Ellender bringing back 32 Minutes of Pain
December 11, 2013A constant in Terrebonne amid the questions
December 11, 2013
Throughout the duration of his prep football career, South Lafourche High School linebacker Peyton Guidry has been a demon to opposing offenses.
It appears that moniker will hold true at the collegiate level, as well.
South Lafourche coach Dennis Skains confirmed to the Tri-Parish Times this week that Guidry has made a verbal commitment to continue his playing career with the Northwestern State Demons in Natchitoches.
The coach said Guidry made his pledge after also receiving interest from other schools around Louisiana and throughout the Southeast.
“We’re so happy for him,” Skains said. “He’s an unbelievably smart football player and an unbelievably aggressive football player. And that’s just on the football field. Off the football field, he’s a great person and a guy who’s going to bring a lot of character and a lot of leadership into that locker room. I think that’s something that any team can certainly benefit from.”
It’s pretty easy to see why collegiate programs wanted Guidry’s services.
Guidry has started at linebacker for the past couple seasons in the Tarpons’ pressure defensive scheme. In each of the past two years, the 6-foot, 1-inch, 200-pound linebacker has recorded more than 100 tackles. This year, Guidry led South Lafourche in tackles in 10 of their 11 games. With Guidry making plays, his team has followed suit and had success, as well. The Tarpons reached the Class 5A State Playoffs in the past two seasons. In those years, South Lafourche owned a 14-7 total record with just three losses in Bayou District games – the fewest defeats of any local team within the league.
“He’s one of those guys that’s always around the football,” Skains said. “He always finds a way to get himself next to the football. He’s pretty much always our top tackler. The one game this year that he didn’t lead us was a game that we had a big lead and we pulled him out early. He’s just one of those kids that you enjoy coaching as a coach because he always buys in. He always does what he’s coached to do.”
The young Tarpon also has some pretty nice measurables, too. Skains said that in addition to average size, Guidry possesses solid speed. The coach said that Guidry has been clocked at 4.6 in the 40-yard dash. He added that at the next level, Guidry will have to adjust to bigger players, but that Guidry had some of his best games against top-flight competition.
“He’s going to be a great fit, for their program,” Skains said.
Skains said he believes the biggest reason why Guidry is able to consistently make plays is his intelligence. Guidry is a full academic qualifier for collegiate competition, owning a better than 3.5 GPA and also a 30 on the ACT exam.
Skains said Guidry carries that intelligence onto the playing field and is routinely in the right place at the right time on the playing field.
Guidry will end his career with two-straight First-Team All-District seasons. Skains said he will nominate his linebacker for the All-State Team, as well.
“He’s one of the smarter football players that you’re ever going to find,” Skains said. “He loves the game. He’s always watching film and doing work on his own time to try and get himself prepared. When the game comes around, he’s one of those guys that just catches on to things so quickly. He always gets a feel for the game very quickly and adjusts to everything going on around him.”
With that intelligence also comes a natural leadership. Skains said Guidry was one of South Lafourche’s captains throughout the past season. The coach said that Guidry had a rare ability.
“He’s very good at being a leader and a guy that the younger players look up to, but he’s also one of the guys, as well,” Skains said. “Really, our whole senior class was great at that this year, but Peyton was certainly one of the biggest guys that people turned to. When you can have a football player that’s performing on the field, but also giving support to his classmates, that’s huge,”
The coach pointed to South Lafourche’s 2013 season as proof of the values of leadership. The Tarpons started the year 1-3, losing several close early-season games.
But instead of faltering and coming apart, the team finished the season 4-2 to reach postseason.
“Especially when you have a season like we just had, you see who your leaders are, and Peyton was a big part of that,” Skains said. “He always did everything that he could to keep the locker room together and believing in what we’re doing. He’s a natural leader. He’s exactly that – a natural born leader.
“There’s never going to be any issues with Peyton. He’s going to come in and do what he’s supposed to do. That’s what we loved about him. That’s going to translate to the next level, too. We’re proud of him. I expect him to have success.”
South Lafourche linebacker Peyton Guidry (7) drags a Barbe ball carrier back during a game this season. The Tarpons’ senior committed to Northwestern State University, a move that coach Dennis Skains believes is a mark of pride for the program.
