Hilda Voisin Buquet
August 25, 2009
Mary Little McFarland
August 27, 2009
If any Tri-parish team was most affected by last year’s hurricanes disrupting the high school football season, it was probably the Ellender Patriots.
The damage from the September storms to East Houma caused the first three games to be cancelled. Players returned out of playing shape and without their total focus being on the game.
Ellender finished with a 1-6 overall record, 1-4 in District 8-4 play.
Ninth-year Patriots head coach Tawaskie Anderson is just hoping for some normalcy to begin the 2009 season and get his program back on track.
“We don’t need any hurricanes this year,” he said. “Right now, everything has been up-tempo. The kids are very excited about this upcoming season. They see the success we can have if we put in the hard work.
“We’re just taking it one day at a time so we can reach and obtain our goals for this season,” he added.
Anderson has set three simple goals for the Patriots: be more competitive, win more games, and get back in the playoffs again, which they last made in 2007.
One problem still being felt among the squad is a lack of conditioning. The coach blames it on many of his players spending the summer either working or attending summer school.
“Some of them came into practice not in the best of shape,” he explained. “The good thing is we have time to get them into shape. But as an overall team, we still have a ways to go.”
On offense, the Patriots return three starters – senior tackle Jacob Guidry and junior running backs Glen Fitch and Drake Eschete.
Last season, Fitch led the team in rushing and had a breakthrough game against Morgan City when he ran for 374 yards. It was the fifth highest single-game rushing total in the state for the 2008 season.
Anderson is expecting Fitch to be a more consistent back this year.
“He’s still working hard to get to the point where he is better than he was last season,” Anderson said. “He’s really focused right now. The sky’s the limit for him. He’s anxious to get back on the field like the rest of the team.”
Among the new starters are four offensive linemen – sophomore guard Dwayne Markcum, junior tackle Adam Billiot and seniors center Ardale Burns and Brandon Jones.
The others are juniors tight end Jermaine Johnson and flanker Kevin Romero and seniors slot end Gerard Crawford and quarterback Justin Billiot.
Billiot was slated to be the starting quarterback last season, but was hampered by injuries all year. So far in practices he has impressed the head coach.
“He’s been in the system for four years. Mentally, he knows the multiple offense system inside and out,” Anderson said. “He’s looking pretty good and is leading the team by example.”
The Patriots only bring back two starters on defense – Burns at nose tackle and sophomore defensive back Drake Granier.
However, Anderson said many of the new starters have playing experience from last season.
“We were really young last year, so most of the guys saw lots of game action,” he explained. “It’s not your true first-year starters with no experience.”
The new defensive starters are Eschete and junior Zack Comeaux at the ends; Jones and sophomores Austin Cotton and Kenrock Verrett at linebacker; and Fitch, Crawford and sophomores Jamahl and Jamehl Payton at defensive back.
Romero will handle the kicking and punting duties this season.
While Anderson considers Ellender’s size and lack of numbers (45 players) as the team’s weaknesses, he believes its youth is actually a strength, along with its overall speed.
“As time goes on, these guys are going to learn the game and they are going to get better and better every day,” he said.
Before the 2009 season kicks off, Anderson wants to see more balance on offense with an improved passing game. He is looking for his defense to make stops in the red zone and create turnovers.
Both will be important if Ellender is to compete for a playoff berth out of District 8-4A this season.
“Every district game is going to be competitive. The road to the district title is going to go through both Belle Chasse and Lutcher,” Anderson said. “Every Friday night is going to be exciting.
“We’re in one of the toughest districts in the state,” he added. “We just have to be prepared to compete against teams of that caliber.”
The Patriots hope to get back to the playoffs this season behind offensive leaders quarterback Justin Billiot (12), lineman Ardale Burns (76) and running backs Glen Fitch (23) and Drake Eschete (19). * Photo by KYLE CARRIER
