Hilda Voisin Buquet
August 25, 2009
Mary Little McFarland
August 27, 2009
When first-year Vandebilt Catholic Terriers head coach Charles “Laury” Dupont took the job in January, he knew he was inheriting a tradition-rich program that was stuck in a rut.
Dupont is the school’s fourth coach in the past four years. The Terriers went 3-6 (2-3 in District 8-4A) in 2008. Dynamic running back duo Curtis Welch and Dexter Smith are gone.
The last thing Dupont needed one week before the 2009 season begins is an injury plague depleting the depth of his young club.
“We got seven players that aren’t even going to dress out this year with major, catastrophic injuries,” he explained. “We also had anywhere from seven to 11 players who couldn’t take part in last week’s scrimmage. That’s a lot.”
Still, the head coach has been awed by the commitment his team has put in over the summer. They worked out three hours a day, four days a week and only took one week off.
“These kids have worked hard. They have done everything we’ve asked of them,” Dupont said. “We’re a lot better football team than when we started July 20.”
Dupont brings a long, successful resume to the Vandebilt Catholic sidelines. As West St. John’s head coach, he made seven state championship game appearances and won three titles.
The Terriers’ offense returns five starters, four of which are on the offensive line – senior guards Josh Johnson and Jacob Peoples and juniors tackle Ryan Daigle and center Luke Spinella. Senior slot end Gavin Poiencot is the other returning starter.
The line will be both the strength and weakness of the offense. Although the starters have plenty of experience, there is not much depth at those positions, according to the coach.
“The entire offensive line has been leaders,” Dupont said. “They have stepped up while we try to get the younger skill position players up to speed on the offense.”
The new offensive starters are seniors running backs Patrick St. Martin and Nyree Smith and tight end Andrew Barker, and juniors tackle Chad Harson, running back Hunter Pere and quarterback T. J. Cantrell.
Dupont said Cantrelle has quickly picked up the newly installed multiple set offense with its I, double slot and shot gun formations. He believes Cantrelle will be very productive this season, especially with his play action passes.
However, the player Dupont has been most impressed with is senior linebacker Ches Morrison, a first team All-District selection last year, who he plans to use at running back.
“He’s been our team leader so far,” Dupont said.
On defense, Vandebilt has eight returning starters, which the head coach will depend on until the offense gels.
Besides Morrison, there are linebackers senior Ed Dupont and sophomore Seth Ward; senior defensive linemen Nick LeBlanc, Michael Ortego and David Breewood; and defensive backs senior Jordan Ezell and junior Darren Kitchen.
The new starters on defense are seniors tackle Dillon Duplantis and cornerback Brody Barrios and junior defensive back Michael Safley.
“Our strength is our interior seven. They’re all back from last year and we’re running the same 4-3 defense,” Dupont said. “The thing we need to improve on is the secondary. We’ve had a few injuries in that area, so we got some younger guys playing back there for the first time.”
Junior Michael Blanchard will be the Terriers’ kicker and punter this season.
Dupont hired former St. James assistant coach Don Rodrigue as Vandebilt’s defensive coordinator and brought back former Terriers head coach Brad Villavaso from Ole Miss to coach the safeties.
The coach’s biggest concern right now is getting as many players healthy as possible before the season starts.
“I hope we’ll be OK when everybody comes back. I think we need to ease up on them,” he said. “We did a lot of physical drills with them. We need to get them back healthy.”
Many Terriers fans may see the hiring of Dupont and imagine a quick return to the glory days.
But the head coach has more modest aims for now. That still hasn’t stopped his players from believing they can accomplish big things in the 2009 season.
“My number one goal is to get to the playoffs,” Dupont said. “We have two state champions (Lutcher and Belle Chasse) in our district. To say we’re going to win district I think would be getting a little bit ahead of ourselves.”
“These kids, their number one goal is to compete,” he added. “That’s what they’re working for. If we can compete every down, then we can win games. That’s what we’re preaching to them.”
Senior Terriers linebacker Ches Morrison (4) will add running back to his resume’ as Vandebilt gears up for the 2009 football season. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF
