Ricky John Bergeron
June 2, 2008June movie releases
June 4, 2008
Traditionally, spring games are about allowing coaches to see new starters, evaluating their reserves and discovering what needs to be worked on in the off-season. Central Lafourche’s scrimmage last Tuesday night was about a little something more: a second chance.
While the Trojans offense shined, compiling over 410 yards in the 60-play scrimmage, their opponents, the Carver Rams, were just happy to be back on the field.
Last week’s scrimmage was the first time since pre-Katrina that the Rams played football. Under new Head Coach, former Shaw and Louisiana State University standout Shyrone Carey, the Rams are using this season, and this scrimmage, as their stepping stool towards rebuilding and teaching.
“The biggest challenge for us is getting guys to play 60 plays of football,” Carey said. “The daily grind and the process of getting things right; not necessarily the big plays. When our guys see touchdowns made by NFL and college players they just see the 60-yard bombs. They have no idea of the footwork and the little details that make the play work.”
By the time the 30-play mark had hit, the Trojans had found the end zone three times, while the Rams struggled to even gain positive yardage.
It became evident during the halftime speech that Carey takes the program and rebuilding seriously.
“That’s a real football team…” Carey said of the Trojans. “We come out here trying to get what we want. In football, we don’t get what you want, we get what we deserve.”
As for the Trojans, they scored early and often, much to the agreement of second-year Head Coach Chad Callais.
“Really everyone played a real solid game which I was a little nervous because we had a bit of a layoff with the weekend holiday,” he said. “I thought everybody competed very well and we are very excited with the way things ended up.”
It took only three plays for the Trojans to score first, as Byron Thomas scampered 49 yards for a quick six points.
After holding Carver scoreless on their 10 plays, Thomas added another score, this time from 26 yards out. Dylan Curole added yet another Trojan score from five yards out on their next set of plays.
The Rams finally scored on their first possession following the halfway point, as Johnell Davis hauled in a 26-yard touchdown reception.
Thomas added another scoring run for the Trojans, this time of 45 yards, followed by two scoring runs by Patrick Early of 20 and 15 yards.
Callais was pleased with the effort Thomas and his team showed.
“He (Thomas) and our fullback Chevell Shelby are going to be our workhorses,” Callais said. “We are extremely excited about our future. The quicker we can get (the team) playing proper technique and following the rules, we have a chance to get back to where we used to be.”
The Rams had the final score of the game when a pass was deflected by a Trojan defender and caught in the end zone by Josh Bridges.
In all, the Trojans reached the end zone a total of six times during the scrimmage, while the Rams crossed the goal line twice. Although Carey said he never likes to lose, he can accept it as a learning experience for his young team.
“Coming into this game, I knew what we were up against,” he said. “We don’t have the experience, but the best teacher is experience. I enjoyed this scrimmage. I’ve never been part of a lopsided whipping like this in my life but I enjoyed it because I think our guys learned a lot.”
Carey added, “I thank (Coach Callais) for having his guys ready to play because this is what we needed.”
Central Lafourche and New Orleans-based Carver Rams face off in a spring scrimmage. Central Lafourche’s Trojans compiled over 410 yards in the 60-play faceoff. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER
