E.D. White powered by playmakers in 2015

Vandebilt aims to recreate late-season 2014 momentum
August 25, 2015
Houma Christian looking for new playmakers with star QB off to college
August 25, 2015
Vandebilt aims to recreate late-season 2014 momentum
August 25, 2015
Houma Christian looking for new playmakers with star QB off to college
August 25, 2015

Most teams that go 7-3 in one season struggle in the next because they lose the majority of the guys scoring the team’s touchdowns to graduation.

But for E.D. White in 2015 that’s not the case. The Cardinals won seven games last fall, but bring back a large portion of their favorite weapons again this year – a group of seniors that are hungry to surpass 2014’s successes and accomplish more.

Expectations are high for the Cardinals this season, as the team looks to solidify itself as a force in Division II.


Led by third-year starting quarterback Ben Sposito, as well as bruising halfback Jeremy Rounds and receiver Karion Brooks, the Cardinals will look to control the ball and score points to protect a defense that is young and returns just two starters.

“I think that we have a lot of talented playmakers back on this year’s team, and that’s something that excites us as the season nears,” second-year coach Chris Bergeron said. “We have set the bar high. We know that it’s not going to be easy, but we have the same goal as everyone else – we want to be playing in the final game of the season in the Superdome.”

Sposito’s success will go a long way in whether or not the Cardinals thrive this fall.


A multi-year starter who is the most experienced returning quarterback in the Houma-Thibodaux area, Sposito said he’s worked hard throughout the summer to continue to progress as both a player and a leader.

That hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Rounds said that it’s a pleasure to share the field with Sposito every Friday night.

“It’s great to have a quarterback like Ben back this year,” Rounds said. “Not only does he have a lot of experience, but he’s a hard worker and he knows the offense like the back of his hand. He’s a great athlete and an even greater leader.”


Rounds isn’t half bad, either. A returning halfback in the Cardinals run-heavy system, the physical, punishing runner will be one of E.D. White’s primary offensive players throughout the season. Sposito said he feels much more secure on the field having Rounds behind him – a guy who the quarterback said could be an All-District player at every, single position on the field.

“He is incredible,” Sposito said. “He is a leader who can play any position and stand out. His talent cannot be matched, and he’s a hard worker off the field.”

If the Cardinals’ running game gets bottled up, E.D. White believes it also has edge weapons who can hurt opponents down the field.


The Cardinals return dynamic receiver Karion Brooks – a guy the quarterback said is “an amazing receiver.” Also back is Scott Ford.

“Our offense looks solid,” Sposito said. “We feel like we can move the ball by mixing up pass and run plays.”

Defensively is where the Cardinals have the most question marks.


E.D. White returns just two starters on that side of the ball – a quagmire that will force guys like Rounds and Brooks to play on both sides of the ball to help out.

Bergeron said the Cardinals will be young up-front with seven starters gone from the team’s front eight. The coach said that in addition to Rounds and Brooks, linebackers Haden Theriot and Trey St. Pierre will be relied heavily upon to step up

“I think we have the talent on defense – maybe just not the experience that we’d like to have,” Bergeron said. “But we feel better about them every day, because they’ve done a very nice job so far in the offseason. I think that if we can compete at the line of scrimmage, we’re going to have a chance to be pretty good on that side of the ball, as well.”


Rounds agrees. He said that at the beginning of the offseason, the Cardinals struggled some guys didn’t know their new positions. But after a few minor tweaks, the senior likes what he’s seeing.

“We struggled a little at the beginning because we didn’t really have the right players in the right spots,” Rounds said. “But we fixed that problem and now our defense is getting better and better every day.”

“Most of those guys got a lot of playing time last year by switing in with the starters, so I think it’ll be a smooth transition,” Sposito added. “They are a tough group of guys and they play with a lot of heart.”


For E.D. White, the path to the playoffs will again be paved with a difficult schedule. The Cardinals open the season with Vandebilt – the always-heated rivalry game between the local private schools.

E.D. White also faces Lakeshore and Thomas Jefferson in non-district play. The Cardinals also play tough opponents like Patterson, Kaplan and North Vermilion in district play – the first season for E.D. White in this league.

But with a lot of talent back, the Cardinals think that they will have a chance to win at the end of every game – including the playoffs when the team hopes to make a push at the Dome.


“Our team goal this year is simple,” Rounds said. “We want to make history. We want to prove everyone that doubts us wrong, and of course, get a chance to play in the Dome.” •

E.D. WhiteCOURTESY