Emile Joseph Bourgeois Sr.
May 25, 2009
Madeline Marie Cadiere Usie
May 29, 2009
May is far from being considered football season, but the four Lafourche Parish high school football teams took to the field over the last two weeks to get an early glimpse at what they had to work with.
For all of the coaches, the games weren’t about the score. It was about getting every player on the field to see what needs to be tweaked in the fall.
Here’s a look at how the four teams looked during their respective spring scrimmages:
Central Lafourche
2008 finish: 5-3 overall, 3-3 District 8-5A
After 10 days of spring training, Trojan head football coach Chad Callais believes he now has a better understanding of what he needs to work on in the remaining offseason.
“Not bad at all,” he said of the results. “We were only 10 days into spring so we still have time to come in and do some things. We had a playoff team from last year coming in giving us some great competition and letting us know exactly where we are and what we need to improve on.”
In their game against the Ponchatoula Green Wave, the Trojans started off a bit slow but began progressing as the game went on. Each team scored four times, with the Green Wave adding one more score in a 15-minute live quarter played at the end of the scrimmage.
Quarterback Cobie Savoie showed his confidence in his offensive line all game long, going off tackle for the majority of his runs which is common with most option-oriented teams like the Trojans.
Savoie was the leading yardage gainer, compiling 74 yards on 13 touches while teammate Byron Thomas added 50 yards on seven carries.
Even though his team struggled at times, Callais said there is plenty of time to fix what needs fixing and build on last year’s 5-3 finish.
A large part of that will be the performance on defense, which is led by Texas Tech signee Brandon Smith at cornerback.
“We still have summer workouts, fall scrimmages and a jamboree, all before the first game counts,” the coach said. “Plenty of time to get things sorted out.”
Perhaps the hardest obstacle for the Trojans to overcome this season is having to replace losses at fullback and on the offensive line.
But that’s something Callais believes will come around in the fall.
“We have two new fullbacks, and two new guards,” he said “We’ll have to feel our way around things. We have plenty of film to evaluate and changes to make. We’ll make them. We’ll fix the things that need to be fixed and get ready for an exciting fall.”
E.D. White
2008 finish: 4-6 overall, 3-1 District 7-3A
In the Cardinals’ scrimmage against cross-town rival Thibodaux High School at Nicholls State University, head football coach Kyle Lasseigne said he wanted to see one main thing from his team: more physical play.
Mission accomplished.
Fullback Dylan Ledet romped through Tiger defenders for 89 yards on seven carries, while quarterback Grant Chiasson completed five of 13 passes for 30 yards and rushed for 32 more.
Defensively, the Cardinals maintained their aggression against a potent Tiger offense.
Even though his team was outscored in the live action scrimmage five touchdowns to two, Lasseigne believes the Cardinals got a lot out of the game.
“We have some pieces, we just don’t have it all put together yet,” he said. “We have some big guys who are going to have to go both ways and we understand that now. That’s what has to happen. We have to be physically prepared to play both ways. Skill-wise in the backfield, I think we’re okay on both sides of the ball.”
With a roster of close to 90 athletes, for the Cardinals to remain competitive in District 7-3A, they’ll need to work on their depth at various positions according to Lasseigne.
“Our kids who are not necessarily starters aren’t prepared to step in yet,” he said. “That’s both sides of the ball. If we get an injury here or there, we regress a lot because of that. We need to give our young guys a chance. That’s going to come through summer work and come through for the fall.”
“We are going to take the offseason and evaluate everything,” he added.
Thibodaux High
2008 finish: 10-1 overall, 6-0 District 8-5A
Against the E.D. White Cardinals last week, the Tigers’ offense wasted no time showing just how dominant it could be as it scored on its first two possessions.
The Tigers went on to add three more scores throughout the game while allowing the Cardinals in the end zone only twice.
For a team with only two returning starters on offense – seniors Trovon Reed and Brandon Duncan – and replacing all of its front seven on defense, head coach Dennis Lorio could not be any happier with the way his team responded to the challenge from the Cardinals.
Reed and Duncan made their presence felt. Reed scored once on a 28-yard scamper, while Duncan caught a 15-yard touchdown reception and scored again on a 24-yard run.
“Brandon has lost 14 or 15 pounds and he has gotten a lot stronger for us,” Lorio said. “Scouts have come here to see Trovon and in the process have picked up on Brandon.”
But it wasn’t just those two that Lorio was pleased with, it was the effort of the entire team.
“We’re really proud of the young guys and how they performed,” Lorio said. “We have three starters back on defense. On the field we had a lot of action and I don’t think we had any injuries. We feel good about it and I like our kids’ approach.”
However, with their entire secondary returning led by seniors Javonti Knockum, Chad Fletcher and Tyler Jenkins – the coach believes the Tigers’ defense, which didn’t allow a point until the fourth game last season, can return to that dominant state again this season.
With former East St. John defensive coordinator Danny Carroll taking over the defensive unit from Kerry Melvin, who accepted an assistant coach position at Northwestern State University, the Tigers appear to be on the right track, according to Lorio.
“I am really pleased with our defense,” Lorio said. “Coach Carroll brings a lot of energy and excitement. The kids have some confidence. It’s a good start against some good, healthy competition and no major problems.”
South Lafourche
2008 results: 1-7 overall, 1-5 District 8-5A
Following their intrasquad spring game May 14, the Tarpons were hit with a major buzzsaw.
Head coach Blyght Wunstell resigned from his post, leaving the team without a leader for the time being.
While the search for a new coach begins, on the field, things appear to be taking a turn for the better in Galliano.
During their scrimmage, the Tarpons dressed out 81 athletes, up from the high 40s a year ago.
Following the game, the former coach was adamant that his team had finally arrived.
“Our numbers are definitely up and it’s a positive atmosphere here on campus,” Wunstell said. “We have a lot of young guys out there and new faces so what we did was just the base defense. We only had 10 days, but it was 10 days of teaching. We thought it went well, and obviously the kids did too, because we only lost 10. We’re doing something right with only 3 coaches out there.”
The strong point for the Tarpons this year is their eight returning sophomore starters.
Consistency in the I-formation offense and depth in the 4-2-5 defensive scheme that the Tarpons will run once again this season will be the key to any success the Tarpons have.
And with track athlete Rusty Borne on the team this year, the Tarpons appear to have their offensive weapon.
The biggest factor in running the I-formation offense correctly is producing a stout offensive line. With four returning starters blocking the way – Rafe Plaisance, Dillon Cheramie, Mark Mayberry and Brock Holbert – the early indication is that the Tarpons’ offense will likely be the strong point heading into the summer months.
Prior to his resignation, Wunstell told the Tri-Parish Times that this spring was one of the best he has ever been a part of.
“I’ve been doing this for 12 years and it has been the most enjoyable spring I’ve been in,” he said. “Things are looking up for us.”
Central Lafourche’s Byron Thomas is dragged down by a Ponchatoula defender. The Trojans and Green Wave each scored four times in their organized scrimmage, with the Green Wave adding one more score in a 15-minute live quarter. Thomas finished the day with 50 yards on seven carries.
