Nov. 11
November 11, 2009
Ms. Mae Ella Marie Carlos
November 13, 2009
If the South Lafourche Tarpons were to write the perfect story, it likely wouldn’t be much different than the one they are currently living.
With Friday’s 21-3 win over Central Lafourche, head coach Terry Farmer has transformed last year’s 1-9 Tarpons to the 9-1 district football champions.
Last week’s win before a standing-room-only crowd marks South Lafourche’s first district title win since 1996. It also ensures the Tarpons a home game in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs.
“It’s hard to put into words when you think we won two games our last two years combined,” senior quarterback Cameron Esponge said. “We come out this year and win for ourselves and our football community. We have so much pride. No one expected us to finish where we were.”
Before being doused with Gatorade, Farmer gathered his team, urging them to enjoy the moment.
“There is so much to it,” he explained. “The administration really backed me. They gave me free rein. ‘Whatever you need, Coach Farmer, we believe in you. We trust you.’
“Coaches got on board. We hired some great assistants,” he added. “I told them let’s not worry about wins and losses, let’s make sure we are teaching fundamental. The wins started coming after the team got the fundamentals down.”
All season, the Tarpons’ defense has maintained its aggressiveness, allowing only 70 total points.
The most points allowed defensively came against E.D. White in a triple-overtime thriller Sept. 17 – the Cardinals defeated the Tarpons 26-24. It was South Lafourche’s only loss this season.
Farmer said the E.D. White game spurred his team to win its last seven games of the season.
“That game helped us to be 9-1. Had we not lost that game to E.D. White, I don’t think we would have been focused enough to change,” he said. “You hate to say you lost, but I think that one really did it for us.”
Postseason play is new for Farmer’s 30 seniors. This week, the focus is on beating Central Lafourche – again – in the playoff opener.
“When you’re practicing into November, it’s a different type of practice,” Esponge said. “It’s a fresh season, it’s one and done from now on. We came hard. Our senior leadership, we are going out with a fight.”
“None of these kids has ever been to the playoffs, so it’s going to be a different atmosphere,” the coach said. “We have a ton of basketball players that are used to going to basketball. It’s going to be a challenge next week, no matter who we play.”
South Lafourche defenders swarm Central Lafourche’s Cobie Savoie Friday night in Mathews. The Tarpons’ 21-3 win over the Trojans gave them the outright district championship. The two will meet again this Friday in the first round of the playoffs. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER
