Nov. 4
November 4, 2008
Roger "Jay" Rebstock
November 6, 2008
Before the season even started, Thibodaux High head coach Dennis Lorio sat his team down and talked about the possibilities the team could have this season.
After all, the coach has won a state championship at Thibodaux in 1991 and returned this season because he knew the Tigers could be a force in Class 5-A.
Apparently the team listened.
After going undefeated through their first seven games so far this season the Tigers finally are heeding the coach’s philosophy: “We control our own destiny.”
And it all comes down to Friday’s showdown against the Terrebonne Tigers.
Thibodaux (7-0, 5-0) comes into Friday’s game fresh off their best offensive performance of the season, scoring 70 points and compiling over 504 offensive yards in a 70-14 win over Central Lafourche.
Terrebonne, at 6-1 overall and 5-0 in district, is looking to spoil Thibodaux’s hopes of a district championship.
Lorio understands the importance of Friday’s game. It’s a matchup of the district’s top offense – Terrebonne’s, which is led by senior quarterback Neil Robertson – going against the best defense – Thibodaux’s, which has only allowed 33 points all season.
For Lorio, the chance to play for the school’s first outright district championship since 1991 is right where he hoped Thibodaux would be when he took over the coaching job.
“It’s a dream,” Lorio said. “When we started, we hoped we could have put ourselves in a good spot and maybe win some games that we didn’t win last year. We’ve done that.”
Although he credits his defense for single-handedly winning key games for Thibodaux this season, the coach says his offense is equally dangerous.
Led by quarterback Trovon Reed, Thibodaux hopes to use their sheer speed and athleticism as the game’s difference makers. Lorio said when his offense is hitting on all cylinders like it was in this past Friday’s win over the Trojans, the possibilities are endless.
“He’s a special talent and maybe we tried to do too many things,” Lorio said of Reed. “We finally settled it down and limited our substitutions and kept things in a tighter package. (Reed) had confidence. He told me at practice one day, ‘Coach I like what we’re doing. I understand what, when and why’ and you can see it in his performance. We’re blessed.”
Reed, who has played quarterback, receiver and running back, is a one-man weapon. With the status of senior running back Donnie Morgan (high ankle sprain) still uncertain, Lorio said it will be up to Reed, Carmichael Pharagood and the rest of the Thibodaux offense to make things happen.
“I told them last week that we better start producing or look for some changes because we were bogged down in the weeks before,” he said. “We had a balanced offense, but I hope our defense continues to play real well. The possibilities are endless if everything comes together.”
The mood around Thibodaux High is one of excitement and anxiousness.
“We’re going to be ready,” Reed said. “We’re going to practice, practice, practice and come out ready to play. We have faith in ourselves. We know we can do it.”
However, the Terrebonne Tigers possess one of the most prolific offenses in the league, averaging 37 points a game and scoring 41 points or more in its last five games.
Terrebonne’s Neil Robertson has passed for 722 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions, while tailback Darrius Neville has run for 867 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.
Lorio said by far Terrebonne’s offense is the best his Tigers have seen all season, but with a defense that pushes itself to the max and refuses to let offenses score easily, he knows his team is up to the challenge.
“We’re going to find out,” he said. “It ought to be interesting. I like the fact that our kids have some confidence now on both sides of the ball, which is always important. We looked hard at them on tape and will come out ready to play our best game.”
Trovon Reed leads the Thibodaux Tigers into Terrebonne’s Tom B. Smith Stadium Friday night in hopes to clinch the out-right District 8-5A crown for the first time since the early 90’s. The two teams are undefeated in district heading into the showdown. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER
