Warriors want to re-gain postseason form

The Houma Christian football team enjoyed an unbelievable ride in 2017.

The Warriors started the season 5-0, then 6-1. The early momentum carried the team to the Division IV State Playoffs — an amazing accomplishment for the small community school.

But a lot of seniors are gone off that team, which has folks wondering if the Warriors can find the same success in 2018.

Coach Chuck Battaglia concedes that it won’t be easy, but quickly adds that he has faith in his boys to get the job done.

The Warriors are back at it this fall, looking to build on the successes of last year — arguably the most successful football season in school history. New faces are spread around the roster, but the cupboard is not bare, according to Battaglia, who said he likes what he’s seeing in fall camp.

“We have big shoes to fill and it’s going to be difficult to do the same things that we did last year again this year,” Battaglia said. “We had our best start in school history. We were 5-0. Those things are all difficult for any team to duplicate. But it’s a new year and we are excited to see what this group can accomplish together. So far in practices, they look motivated and that’s good to see.”

Offensively, the Christian Warriors have to replace a lot of firepower.

Houma Christian scored 30 or more points five times last season, routinely posting crooked numbers on foes with an efficient running game and a big-play passing game.

Last year’s team utilized the savvy of quarterback Damien Pennison and the explosiveness of JeCorie Ward. Both are seniors, as were several of the team’s other weapons.

But Houma Christian still has talent and experienced returnees who are going to be asked to step up this fall, including halfback Zachariah Trujillo, who is a bruising, physical runner for the Warriors.

The Warriors also return Westyn Spry and Chad Portier in their skill position players.

At the line of scrimmage, the Warriors also have returnees. Isaiah Parfait is back, as well as guys like Chase Voisin and Grant Gordon.

“We have a lot of guys to replace, but we have a good piece coming back, too,” Battaglia said. “Every year is different, but we think that we can put together a good offense and be able to score points when we need to.”

Defensively, the Christian Warriors have the same problem as just about everyone else in Class 1A — numbers.

So almost all of the names mentioned above will also have roles on the opposite side of the ball.

The skill guys will likely fit into roles as defensive backs or outside linebackers.

For the big guys like Voisin and Gordon, they’ll play up front and plug the middle.

Battaglia said having to play guys both ways is difficult, but that’s just part of the life as a Class 1A head football coach.

He said that avoiding injuries are key, but also added that because so many guys play every play, the team has to coach differently throughout the week to make sure that their gameplan is polished and ready for play.

“I think what people don’t realize is that it limits the coaching that we can do,” Battaglia said. “It’s harder to make adjustments because we just don’t have the time with the kids on the sidelines that other teams have. We have to do things a little bit differently during the week to prepare for that.”

But the Warriors are building from the ground-up with style.

Battaglia said no matter what happens on the varsity level in 2018, great things are happening with the Houma Christian football program, which is still fairly new, having kicked off for the first time in 2010.

“We are starting out middle school program, which I think will be great for us,” Battaglia said. “We have middle school competition in other sports, but we hadn’t yet gotten to football, so I think that will help us develop kids at a younger age. It’s a process. We still haven’t even been doing this for 10 years. But we’re continuing to build the right way and it’s been great to see.”

Houma Christian

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