CL believes new coach brings success to team
August 29, 2013
SL hoping to build off 2012 undefeated year
August 29, 2013
The E.D. White football team started the 2012 season red-hot, winning its first four games of the season.
But in the final six weeks of the season, the Cardinals struggled, posting a 2-4 record with three losses coming by one touchdown or less.
Winning the close ones in district play is the game plan for E.D. White as the team plays its inaugural season on its brand new turf field in Thibodaux.
“Most of the teams on our schedule, we can compete with,” Lasseigne said. “But there are a lot of guys on our schedule that if we don’t play well, they’re going to beat us. We’ve got to be ready for every week this season. There are really no down weeks. … That’s going to be our objective this year. The games that we’re close in the fourth quarter, we’ve got to go finish.
As of press-time, Cardinals coach Kyle Lasseigne said the school “is hopeful” that its new field turf will be ready for the season-opener with Vandebilt.
If it is indeed good to go on that date, the players playing on the new surface will be a fairly young bunch.
Lasseigne said the Cardinals return just four starters on offense and five starters on defense. The coach said the number isn’t as alarming as it appears because a lot of the new starters will be kids who have seen significant playing time in years past.
“It’s not like these kids haven’t ever been on the field,” Lasseigne said. “This will just be the first time that these guys will be on the field for the whole game in a full-time starting role.”
Offensively, E.D. White returns backfield depth and a handful of linemen. Fullback Darius Charles is back and will provide the tough, gritty yards the Cardinals like to get in their veer offense.
In the trenches, lineman Taylor Casteigne is back and will move from tackle to center. He will be joined by lineman Hunter Perk who will return as a two-year starter at tackle.
“We have a good fit of pretty good size and good quickness with our linemen,” Lasseigne said. “We just have to develop. We’ve seen some strides. We’re headed in the right direction with those guys.”
Lasseigne said the rest of the Cardinals’ offense will be loaded with depth as quarterbacks Conner Chiasson and Ben Sposito jockey for playing time under center. E.D. White also will play three and maybe four halfbacks within its offense.
Defensively, Lasseigne said the linebacker Justin Theriot is back and will be one of the key cogs for the Cardinals. He will be joined by linebacker Hunner Caballero and free safety Seth Ledet.
Lasseigne said Ledet will need to have a solid season for E.D. White because the team relies on its free safeties to make calls for the defense.
“We count on our free safety to run our defense for us,” Lasseigne said. “We really try and put our best kid right there at that position. Those three players will be big for us this coming season.”
But for E.D. White, it all comes back to winning the close ones. The Cardinals play a slew of top programs in the upcoming season and will likely be very stiffly challenged throughout the season.
E.D. White will take on Vandebilt, St. James and
The difference between an average season and a great season will be slim, according to Lasseigne.
“Someone just has to step up and make the big play to get us the win in those games,” Lasseigne said. “We don’t know who will do it just yet, but someone has to.”
E.D. White quarterback Ben Sposito readies for a snap during the Cardinals’ scrimmage with Terrebonne. Sposito is one of two quarterbacks aiming to be the team’s starter. The Cardinals will look to win close district games in the new season.
