LOOKING AHEAD: Central Lafourche not dwelling on past

Does a new coach, new offense and new defense equal wins for the a Central Lafourche squad that finished 1-9 last season?

It will to Chad Callais.

The Central Lafourche head coach, a former offensive line coach at Nicholls State University, has buried the team’s 1-9 season saying, “What they did last year, is last year.”

Callais, who played for Central Lafourche in the 1980s, is rebuilding on what the team will do in the upcoming season. He will rely on the 28 returning seniors as the backbones of the squad.

“It’s always good to have a lot of seniors on your team, and its better when those seniors become leaders,” he said. “The accountability board we have up in the field house holds each player accountable for their negative actions.”

Offensively, his seniors will lead the triple-option formation. A formation that he says is an “offensive lineman’s dream.”

This formation proved to be very successful for Nicholls last season. But the question remains: Will it be successful for the Trojans?

Callais said he’s pleased with the way the team is transitioning to the new formation and hopes they will take the ball and run over their opponents.

Callais explains that for the offense to be successful they must have a solid team up the middle. He said, “The center, fullback and quarterback have to be physical. And I think Neal Foret (quarterback), Adrian Bourgeois (fullback) and Max Chaves (center) fit that bill.”

Foret, a senior, added, “New season, new coaches and new attitudes.”

Callais stresses that he wants the Trojans to be blockers before anything else, rather than focus on the other aspects of the offense.

“This is an unselfish offense,” he said. “You have to be a blocker first, then a runner and a receiver.”

Callais told the team, “If you don’t want to block, you won’t play.”

Blocking on the line for the Trojans is Matt Schweirjohn, Marcel Hunter, Lee Bollinger, Bart Zeringue, Clint Salter and Zachary Uzee.

But Central Lafourche’s fullbacks, running backs and defensive backs are another story.

Callais said they are not the biggest-sized guys, but they’re physical.

“What my backs lack in physicality, they have in speed and agility,” he said.

Callais expects Lawrence Fitch, Byron Thomas, Coby Savoie and Andy Stewart to fill out the slot back position. While Bourgeois, Dustin Irvin and Chevell Shelby round out the full back slots.

Although passing won’t be a key factor in the Trojan offense, Callais said his receivers are a force to be reckoned with. The team will primarily rely on the experience and toughness of their 6-foot, 160-pound senior Cullen Orgeron.

“Cullen is our big-play threat,” Callais said. “We’re going to stretch the field and when you least expect it, we’ll hit Cullen up top with a go-run option.”

Callais said Orgeron is a great asset to the offense because of his toughness and physique.

“We’re going to have multiple formations, where we have tightends and then no tightends,” he said. “The coaches are doing a great job in going through the drills and getting the offense where it needs to be.”

On the defensive end, the Trojans will focus on the four-four, four-three and the odd-man-out formations, attacking the football and putting a body on anyone in their way.

“The coaches has been doing a great job getting the boys running towards the football,” Callais said. “We want to have 11 guys rushing the ball and the rest will take care of itself. We expect them to hit somebody.”

Anchoring the defense is senior Percy Calloway (nose guard). Callais said the 321-pound senior has showed tremendous improvements over the summer with his speed and agility.

“Defensively, we want to be solid up the middle as well,” he said. “And that’s going to start with Percy, Krandal Hampton, Derrick Collins and Ashton Richards. Derrick and Ashton who are both at the linebacker slot. These are some fast guys who will be able to cover the ball.

“Krandal is a great athlete that can cover the field. He’s improved his speed and will fall into that alley at free safety.”

Outside of the linebackers, Hampton will be one of the lead tacklers for the Trojans this season.

“Everybody’s been working hard to be more than 1-9 this season,” Hampton said. “The coaching staff has gained our respect because they motivate us to be better players and contribute more on and off the field.”

Central Lafourche’s season begins Friday at the South Lafourche Jamboree.