Backfield is running the show under team’s ‘true veer’

In 14 years of coaching, second-year South Lafourche High School head coach Blyght Wunstell has only had two losing seasons.

Unfortunately for Tarpons fans, 2006-07 was one of those years.

Following a dismal season in which his team finished 1-9 and 0-6 in district play, Wuntell has completely overhauled the Tarpons.

He’s changed the offensive and defensive schemes and booted athletes he considered harmful to the team.

“Last year, we weren’t a team,” Wunstell explained. “We had guys bickering in the locker room. We had jealousy among the players, and that’s something we straightened out in the offseason. If they are going to be a poison to this team, then they won’t be on the team. We got rid of some of them. I think on (the players’) part, they definitely experienced butt whippings last year and they didn’t like it, which is good.”

If the Tarpons’ story was the stuff of Hollywood movies, they’d be on their way to claiming the state championship trip.

But South Lafourche is a long way from California, and Wunstell is a realist. He knows his team has its work cut out.

On both sides of the ball – offense and defense combined, the Tarpons only have eight senior starters. It will be up to that corps to teach the younger guys. Wunstell’s not worried though; the younger guys are fast learners, he said, noting the team’s offseason effort.

“Summer workouts were great. We worked out every day,” the coach said. “We had about 90 percent participation, which, coming off of a 1-9 season, is a great number.”

“Kids definitely got stronger and we are in much better shape than we were last year. We definitely have gotten a little quicker. I am very pleased with the turnout and the hard work,” Wunstell added.

Unquestionably, the coach said, the Tarpons’ strong suit is its offense, with nine returning seniors.

Junior quarterback Cameron Esponge, who had his fair share of game time last season, will lead the charge.

A new wrinkle in the offense: the Tarpons are adopting a veer formation. The quarterback-intensive strategy requires precision: precise line splits, running tracks by the dive backs and an exact toss from the quarterback at the right moment.

“We didn’t know what we were going to do in the spring so we did a little bit of the veer and a little of the Wing-T,” Wunstell explained. “We said we are going to look at both of them and whichever one applies to our kids, that’s what we are going to go with. I am very pleased so far with the progress. It’s tough. We are letting them read it; we’re not calling anything. It’s the true veer.”

The change is a huge departure from last year’s spread offense, which relied heavily on the passing game. But the new scheme will better capitalize on Esponge’s strengths, the coach said.

Junior running backs Justin Danos (an honorable mention All-District selection), Ryan Bagala, Simon Bruce and Sly Cheramie and senior Jordan Pierre will split time in the Tarpons’ backfield.

The offensive line is rounded out by juniors Mark Mayberry (tight end), Donavan Lorraigne and Gevin Gros (both split ends), Dillon Cheramie and Rafe Plaisance (both tackles) and seniors Taylor Comeaux (center) and Gage Hollowell (guard).

Gros, Hollowell, Bagala, Bruce and Cheramie are all newcomers to the starting offense.

Defensively, the Tarpons are inexperienced. Returning starters are seniors Ben Reed (defensive tackle), Jovi Billiot (cornerback), Brenner Callais (free safety) and juniors Roger Dowdy (defensive end), Jesse Adams and Logan Harris (both linebackers).

Harris led the Tarpons defense last season with three interceptions to his credit.

Fresh faces in the starting defensive rotation include seniors John Leboeuf (defensive tackle) and Wesley Rhodes (corner back) and sophomore Colby Thibodaux (linebacker).

Danos and Bagala will see playing time on both sides of the ball, stepping in as linebackers defensively.

Wunstell has also changed the Tarpons’ defensive scheme, swapping last year’s 4-2-5 setup for a stack defense. The new look is designed to stop opponent’s offenses from running through South Lafourche’s defensive gaps.

The coach is gambling on his offense keeping the ball as long as possible; inexperience defensively is never a good thing.

“We need to play ball control and keep our defense off of the field,” Wunstell said. “We are going to the stack because we are not very big on the defensive line. Once district rolls around, some of our bigger offensive linemen may have to play a series or two on defense. The strength of our defense is certainly our linebacking corps. We will turn to those guys to carry the load until the younger guys can catch on.”

Rebuilding takes time, Wunstell is quick to remind his team. The head coach is hopeful this season’s changes are effective steppingstones to returning the Tarpons to their glory days and keeping his winning record intact.