Williams starring at Xavier University of Louisiana
September 25, 2014Week 3 Prep Football – By the Numbers
September 25, 2014
Phase one of the Thibodaux High School football team’s plan is complete – the Tigers rolled through non-district play with a perfect 3-0 record.
Now the challenge will be keeping that record intact against the absolutely brutal Bayou District schedule that is to come.
The Tigers successfully completed preseason play this weekend in a sloppy 24-6 road win against Assumption.
Now Thibodaux will face its toughest challenge yet, a road date with Hahnville – a team that is arguably the hottest squad in all of Class 5A under first-year coach Nick Saltaformaggio.
Tigers coach Chris Dugas said the coming weeks will test his team’s heart and talent. But he believes Thibodaux is up for everything coming in the future.
“We’re excited to be 3-0,” Dugas said. “This is something that we set out to do in the preseason, and we’re happy to have that goal accomplished. But we know our district is tough. Hahnville is a terrific team. They are so difficult to defend out of that option offense that they’ve put in. It’s going to definitely be a big challenge for us – an opportunity for our team to find out exactly where we stand.”
For Thibodaux in 2014, most of the success starts with a powerful and dominant running game.
The Tigers are easily the most efficient rushing offense in our area for 2014 – a machine that routinely gashes opponents on the ground. In the season opener against Shaw, the Tigers rushed for more than 440 yards in a comeback 35-30 victory. One week later, Thibodaux smashed Vandebilt for 300-plus running yards in a comfortable three-score victory.
The guy who makes all of the magic happen is senior quarterback Peyton Bonvillain – a guy who is making a strong case to be the MVP of Lafourche and Terrebonne prep football through the first three weeks of the season.
Bonvillain owns the ability to run and throw for the Tigers, which keeps opponents off balance. Against Assumption on Friday night, Bonvillain had more than 100 yards passing with 71 rushing yards with two total touchdowns (one rushing and one passing).
Dugas said Bonvillain’s progression has been a linchpin in the team’s offensive efforts.
“He was a starter last year, but if you remember, he split time at quarterback throughout a lot of the season,” Dugas said. “But I think what you’re seeing is that Peyton has matured, and Peyton has gotten a lot better. He’s a better, more decisive passer. He’s a better leader for our football team, and he’s making better decisions. He’s come a long way, and he’s definitely made a lot of strides into being a more complete player for our offense.”
Bonvillain’s successes were sort-of expected. He started his ascent toward prowess last season when he guided the Tigers into the Class 5A State Playoffs, firmly establishing himself as the team’s full-time starter by the end of the season.
It’s what’s happening at tailback that is the surprise to most prep football fans in the area. But it’s not a surprise to Dugas, who expected this all along.
In addition to Bonvillain pushing the chains forward, Thibodaux is getting big-time yardage from tailback Jayquan Chenier within its zone-read, run-first offense.
Chenier busted Assumption’s defense up for 114 yards on 14 carries in the week. Against Shaw and Vandebilt, he was also a terror, pounding both opponents for big yardage and multiple touchdowns.
His numbers have been eerily reminiscent to former Tigers’ starting halfback Donta Johnson, who pounded opponents for the past three seasons at Thibodaux.
“Jayquan is a guy who has been here a while, but he’s been patient and he’s waited his turn,” Dugas said. “He’s a good runner. He has good vision, and he’s off to a nice start to the year. When we had Donta, obviously, he was a bit of that workhorse that we relied upon the most heavily. But we always knew Jayquan had ability to be the lead back, and he’s showing us this year that he’s that type of player.”
But now the challenges are about to start for the Tigers, who will play Bayou District foes for the next seven-straight weeks to close out the regular season.
Up first is Hahnville – a 2-1 team that is coming off back-to-back triple overtime games, one with two-time defending State Champion Rummel and the other with Landry-Walker.
Dugas knows that game will be no cakewalk.
“Anytime a team goes to triple overtime with two state powers like that, you know you’re dealing with a heck of a football game,” Dugas said. “Going on the road, we will have to make sure that we play well and do the things that we will need to do to give our best effort in that one.”
But it truly doesn’t get much easier after that game, as the Tigers host H.L. Bourgeois after the Hahnville game before taking on undefeated Class 5A powerhouse Destrehan in Week 6 on Oct. 10.
Thibodaux plays always-tough East St. John on Oct. 24 at home before closing the season with parish archrivals South Lafourche on Oct. 30 and Central Lafourche on Nov. 7.
Dugas said he knows that there’s nowhere to hide in this district.
But with three wins already under their belts, he thinks his team is positioned to make a run, despite the tough opponents ahead.
“We’ve put ourselves in a good position,” Dugas said. “The challenge is now to keep it going. It won’t be easy, and we’ll certainly be heavily tested, but I like where we stand after the first three weeks of the season.
“It will be fun to play these games in the next few weeks, that’s for sure.”
Thibodaux receiver Oliver Holmes dives for the football during the Tigers’ win against Vandebilt Catholic earlier this season. Thibodaux is 3-0 on the young season, and the Tigers seem ripe to make a run for success in the Class 5A State Playoffs this fall.
