Friday Night Lights - Week 2

GATORS CHARGE!

WEEK 1 CROWNS LOCAL WINNERS THE TIMES • SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 • WEEK 2 FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS 07 09 12 14 18 20 22

LACY BATTLES BACK Thibodaux receiver off to strong start

CARDINALS GET RIVALRY WIN E.D. White beats Vandebilt

THE SCHEDULE IS SET See all 11 local schedules

GATORS ROLL IN WEEK 1 On new turf, STHS gets big win

OLD RIVALS MEET AGAIN Tigers, Tarpons set to do battle

ORGERON MAKES HIS PICK SLHS lineman chooses Southeastern

UNDER THE LIGHTS See photos of jamboree week

Local high school attendance is excellent here. Every Friday, our local stadiums are packed with people eager to support our local student-athletes.

But there are a few people who are either unable to attend games because of work/ family issues and/or they’re just not willing to sacrifice their Friday night at a sporting event.

So, this is your weekly friendly reminder that while the meat of the varsity games are played on Friday night, yes, there are still tons and tons of football played throughout the entire week.

This past week, we covered a junior varsity football game on Wednesday night and got photos of the young men for our website and social media.

And just about any night that stadiums are free, there is middle school action going on at local stadiums.

So know – if not free on Friday, there are alternatives.

If driving by a stadium and the lights are on, pull in, take an hour or two and show support to our local kids.

It means a lot to them. I know because they tell me.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 • WEEK 2

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

4 SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

THANK YOU

BY CASEY GISCLAIR

casey@rushing-media.com

To me, high school athletics are the best, purest form of sports in the world.

It’s the only form of competition that’s played at a high enough level to be wildly entertaining, but that’s also still pure — free from the commercialization and greed that heavily surrounds professional sports and that’s also slowly swarming the collegiate level, as well.

I could write for days about the wonderful players I’ve seen in the past and some of the amazing young men we have in our area today.

But instead, I want to focus today on the folks who often go unnoticed, but yet are still a huge part of the Friday Night experience.

Let’s start with the volunteers.

We have 11 high schools in our area. I’ve been to them all for a home football game.

It never fails. At every, single local school, there is an army of volunteers there willing to lend a hand. Some are manning the ticket gate, while others are working the chains.

Some serve drinks in the concession stand, which others spend time and money to cook — for concession stands, but also for teams after the game.

These folks go unnoticed, but without them, the high school football experience locally wouldn’t be what it is. I wanted to personally thank all of those volunteers at all of our local schools.

You folks know who you are. No one ever publicly FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

thanks you, so I wanted to take the time to do so now in my allotted column space.

I also wanted to shout out our students — many of which never will play a snap of football this season.

I’m talking about cheerleaders who dedicate their time to cheer for local teams.

We have some of the best cheer squads in the state here locally.

That’s not just lip service.

That’s a fact. Some of our teams have won state championships and others perform favorably at some of the top competitions around.

These folks are often seen, but we take their time for granted. They’re a huge part of why we love Friday nights in the fall.

I also want to shout out our team mangers. I know the work a team manager

5 SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

puts in because I was once in their shoes. It’s more than just the stereotype of serving water to players.

Those kids help set up the field before games and are also a part in preparing teams throughout the week.

At practice, they’re there. On Friday nights, of course, they’re there, too.

But often when players are on the way home, they’re still at school washing uniforms or cleaning water coolers or doing other things that go unnoticed.

To those young men and women, know that you’re a big part of the team. You’re a huge part of why we love the high school football season.

Oh, and then there’s the bands.

Nothing says prep football like marching bands. As soon as one walks into a stadium for a

“Competing at the highest level is not about winning.

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game, the melodic beats of a fight song can be heard in the background.

These children perform and entertain throughout the game. Their music inspires players to keep pushing forward and fighting toward the goal.

At halftime and after games, they perform their routines, and some of them are stunning.

Like the cheer squads, we have some of the most successful marching bands in the state in this area. At the festivals each fall, our squads rank in the Top 10 in the state. The pageantry is like nothing else. The choreography is on point. What would high school football be without the marching bands? It’d still be cool, but there would be far fewer people dancing, which is far less fun.

Oh, and I want to thank one other group of people for their sacrifices — the coaches’ wives.

Coaching is a thankless job locally. Those guys are paid just small stipends to dedicate thousands of hours to their teams. It’s truly a labor of love.

But to coach football, most of these men are

6 SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

sacrificing time at home with their families.

To be a coach’s wife is one of the most overlooked jobs in the world. That’s not a type-o.

It’s a job.

With husbands home less, they have to do more of the housework and more of the parenting.

With the stresses of the season that come, they also have to lend moral support and give a little extra love.

On Friday nights, they have to sometimes swallow their tongues when they hear criticism from the Peanut Gallery — opting instead to keep a positive vibe.

To the wives, thank you for allowing your husbands to coach.

Your sacrifice is a selfless one and we appreciate it.

To all of the above, thanks, as well.

To do high school football the way we do it locally, it takes more than just coaches and players — it takes a willing army.

We have that here and it’s special.

Shoutout to those involved. You all deserve a little time in the sun. •

LACY EAGER TO KEEP THIBODAUX OFFENSE PUSHING FORWARD PHOTOS BY: JARED SHANKLIN

BY CASEY GISCLAIR

casey@rushing-media.com

Everyone knows about the recruitment of Jakhi Douglas or Maason Smith.

Those guys have been collecting collegiate offers for the better part of 18 months now.

But arguably the fastestgrowing local collegiate commodity actually resides about 25 minutes across the way over at Thibodaux High School.

Meet receiver Kyren Lacy.

Lacy is on fire to start his senior season — a current UL-Lafayette commitment

who has an offer sheet that grows more by the day.

Lacy has a college body.

He stands 6-feet, 3-inches and weighs 210 pounds.

Several times in the early stages of the season, the tall, lanky receiver has overwhelmed defenses with his ability to leap high in the air and pluck the football away, while also keeping his balance, then working down the field.

“I compare myself to Antonio Brown,” Lacy said. “Because to me, I’m going get everything.”

For Lacy, his motivation for the season is his love FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

for competition.

It’s a love that was taken away from him last season — a splash of reality that he said he will remember for the rest of his life.

Lacy has been a multi-sport standout at Thibodaux his entire career.

In addition to being a football standout, Lacy also is a big-time player on the Tigers’ boys’ basketball team.

Last year, Lacy did his thing in football, posting a solid season for a Tigers’ team that struggled with youth and inexperience, posting just a 3-7 record.

7 SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

He also started the basketball season with the Tigers and helped the team early in the year.

But when the fall semester ended, Lacy was put on the shelf by an academic issue.

Suddenly, that love for competition was burning as bright as ever, but the opportunity to represent his school was now gone.

While Thibodaux won the boys’ basketball state championship, Lacy was left on the sidelines — unable to play.

“When it first happened, I didn’t know what to do,” Lacy said. “It felt like a

dream. I just wanted to give up on everything and not play sports again. … I was really hurt from not being able to play in that state championship game.”

So Lacy soaked it all in, then fought back.

He hit the books hard throughout the spring semester and summer to regain his eligibility.

All the while, he worked hard to get bigger, faster and stronger.

He attended collegiate camps and showcased his skills. Through that, the list of offers grew.

On the field with the Tigers, he’s been a force so far in 2019 — a guy that opposing defenses are having a hard time staying in front of.

Lacy said the day he was ruled academically ineligible changed his life for the better, and all of the success he’s having today stems back to the pain he felt on that day and on the day he had to watch his teammates hoist a trophy without him.

“That was God giving me a wake up call,” Lacy said. “That hurt me so bad. It made me want to work harder every day and work for what I have now.

These past few months have really opened up my eyes and I never want to feel that type of pain again.”

So now, he’s delivering pain to opposing defenses.

In both the fall scrimmage and in the jamboree, Lacy scored touchdowns.

He said he knows he gets a lot of the credit for

Thibodaux’s successes, but said he also wants to give credit to the Tigers’ offensive line and also quarterback Luke Alleman — a guy who helped push him through the offseason.

Alleman and Lacy have chemistry. They fit one another like a glove.

When the pocket breaks down and Alleman has to make a quick decision, he knows where Lacy is at all times. He also knows that if he throws to a spot, his big receiver will jump up and make a play.

“Luke and I have been putting in a lot of work over the summer,” Lacy said. “There were days when I didn’t want to go run routes and he got me out of the bed to come run. Now, all that hard work is coming together and we have a lot to prove after a 3-7 season last year.”

That 3-7 season is something no one expects this fall.

The Tigers are 1-0 after beating Riverside on Friday — showcasing some of their experience after last year’s struggles.

Lacy said the Tigers are better this year — both on and off the field.

He said the team is going to make a push, both because of their talent, but also because of their mindset.

“We have started strong as a team. We’re starting to come together on and off the field,” Lacy said. “We want to stay together as a team, don’t listen to the outsiders and this year, we want to take everything personal.

Those are our goals.”•

CARDINALS BEAT VANDEBILT IN WEEK 1 THRILLER PHOTOS BY: LEO BOURG

BY CASEY GISCLAIR

casey@rushing-media.com

It’s always fun to start a new season with a win.

It’s always good to beat a rival, too.

On Friday night, E.D. White got to do both.

E.D. White beat Vandebilt 14-6 on Friday in Houma — a road victory that marked a new chapter in the longstanding, heated rivalry. It was the first game for both E.D. White coach Kyle Lasseigne’s new tenure and also for Terriers’ coach Lance Ledet.

Defenses ruled the day in a hard-fought, physical game that saw just 20

total points scored and a third-straight victory for the Cardinals against their neighboring parish Catholic school rival.

Kyle Lasseigne has said throughout the offseason and preseason that he likes the toughness of his defense. On Friday, that toughness showed several times in a hard-fought win.

“We have a salty group,” Lasseigne said earlier this offseason of his defense. “Those kids work hard and really take pride in it. We have some room to grow and some steps to take, but I think they’re a group that is capable of doing big things.”

On Friday, they did their FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

coach proud.

Offense was at a premium throughout the game with both teams struggling initially to score points.

It was 0-0 at the end of the first quarter and also scoreless at halftime.

The Terriers dominated yardage totals, pushing the ball down the field deep into E.D. White territory several times without points.

One drive ended in a fumble. Two others got into the red zone without points — including a lastsecond drive that ended three yards short of a score.

E.D. White’s attempts

9 SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

were futile — a slew of three and outs.

But in the second half, things opened up a little.

The Cardinals got on the board first when quarterback Devin DeSandro came off the bench hot, completing a long touchdown pass to Grant Gauthreaux to put his team up 7-0 in the third quarter.

A big dagger came a couple possessions after the initial score when Hunter Becnel took the football almost the entire length of the field — a 93-yard touchdown which put E.D. White up 14-0, sending their fans into a frenzy.

Vandebilt scored in the fourth quarter on a short touchdown run from Bryden Roundtree to make the score 14-6, but they could never get closer than that.

The Cardinals forced a late turnover, then iced the game on the ground, running out the clock to secure their third-straight victory over their rivals.

E.D. White faces H.L. Bourgeois next week.

Vandebilt hosts Westgate.

TROJANS, PATRIOTS ROLL TO WEEK 1 WINS Central Lafourche has a big, bruising running back, a talented quarterback and receivers all over the field.

At the prep level, you sure could do worse.

PHOTOS BY: LEO BOURG

The Trojans beat White Castle 56-36 on Friday in a wild, crazy game that featured tons of offense and explosive plays from both sides.

Halfback Deon Jenkins rushed for 200+ yards in the win with five touchdowns. The Trojans also showcased new quarterback Ashtrien Duncan throughout the night.

“Offensively, I’m pretty pleased,” Central Lafourche coach Keith Menard said. “I thought we played well and I thought our offensive line was really good throughout the game. We have work to do, but it’s better to work on things after a win.”

The Trojans will take

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on Franklin on Friday in Mathews.

Menard said Franklin is athletic and will pose challenges.

“They’re a good football team,” Menard said.

“They’ll come here ready to play.”

Before Central Lafourche got an opening night win, Ellender rose into the winner’s circle, crushing Thomas Jefferson 47-8.

The Patriots led throughout — literally.

On the opening play of the game, Nykee Johnson took the kickoff to the house, putting the Patriots in front for good. Tyshaun Hester was also huge for the Patriots, springing together big plays to enable the team to secure victory. • PHOTOS BY: JARED SHANKLIN

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2019 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

SCHEDULES SOUTH LAFOURCHE

CENTRAL LAFOURCHE

E.D. WHITE

Sept. 6 - vs. St. Charles L Sept. 13 - vs. Thibodaux Sept. 20 - at Central Lafourche Sept. 27 - at Lutcher Oct. 4 - at Belle Chasse Oct. 11 - at Vandebilt Catholic Oct. 18 - vs. South Terrebonne Oct. 25 - vs. Morgan City Nov. 1 - vs. Ellender Nov. 8 - at Assumption

Sept. 6 - vs. White Castle W Sept. 13 - vs. Franklin Sept. 20 - vs. South Lafourche Sept. 27 - vs. Thibodaux Oct. 4 - at Ellender Oct. 11 - vs. H.L. Bourgeois Oct. 18 - at Hahnville Oct. 25 - vs. East St. John Nov. 1 - at Destrehan Nov. 8 - at Terrebonne

Sept. 6 - at Vandebilt Catholic W Sept. 13 - at H.L. Bourgeois Sept. 20 - vs. Assumption Sept. 27 - at St. Charles Catholic Oct. 4 - vs. South Terrebonne Oct. 11 - vs. Donaldsonville Oct. 18 - at Patterson Oct. 25 - vs. Lutcher Nov. 1 - at Berwick Nov. 8 - vs. St. James

THIBODAUX

SOUTH TERREBONNE

ELLENDER MEMORIAL

Sept. 6 - vs. Riverside W Sept. 13 - at South Lafourche Sept. 20 - vs. McDonogh 35 Sept. 27 - at Central Lafourche Oct. 4 - vs. Terrebonne Oct. 11 - vs. Hahnville Oct. 18 - at Breaux Bridge Oct. 25 - vs. Destrehan Nov. 1 - at H.L. Bourgeois Nov. 8 - at East St. John

Sept. 6 - vs. H.L. Bourgeois W Sept. 13 - at Berwick Sept. 20 - vs. Terrebonne Sept. 27 - at Patterson Oct. 4 - at E.D. White Oct. 11 - vs. Assumption Oct. 18 - at South Lafourche Oct. 25 - vs. Vandebilt Catholic Oct. 31 - vs. Morgan City Nov. 8 - at Ellender

Sept. 5 - at Thomas Jefferson W Sept. 13 - vs. Terrebonne Sept. 20 - at H.L. Bourgeois Sept. 27 - vs. McMain Oct. 4 - vs. Central Lafourche Oct. 10 - at Morgan City Oct. 18 - vs. Vandebilt Catholic Oct. 25 - at Assumption Nov. 1 - at South Lafourche Nov. 8 - vs. South Terrebonne

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

12 SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

VANDEBILT CATHOLIC

TERREBONNE

H.L. BOURGEOIS

Sept. 6 - vs. E.D. White L Sept. 13 - vs. Westgate Sept. 20 - at Berwick Sept. 27 - at Dutchtown Oct. 4 - vs. Welsh Oct. 11 - vs. South Lafourche Oct. 18 - at Ellender Oct. 25 - at South Terrebonne Nov. 1 - at Assumption Nov. 8 - vs. Morgan City

Sept. 6 - vs. Jesuit L Sept. 13 - at Ellender Sept. 20 - at South Terrebonne Sept. 27 - vs. Hahnville Oct. 4 - at Thibodaux Oct. 11 - vs. Destrehan Oct. 18 - at H.L. Bourgeois Oct. 25 - vs. Brother Martin Nov. 1 - at East St. John Nov. 8 - vs. Central Lafourche

Sept. 6 - at South Terrebonne L Sept. 13 - vs. E.D. White Sept. 20 - vs. Ellender Sept. 27 - at East St. John Oct. 4 - vs. Destrehan Oct. 11 - at Central Lafourche Oct. 18 - vs. Terrebonne Oct. 25 - at Hahnville Nov. 1 - vs. Thibodaux Nov. 8 - at Archbishop Shaw

COVENANT CHRISTIAN

HOUMA CHRISTIAN

WEEK 2 SCHEDULE

Sept. 6 - at Highland Baptist L

South Lafourche vs. Thibodaux Central Lafourche vs. Franklin E.D. White at H.L. Bourgeois South Terrebonne at Berwick Ellender vs. Terrebonne Vandebilt vs. Westgate CCA vs. Sci Academy Houma Christian vs. Westminster Christian

Sept. 6 - vs. Central Private L Sept. 13 - vs. Sci Academy Sept. 20 - BYE WEEK Sept. 27 - vs. Loranger Oct. 4 - vs. St. John Oct. 11 - at Highland Baptist Oct. 18 - vs. Centerville Oct. 25 - at Central Catholic Nov. 1 - vs. Vermilion Catholic Nov. 8 - at Hanson Memorial

Sept. 13 - vs. Westminster Christian

Sept. 20 - at Ascension Christian Sept. 26 - at West St. Mary Oct. 4 - at Loreauville Oct. 10 - vs. Jeanerette Oct. 18 - vs. Ascension Episcopal Oct. 25 - vs. Catholic - New Iberia

Nov. 1 - at Franklin Nov. 8 - vs. Delcambre

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

13 SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

GATORS ROLL TO WEEK 1 WIN

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

14 SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

BY CASEY GISCLAIR

casey@rushing-media.com

South Terrebonne junior Colby Chelette can play just about anywhere on the field for the Gators.

On Friday night, he was at running back.

And oh, did he run — powering his team to a Week 1 win.

The Gators beat H.L. Bourgeois 31-14, improving to 1-0 with the season-opening win.

Chelette was a force, rushing for more than 200 yards and three scores.

His play caught the attention of Gators’ assistant coach Justin Lirette, who said it was a point of inspiration for the team.

“He’s a football player,” Lirette said on Saturday.

“He can play offense for us, but if we put him in on defense, there’s no drop off. He just makes plays.

He’s that kind of athlete and that kind of player and he was special for us.”

But the Gators’ defense was big in the win, too.

They forced a turnover early in the game when an H.L. Bourgeois shotgun snap was muffed, which gave South Terrebonne the ball inside the 10-yardline.

One play later, Chelette muscled in to put the Gators in front 7-0.

With the lead, South Terrebonne settled in, continually forcing defensive stops, which handed the ball back to the Gators.

With opportunities, Chelette did more damage, breaking two second-quarter

touchdown runs to make the game 21-0 at halftime.

Lirette said he was proud of the way South Terrebonne’s defense fought against a Braves team that has athletes.

“We did a good job up front,” Lirette said.

“If you can win at the point of attack, you can make things happen and I think we did a good job at the line of scrimmage keeping their offense out of rhythm.”

In the second half, South Terrebonne showed off their passing game muscles when quarterback Michael Gautreaux found receiver Peyton Parr on a 26-yard strike to put the Gators up 28-0.

South Terrebonne coach Richard Curlin has said throughout the offseason that he likes Parr — a converted defensive back who now is having the opportunity to make plays on offense.

Curlin said he also likes Gautreaux, who managed the game well in the victory.

“He has experience,” Curlin said earlier this season. “And with our offense, that’s important — having those reps. He knows what the defenses are doing to him and he really handles our offense well.”

In the final stages of the game, the Braves got going.

Quarterback Jordan Rainey capped a scoring drive late in the third quarter to cut the lead to 28-7.

After a Gators field goal made it 31-7, Ty Henry punched in a lateFRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

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game score to send the game the game to its final margin — a 31-14 win for the Gators.

Lirette said the Braves are on the ups and are a better football team than the final score of the game would indicate.

But when asked to be nitpicky, he said he thought his defense let up a little with a big lead — something they’ll work on this week at practice.

“I thought we got complacent,” Lirette said.

“I think we got a little bit satisfied and took our foot off the accelerator a little bit. That’s something we’ll address because we know we can’t do that going forward.

THE WEEK AHEAD South Terrebonne will travel and take on Berwick on Friday, another 1-0 football team.

The Panthers blitzed Morgan City 39-0 on Friday night and Lirette said they’re a diverse offense that can hit with both the run and the pass.

The Braves will take on E.D. White at home.

That’ll be no cupcake.

The Cardinals are 1-0 after beating Vandebilt and are looking like one of the best defensive groups in the Houma-Thibodaux area.

TURF DEDICATION Before the Gators and Braves took the field on Friday night, there was a FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

ribbon cutting for the new turf field at The Swamp.

Dignitaries from around the area gathered to celebrate the field — just 7 days after the first ribbon cutting at Tom B. Smith Stadium a week prior.

Lirette said it was great to open the new field with the win, adding that the best part of all was what happened after the game: nothing.

There was no work needed to restore the field, unlike in years past.

“Coach Barba looked at us in the locker room and said, ‘Man, we really tore up the field tonight, didn’t we?’” Lirette joked. “And we joked about how we’d need to go roll the field and get it ready for next

16 SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

week. It’s a great thing for us. There’s so much less stress. But the irony is — we have the fields, and wouldn’t you know it?

The past 2 weeks, it’s not rained. There’s not been a cloud in the sky.”

LOCAL CLASS 4A SCOREBOARD South Terrebonne 31, H.L. Bourgeois 14 St. Charles Catholic 31, South Lafourche 3 Assumption 20, Donaldsonville 0 E.D. White 14, Vandebilt 6 Ellender 47, Thomas Jefferson 8 Berwick 39, Morgan City 0•

PHOTO BY: JARED SHANKLIN

TIGERS, TARPONS EAGER FOR CROSS-PARISH WEEK 2 RIVALRY TILT

BY CASEY GISCLAIR

casey@rushing-media.com

Throw out the record books.

Forget what you’ve seen or what you think you know.

When South Lafourche takes on Thibodaux, all bets are off.

The old cross-parish rivals will lock horns again for their annual date this coming Friday in Galliano.

The teams had opposite week 1 experiences. The Tigers walloped Riverside to get to 1-0, while the Tarpons fell flat in a lopsided lass against St. Charles Catholic.

But coaches on both sides know that when

rivals collide, anything can happen. Both sides are expecting the unexpected on Friday night.

“It’s always a fun game to face an old rival,” Thibodaux coach Chris Dugas said.

“South Lafourche is always a physical team, so they challenge your toughness.

But they’re also wellcoached. It’s good to make that trip. It’s a great test for the kids.”

“Thibodaux has athletes all over the field,” South Lafourche coach Blake Forsythe added. “It’s a challenge because on any given play, if you make a mistake, they can take it to the house and put up six points. … We know FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

it’s going to be a tough game. And we’re looking forward to another week of practice.”

Thibodaux enters the game riding high, scoring a 43-31 victory over Riverside Academy on Friday.

It was a win, but it was also a bit of a mess.

Thibodaux trailed that game 25-14 at halftime.

They allowed touchdowns in all three phases. And the kicker? They turned over the football seven times.

Those aren’t type-o’s.

The Tigers overcame all of those things and won — a second-half onslaught that featured big plays and a reversal of fortunes.

18 SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

“I’ve never been part of a football game where there were that many mistakes and we still found a way to win,” Dugas said.

“It was just crazy.”

Dugas said he was proud of his defense, adding that the 31 points Thibodaux allowed were mostly on returns, turnovers and other flukey plays.

“All things considered, I thought those guys played well,” Dugas said.

Against South Lafourche, the challenge will be corralling a triple option offense that’s sort of a knuckleball — an offense that not many teams run anymore.

Dugas said it’s hard to prepare for “assignment

football” in just one week, adding that the defense will have to stay disciplined.

“Everyone has a job and a responsibility, and we have to stick to those assignments and make tackles,” Dugas said.

From the Tarpons’ perspective, they’re looking to get things going.

South Lafourche got muscled by St. Charles Catholic on Friday night, struggling to sustain any offense against a mean Comets front.

Forsythe said he was disappointed in the mindset of his team on Friday night, adding that he thought the Tarpons were a little timid under the Friday Night Lights.

But he also was quick to add that the opponent was fierce, as well.

“That’s the best front seven I’ve maybe ever seen in my time in coaching,” Forsythe said.

“They do a lot to make things difficult on you.”

Against Thibodaux, South Lafourche will want to sustain drives to slow the game down.

Forsythe said the longer the Tarpons’ offense is on the field, the better.

He added that the South Lafourche defense will be working this week on its secondary, knowing that Thibodaux has a prolific passing game — a group led by quarterback Luke Alleman, but which also features Kyren Lacy, Darwin Davis and other receivers.

“We have to control time of possession better and when we’re on

defense, we have to limit their big plays,” Forsythe said.

And on Dugas’ side of the coin, he knows that seven turnovers won’t cut it — maybe not ever again.

Against the Tarpons, he said there will not be enough possessions in the game to get carless with the ball.

He said the Tigers will work tirelessly on ball security in practice.

“We know we have to clean that up. We won, and it’s always better to have teachable moments and lessons after a win.

But you can’t turn over the ball like that and hope to have much success.

We have to fix it and be better.”

A MIXED BAG South Lafourche and Thibodaux always produce a thrilling game — one of the more anticipated games of the season.

Here’s a look back at the past 10 dates between the rivals. Lately, Thibodaux has dominated the rivalry.

But historically, dating back to the ‘60s when the Tarpons started football, they’ve had far more success, winning a lion’s share of the games.

2018 - Thibodaux, 35-10 2017 - SLHS, 38-28 2016 - Thibodaux, 26-17 2015 - Thibodaux, 35-9 2014 - Thibodaux, 35-0 2013 - Thibodaux, 52-28 2012 - SLHS, 41-14 2011 - SLHS, 49-20 2010 - SLHS, 21-12 2009 - SLHS, 24-6 •

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ORGERON FOCUSED ON SENIOR SEASON WITH COLLEGIATE CHOICE MADE

BY CASEY GISCLAIR

casey@rushing-media.com

South Lafourche’s biggest football fish is going to soon be swimming up to Hammond.

But first, there’s some unfinished businesses to handle in his senior season.

Tarpons offensive lineman Jhy Orgeron announced he’s committed to Southeastern Louisiana University — a decision he made after fielding interest from several other local universities.

Orgeron said he’s relieved to know he has a spot at the next level, but also relieved because the move will take some pressure off his family.

“It’s a full ride,” Orgeron said on Wednesday night with a smile. “To know my mom won’t have to pay anything, It’s just awesome. It’s a great feeling.”

Orgeron is going to land in Hammond with tons of playing experience — four seasons as a starter at the prep level, to be exact.

Orgeron has started

on the offensive line at South Lafourche since his freshman year — starting for coach Brandon Nowlin (as a freshman) and Blake Forsythe (the past three years).

Orgeron’s strength is his versatility. He’s literally played just about every spot on the line for the Tarpons, starting out at the guard and tackle positions before moving to center this fall.

South Lafourche coach Blake Forsythe said this spring that Orgeron is an anchor on the offensive line and a guy who can push the line forward.

This year, Orgeron is even playing a little situational defense on the interior of the Tarpons’ defensive line when situations present themselves.

“He’s got great size and he’s athletic for how big he is,” Forsythe said.

“And you can play him just about anywhere you want to along the line.

He’s a big part of what we’re doing up front on the offensive line.”

Orgeron has been getting collegiate

attention for the past year or so, but he said he grew an affinity for the Lions over the summer, which led to his commitment.

He visited the campus a couple of times and attended the team’s camp.

He then got the offer for a full-ride, which further sweetened the pot.

Orgeron said assistant coaches told him that head coach Frank Scelfo “couldn’t stop talking about him,” and that the Lions “wanted him really bad,” which led to his decision.

“I was waiting at first, but after hearing them talking about how much they liked me and how much they wanted me there, I decided to commit,” Orgeron said.

“I liked the vibe there. It was great. I really liked the coaches and I definitely always could see myself playing there.”

Orgeron said at the collegiate level, he’s going to play wherever coaches ask him to play, adding that there may even be an opportunity for him to touch the football at times.

Orgeron stands 6-feet, 4-inches tall and weighs 270 pounds. But he’s athletic for his size, possessing quick feet and the ability to move down the field.

He said Southeastern coaches have told him it’s possible he will play tight end at the next level. If not there, he will likely play left guard.

“I can move,” Orgeron said with a laugh when asked if he can play tight end. “I’m big, but I can

run and catch.”

But while Hammond is the future, Galliano, Louisiana is the present and Orgeron said he’s focused on ending his high school career with a bang.

Orgeron is one of the senior leaders for a team looking to bounce back off a 2-8 season last fall.

Orgeron said he thinks this year’s team will be different than last, adding that the senior leadership in the locker room is different and everyone’s attitude is more positive.

On the field, it’s showed.

The Tarpons lost the season opener to St. Charles Catholic on Friday night, but the team had a productive offseason before that game, trumping Patterson in the scrimmage and H.L. Bourgeois in the jamboree.

Orgeron said the Tarpons didn’t like how last year went down and they’re working hard to ensure that this year — his final prep season will be better.

The senior standout said one of the reasons why he wanted to commit early was exactly that — so he could dedicate his time and energy 100 percent to his team for the next several weeks.

“We feel like with this group of seniors, things will be different,” Orgeron said. “We’ve had good energy and a great attitude. Everyone is in it together. We’re ready to show that what happened last year isn’t going to happen again.” •

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