Central Cath looking to make run to Dome

Central Catholic had a good year in 2010.

This time around, good won’t cut it, the Eagles want to be great.

With a slew of returnees from last year’s Class 1A quarterfinals squad that finished the season with an 11-2 record, Central Catholic’s players aren’t afraid to make it known they hope to be the last team standing when the final seconds tick off the clock to the end of the 2011 season.

“That is the goal, to win the state championship, make no question about it,” Eagles senior linebacker Lloyd Grogan said. “Our main goal is to go to the Dome and win the state championship. We’re not afraid to say it.”

To try and make the team’s lofty goal a reality, the Eagles will rely on an experienced offense that returns eight starters from a high-powered group that averaged 34.8 points per game last season.

Anchoring that group will be junior Josh Singleton, who returns as the team’s starting quarterback. Last season, Singleton was a big reason for the team’s offensive power, completing 72-of-119 passes for 12 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Singleton will look to grow on his lofty statistics with virtually all of his favorite weapons also returning, including Grogan in the backfield at halfback and a slew of receivers that include Dontrell Brown, Tyler Hoffpauir and Justin Arceneaux.

“We’ve got no shortage of receivers,” Eagles coach David Fuhrer said. “We’ve definitely got a ton of depth there.”

The big question for the Eagles’ offensively is on the line.

Fuhrer said nearly all of the team’s offensive seniors from last year’s squad played up front. The coach added it will be “vital” for younger players to step up and fill the void.

“We don’t have a lot of depth there,” Fuhrer said. “That is the concern right now.”

Despite their thin lineup, the Eagles do return center Zachary Aucoin, guard Joe Michel and tackle Erik Mabile from last year’s group.

Mabile admitted the group has struggled in fall practices, but added he believes the young linemen will mesh before district play rolls around.

“It’s been tough, but we’ll get over it,” the tackle said. “It’s not anything that we can’t do.”

On defense, the Eagles have less experience and return just five starters.

“But we return a lot of other guys who saw significant reps,” Fuhrer quickly adds. “We just played a high quantity of guys in years past.”

Returning starters on the team’s defense include defensive backs Jovon Johnson and Kendall Robinson and Mabile, who doubles as a defensive lineman.

The most prominent returnee is Grogan, who has wowed Class 1A throughout his career at Central Catholic as a linebacker.

Last year, the 6-foot-1-inch, 206-pound phenomenon recorded 105 tackles (23 for a loss), eight sacks, two interceptions and 11 pass breakups.

Those numbers were partly why the Eagles were able to hold opponents to 10 or fewer points in seven games last year.

His stats also have earned him the attention of several colleges around the country, including Texas A&M, Pittsburgh and LSU, who have all stopped by Eagles’ practices throughout the spring and fall.

“We can play him anywhere on the field,” Fuhrer said. “He really is one of those special kind of athletes.”

Grogan said he appreciates the compliments he hears from classmates and college coaches.

But with one full season in high school to play, he said he wants one thing to be made clear, he’s going out with a bang at Central Catholic High School.

“Every game, I’m playing like it’s my last,” Grogan said. “Every ounce of me will be left out on that field in every, single game.”

The scheme the Eagles will use on defense will also be slightly tweaked in 2011. Fuhrer said veteran coach Larry Lombardo has joined the team’s staff and will switch the team’s defense from the 3-3-5 look they used last year.

“We’ll be more flexible now,” Fuhrer said. “I guess multiple is the best way to describe our base package.”

In their quest to repeat last year’s successes, the Eagles will kick off their season Sept. 1 in a road tilt with Loreauville.

After the opener, the Eagles will play defending Class 1A state champion White Castle in Week 2 and annual power Vermilion Catholic to close the season.

White Castle did in 2010 what Central Catholic wants to do in 2011.

They aren’t afraid to admit it’s their goal. Now, it’s just a matter of going out and doing what it takes to make it a reality.

“Our young kids just need to step up and play,” Fuhrer said. “That’s the big, big thing for me. We played a lot of kids last year and a lot of kids got experience. Now, we just need to make sure these newer guys fill in and give us good minutes. … if we do that, I think we can accomplish the goals we set out for ourselves.”

“Win state,” Mabile reinforces. “That’s the goal coach is talking about. There is nothing else we want to do.”

Central Catholic Eagles

District 8-1A

Sept. 2 at Loreauville

Sept. 9 vs. White Castle

Sept. 15 vs. Berwick

Sept. 23 at Northlake Christian

Sept. 30 vs. Ascension Catholic

Oct. 7 at Fisher

Oct. 13 vs. Ascension Episcopal*

Oct. 21 at Gueydan*

Oct. 28 at Hanson Memorial*

Nov. 4 vs. Vermilion Catholic*

* Denotes district game

Coach: David Fuhrer

Assistant Coaches: Larry Case, Jamarr Garrett, Tyler Jensen, Larry Lombardo, Clarence Robinson, Chris Sanders

Record last season: 11-2

Returning Starters: 13

Players to Watch: Lloyd Grogan, Josh Singleton, Erik Mabile

Primary Strength: Offensive experience

Fun FACTS

2: The number of wins Central Catholic was from making it to the state finals in 2010

8: The number of offensive starters the Eagles return from last year’s high octane unit

100+: The number of tackles Lloyd Grogan recorded last year