Hilda Voisin Buquet
August 25, 2009
Mary Little McFarland
August 27, 2009
Most teams would not consider an 8-3 record and a second consecutive district title, the third in four years, an off year.
But for the Patterson Lumberjacks, expectations are a little higher.
After winning 10 games and advancing to the state semifinals in 2007, the Lumberjacks were eliminated in the regional round in 2008.
Head coach Tommie Minton, in his 12th year at the helm, has used the early playoff exit as motivation for the 2009 campaign.
“We set our goals higher than that,” Minton said. “We talked about the loss. We talked about why these things happen and how to try and keep them from happening again.”
The Lumberjacks return eight starters to the spread offense, but the most important is junior running back Kenny Hilliard.
The two-time All-State selection compiled 2,347 yards and 36 touchdowns last season. He is on pace to break the state rushing yards and touchdown record halfway through his senior season.
The 6-1, 221-pound back was named National Sophomore of the Year by EA Sports, and Sports Illustrated recently profiled him as a teen athlete to watch.
Hilliard has scholarship offers from LSU, Alabama, Minnesota, Tennessee and Texas A&M on the table.
Despite all the national attention, Minton said it has not affected Hilliard as a person or a teammate.
“Kenny is a very level-headed and humble kid,” the coach explained. “His mother has done a great job of raising him. He takes everything in stride.”
“He realizes that he is where he’s at because he works hard,” he added. “All the recognition he has gotten over the last year, he still has a tremendous work ethic and works to be a team player.”
With four of the offensive linemen returning from last season – senior Destin Rink and juniors Tyler Brewer, Keith Trosclair and Joe Henry – Minton expects the running game to be even better in 2009.
One big question mark on offense, however, is at quarterback. Patterson lost four-year starter and two-time All-State pick Terrence Johnson to graduation.
Replacing him will be senior Nick Nolan, who has played at linebacker the previous two seasons.
“Nick is doing a good job. He’s a good leader and a tough kid,” Minton noted. “He’s going to step in and do a good job. I don’t have one doubt about that.”
The coach has tweaked the offense to adjust to the different style of quarterback Nolan will be compared to Johnson.
“Terrence was pure drop-back passer. He was a good athlete and could use his feet to escape the pocket but he didn’t like to run,” Minton said. “Nick throws better in the move and he has that linebacker mentality. He likes to tuck the ball and run. He’ll be a good threat in the option game with Kenny.”
Rounding out the offense are slot backs senior Antoine Todd and sophomore Jaydrick Decluette and senior slot end Josh Jones. The tight end position is still open.
On defense, Patterson brings back six starters. However, they must replace all three linebackers.
The new linebackers will be sophomores Mark Jones and Tremaine Lightfoot and junior Jesse Westley
“That’s our biggest area of concern. We’re going to be young at that spot,” Minton said. “But we have some talent there even though they’re young kids. We expect linemen and secondary to provide the leadership while those young linebackers grow up.”
The rest of the defense is composed of seniors Nino Blackburn and John Hartman, junior Shaquille Austin and sophomore Lorenzo Phillips on the line; and senior Josh Naverro, juniors Keith Edwards and Dexter Aucoin and sophomore Trevon Stewart in the secondary.
Patterson has assembled a rigorous early schedule to prepare themselves for District 6-3A play and, hopefully, the playoffs.
They face perennial 5A playoff teams East St. John and Westgate and 3A powers St. James and Cecilia.
Right now, Minton thinks Patterson is on track but definitely not yet where they need to be to compete for a state championship. But he likes the positive attitude and work ethic they have brought to the table
“Our strength right now is our conditioning factor and the fact that we’re developing good team chemistry,” he said. “When you look at the fundamentals of the game of football, blocking and tackling, you’re never satisfied with that. You always want to see improvement in that area and that’s what we’re focused on right now as we start these early season practices.”
With four returning starters on the offensive line – Joe Henry (54), Destin Rink (63), Keith Trosclair (60) and Tyler Brewer (63) – opening the way, all-state running back Kenny Hillard (middle) and the Lumberjacks expect to make a deep run into the playoffs this season. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF
