There’s nothing like prep football
August 30, 2012
EDW wants to win the close ones in 2012
August 30, 2012
No one within the Central Lafourche football program was happy with 2011’s 1-9 campaign.
This year, the Trojans expect to “veer” their way into the winner’s circle.
First-year coach John Callahan has shifted the team to the veer offense. That transition combined with the team’s plethora of weapons has everyone in Mathews excited about the team’s potential for a turnaround.
“With the new coach, he just gave everybody a new opportunity,” quarterback Luke Falgout said. “He put it into everybody’s heads that we’re going to have a winning season and that’s the plan – to get this thing fixed and be better this year.”
Offensively, Callahan said the Trojans return “a handful” of starters from last year’s unit that struggled and averaged just 10.3 points per game.
But change is on the way in Mathews – in more ways than just a batch of new starting players.
The Trojans will adopt the option-based veer that Callahan has used throughout his coaching career.
The offensive alignment is nothing new to the Trojans, who executed a similar scheme under Chad Callais, who was the team’s coach before Travis Douglas’ one season.
“We had a coaching stuff full of guys who were already familiar with the system and the ins and outs of it,” Callahan said. “That’s a big help. It wasn’t like we were starting completely brand new. I didn’t have to do a lot of teaching to the staff.”
The reason the Trojans believe they can have a high-powered attack is their diversity of weapons.
Falgout anchors the offense under center. He is joined by backfield weapons like Tonia Shelby, Jeremiah Ballard, Bryson Davis and Dorian Parker.
“We have a lot of different guys that we believe we can count on to carry the football,” Callahan said. “That’s a real plus for us.”
“We have the chance to be pretty explosive,” tight end Gerren Jefferson said. “We trust all of our athletes to be able to do great things with the ball in their hands.”
If the Trojans opt to stretch the field, Jefferson is a capable threat in the passing game.
“We can throw it, too,” Falgout said. “We have receivers and everything we need to stretch the field if we have to.”
“We want to be able to give the defense multiple things to think about,” Callahan said. “Sometimes these veer option teams don’t throw the ball or can’t throw the ball. We can. I think that’s going to really help us out this year.”
The Trojans bring it all together with a stout offensive line that returns three players from last year, a group led by guard Brodi Hill.
He said the team’s front will be improved because of its camaraderie.
“We stay together,” Hill said. “Every day after practice, the offensive line meets for about 10-15 minutes and we talk about what went on at practice. That’s the difference. We’re a family on the line.”
“The blocking has been great,” Falgout said. “They make the things that we are trying to do much easier.”
Defensively, the Trojans have six returning starters from last year’s group.
They are led by defensive back John Williams, who roams the defensive backfield as a ball-hawking safety.
Also contributing for the unit will be linebacker Simon Braud, Garland Sylvester and Kenneth Foret.
In the team’s jamboree against Clark, the Trojans forced multiple turnovers and looked stout.
“The defense is coming along,” Callahan said. “From what our defensive coaches tell me, they feel we’re farther along on that side than we were this time last year.”
“They are doing a really good job,” Hill said. “They are working hard and are getting better. Once they clean up a few small things, I think we’ll see their best football.”
For the Trojans to make a playoff push, they will have to overcome a difficult schedule.
Central Lafourche will open its 2012 slate Friday with a game against Ponchatoula. They will also play non-district games against Patterson, Brother Martin and E.D. White before battling the Bayou District slate.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Falgout said. “We know our schedule is pretty tough, but it is what it is. To be able to be a top team, you have to be able to beat some good teams eventually.”
Callahan agreed and said he is anxious to begin the rebuilding project in Mathews.
“It takes time to build these things up to get to where we want to be,” Callahan said. “But right now, we just want to preach patience and keeping our guys positive.”
“We really think this year is going to be different,” Jefferson said. “We all have more togetherness and more chemistry and more of all of the tools that it takes to be successful.”
Central Lafourche quarterback Luke Falgout takes a snap during Friday night’s jamboree against Clark. The Trojans were impressive in the game, scoring a 30-0 win. They tout they are excited about their new veer offensive scheme.
