Vandebilt aiming to protect home, go deep in 2016

Gators to play for themselves, fallen classmate in 2016
August 24, 2016
It’s an all-new E.D. White in the new season
August 24, 2016
Gators to play for themselves, fallen classmate in 2016
August 24, 2016
It’s an all-new E.D. White in the new season
August 24, 2016

The Vandebilt Catholic High School football team has grown up, and they plan on using that experience to their advantage this fall.

The Terriers are now in their third year under head coach Jeremy Atwell, and they bring back a host of starters on each side of the ball. Coming off of a 3-5 2015 season, Vandebilt is hoping another year of seasoning in Atwell’s system will help the team take a step forward.

Atwell said the key to any step forward will be the team hitting a fast start on the season. In recent seasons Vandebilt has stumbled out of the gate, starting off each of the last two years with at least a five-game losing streak before rebounding with wins in district play. Atwell said the team has focused on improving health and avoiding injuries through proper nutrition, stretching and preparation. The goal is to have a full squad when the season rolls around.


If Vandebilt does indeed find success early in the year, it will be the result of tough, physical football. Atwell’s philosophy is based on winning in the trenches, and he is relying on both the Terriers’ offensive and defensive lines to dictate the game’s tone.

“We want to be able to run the ball. We want to be able to stop the run. Again, coaching talk, but it’s the truth. If you can control the line of scrimmage then you can have success on both sides of the ball,” Atwell said.

In the name of stopping the run, Vandebilt employs a 3-4, two-gap defense, which Atwell learned from Pete Jenkins at Nicholls State University. The three linemen, including seniors Caleb Hebert and Hayden Breaux, each go head up with offensive linemen, keeping them at an arm’s length to control the gaps to each side of them. If executed properly, the defense can account for more running lanes with less players, keeping linemen off of linebackers like senior Alec Rios and enabling them and the secondary to make more plays. Atwell, noting his defense returns nine starters this year, said having players entering year three in the scheme means the team, and each player, can do more.


“We’re playing with bigger guys that do have the ability to two-gap and don’t have to be a single gap defense. At the same time, we have guys who can get into a single gap alignment and play that really well, be a little bit more in attack mode and get off the ball,” Atwell said. “We’re kind of blessed, we have the personnel to get multiple looks on defense, instead of just having to be in one look on defense and have teams exploit that schematically.”

That versatility is a blessing to Atwell and his defensive staff, but to Hebert, one-gapping or two-gapping is of little import. The bottom line is the defenders finding some linemen lunch.

“It really doesn’t matter. Either way you can make the play. You just gotta stop the run. That’s the most important thing,” Hebert said.


On the offensive side, Vandebilt runs a multiple, pro-style offense reliant on, you guessed it, a strong ground game. Atwell said the team’s two senior guards, Adam Maloz and Zachary Trahan, will be what makes the offense go this season. The team returns eight starters on that side of the ball, although they will be featuring a new quarterback. The other two newcomers will be on the offensive line, where Maloz and Trahan will be tasked with bringing along the new players. Atwell said having those established veterans on the line essentially gives those fresh faces coaching from peers lined up next to them.

“We can help them, because we’ve been there for so long, so we know what it feels like. They’re not used to the speed, they’re not used to playing ones the whole time,” Maloz said.

The Terriers’ head coach said the team’s first objective will be to protect its home turf. Vandebilt faces some tough tests early on, with Central Lafourche, St. Charles Catholic and Newman headed into Houma over the team’s first five games. Atwell said the team’s bonding over the summer bore the fruit of improved accountability among all the players. He hopes the long days in the Houma heat will give them a boost when foes big or small come to town.


“They’re starting to understand that this is a sacred place to us. This is where we spend our summer time. They don’t get but about a week off the entire summer. They’ve bought into it,” Atwell said. •

Vandebilt football