Schriever senior group told to stop confusing identity
October 25, 2011
Joseph Herbert Naquin
October 27, 2011
Who says the Patterson High School football team has a weak 2011 schedule?
They believe they play one of the toughest opponents in Louisiana, daily.
With the Lumberjacks’ district consisting predominantly of struggling teams and programs in transition, the powerful Jacks are waltzing through their schedule without a hitch, scoring huge blowouts in all of their games.
Despite not yet being challenged on Friday night amidst inferior competition, the Jacks say they are staying sharp Monday-Thursday going against one another in practice.
“Right here in practice, this is where it’s at,” Patterson senior linebacker Tremaine Lightfoot said. “This is where we get better every day, working hard so we can make sure that we’re ready for the playoffs.”
“We play one of the best teams in the state every day,” Patterson senior quarterback Justice Jones said. “We play ourselves. We go ones against ones in practice and that’s how we do it. That’s what keeps us sharp throughout the whole season.”
The Lumberjacks are a fine-tuned, well-oiled machine, there’s no other way to say it.
The team has countless athletes who will be playing at major colleges, including Jones, Lightfoot and also halfback/defensive back Trevon Stewart and four-star linebacker Lorenzo Phillips.
Offensively, the Lumberjacks are arguably at their best.
Jones anchors that group, which averaged 35 points per game during last season’s state runner-up season.
This year, the team’s unit is even better, averaging 47.5 points per game, thanks to Jones’ arm and decision making, as well as the playmaking ability of Stewart and wide receiver Jaydrick Declouet.
Stewart was predominantly a defensive back and wildcat quarterback last season, but moved to starting halfback with the graduation of All-American Kenny Hilliard, who graduated from Patterson as Louisiana’s all-time leading rusher.
Those are big shoes to fill, but Stewart’s been able to make the most of his opportunity.
“We know we never can give up on a play as a line,” Patterson offensive tackle and outside linebacker Treylon Jenkins said. “Because with Trevon Stewart back there, he’s never giving up and he’s always making moves. … More often than not, that works out pretty good.”
If the run is plugged up, it’s Declouet’s time to shine. The receiver has hauled in several of Jones’ touchdown passes this year to make the Lumberjacks one of the most offensively balanced teams in Louisiana.
“Those guys can do anything,” Lightfoot said with a laugh.
Because of the team’s weapons, opponents have long shared a common strategy to beat Patterson. That strategy has been to run the football and control the clock aka, keep Jones and the gang off the field.
That plan has proven to be mostly ineffective this season.
Minton said the biggest difference he’s seen with his team so far is on the defensive side of the football.
Patterson struggled sometimes to get opponents’ offenses off the field in 2010, allowing 18 points per game.
This year, that number has evaporated to just 5 points allowed per game, an impressive stat Minton is quick to point out is skewed.
“The first defense, they haven’t given up a touchdown all season,” Minton said. “All of the touchdowns have been given up late in the game by our JV. Our first defense has only given up a field goal.”
The reason for the turnaround in the defense is two-fold.
Minton and his players are quick to point out that 2010’s defense was young, predominantly made up of sophomores and juniors.
Now, those players have a full year of starting experience under their belts.
“That makes a world of difference,” Minton said.
Experience is one thing, sheer talent is another.
The Jacks have arguably the best linebacker corps in the state, if not America with Lightfoot and Jenkins joined by Phillips to make up a fearsome trio that has stepped up its game this season.
“It’s all happening first with us in that linebacker corps,” Lightfoot said. “Our linebackers, we just grew up. We got into that feeling where we decided we just had to step our game up.”
With the linebackers creating chaos, the team’s defensive line is able to attack the passer, which allows the Lumberjacks’ talented secondary to make a play on the football.
“Our turnover margin this year is huge,” Minton said.
Of course, with every turnover, it’s another possession for Jones and the offense, which also usually means good things for Patterson.
That’s a recipe Minton hopes to continue brewing in the playoffs.
“You need good defense in the playoffs and you need to be able to stop the run,” the coach said. “We’ve done that. Hopefully that can carry over.”
With a few more inferior opponents, expect Patterson to finish the year 9-0.
That’s not the goal anyone in their locker room is interested in obtaining.
“We’re looking to get back to the state championship,” Jones said. “That’s my main goal, nothing else. 9-0, district titles, all of that is nice, but getting back to the dome, that’s the goal.”
“And winning it this time,” Lightfoot added.
“We’re not looking to come up short again,” Jenkins agrees.
It all starts in practices.
No matter who the Jacks are playing on Friday, they are preparing for them against one of the best teams in Louisiana.
“Starter-for-starter, we think we have one of the most talented lineups in all of 3A,” Minton said. “Going against that in practice is important. That helps us and makes us better.”
Patterson quarterback Justice Jones fires a perfect spiral during practice. Patterson is 7-0 to start the season without being severely challenged during a game. CASEY GISCLAIR
