Thibodaux Tigers see room for improvement to repeat as champs

The Thibodaux Tigers needed every second on the clock to come away with a 21-20 victory against McDonogh 35 Thursday night. While they’ll happily take the victory, there is still work to be done if they want to repeat as District 8-5A champions.

The Tigers, down 20-14, faced a fourth and eight from their own 27 and appeared to have lost after Reed’s pass to the end zone was batted down by a Roneagle defender. However, a pass interference call gave the Tigers the ball on the 13 yard line with one second left.

On the game’s final play, quarterback Trovon Reed scampered around the backfield until he hit Karmichael Green on a crossing route in the end zone to tie it at 20. Drew Williamson’s extra point continued the Tigers’ two-year home winning streak.

Despite the result, head coach Dennis Lorio said he now has a better understanding of what needs to be done.

The Tigers appeared a little sluggish at times. Lorio said it is something that happens with the start of a new season when you are still trying to mold some of the younger players.

Things don’t get any easier for the Tigers, as their next two games are against perennial 5A powerhouses.

With two-time defending 5A state champion Destrehan Wildcats coming to Thibodaux Friday, the Tigers (1-0) hope to use the momentum carried over from Friday’s win as the steppingstone to topple the powerful Wildcats.

Lorio is expecting nothing less than a battle, which is why he scheduled tougher opponents for the young Tigers this season.

“For an opening game, some people schedule easier opponents to get a feel for their team but we scheduled one that is damn good and will do well in their district and the playoffs,” he said. “Our entire non-district schedule is like this. It’s quality opponents.”

“If we played them 10 times it would go five one way and five the other,” he added. “We are real proud of our kids but have a lot of respect for what McDonogh 35 did.”

During the game against the Roneagles, the coach said he was impressed with how good his quarterback was at finding the open receiver. The Tigers offensive line gave Reed plenty of time in the pocket, allowing him to find his receivers, especially Green on the winning drive.

The coach was also pleased with the way his team fought through the adversity, and never quit. With that attitude, Lorio believes there is no reason the Tigers won’t compete against the Wildcats on Friday.

“We believed when maybe nobody else believed we could pull that one out,” he said. “These kids have a lot of heart. Don’t count them out of anything.”

The Tigers’ opponent Friday night poses a tough task. While the Tigers have not lost at home in two years, the Wildcats win over Helen Cox Friday night marked the continuation of an impressive streak of victories themselves. The 6-5A school has not lost a game in two years, winning 30 straight games, which included back-to-back state championships.

However, the Wildcats return only six starters from last season’s 14-0 team. Gone is Central Arkansas signee Wynrick Smothers who passed for 1,300 yards in the regular season.

Junior Taylor Dunn, who took his first snaps as a starter Friday, is replacing him. Also gone are an array of receivers who caught 15 touchdown passes last season and their kicker who led the team in scoring.

But, they are still high on talent. The Wildcats are anchored on the offensive line by their lone two returning starters, both potential Division I products in offensive tackle Ashton Duhe and nose guard Calvin Ursin.

The Wildcats also return a promising running back, senior Henry Lenox, who rushed for 526 yards and five touchdowns in the nine regular-season games he played in last season.

He also won the district championship in the 100 meters. Junior Marshall Charles and receivers Kyron King (311 yards last season) and Eric Johnson also return to help bolster a high-powered offense.

“This team has a lot of talent and they have a lot of guys with big play ability,” Lorio said.

Lorio said he knows his youthful Tiger defense is in for a challenge but with the heart they possessed against the Roneagles, who had a very good defense, he expects it to be another tight game in Tiger Stadium.

“For the Thibodaux Tigers to stay on the field with Destrehan we must force the Wildcats to drive the field and limit the big plays,” he said. “The Tiger offense must find a way to control the ball while improving field position as often as possible. The kicking game could again be a major factor.”