CCA looking to repeat as champions

Tuesday, Aug. 23
August 23, 2011
Thursday, Aug. 25
August 25, 2011
Tuesday, Aug. 23
August 23, 2011
Thursday, Aug. 25
August 25, 2011

It didn’t take long for Covenant Christian Academy’s football team to reach the top.


Now, with a bulls-eye on their backs, the challenge is to stay there.


After winning the Louisiana Christian Athletic Association state title in their first varsity season, the Lions are hoping to build on last year’s success in their quest to repeat as champions.

“Last year was easy for us because we were the hunter,” CCA coach Blyght Wunstell said. “We knew what we wanted to accomplish and it was easy to get there because nobody knew anything about us. This year’s a little different. We’re the team everyone is gunning for. We’re the team everyone is trying to take down. How we respond to that will determine whether or not we have another solid season.”


The challenges for CCA may be different in 2011, but the team’s players are the same, the exact same.


Where most high school programs have dealt with roster turnover due to graduation, the Lions have been able to return virtually every player from their 2010 roster.

CCA will graduate its first senior class next spring. That means the team’s entire 2010 roster was underclassman.


The coach said the team’s varsity roster currently sits at close to 40 players ranging from 8th to 12th grade.


“Everybody,” Wunstell quickly says with a smile when asked about his team’s returning starters. “The full team is back. It’s a pleasure being out here knowing that you have so much experience out here.”

Offensively, the Lions will operate mostly out of the spread for a second-straight season.


Quarterback Braxton Matthews will again anchor the team under center.


Joining him as key contributors will be halfback Mark George, fullback/linebacker Robbie Arabie and split end Devin Knight.

Like any offense, the Lions’ strategy is obviously to score as often as possible.


But the unit does so while executing an up-tempo, no huddle attack that players say is the key to their success, especially late in games.


“We’re very, very fast paced,” senior Arabie said. “We’re just trying to nibble away at the defense’s legs.”

“We’ve had games where the other team’s defense had their hands on their hips, out of breath before the first quarter was over,” senior linebacker Adam Billiot said. “The speed we play really wears out the other team pretty good.”


With the Lions’ high-speed offense putting points on the board, CCA’s defense has one goal, to hand the football back to its offense without surrendering points.


Billiot leads that unit’s charge at middle linebacker.

Arabie also lends a hand and doubles as an outside linebacker. That duo provides the spark for a group that held opponents to 10 or fewer points in several games last season.


“We just try to get goose eggs,” Billiot said. “We just try and shut out every, single team that we play. That’s our goal.”


Most teams around the Tri-parish area are impatiently waiting for their Friday night jamboree. CCA has already started its season.

The Lions kicked off their 2011 campaign last Friday when they traveled to Tennessee to play Lancaster Christian Academy.


CCA fell behind 14-0 early on a muffed snap on a punt and an interception return for a touchdown. But the Lions showed their championship swagger and rallied to take a 16-14 halftime lead, before securing a 24-14 win.


The Lions pounded the football for close to 300 yards in the opening game win, led by Arabie, who recorded 19 carries for 165 yards and two scores.

Even in victory, Wunstell said he knows his team is capable of playing better than they did in their opener.


His players agree and said they have to if they hope to repeat as champions.

“We didn’t have a scrimmage or a jamboree like everyone else, so as coaches, we were a little concerned. We knew we’d go there and be a little rusty,” Wunstell said. “We knew we’d battle some little jitters and nerves and stuff and that’s exactly what happened. … Adversity hit us quick, but being the team we are, having everyone back, we didn’t hang our heads and we stuck to the game plan and we were able to come out on top.”

“We definitely weren’t very sharp,” Arabie admitted.

With several games to correct their opening day problems, the Lions expect to click as the season moves on.

If they do, another state championship trophy may be hanging in the school’s trophy case at season’s end.

“We’re a lot stronger than we were last year,” Wunstell said. “We’re a lot quicker than we were last year. I’m looking forward to this season and seeing what these young men can do on the field. “

“Where we are this year compared to our first day last year is like night and day,” Billiot added. “If we scrimmaged last year’s team now, we’d crush them.

“We’re definitely a better team. We just have to stay focused, keep listening to our coaches and execute the things they tell us. Those are the little things we did last year. Those are the things we have to continue to do if we want to stay successful.”

Covenant Christian Academy

Sept. 2 at Oak Forrest

Sept. 15 vs. Baton Rouge Christian

Sept. 24 at Highland Baptist

Sept. 29 vs. Acadiana

Oct. 13 vs. Harvest Time

Oct. 20 at New Orleans

Oct. 27 CHEF

Coach: Blyght Wunstell

Assistant Coaches: Leon Veal, Austin Kesterson and Randy Boquet

Record last season: 12-3

Returning Starters: 22

Players to Watch: Braxton Matthews, Robbie Arabie, Mark George

Primary Strengths: Experience as state champion

Fun FACTS

2: This will be the second season of football at CCA

1: The position the Lions were in when 2010 ended, a state championship season for the team

12: The number of wins the Lions accumulated in their 15 games played