Young Gators eager for more after last year’s playoff push

With names like Trevon Smith, Jaquis Flores and Devin Leger all graduated from the South Terrebonne program, many are writing off the Gators’ chances at being a contender in 2012.

Nay-sayers beware – South Terrebonne believes it has another talented bunch capable of contending for a district championship.

Despite inexperience, the Gators have high spirits as they hope to build on last season’s 9-3 season.

“Nobody should sell us short,” senior defensive back Kurt Arceneaux said. “We’re going to be ready to play in every game. I know what people are thinking – but I’m here to tell you – we’ll be ready to compete in every game.”

To make Arceneaux’s proclamation come true, a lot of new faces will have to step up for the Gators.

Offensively, South Terrebonne returns just two starters from 2011 – offensive guard Adam Ziepke and fullback Channing Champagne.

“We’re young there,” Gators coach Richard Curlin said. “There’s not a lot of experience.”

Senior quarterback James LeBlanc will anchor the youthful group in his first season as the Gators’ starting signal caller.

He replaces Smith, who was an All-District performer last season after tossing 10 touchdown passes.

Gator players say that LeBlanc isn’t the same dual threat the Smith was. But they added he will be equally effective.

“He doesn’t have those same scrambling skills,” Ziepke said. “But James is very smart in the pocket and he feels back-side pressure whenever it’s there. He knows when to move in the pocket, when to step up and when to throw. … He’s really a stabilizing force for us.”

“James is a good athlete,” Curlin agreed. “He’s smart – I think that he will be all right. Right now, he doesn’t have as much velocity on the ball as Trevon had, but he’s going to get better as the season goes on.”

Quarterback play is nice – but the Gators primarily run the football out of their wing-T set.

That’s where junior halfback Justin Johnson comes into play.

With a rich pedigree at his disposal, Curlin said he believes the junior can have a standout season.

Johnson’s father played at South Terrebonne and won a state championship under Curlin.

“He’s going to be a good running back,” Curlin said. “He’s about 200 pounds and he’s 6-foot-1 and he can run. … He makes things happen. He gives us the ability to get some good, tough, hard running. … He’s definitely going to be one of the playmakers on offense.”

Johnson said he relishes the opportunity.

“It’s a family thing for me,” Johnson said. “My daddy came to school here and played and I just have it in my blood to play here. I’m going to put the offense on my back if we need tough yards. That’s what I do.”

Blocking for the bruising back will be Ziepke and new starters like Cade Hebert, Jordy Ledet, Jonathan Bergeron and Ricky LeBouef.

“They’ve done a good job rounding into shape,” Ziepke said. “I think our line will be all right.”

Defensively, the Gators lost seven starters, including Leger, who recorded more than 100 tackles.

But the Gators do return some experience – linebackers Cullen Bergeron and David McCormick and also Arceneaux and defensive end Sam White.

Historically, South Terrebonne has one of the best defenses in the Tri-parish area.

This year’s bunch doesn’t see any reason why that trend shouldn’t continue.

“We’re young and we’re working on the fundamentals,” McCormick said. “But as soon as we get those things taken care of and we don’t try and hit-stick our own teammates and show-out, we know we have the pieces to be a very good group.”

“Our motto is dominate,” Arceneaux said. “We try to go out there every play and hustle as hard as we can – play our hardest and do our best.

“We’re going to go out there and try and dominate every game – 11 to the ball every play.”

But no matter how talented, the Gators might be, there will inevitably be growing pains because of the team’s new players.

Curlin said he has had plenty of younger teams in his more than 20 years with the Gators.

The way to handle inexperience is simple – patience.

“That’s the word right there,” Curlin said. “It’s about understanding that they’ll make mistakes and being willing to, as a staff, teach them the right ways to get better. We haven’t put in a whole lot of new stuff in a lot of our practices. We’re just trying to simplify things a bit and be patient.

“Top-to-bottom, our district is pretty even. But a lot of the teams in it are in the same situation as we are. It’s all about who will stay healthy. We have good football players here. We don’t have as many as we’d like with experience.

“But by the end of the season, if healthy, I think we will be where we want to be.”