5 Things to See in Week 1

Ah, there’s simply nothing quite like the start of a new season.

Everyone is 0-0 again — the one time in an athletic year where everyone is truly equal and on the same playing field.

The 2019 season is expected to be one of intrigue locally because I can literally make the case for just about every, single local team.

That’s not just lip service or me blowing smoke. There are whispers that the 2019 season will be terrific locally and the word on the street is that there are a lot of squads who will be pushing strongly for playoff spots.

But it all starts in Week 1, right? It’s the first step on a 10-week journey toward the playoffs.

So here are 5 things I’m looking forward to keeping track of this weekend.

May the games begin.

1. Mighty Terrebonne showing its muscle.

Terrebonne opens its 2019 season with Jesuit. That’s no cupcake. The Blue Jays were just 5-5 last season, but all of their losses were close defeats to some of the best teams in the state of Louisiana, including Warren Easton, John Curtis, Rummel and heck, even Destrehan. The Blue Jays are what I like to call a “gatekeeper” team. They likely won’t win the state championship this fall, but they’re sort of right in the middle. The elites will beat them. But those just below the elites may lose to them. Where does Terrebonne stand in the pecking order? We will find out on Friday night at Tom B. Smith Stadium, won’t we? I have a feeling the Tigers will be A-OK.

2. Just how mighty is Thibodaux?

There is a lot of buzz coming out of Thibodaux’s camp this fall. The Tigers finished just 3-7 last season, but that team was brutally young and was completely torn apart by injuries. This year, the Tigers return the lion’s share of its roster and little local birdies are chirping and saying that the Tigers are one of the sleepers in our area. I believe those little birdies. I think Thibodaux is going to be the most improved local team in 2019. They open with Riverside Academy on Friday — a chance to face a Class 1A opponent with a lot of quality talent. I am curious to see just how impressive the Tigers look in their first chance to showcase themselves in the 2019 season. If the words we’re hearing are true, look for Thibodaux to score lots of points and be one of the more explosive, high-powered offenses in the area throughout the fall.

3. Year one better than year two?

Both South Lafourche and H.L. Bourgeois changed offensive philosophies last year and, to be quite honest, both had significant growing pains. Both teams finished 2-8 and neither had any significant, sustained offensive success throughout the season. But coaches always say that while year one of a drastic change is tough, year two is often far better because the kids know what’s expected. We’ve seen flashes of that throughout the offseason from both teams. They both scrimmaged well — the Tarpons getting the better of Patterson, while H.L. Bourgeois trumped Morgan City. The Tarpons and Braves also faced on another on Friday at the Jamboree and both teams showed marked signs of improvement in all phases. So now, it’s time to put it into action. I’m curious to see how both teams look.

4. Lasseigne v. Ledet, Chapter 1

E.D. White vs. Vandebilt is always a significant game locally, right? That’s one of the biggest rivalries in our area. But this year’s installment of the annual game is a little bit bigger because it marks the first game for two first-year head coaches in E.D. White’s Kyle Lasseigne and Vandebilt’s Lance Ledet. Both guys are decorated. Heck, Lasseigne was once a highly successful head coach at E.D. White before a hiatus and Ledet is a longtime assistant coach who has won championships almost everywhere he’s been. So what gives? This is a big-time football game between two teams with high hopes going into 2019. The winner of this one will get a jolt of momentum into the season.

5. All of that turf — that sweet, beautiful turf

And last, but certainly not least, we couldn’t get out of this column without talking about Terrebonne Parish’s turf. Back 10 years ago, turf games were a rarity. I remember it being a special occasion or a big deal when a local team got the chance to play on an artificial surface. Now, 9 of our 11 local teams have turf and it’s more a story when games are played on grass. That’s good for our area. That means fewer delays, fewer rainouts and less drama. I can’t wait to see our kids playing on that turf in Week 1. Soak it all in and enjoy it. •