Trojans hope youth sparks success

2009 was a year to remember for the Central Lafourche football team.

The Trojans won seven games – a number good enough to advance the team to the Class 5A State Playoffs.

But in 2010, it’s time to start again from scratch.

Rebuilding is the theme in Mathews, as the Trojans return just seven total starters from last season’s team.

Despite the challenges that lie ahead, Central Lafourche coach Chad Callais likes what he’s seeing so far in summer practices.

“It’s going to be exciting. We’ve got a lot of new faces coming out and playing for us,” he said. “And for a lot of these guys, it’s going to be their first varsity action. We went through our first stage of that with the spring game and there was a lot of shell shock and things like that about the speed and things like that … but it’s going to be exciting to see these guys grow week in and week out. Make no mistake about it, we’ve got some guys who we think can play.”

On offense, the Trojans will run the same, triple-option attack they’ve used in years’ past under Callais.

But one major difference this year will be the player under center.

Gone from Central Lafourche is quarterback Cobie Savoie, who dazzled District 8-5A last year and was named the district’s Offensive Most Valuable Player.

Behind center this year will likely be senior Felix Girouard, with Jordan Caillouet and Gerren Jefferson also expected to compete for playing time.

With Girouard now at the helm, Callais said fans shouldn’t be surprised if the Trojans throw the football a little more than they’ve done in years past.

“We are working extremely hard, probably the hardest since I’ve been here on our passing game. We’re just simply dedicating more time to it,” the coach said. “We realize that we do have to get the ball out – not necessarily pitching the ball in the triple option, but throwing it some, too.”

Girouard said that’s just fine with him as he tries to stamp his own footprint in his final season in Mathews, despite being at the head of a complex offense for the first time.

“We just have to believe in our coaches and always believe that this offense works,” he said. “From there, I just have to go out there and make my reads and our line needs to make its blocks. We do that, we’re going to move down the field and chew up the clock, and eventually put some points on the board.”

Defensively, the Trojans will likely have their biggest challenge, as they return just two starters from last year’s dominant bunch that allowed just 10.7 points per game during last season, including a pair of district shutouts.

One of those returnees is defensive lineman Jared Breaux, who started last year as a sophomore.

Breaux said the transformation from being the ‘baby’ of the defense to one of the leaders is difficult, but is something he’s embracing heading into the season.

“I’m the only defensive lineman that’s back, so I have to work hard to make sure the younger guys get the experience so we can do well on the d-line,” he said. “But we have the players to definitely make it work.”

With plenty battles still yet to be won on the depth chart, the Trojans are looking forward to relying on the Central Lafourche faithful early in the season.

The Trojans open the season with four-straight home games – something both Callais and Girouard feel can be a spark plug to the young Trojans, who likely will need a quick start to boost their confidence heading into district play.

“We’re shooting to go 4-0 in those first games, there’s no doubt about it,” Girouard said. “We definitely look forward to getting off to a big start right out of the gate.”

Callais wouldn’t get into predications like his quarterback, but still stressed the importance of the season’s first half nonetheless.

“We’ll be able to get into a routine those first four games,” Callais said. “Our guys being able to play on our home turf with our home fans here, that’ll be tremendous and it will help us get over that hump and get the jitters out to propel us into that district season.”

Central Lafourche Trojans

District 8-5A

Sept. 3 Grace King

Sept. 10 Teurlings Catholic

Sept. 17 Bonnabel

Sept. 24 South Terrebonne*

Oct. 1 @ H.L. Bourgeois*

Oct. 8 Thibodaux*

Oct. 15 @ Terrebonne*

Oct. 22 @ Comeaux

Oct. 29 Assumption*

Nov. 5 @ South Lafourche*

* Denotes district game

Coach: Chad Callais

Assistant Coaches: Travis

Douglas, Thomas Boudreaux, Shelly Vedros, Robbie Naquin, Scott Duplantis, Ryan Babin, Dain Detillier, Mark Breaux, Aaron Babin

Record Last Season: 7-4

Returning Starters: 5 on offense, 2 on defense

Players to Watch: Quarterback Felix Girouard, defensive lineman Jared Breaux, fullback Brian Thomas, offensive lineman Bryce Dufrene

Primary Strength: Offensive versatility

Fun FACTS

2: The number of shutouts recorded by the Trojans last season

28: The number of days the Trojans will go in the season without having to make a road trip

5: The number of games the Trojans won by 30 points or more in 2009

New Central Lafourche quarterback Felix Girouard poses with a football with his teammates (from left) Brian Thomas, Devin Nelson, Bryce Dufrene and Brett Hebert. CASEY GISCLAIR TRI-PARISH TIMES