Injury bug bites locals early

The prep football season is just 8 or 9 days away from starting depending on one’s school of preference.

And a few local teams are going to be without key players who have been bitten by the injury bug.

Injuries have been a part of the summer and preseason camp and some top-tier talent will open the season on the shelf.

So far, coaches have said that the ailments are not considered to be season-threatening, though there are a few storylines to watch in the opening weeks of non-district play.

TERREBONNE

The Tigers are one of the teams garnering the most attention locally this fall because they have a slew of returnees back off a group which won seven games last year.

But one of the most prominent of those returnees will not be available in the earliest stages of the season.

Senior athlete Keshawn James has missed the past several weeks with a broken foot — an injury that is expected to sideline him for the start of the season, if not most of non-district play.

James’ absence doesn’t cripple the talented Tigers, but it does slow them down.

In the past two seasons, James has been one of the most explosive players in the area, rushing for more than 1,000 yards, while also making plays with his arm, as well.

Terrebonne coach Gary Hill said James’ absence is troubling, but added that the senior has been at every, single practice and meeting to stay fresh.

Once medically cleared, the Tigers will ease James back in based on what his conditioning level allows. The hope is that he will be a full-go by district play.

“Here’s a guy who is at practice and has his helmet on every day because he misses it,” Hill said. “Physically, we have to get him back up to speed with his injury and his conditioning level. But mentally, he’s doing those reps with us every day and staying part of this team. And that’s really important and is a big part of why we think we can get him back to speed pretty quickly once he’s cleared.”

In James’ absence, junior Jakhi Douglas will get a lot of the team’s snaps under center.

SOUTH LAFOURCHE

The Tarpons have a diverse offense which likes to spread the football out to its full allotment of playmakers over the course of a game.

One of those key cogs has been out for most of the summer, and the hope is that he will be back sometime in the coming weeks of the season.

Senior Jelby Cheramie injured his shoulder over the summer — an ailment that kept him out for most of Swampland baseball and 7-on-7 drills and all of preseason camp to this point.

Cheramie is a key receiver and defensive back for the Tarpons and coach Blake Forsythe said the team is hoping for a 100 percent recovery during the early stages of the season.

Cheramie has been getting medical opinions on the injury and the consensus is that, if he heals properly, he can be back in the early stages of the season.

Like with James, Forsythe said that Cheramie will be worked back into the lineup slowly once cleared, but added that he has a big role on the team.

“He’s one of our senior leaders,” Forsythe said. “We want to get him back out there. We’re going to be cautious and do what’s best for Jelby, but we’re hoping to have him out on the field as soon as we can because he’s a help to us on the football field.”

Editor’s Note: The Times has also learned that senior halfback Jake Galjour is out for South Lafourche with a knee injury. Tests are being done to determine to scope of the injury. 

VANDEBILT CATHOLIC

The scariest moment of the young season happened during Vandebilt’s scrimmage against Berwick.

Senior defender C.J. Detillier hit his head during a tackle and went down and was motionless for several minutes before being stretchered off the field and taken via ambulance to a local medical facility.

The early diagnosis on Detillier is good. He has no major injuries and suffered a possible mild concussion. He is expected to be back with the team in the coming weeks.

On social media, CJ’s father, Coley Detillier, updated family and friends and thanked them for their prayers, adding that CJ is expected to return to play soon.

The scrimmage between the Terriers and Panthers was ended early after the fall.

While Vandebilt is hopeful to have Detillier back in the coming weeks, they also relish a couple other returnees this fall.

Halfback Drew Rios is back after a severe injury last season and coach Jeremy Atwell said the powerful runner will be a bell cow for the team offensively this season.

Vandebilt also has Brennan Patterson back after he missed most of last season with an ailment, as well.

Keshawn JamesCASEY GISCLAIR | THE TIMES

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