INSTANT IMPACT

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November 18, 2015
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Earnest Sims
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Ellender fires Terry Washington
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Local football fans remember Peyton Guidry from his high school days – he was a bruising, dominant linebacker for South Lafourche High School.

In college, not much has changed. Sure, the color of his uniform is different as well as the number he wears. But the plays Guidry makes and the impact he has on the game are about the same.

Guidry is a sophomore linebacker for Northwestern State University – a full-time contributor for the Demons in his second collegiate season.


Through nine games, Guidry has recorded 19 tackles and three stops for a loss. His breakout game came two weekends ago when he picked off a pass in the team’s win against Abilene Christian.

Guidry said he’s thrilled to be a Demon and can’t wait to see what his future might hold. Off the gridiron, the 6-foot, 1-inch, 210-pound local is majoring in health and exercise sciences.

“College is going great,” he said. “I love Natchitoches. It has the small-town feeling that I’m used to and the people are nice…. My goal is to help my team win. That’s really the only thing that matters – winning football games. Whatever comes with that is just a bonus.”


Guidry has been helping the Demons since his first days on campus.

He signed with Northwestern State after a dominant prep career in which he established himself as one of the best defensive players in the Houma-Thibodaux area.

As a Tarpon, Guidry posted more than 100 tackles for two-straight seasons in 2012 and 2013, while leading his team to the Class 5A State Playoffs in both years.


Guidry led South Lafourche in tackles in 10 of the team’s 11 games as a senior, and was all over the field – one of the brightest, most impactful players Tarpons coach Dennis Skains has ever seen.

“He’s an unbelievably smart football player and an unbelievably aggressive football player,” Skains said. “And that’s just on the field. Off it, he’s a great person and a guy who’s going to bring a lot of character and a lot of leadership into your locker room.”

Guidry chose Northwestern State over several other offers, including Nicholls State University and other programs around the state and throughout the Southeast. Even Air Force offered him a place on its team.


The Terrebonne native said the bond he made with people during the recruiting process made the difference. Guidry also wanted to stay in Louisiana.

“I loved the love that I felt here from the coaches and players,” Guidry said. “That was a big deal for me. Another factor in choosing Northwestern State was the distance. I wanted to get away from home a little bit, but I didn’t want to go so far that I couldn’t go home every now and then.”

With the Demons, he’s been on the field since day one. As a true freshman in 2014, Guidry played


in 11 of the team’s 12 games as a reserve and special teams player. He recorded 14 tackles, including one stop for a loss.

Guidry said those early reps were invaluable as he learned to transition from high school to college. He said he’s thankful to Northwestern State Coach Jay Thomas for believing in his ability right away.

“I’m really grateful for that,” Guidry said. “A lot of people get red-shirted their first year, but I got to come straight out of high school and play in almost every game.”


With a full season under his belt, Guidry said he beefed up this past offseason and worked on footwork to become quicker and more instinctual on the field.

“I really worked hard on getting stronger and faster,” he said. “When everyone around you is bigger and faster, if you don’t adapt, you’re dead meat. I really hit it hard in the weight room and in conditioning.”

It still ended up being more difficult than he expected.


In the Demons spring scrimmage, Guidry suffered a severe leg injury – one that could have jeopardized his 2015 season.

“I fractured the tibia in my left leg,” he said.

Doctors initially feared that Guidry might have ligament damage, which would have sidelined him for the entire season. But after tests showed a clean fracture and no additional damage, he recovered in four months.


Guidry has been helping the Demons cause havoc ever since.

The 2015 season has been good for Guidry, who is quickly rising up the Demons depth charts and is becoming an impact player.

The local has played in every game and is enjoying a bigger and bigger role as the season goes on. The peak of his year was the interception against Abilene Christian, which helped the Demons win their second-straight Southland Conference game.


“He’s really grasping the defense and is doing a great job making plays,” Coach Thomas said. “Peyton is a good player and an even better kid.”

One week before the Abilene game, Guidry returned home and faced Nicholls. The linebacker recorded seven tackles and Northwestern got the victory.

“It was fun to play in front of my teammates and family again,” Guidry said.


Fun for Guidry, yes. Fun for the opposing offense? Not likely. That’s a familiar plot for the local linebacker. It’s one that he’s been a part of for the past half-decade, dating back to his time terrorizing offenses with South Lafourche.

‘College is going great. I love Natchitoches. It has the smalltown feeling that I’m used to and the people are nice.’

Peyton Guidry


Northwestern State University sophomore linebacker

Northwestern State University standout linebacker Peyton Guidry bottles up a ball carrier during a game this season. After seeing some action in 2014, Guidry is now a big-time contributor for the Demons as a sophomore. The South Lafourche graduate recently posted an interception in a Northwestern State victory. Guidry said he can’t wait to keep building in the future – one which he believes will be filled with victories and defensive prowess for his team.

COURTESY


Peyton Guidry receives coaching on the sidelines during a game this season. Coaches say Guidry is a high 10, high energy performer.

COURTESY