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May 13, 2015Body found in Cocodrie identified
May 15, 2015
Our area’s most explosive prep football playmaker will continue his career at the collegiate level.
Houma Christian quarterback Drake Battaglia announced this week that he’s going to play college football at Louisiana College – the NCAA Division III four-year university located in Pineville, Louisiana.
Battaglia said he’s happy to extend his career to the next level. His father and Houma Christian football coach Chuck is probably even happier. Now, he will actually get to watch his son as a father and fan, instead of as a coach.
“It feels great – I can’t even lie, it feels great,” Drake Battaglia said. “You always say as a kid that you’re going to move on and play college and everything, but a lot of people don’t ever get to have that opportunity. So for it to happen to me and in my life, it’s just a blessing. I’m so thrilled to be able to take my skills to the next level.”
“As a dad, there’s not much more exciting than this,” Chuck Battaglia added. “Most dad, it’s their dream when their kids get involved in sports to be able to have something like this happen. So we’re happy and excited, and we’re certainly grateful to Louisiana College for giving him that opportunity.”
For Battaglia, the ascent to college football comes after one of the most decorated local prep football careers in recent memory. As a senior quarterback at Houma Christian, Battaglia was absolute lightning in a bottle under center for the Warriors, sparking a large percentage of the team’s offense.
As a passer, Battaglia was crisp, completing 118-of-197 passes for 1,668 yards and 18 touchdowns. As a rusher, the 5-foot, 10-inch, 170-pound standout was just as good. He was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2014 with a dozen touchdowns – enough to help lead Houma Christian to a spot in the Division IV State Playoffs.
Drake Battaglia said he took so much pride in being a quarterback for Houma Christian – the small private school that just adopted football in the past half-decade. He said this accomplishment isn’t just about his to enjoy, but is one that he wants the entire school community to celebrate.
“This is a huge thing for our school,” the quarterback said. “We always said when we were trying to start up the football team that we were trying to put Houma Christian on the map. So I think with something like this happening, that’s a small step toward that goal.”
To get himself to the college level, Battaglia had to do some networking. Both Drake and his father said that they had a few connections to Louisiana College through acquaintances with head coach Dennis Dunn.
Through that networking, the Battaglias sent Drake’s highlight tape to Dunn’s office for review. The head coach liked what he saw and scheduled the quarterback for an official visit.
After a tour of the campus and studying Louisiana College’s offensive scheme, Drake Battaglia determined that it was a perfect fit for his skillset.
“I like the offense. I like the environment and the campus. I really just like everything about the school,” Drake Battaglia said. “The coaches seemed like great guys, so after I went and visited those guys, I decided that this was the place that I wanted to go – the place that I was comfortable playing my college ball at.”
The soon-to-be Houma Christian graduate figures to be either a slot receiver of a quarterback in the team’s spread offense that scored 30 or more points in six games last season.
Drake Battaglia said he doesn’t have a preference either way, touting that he can see the benefit of playing either position.
“I played a little receiver my 10th grade year,” Drake Battaglia said. “I’m more of a small, slot receiver-type. I’m quick off my routes. I’m quick in the open field. I like to get the ball in open space. Honestly, I think receiver is where I might be best suited to have an impact in college.
“But man, there’s nothing like being a quarterback. I love having the ball and being in control of an offense and of a team. So whatever role they pick for me, I’ll be happy to do it.”
His pop thinks that Drake has a dynamic skillset as a receiver, touting that he could be a great fit for Louisiana College within its swing pass and screen-heavy offense.
“We like to compare him almost to like a Wes Welker or a player like that,” Chuck Battaglia said. “I think he can get to that level and fit in really well inside of their offense, because they like to get the ball out quickly and let their receivers make plays.”
Of course, as sports fans in our area have seen over the past several years, Battaglia is at his best when he’s running the ball and trying to elude defenders.
The first time it happens at the college level will be unique for both father and son.
For Drake, it will be his chance to prove that he can hang with the big boys.
For the father, it’ll be a chance to enjoy being a dad – a time to celebrate his son’s skills in a setting where he’s a fan and not a coach.
“I can’t wait,” Drake said. “I can’t wait to get there and to get started. I love to compete. It will be a lot of fun to see what I can do out there at the college level with other guys who are really good players.”
“If he’s blessed enough to get that first catch or that first touchdown, that’s going to be so special for me,” Chuck Battaglia added. “It will be a lot of fun to be able to cheer him on and celebrate him, because as a coach, you have to keep a more even keel. I look forward to being a dad. I know if that moment occurs, I’ll be standing up and hollering because I’ll be so proud.”
