Ellender seniors want the losing to stop in 2012
August 30, 2012
Houma Christian ready to get physical in 2012
August 30, 2012
The H.L. Bourgeois football team started the 2011 season with a glistening 2-0 record.
They closed out by losing eight-straight to finish 2-8 for the second-straight campaign.
This year, the Braves are hungry to change their fate.
With a talented batch of young players and more reps within the system, H.L. Bourgeois second-year coach Ben Powell thinks the Braves have a shot to chase their first winning season since 2007.
“We’re working on football in year two – I know that sounds a little weird,” Powell said with a laugh. “But our guys now know where to go, how to line up, what the expectations are and also how to lift in the offseason. Now all we’re doing is building on the foundation of expectations because our guys have already got them. That makes things a lot easier in our second year.”
Offensively, Powell won’t use the words “two-quarterback system,” but the Braves will rely on two players under center.
The starter will be sophomore Todd Adkins – a tough, hard-nosed run-oriented, short passer.
He will be relieved periodically by freshman Jake Broggi – the stereotypical pocket passer with a cannon.
Powell believes both players provide the Braves advantages on Friday nights.
“Our plan at this point is for Jake to be the third-series guy,” Powell said. “I don’t want to sit here and say that we have a two-quarterback system, because we don’t. We have a starter. But we’re going to try and get that second guy as many reps as we can.”
What should make things easier for either option are the team’s receivers.
College prospect Chris Harris leads a Braves receiving corps that is capable of stretching the field on any given play.
Powell said having a receiver like Harris is a plus for any high school program.
“He’s a legitimate D-1 prospect,” Powell said. “He’s 6-foot-1, 180 pounds and he runs a 4.4 (second), 40 (yard dash) and all of that good stuff. Plus, he can really go up and get the ball.”
Complimenting Harris are slot receivers like Tyree Andrew, who can also make special things happen with the ball in his hands.
“We can beat people deep with our outside guys and we also have a good group of inside guys that can break one and take it all the way,” Powell said. “We have a good combination of big, physical guys and the little guys underneath, who if you don’t guard can really, really hurt you.”
Up front, the Braves return experienced linemen Victor Hawkins and Kyle Barrios in a group that Powell wants to be more aggressive.
“We were physical at times last year, but we want to be consistently physical,” the coach said. “We need a better push on the offensive line. I think history pretty clearly shows that if you block ‘em well, you’re probably going to move the football and have success.”
Defensively, the Braves will rely on returning starters Raheem Robertson and Andrew to secure a unit that struggled at times in 2012.
Powell said he believes Andrew can be a difference maker for the team in its secondary.
“He’s going to be a stalwart for us in the secondary,” Powell said. “We think we have a lot of guys in our whole secondary who are real athletic, who can run and make interceptions and all of that good stuff.”
The biggest change for the Braves has nothing to do with X’s and O’s, according to Powell.
The coach said after several-straight losing seasons, the Braves are tired of losing and want to get back on the winning track.
He said that he sees the competitive edge within his team. He added that the fire burns so bright that he’s had to encourage players to keep their heads up after mistakes in practice.
“Our guys want it so bad,” Powell said. “This has been going on for four-plus years where we haven’t made the playoffs. Kids can get down on themselves. We’re at this point where our guys are sick and tired of losing and are willing to anything that they have to do to shake it off and get back on the winning track.
“But at the same time, we want them to understand that this is a learning situation and it’s all about progression and getting better. If we continue to get better every day and improve, we can be as good as anybody. We really believe that.”
H.L. Bourgeois quarterback Jake Broggi fires a pass during a scrimmage with E.D. White. The Braves plan to play the freshman quarterback every couple series this year. He will rotate with Todd Adkins.
