After tough season, Jacks ready to return to form
August 29, 2013
Berwick taking ‘baby steps’ approach in ’13
August 29, 2013
Entering the 2013 season, the Morgan City Tigers have experienced quite a few changes since last year.
For starters, the Tigers have a new head coach.
For the first time since the 1970s, they have centralized air-conditioning in their locker room.
They also have new uniforms and new equipment.
Now the school is hoping that translates to new results on the field.
This past April, the school reached out to former Thibodaux coach Dennis Lorio, who guided Thibodaux to a State Championship in 1991 and returned to lead the program from 2008-10. Lorio replaced former Morgan City coach Brandon Nowlin, who took a coaching position with Nicholls State in the off-season.
When it came to accepting the position at Morgan City, Lorio didn’t have to think long.
“I figured I wanted to give it one last chance,” the 61-year-old said of coaching. “I wasn’t pleased with the way things ended in Thibodaux in 2010.”
When he returned to Thibodaux in 2008, Lorio inherited a program that hadn’t won a playoff game in 17 years. Over the next three seasons, his teams won 22 games, a district championship, and four playoff games.
With Morgan City, he inherits a program that hasn’t reached the playoffs in 15 years. The Tigers began last season 4-0 but had the lowest strength of schedule for any 4A team in the state thanks to a soft non-district schedule. They would lose their last five games, going winless in district play.
This year, the non-district schedule is a bit more challenging.
The Tigers play at Central of Baton Rouge, a top 10-ranked 5A school a season ago, on Sept. 13, and at Livonia, a Class 3A semifinalist, on Sept. 27. The following week, they get Franklin at home before going on the road to play at Rayne.
The challenge to build a winning program from the ground up is never without pains, but Lorio said he and his staff are still up for the challenge.
“Everybody can interpret what they want, but we’ve proven that if we have enough talent, we can compete with district and playoff honors,” Lorio said.
Much of the talent for Morgan City is in the lower class. The Tigers began last season with 52 players on the roster and ended with just 25 players.
This year, roughly 23 sophomores and 28 freshmen combine to make up a roster that features only seven seniors and seven juniors.
“The (problem) in the junior and senior class is not quality, it’s (quantity),” Lorio said. “That’s the hand we were dealt and we knew that coming in. We’re going to work with our upperclassmen all we can to win and give us our best chance to have success to begin with, but at the same time, we have special attention to our freshmen class.”
Meanwhile, players say they can already feel a difference in the team’s attitude and mindset under their new coach.
“The discipline is great compared to my last two years,” junior Jaylen Jones said. “Last year, we had players fighting on the field (almost) every day.”
“The attitude wasn’t really disciplined before,” added senior Kolbi Chatman. “Coach is doing a good job and getting us pretty organized and pumped up for the season.”
On offense, Morgan City has been working both Jones and Chatman out at quarterback. Neither has played the position at the varsity level.
Lorio said he likes what he sees in both players, but without either player having experience under center, it’s a work in progress.
“Both are athletes that present opportunities to run the ball,” Lorio said. “They both have some talent to throw it. It’s just going to take a little while to get where we want to be. They’re doing some good things, but it’s like a blank canvas.”
Up front, Louisiana-Lafayette commitment Darryl Johnson and Joseph Jones return to anchor an offensive line that figures to be the Tigers’ best strength this season. Ben Vining, Hunter Vining and Anthony Rink also return up front.
Buddy Humphrey and Malcolm Watkins return at wide receiver, and Francois should also be featured in some sets.
At running back, Kevon Marsh and Jacolbi Francois figure to get a good portion of the load.
“We think we have some nice linemen up front,” Lorio said of the Tigers’ offense. “There’s some talent in the backfield. Our issue is obviously depth.”
On the defensive side, Morgan City is looking for improvement after surrendering at least 40 points in three of its four district contests last year.
Johnson will contribute on the defensive line with Clifton Escort, while Rinks plays at inside linebacker. Marsh and Francois will be a key part of the secondary as the team expects to use a numbers of players on both sides of the ball.
“I like the way our defense has been looking,” said Chatman, who has also played linebacker. “The line-backing core is not settled right now, but I’m excited to see who’s going to step up.”
That excitement isn’t just limited to the players, it seems. The support from the community, school board and the school’s own administration has been outstanding, Lorio said.
“The new lockers, new uniforms and new equipment, people have worked hard,” he said. “If you’re going to have a program, you’re going to need quality facilities and equipment.
“We have some quality kids,” he added. “Our staff is probably not going to run any sprint relays, but we have experience and there aren’t many things we haven’t seen. We’re going to do our best to give our kids the best chance.”
Morgan City standouts Kevon Marsh (left) and Jalen Jones perform their signature handshake following practice. The Tigers want to break through and reach the playoffs.
