CCA wants to take another leap in 2015

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Covenant Christian Academy’s football team shared the district championship last season.

This time around, the Lions hope to be the only ones holding that trophy at season’s end.

Fresh off a 7-3 campaign in 2014, CCA has high hopes for this year, thanks to a core group of six-to-eight players that second-year coach Randy Boquet said will lead the team.


Assuming those guys stay healthy, Boquet predicts this could be a special year – one that sees CCA take the leap from playoff team to state championship contender. The team’s players agree. They added that in this go-round, they don’t want to share a district title with anyone. They want to win it in 2015 on their own.

“We’re trying to take it all the way this time,” senior defensive lineman Sashen Staidum said. “It sounds bad to say it like this, but we don’t want to share with anybody – we want the trophy on our own.”

“That’s our goal – to win district outright,” senior halfback and linebacker Devyn Allen added. “We came close last year, so that’s a challenge for us. We want to reach out and grab it this time and leave no doubt.”


On the offensive side of the ball, CCA’s run-based attack is loaded with a lot of the same players who made it tough to stop last season.

Boquet said the Lions bring back seven starters offensively, including quarterback Dylan Sharpe, Allen and halfback Marquel Daigle.

This season will be Sharpe’s second in command at CCA. He was thrust into action last season when Daigle, the team’s opening day quarterback for 2014, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident.


Boquet said he sees Sharpe’s growth, both mentally and physically. The coach said the senior quarterback is ready to have a big year.

“He’s looking pretty sharp right now,” Boquet said of his quarterback. “He understands the system better, and he has more confidence in himself. I think where he is now compared to where he was then is a big difference – a change for the better.”

Of course, it’s probably easy to be relaxed and at ease as a quarterback when you have Allen and Daigle to hand the ball to.


The one-two punch of Daigle and Allen will receive a lot of carries for CCA in the team’s Wing-T offensive system. Another player who will figure heavily into the offensive equation is senior Callan Bourg.

Boquet said Allen spent the offseason gaining 10-15 pounds – added weight he will use to muscle defenders both as a ball carrier and as a blocking fullback.

For Daigle, the key to 2015 is staying healthy after the accident last year. He said that he feels great and is ready for the season.


“I’ve never felt better,” Daigle said. “I’m 100 percent. All of those things are behind me now, and my only focus is on our team and having as good a senior season as I can for my team.”

But for all of the skill position players the Lions have back, they could use a little seasoning on the offensive line. Boquet said Jordan Friloux and Ryan Daigle are back and will start, but some of the other positions on the line are still up for grabs.

“It will be a huge focal point for us to get that line gelled up and get them working as a unit,” Boquet said. “We have to be patient. We know it’s going to take some time, but we believe in the kids, and we think we’ll get there.”


Defensively, CCA returns six starters on a unit led by Staidum – a massive run-stopping defensive tackle who has generated interest from several colleges across the country.

Staidum said he’s worked hard throughout the offseason to get in tip-top shape. He said he can’t wait to take the field and lead the defense.

“I’m so ready,” he said. “I think about the season all of the time. It’s in my mind. We’re so hungry and so focused. We just can’t wait to have a good year.”


“He’s had a tremendous offseason,” Boquet added. “He showed up and was in great shape from Day 1, and he’s ready to go.”

Other players who are expected to have a huge say in CCA’s defense this fall include two-ways players like Allen, who doubles as a linebacker and Daigle, who is also a defensive back.

Boquet said a huge challenge he and his coaching staff will face will be finding ways to get the team’s top players breaks in games without putting the team at risk. The coach said that outside of the core group of seniors, CCA is incredibly young and inexperienced.


“What we have behind those seven our eight returning kids are a bunch of freshmen and sophomores,” Boquet said. “So the challenge will be to get those kids ready so that we can rest and protect our guys throughout the game when we get the chance to this season.”

But while Staidum and the other seniors admit that rest is nice in the midst of a tiring season, they tout that they’re leaving it all out on the field this fall.

CCA shared the district prize last time out. This time, they want the whole thing to themselves, and the Lions think they have the talent in place to make that wish a reality.


“I love this team,” Daigle said. “I think we have a chance to be good at every position. We want to win district, get into the playoffs and see what we can do from there.” •

CCA footballJOSE DELGADO | THE TIMES