THS hopes explosive weapons equal offense
August 29, 2013
Houma Christian wants another playoff push
August 29, 2013
At 2012’s preseason media days, reporters wondered if the Ellender football team would win a game in the upcoming season.
The question was a worthwhile one as the Patriots entered last year having lost more than 30 games in a row – a streak that stretched across multiple years.
But in 2013, the word ‘if’ doesn’t even seem to be an option. The better question appears to be, ‘How many victories will the Patriots get?’
With a four-win season in 2012 under their belts and a slew of returnees, Ellender is anxious to show its naysayers that last season wasn’t a fluke and that they are legitimate district championship contenders.
The challenge among those with the program now is handling expectations and transitioning from the role of the hunters to the role of the hunted.
“It’s a lot of excitement and it’s a lot of pressure, too,” slot receiver Dan Mitchell said. “Because we still have a lot of stuff on our backs from last year that we have to come over. We have to focus on this year. We’ve got a lot of people trying to talk to us about how great last year was, but we’ve got a big year ahead of us, and we know we won’t be able to sneak up on anyone anymore.”
The reason for the excitement around the Ellender program is the team’s depth of returnees.
Head coach Terry Washington said the Patriots have 17 returning starters glittered across both sides of the football.
Nine of those players are on offense where Ellender looks loaded with speed and playmaking.
Quarterback Dustin Creppel is back after being one of Louisiana’s top passers in 2012.
Creppel completed 175-of-288 passes for 2,712 yards and 34 touchdowns last season as a junior.
Washington and Ellender’s receivers said there’s no way to explain just how good the Patriots’ signal-caller actually is.
“Dustin Creppel – enough said,” Washington said with a laugh about his quarterback. “He does just amazing things with the football.”
“He does so much,” receiver Dan Mitchell added. “He keeps his eyes down the field. He’s accurate. It makes us feel really good as receivers to have someone that good who has our back.”
But Creppel isn’t alone in 2013 – all of his weapons are back, as well.
Joining the lethal quarterback is a slew of returning receivers: Mitchell, Jarred Turner, Thomas Johnson and Kevin Lucien – all of whom made big plays for the Patriots a year ago.
“Having that many weapons back is the best feeling you can have as a quarterback,” Creppel said. “To be surrounded by weapons that you trust – that’s the best thing that I could ever ask for.”
But while people might focus on the passing game, the Patriots will also try to be more balanced in the upcoming season.
Halfback Justin Johnson returns after splitting time last season with South Terrebonne and Ellender.
His return, combined with an experienced offensive line with four returnees, is a source of excitement for Washington.
“I think we will be able to be more balanced this year – I don’t think Dustin will have to do it all for us,” Washington said. “I think we’ll be able to have that big play ability, but we’ll also be able to control the football when we need to. That’ll be big for us.”
Defensively, Ellender took its lumps last season.
But almost all of the team’s starters are back on a unit that has shown growth and maturation throughout the offseason.
Washington said that up-front, the Patriots will reap the benefits of speedy defensive back Jaharri Gahno, who boasts a recorded 4.29 time in the 40-yard dash.
“He’s maybe the fastest player on our entire football team,” Washington said. “He will have a big impact on that side.”
The team will also hope to generate a pass rush from its returnees, led by defensive end Brandon Brinson.
“He’s by-far our best interior player,” Washington said. “He’s about 6-foot-3, but he runs a solid 40. He has a real motor. He’s going to disrupt a lot of things there for our opponents.”
Brinson and Gahno both said that Ellender’s defense is better in 2013.
They know that any improvement is huge because of how great Ellender’s offense is.
“If we can get our offense back the ball, they are going to go and score for us,” Brinson said.
“They take a lot of pressure off us,” Gahno added. “It’s easier for us to do our jobs with them backing us up.”
But while it all looks good on paper, Ellender knows that a lot of work has to be done for a successful season to be had.
For years, the Patriots were the team everyone took lightly.
Now, they have to prepare to get everyone’s best shot.
“I told the kids – we’re not the hunters anymore. We’re the hunted,” Washington said. “Tasting success last year was great, but we didn’t always handle our success well. We need to learn how to finish. We need to learn how to take that next step. I think we have the character and leadership here to do it. It’s just up to us to get it done.”
“Last year, we got close,” Mitchell added. “This year, we need to finish the job.”
It remains to be seen whether or not “the job” gets finished.
But either way, the Patriots no longer are the local laughing stock.
They are a force in local Class 4A action.
Ellender quarterback Dustin Creppel readies for a snap during a practice. After being one of the least successful local programs for the past decade, the Patriots have risen from the dust and are a threat to reach the playoffs in the new season.
