Standouts define 2014 prep slate: Pay attention to the following players in ’14
August 26, 2014
Where’s the Beef at Terrebonne? With young linemen, Tigers relying on skill guys
August 26, 2014
The South Terrebonne football team was young in 2012 – an inexperienced bunch that had sophomore starters glittered all across its depth chart. Their youth showed, and the Gators finished with just a three-win season.
Last year, the Gators used the lumps of 2012 to create motivation and success. South Terrebonne finished the regular season 5-5 with its junior-laden roster, enough to reach the Class 4A State Playoffs.
But now with a senior-heavy roster loaded with third-year starters, the thinking around the Swamp this fall is that the Gators may be a top-notch squad in 2014.
Experience is the key cog in the arsenal of South Terrebonne as the Gators look to establish themselves as a squad poised to make a deep playoff run in the upcoming season.
After losing all five regular season games by 10 points or less last season, everyone involved believes that the Gators’ have what it takes to make a giant leap forward when the lights come on in September.
“I think we have what it takes to get it done,” senior defensive end Randall Norman said. “We’ve all been here long enough now. We remember the licks we took and now we’re the older ones. That experience will help us so much.”
“I think this can be a big year for us,” senior defensive tackle Pete LeBeouf added. “Last year, we lost some close ones that we thought we could have one. We’re older and more seasoned now. I think we will take that next step. We’re in great shape and great condition. We’re ready to get going.”
The Gators’ defense is what will likely make headlines in Bourg this fall.
South Terrebonne allowed 22.4 points per game last season during the regular season – a number that is negatively skewed because Belle Chasse hung 61 points on the Gators on Sept. 27 in a pre-district game.
In the other nine regular season games of the season, South Terrebonne was stingy and allowed 16.7 points per game, including four games allowing 13 points or fewer.
On the defensive line and in the secondary, Curlin said the Gators are loaded with talent and experience.
Up front, seniors Norman, LeBeouf and Gage Ross will start for the third-straight season.
“That group might be as good as we’ve ever seen here,” Curlin said. “And I’ve been doing this for a little while now, so that’s quite a thing to say.”
The seniors will be joined in the middle by sophomore nose tackle Louis Blanchard – a player who saw time last year as a freshman and played well enough to earn Second-Team All-District honors.
Curlin said it’s never ideal to play a sophomore at the varsity level, but added that some kids are just too talented to pass up. Blanchard is one of those kids – a young, but aggressive player that the coach said could create havoc at the line of scrimmage and have a monster year.
“He might be the best of the whole bunch,” Curlin said. “He’s a special, special football player.”
At the linebacker position, Curlin said that the Gators have question marks with sophomore Kaleb Voisin and junior Jacob Harmon moving into first-year starting roles. That group will receive stability from returning starter and senior Daniel Achee, who said that the team’s experience will be key.
“We’re not nervous anymore,” he said. “We’ve all got so much experience and playing time. It’s like we’ve seen every situation in live action before. That’s key for us.”
In the secondary, Curlin said he’s excited to bring back junior Brett Franks and senior Devin Harding. The Gators will also break in sophomore DaVontavean Martin – another player that saw action last year as a freshman.
“I think we’ll be solid back there,” Curlin said. “And I think all across the board, the difference for us this year is that I don’t think we’ll give up as many points as we did last year. We got in a few shootouts last year. This year, assuming that we stay healthy, I don’t think teams can score 50-something points on us or whatever crazy number Belle Chasse got.”
With the Gators’ defense expecting to be fearsome, South Terrebonne’s offense is looking forward to using their run-based attack to control the flow of games.
South Terrebonne is loaded with experience in the backfield with junior fullback Dylan Authement joining senior halfback Cristian Wallis to form an elite one-two tandem.
Wallis was a stick of dynamite last season, rushing for 1,286 yards on 148 carries with 14 touchdowns as a junior.
Those numbers should be just as good in 2014 when one considers that the Gators have three returning starters along its offensive line.
But while opponents may focus on the Gators’ rushing arsenal, the team believes that it has the ability to control the game through the air, as well.
Senior quarterback Tyson Verdin will start for the Gators under center, replacing Matthew Benoit – the team’s signal caller last season.
Verdin’s job as a first-year starter will be made easier by Tay Martin and a talented and lethal group of young sophomore receivers.
Martin was the Gators’ leading receiver as a freshman last season, catching 21 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns.
“We have to keep a close eye on Verdin – there’s some questions to be answered there,” Curlin said. “But with those receivers, you just have to put the ball somewhere near the circle, and they’ll reach out and snag it and make a play. And our backs can catch the ball, too, when we ask them to. So that really gives us four weapons that we can utilize in the passing game if we need to this season.”
“I think we have the ability to pass it,” Authement added. “We have some really, really good receivers. I know that we’re sort-of known for running the ball, but I think that we can maybe mix it up a little bit and hit some plays over the top. I think we’ll be more balanced offensively.”
So with the experience oozing and talented sophomores chomping to get playing time, it seems like the Gators have a winning mix for the new season.
Curlin thinks so, as well. Assuming that the Gators (who have just more than 50 players on their varsity squad) stay healthy, he thinks his squad has what it takes to make a run.
“We like what we have,” Curlin said. “You never know for sure until you get hit in the mouth, but I think we’re farther ahead at this point than we’ve been in years past. I think if we keep everyone on the field, we have a nice group and we can have a nice season.”
Norman agrees.
In his final varsity season, he said that he and his teammates aim to go out with a bang.
“We will leave it out on the field in every game,” he said.
South Terrebonne took lumps two years ago because they had a slew of sophomore starters. Now two years later, those players are seniors. (From left) Pete LeBeouf, Dylan Authement, Daniel Achee and Randall Norman are among the top guys staked with leading the Gators to the top in Class 4A play.
