Devin Breaux.

Davenport is a huge one-year pickup for CJ and projects to anchor the defensive line. Barring injuries, this could be the most improved unit on the

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Football Tulane squad.

DE’s Royce LaFrance and Julius Warmsley are welcomed holdovers, but, again, true freshmen could make their mark on the DL with the likes of Tanzel Smart (300 lbs. plus) and two or three others. The returning linebackers are small, but quick, and Coach Johnson will utilize the weakside position in the form of the nickel back since the Wave will mostly be competing with teams that live by the pass. New Orleans product Edward Williams was the prized recruit at linebacker along with Nico Marley, a defensive back by nature who projects at the weakside LB position.

Upon the completion of spring practice, Coach Johnson referred to his secondary as “the strength of the team.” Along with the wide receiver position, here is where freshmen can have the most impact. William Townsend, Richard Allen and Parry Nickerson are several new recruits that could factor, but cornerbacks Jordan Batiste and Leonard Doss (five picks) and free safety Darion Monroe are the headliners in the defensive backfield. Veteran CB Jordan Sullen returns to the Green 76 Wave after sitting out 2012, the result of a team rule violation.

Tulane posted its first first-team All-American in 11 years in kicker Cairo Santos, who was perfect (21-for-21) in field goal attempts.

Santos returns along with punter Peter Picerelli. As for kick and punt return specialists, Johnson has a large cast from which to choose. As we’ve seen in his first season, the returnees could be different from week to week.

The differences that the Curtis Johnson Project brings to Tulane football are glaring: more speed across the board, more size up front on both sides of the football and a happy, engaged group of athletes and coaches. The recruiting strides are noticeable in only two complete recruiting periods. CJ’s offense mirrors the New Orleans Saints approach. The defense has a more aggressive knack with much quicker athletes.

The other tangibles and intangibles that effect Tulane football include the up and coming on campus Yulman Stadium, scheduled for its grand opening in 2014. Only 25,000-30,000 seats are being constructed, but the idea is to Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2013

get fannies in most or all of those seats versus the paltry attendance that has settled in at the Louisiana Superdome over the past 10 to 20 years. Atrocious student attendance must be turned around.

It is no deep secret that fans and the media alike have been aware of the shackles placed on TU athletics, particularly football, by Tulane President Scott Cowen; hence, no surprise that many Green Wave backers were cautiously encouraged by Cowen’s announcement that he will retire on July 1, 2014. One simply cannot overlook Cowen’s over ruling of Rich Rodriguez succeeding the very successful Tommy Bowden as head football coach after the ’98 season.

Then, there was the now infamous 2003 “athletics review” threatening to plummet Tulane into NCAA Division III. There is hope that a new athletics-friendly president will allow the Green Wave to admit student-athletes comparable to that of Stanford, Vanderbilt and Northwestern where football is branded as important and success on the playing field has translated into bowl games, money and prestige for their respective universities.

With an arguably softer schedule ahead of them, the Tulane football team should expect to not only compete, but win considerably more than two games. The FCS’ Jackson State kicks off 2014 on Aug. 29 in the Dome. Recent upstart programs South Alabama and Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) also dot the schedule. In addition to UTSA, Tulane’s last year in Conference USA will see new members Louisiana Tech (in Ruston), North Texas (home) and Florida Atlantic (on the road). The Wave’s two other non-conference tilts will be away from the Dome at Syracuse and UL-Monroe.

C-USA home games with East Carolina, Tulsa and UTEP are on the schedule. TU closes the season at Rice on Fox College Sports TV. In all, the Green Wave will be on the tube five times giving CJ and Tulane University an opportunity for some badly needed positive P.R. The menu is impressive. But, can Curtis Johnson and his staff cook up a host of successful entrees? We think so. Man alive, Bruce! Things ARE looking up for Tulane football!

Cairo Santos

Orleans Darkwa

New Orleans Saints

Coach Sean Payton

Sun. Sept. 8 ..............................................................ATLANTA FALCONS Sun. Sept. 15 .........................................................Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sun. Sept. 22 ....................................................... ARIZONA CARDINALS Mon. Sept. 30 .............................................................. MIAMI DOLPHINS Sun. Oct. 6 ............................................................................Chicago Bears Sun. Oct. 13 .............................................................New England Patriots Sun. Oct. 27 ....................................................................BUFFALO BILLS Sun. Nov. 3 ............................................................................New York Jets Sun. Nov. 10 .............................................................. DALLAS COWBOYS Sun. Nov. 17 ...................................................... SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Thurs. Nov. 21 ................................................................... Atlanta Falcons Mon. Dec. 2 ..................................................................... Seattle Seahawks Sun. Dec. 8 .......................................................... CAROLINA PANTHERS Sun. Dec. 15 ........................................................................ St. Louis Rams Sun. Dec. 22 ................................................................... Carolina Panthers Sun. Dec. 29 ................................................. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS HOME GAMES IN CAPS

Payton returns from exile: Super Bowl?

I

By Ed Daniels n January of 2011, the New Orleans Saints were the best team in football.

But, on a Sunday in San Francisco, much changed.

The 49ers validated their rise in the NFC with an upset of the Saints in the Divisional Playoffs.

One season later, the 49ers won the NFC and the Saints, without suspended head coach Sean Payton, slumped to seven wins.

With Payton returning and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan arriving from Dallas, the vibe is good on Airline Drive.

But, are the Saints good enough?

The answer will come quickly.

The Saints open the season against the NFC South champion Falcons for the first time since 1986.

Defensively, the Saints cannot be any worse.

New Orleans set a league record for yards allowed (7,042) in a season.

In the offseason, Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis bolstered the secondary by drafting safety Kenny Vaccaro of Texas in the first round.

The Saints let left tackle Jermon Bushrod walk in free agency; then used that money to sign O. Perry Walker High School’s Keenan Lewis away from Pittsburgh to

Drew Brees

start at cornerback.

But, the Saints still have huge question marks in the front seven.

Can third round pick John Jenkins of Georgia make an early contribution at nose tackle?

Can Jonathan Vilma shed enough blocks to make tackles as a 3-4 inside linebacker?

Can defensive end Will Smith, fourth all-time with 77 67.5 quarterback sacks, make a seamless transition to outside linebacker?

Payton knows that his defense cannot be “fixed” in one season.

But, he also knows that if his defense climbs eight to 10 spots in the rankings, quarterback Drew Brees and his supporting cast can get the Saints back to the playoffs.

With a porous defense and subpar running game, Brees’ numbers suffered.

Drew Brees was sacked 26 times, the most in his seven seasons as a Saint.

Brees’ completion percentage dropped, from 71.2 percent to 63.0 percent.

Brees threw 19 interceptions, his second highest total as a Saint.

The Saints offense is not without questions.

When Payton traded running back Chris Ivory, he was telling former first round pick Mark Ingram it was time to step up his game.

Ingram averaged only 3.9 yards per carry. His longest run from scrimmage was a paltry 31 yards.

The Saints chose not to

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Football

78

bring back wide receiver Devery Henderson, opening the door for Joe Morgan to step in as the team’s top deep threat. Morgan averaged a whopping 37.9 yards per catch on 10 receptions. Morgan had catches of 80, 62, and 48 yards in 2012. He will get his chance.

Without a reliable deep threat, defenses squeezed on tight end Jimmy Graham. Graham dipped from 99 catches to 85, and on yards per catch from 13.2 to 11.6.

Graham’s receiving yards dropped from 1,310 to 982. Increasing Graham’s production is a pet project for Payton in 2013.

Brees turns 35 in January. So, the clock is ticking on he and Payton’s possible return to a second Super Bowl.

And, this will be Payton’s last reload in New Orleans.

The coach will head off to network TV, and Brees will ponder a second career in politics.

New Orleans is a place where a lot of movies are made.

A real good one could be crafted this fall. Head coach returns from exile to lead Saints back to Super Bowl contention.

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