Vandebilt back on the gridiron following tragedy

Normal will never be truly normal again this year for the Vandebilt Catholic football team.

After losing two classmates and two teammates to a tragic car accident on Sept. 26, the Terriers spent last week completely away from football, mourning the loss of their classmates at four funerals in three days.

“Physically, there is no way we could have practiced,” Vandebilt head coach Laury Dupont said. “Not even just football, the kids couldn’t have done any activities last week. We’d have school in the mornings, but with the funerals, there was no way we could have asked these kids to think about anything except their teammates and classmates.”

But after a team meeting last Sunday, Dupont said he could see in his team’s eyes and hearts that it was time to be back.

Back in a routine, and back playing to honor the memories of teammates T.J. Cantrelle, Ian Haydel and classmates Gabrielle Hebert and Megan Hitt.

So the Terriers returned to the practice field Monday, and ultimately back into game action Friday against Belle Chasse.

“Life goes on, and we’re going to have to pick up the pieces,” Dupont said. “We’re never going to forget what happened. We’re never going to forget our teammates and our two beautiful ladies that were lost, but we drew that line in the dirt at the meeting Sunday, and we know it’s time to get back in a routine. Football is the best place for them to be.”

Emotionally, the Terriers will be tender for the remainder of the season with some of the team’s players still searching for answers.

But Dupont said the Terriers were as focused as can be expected since they’ve gotten back to the playing field.

Senior cornerback Daren Kitchen agreed and said being together in the time of tragedy is exactly what the team needed.

He said it will allow for the team’s leaders, like himself, to be able to shift the pain toward remembrance and ultimately toward closure.

“I’m just trying to stay strong for my team,” Kitchen said. “I know that myself and our other senior leaders are going to have to lead by example and be good role models to show everyone that hard work will pay off. We’ve got to be strong from here on out. We’re never going to stop thinking about them, but we’ve got to put them in the back of our minds and dedicate the rest of this season to them.”

One of the Terriers who will be keeping Cantrelle and Haydel close in his mind is senior center Luke Spinella.

Spinella tore his meniscus earlier in the season against Assumption.

The center said when he got injured, he never imagined that would be the last play he’d ever play with Cantrelle.

“I had no idea that would be my last game playing with T.J.,” he said. “It’s very emotional for me. He was my starting quarterback and I was his center. A lot of people can have that bond, but it’s always different between the center and quarterback, so our bond was pretty strong. I definitely miss him so much.”

Aside from the obvious mental and emotional wounds, Vandebilt will also be faced with holes in their depth chart, as well.

No Cantrelle means no starting quarterback with varsity experience. On the other side of the football, Haydel was the team’s starting safety, as well as one of the best athletes in the school.

“We’ve lost our general,” Dupont said. “We’ve lost T.J., who has managed the game so well for us and who was like another coach on the field. You just can’t lose a Cantrelle and say you’re a better football team. Ian Haydel was probably the best overall athlete in our entire sophomore class. … When you lose two guys like that, you just can’t be a better football team. We’re just going to try and piece it together and keep going, that’s all.”

On the offensive side of the football, senior Eric Chauvin and freshman Elijah McGuire will split time at quarterback with Chauvin serving more as a pocket passer and McGuire as a wildcat quarterback.

But despite Cantrelle and Haydel’s presence being lost in the depth chart, no one in the Vandebilt football community believes the players are completely gone from the team.

Senior offensive lineman David Breerwood said he knows his four classmates will be watching and cheering them on each of the remaining games of the season.

“Without a doubt,” he said. “We know they’re in a better place right now. We’re just doing our best to represent them and to honor them.”

Spinella agreed and said it makes him smile knowing that No. 9 and No. 16 are in the team’s hearts and souls the remainder of the season.

“I can just see Ian looking down on us, as well as T.J.,” Spinella said. “And I can just hear them say, ‘I need you guys to win.'”

That peace, spiritually among the Terriers is what Dupont believes will also lead the team to success on the field.

With a little help from above, too, of course.

“I think T.J. and Ian, and Gabby and Megan are going to help make something happen for us,” Dupont said. “That’s honestly just the way I feel.”