Terrebonne eager to build on 2012’s strong end
August 29, 2013
THS hopes explosive weapons equal offense
August 29, 2013
The Covenant Christian football team knows that it is the hot topic of conversation among other local programs.
They hear all the gripes. They know naysayers knock the team’s success in the Christian League, where the Lions won multiple state championships.
They know that detractors knock their strength of schedule and question how good they’d be in LHSAA-sanctioned play.
But in 2013, the questions will end. The Lions’ players know that they have a chance to make their mark.
Covenant Christian is playing its second season under the LHSAA umbrella this season in Gray. But for the first time in school history, the Lions are eligible for postseason play – a source of excitement for everyone around the program anxious to silence their doubters.
“In the community the last couple of years, all the kids have heard is, ‘Y’all don’t play anybody,’ or ‘You’re not going to get my respect,’” CCA coach Blyght Wunstell said. “This is our opportunity to go out and show people in the community that we are for real and that we do have a good football program here. … That’s the goal the kids set in the spring, and it’s carried over into the summer, and they are anxious to look those people in the eye and show them what we can do.”
Offensively is where the Lions will have to shine for the 2013 season to be a success.
The Lions return eight starters from last year’s group that averaged 41.6 points per game a year ago.
A lot of those returnees are in the backfield, as the Lions bring back a talented stable of backs, including Jordan McKay, Lorenzo Barrow and Lenard Calloway.
Those players will help CCA offset the loss of 2012 standout Mark George who graduated the program and headed to the college ranks.
“We have so much depth there – so many guys that we could give the ball to,” McKay said. “We have a great backfield. Together, we can all do just as much as Mark could do, so I think we’ll be good.”
“We have a ton of talent in our backfield,” Calloway said. “And the best thing is we all have each other’s backs. If someone gets hurt or tired or whatever, we are all ready to go and help them out. We are looking really good on that side.”
Up front, the Lions will reap the benefits of anchors like Benton McDonald and Sashen Staidum who return to pave the way in the trenches.
Their task will be to protect eighth-grader Brock Wunstell, who will be CCA’s starting quarterback.
Wunstell is the son of Lions’ coach Blyght. The coach said his boy’s job is to protect the football and gradually grow into his role as a first-year starter.
The Lions will also relieve the younger Wunstell throughout the game with some Wildcat looks out of the shotgun.
“Manage the game,” Blyght Wunstell said. “He won’t be asked to do anything special. Just don’t turn over the football and get the ball to our playmakers so that they can go and make plays.”
The reason why CCA needs to shine on offense is because of its youthful defense. The Lions return just four players on that side of the football after losing names like Sean Richardson and Romell Edwards to the collegiate ranks.
Wunstell said the one strength his defense will have is size. McDonald and Staidum will also double as defensive linemen.
But because of the team’s inexperience everywhere else, CCA’s coach said his team’s offense will be its best defense.
“Our offense won’t be near as fast as it’s been here in the past,” Wunstell said. “We’re going to slow things down by design. We want to keep the football, control the clock and stick to what our strengths are.”
If the Lions are able to do that, they think they have the talent to hang with anyone in Class 1A. Either way, the team’s players are ready to show the world what it can do.
“We want to show people that we’re not just some soft school that doesn’t play real football,” McDonald said. “We want to let everyone know that we can play and we can compete for championships.”
“We know what they say,” Staidum added. “But now we have our chance to make it all stop. If we do what we can do, there will be no one that will be able to deny giving us the credit that we deserve. We’re very ready to go out there and prove to the world that we can do this.”
Covenant Christian Academy offensive starters (from left) Sashen Staidum, Jordan McKay and Benton McDonald wear their uniform tops before the start of an afternoon practice. The Lions are playing their second LHSAA season in 2013 and their first while eligible to reach postseason play.
