Brenda Pitre
December 11, 2009Irma Illum
December 22, 2009
kyle@tri-pa?rishtimes.com
The high school football season is over and the 2009 state champions have been crowned, but for 80 of the area’s best seniors, there is still one last glimmer of prep gridiron glory to be had.
This Friday marks the return of the HTV-Lions Club Bayou-River Showdown at Nicholls State’s John L. Guidry Stadium. The game pits top Bayou Region players against those from the River Parishes.
Tickets are $7 and can be purchased at the stadium on game day. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Schools representing the Bayou Region are E. D. White, Thibodaux, Vandebilt, Central Lafourche, Ellender, South Terrebonne, Assumption, H. L. Bourgeois and Terrebonne. The River Parishes consist of Destrehan, West St. John, Lutcher, East St. John, St. Charles Catholic, St. James, Riverside and Hahnville.
Thibodaux High defensive coordinator Danny Carroll is head coach of the Bayou Region team with West St. John head coach Robert Valdez leading the River Parishes team.
Coaches from both teams released their rosters last week. The Bayou Region team consists of 40 players. They are: Josh Jennings, Matt Mahler, Chase McDonald and Rydon Naquin of E. D. White; Chad Fletcher, Tyler Jenkins, Drew Loupe, Javonti Knockum and Brandon Duncan of Thibodaux High; Ches Morrison, Ed Dupont and Jacob Peoples of Vandebilt; Byron Thomas, Cobie Savoie, Brandon Smith and Jake Dominique of Central Lafourche; Quinton Spencer, Ardale Burns and Justin Billiot of Ellender; Quinton Lirette, Ethan Bascle and Mitchell Hutchinson of South Terrebonne; Trevin Davis, Darius Bell and Ronnie Sons of Assumption; Stanley Lyons, Peter Verret and Ryan Ocker of H. L. Bourgeois; Don Matthews, Dustin Brewton and Matt Adams of Terrebonne; and Rusty Borne, Alex Para, Brody Terrebonne, Drady Fagan, Dillon Cheramie, Rafe Plaisance, Mark Mayberry and Ryan Bagala of South Lafourche.
The Showdown has evolved since its inception.
From 1999-2002, the game was called the Tri-Parish All-Star Game, and pitted seniors from Lafourche and Assumption parishes against Terrebonne Parish seniors.
The game was not played in 2003 because the job of putting on the game became too much for the individual school administrators, according to co-chairman John Ford.
In 2004, the Thibodaux Lions Club took over as the event’s sponsor.
Rechristened the Bayou Region All-Star Game for 2004 and 2005, the game kept the same format.
Lafourche/Assumption went 6-0 in the series against Terrebonne.
The River Parish schools were asked to participate in 2006, and the game took on its current name and format. That year, the Bayou Region All-Stars won by a score of 36-20.
The River Parish All-Stars won last year 26-8 and lead the series 2-1.
“The game came to a point where we wanted to try to grow the game,” Ford said. “We started talking it through some of the coaches and committee members to try to get more people involved. We thought it would be a good concept to get the River Parishes versus the Bayou.”
Since the River Parish teams were added, attendance has nearly doubled to about 4,000 people, Ford said.
The Showdown also serves as a fundraiser for the Lions Club.
The Lions Club awards $500 scholarships to the MVP from each team – River Parishes and Bayou Region. Eighteen other players or cheerleaders also receive $500 scholarships to attend Nicholls.
Last year, the game netted $20,000. After the $10,000 in scholarships were awarded, another $5,000 was given so local children could attend the Lions Club Crippled Children’s Camp in Leesville. The remaining $5,000 went to the Eyeglass Foundation to buy eyeglasses for children in need.
“We truly appreciate everyone’s support for the game,” Ford explained. “It’s a good cause and truly a win-win for everybody.
“For the seniors it’s a final chance to shine. Maybe they have a chance to play collegiate somewhere,” he continued. “Cheerleaders have a chance to go out and support their teammates one more time. And, at the same time, the Lion’s Club gains fund that we can give back to the community.”
