Friends, new foes set for district game

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Both Thibodaux High School football coach Chris Dugas and H.L. Bourgeois coach Carey Melvin insist that it’ll be all business once the opening kickoff takes place in Friday’s game between the Tigers and Braves.

But both admit that the moments before and after the game will be unique, abnormal and also, in a way, somewhat uncomfortable.


Dugas and Melvin are longtime friends – veteran coaches who coached on the same staff for several years. The locals are so close that Dugas was a part of Melvin’s wedding party. Melvin coached under the Thibodaux High coach for several seasons as the team’s defensive coordinator. The two also shared a staff for several years when each were assistants at Thibodaux.

The coaches tout that Friday’s game isn’t about the sidelines, but more about which team’s players perform better on the field.

But they also admit that facing off against one another won’t necessarily be easy, either.


“We’ve gone at one another a lot in practice, but in a game, it’s going to be a little bit different,” Melvin said. “Chris is one of my best friends. He’s such a great coach. Is it going to be awkward? I guess you can say that. We’ve gone against one another at practice before, and we faced off in games when he was at Terrebonne. But I coached all of those Thibodaux kids there last year. That’s the part that’ll be hardest for me.”

“It’s going to be an interesting matchup because it’s two really good teams and then it’ll be the first time Carey faces us as a head coach,” Dugas added. “He’s done a great job with that program, and we know that he’s going to have his team ready to play. We’re the road team, so we’re expecting a big crowd and a lot of energy in the stands. We need to show up ready for a 48-minute battle.”

Both coaches have teams capable of making playoff pushes.


The Tigers are arguably the cream of the crop locally – a team that is red-hot after an 0-2 start to the year. Thibodaux will enter the game having won four-straight games, a streak that includes victories against South Lafourche, East St. John, Terrebonne and Central Lafourche.

Thibodaux’s successes are due to the team’s resurgence in its running game. After a poor offensive start to the season, the Tigers have gashed opponents on the ground in recent weeks.

In Friday’s win against the Trojans, halfback Donnell Adair was a force, rushing for more than 200 yards with four touchdowns. Adair has been the team’s bell cow in a loaded backfield that also features Amik Robertson, Dane Benoit and also quarterback Trey LeBlanc.


Dugas said the team’s offensive line deserves a lot of credit for the turnaround.

“I think early in the season, we had problems at the line of scrimmage,” Dugas said. “But I think in the last few weeks, we’ve made some corrections, and we’ve been much better. I think that’s been the biggest difference for us – our ability to block and open holes for our backs.”

On the opposite side of the field, H.L. Bourgeois has been a Cinderella story. A program that’s struggled for the better part of a decade, the Braves have been a turnaround team in Melvin’s first season.


H.L. Bourgeois already has five wins, which guarantees that the team will not have a losing season.

Melvin said had 100 percent confidence in his ability to turn around the Braves program when he took the job last spring. But even the coach is surprised at how fast H.L. Bourgeois has progressed in its rebuilding efforts.

“I’m just so proud of the kids, man,” Melvin said. “Where we are today compared to where we were during our first snap in the spring is incredible. We’re not even the same football team. Everyone has bought in, and we’ve all gotten so much better. I couldn’t be happier for the kids and for how well they’ve come along.”


Offensively, the Braves run a spread attack led by brother duo of quarterback Jude LeCompte and halfback Blaise – a one-two punch that is among the best in the area.

But Melvin said that like Thibodaux, it’s the Braves’ offensive line that is exceeding expectations.

“Those guys up front deserve a lot of credit,” Melvin said.


Also needing credit is the H.L. Bourgeois defense – a unit that has been a pleasant surprise throughout the season. The Braves have allowed 20 or fewer points in five out of six games this season, including a shutout of Westgate on Thursday night.

Melvin said senior Tevyn Johnson is the leader of that group, which has a good combination of size and speed.

The Braves returned eight starters defensively.


“I think the experience we have there has been a real plus,” Melvin said. “We have a lot of young men who’ve played a lot of football on Friday nights.”

But no matter how good the teams playing may be, a big part of Friday night’s story will be the coaches and their close bond to one another.

Dugas said he knew as soon as Melvin took the job at H.L. Bourgeois that he’s turn the team into a winner. Melvin said he learned a lot as a coach under Dugas, adding that his time at Thibodaux is why he’s a head coach today.


“It’s going to be different,” Melvin said. “But it’s going to be fun. I think we’re both looking forward to it. It’s hard for me, because Thibodaux is home, but I think it’s going to be a great high school football game.”

Chris Dugas