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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
| FOOTBALL 2017 |
PAGE 3
In This Issue ... West St. John Rams ..................... Page 4
St. James Wildcats ..................... Page 12
East St. John Wildcats ................. Page 5
Lutcher Bulldogs ........................ Page 17
St. Charles Catholic Comets ........ Page 6
Hahnville Tigers ......................... Page 18
Riverside Academy Rebels ......... Page 11
Destrehan Wildcats .................... Page 18
| FOOTBALL 2017 |
PAGE 4
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
Sophomore quarterback D’Andre Gaudia, right, practices his throwing form during workouts for the Rams in Edgard. (Lori Lyons/L’OBSERVATEUR)
West St. John moves to Class 1A BY LORI LYONS L’OBSERVATEUR
EDGARD — Now that the West St. John football team is moving back down to Class 1A for a while, coach Brandon Walters has been getting a little bit of ribbing from some of the coaches up north. “They have to welcome me back, you know,” he said of the coaches from perennial powerhouses Haynesville, Oak Grove and Logansport. “There’s been some jawing going on.” If the Rams want to win a state championship
— and they do — those are the teams they will have to beat. Logansport defeated Haynesville for the Class 1A title last year. Oak Grove lost in the semifinals — to Haynesville. Walters said his team is up for the challenge. “I think we’re going to be really good,” Walters said. “If the guys buy in and continue to work really hard, the sky’s the limit with this group. We have some veteran guys in a lot of positions. Of course we lost a few people in some important
Coach: Brandon Walters Record at School: 10-16 Career Record: 10-16 2016 record: 5-8, 1-4 Finish: Lost in Class 2A quarterfinals
SEE WEST ST. JOHN PAGE 26
Wishing All The River Parishes Football Teams The Very Best!
32
Mon. - Fri. 9:30 - 6:00 Sat. 9:30 - 3:00
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
| FOOTBALL 2017 |
PAGE 5
Wildcats’ Projected Starters OFFENSE
DEFENSE
QB Dasmain Crosby RB Calvin Gardner WR Kyle Henderson WR Javon Antonio TE Hoxie Brown SB Shelvin Keller OL Morgan Ursin OL Jakobi Anderson OL Drake Davis OL Juanta Johnson OL Nelson Ramos
DL John Gayden DL Hoxie Brown DL Brad Arceneaux DL Weiland Williams LB Devontae Morris LB D’Andrei Pittman LB Javon Antonio DB Jarius Monroe DB Devontae Morgan DB Howard Joseph DB Mark Stewart
SPECIAL TEAMS Punter - Jaelen Townsend
Placekicker - Keith Matt
Coach: Aldon Foster
East St. John receiver Javon Antonio, left, and quarterback Duke Crosby were a force in 7-on-7 competitions this summer. (Lori Lyons/L’OBSERVATEUR)
ESJH building on tough playoff exit BY LORI LYONS L’OBSERVATEUR
RESERVE — Two seconds. The East St. John High School Wildcats were two seconds away from a victory in the first round of the 2016 Class 5A football playoffs. It would have been the first under Coach Aldon Foster, who took over the team following the 2014 season. It would have been a tremendous upset for the No. 23 seed Wildcats against No. 10 Barbe, which fell the following week to St. Amant. It was not meant to be, though. The Bucs’ quarterback completed a 50-yard desperation pass for a touchdown and East St. John headed home after a 23-19 loss.
“I’ve thought about it every day,” said senior offensive lineman Morgan Ursin. “It hurt because we were that close to going to the next round of the playoffs. This team wasn’t bad, and I felt like we could have won some more games. Two seconds away.” Now the Wildcats are three years into the tenure of coach Aldon Foster, who took over the team when this year’s seniors were sophomores. “It’s second nature to us now,” Ursin said. Nothing has come easy to the team, which missed the playoffs in 2015 and experienced heartbreak in 2016. They are hoping for better times in 2017 with a strong, experienced SEE EAST ST. JOHN PAGE 26
2016 record: 5-5, 3-3
Record at School: 7-14 Finish: Lost in Class 5A bi-district round Career Record: 75-35
| FOOTBALL 2017 |
PAGE 6
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
Monica pushing SCC players for more BY LORI LYONS
Comets’ Projected Starters
L’OBSERVATEUR
LAPLACE — The 2016 St. Charles Catholic football team was Cinderella. After a rough start, the Comets found some magic and made it all the way to the fancy ball in the Superdome. Then the clock struck midnight and the Comets went home with the Division III runner-up trophy after a tough loss to Riverside. According to Comets coach Frank Monica, the 2017 team is more like Peter Pan needing to grow up. “On Meet the Comets Night we talk about them having to earn their jersey,” Monica said. “Some of them have not earned their jerseys yet. There were a number of workouts they had to do to qualify. There are still some guys doing makeup work. I see a lot less commitment. I don’t like this team’s character. Right now they’re searching for an identity.” Monica says they will need to do a lot of work if they want another fairy tale run, but certainly the building blocks are there. The team returns eight of 11 starters on offense and one of those is senior quarterback Lloyd Nash, who brought most of the team’s magic in 2016. One of only two returning starters on last year’s team, the playmaking quarterback amassed more than 1,700 all-purpose yards and also played defensive back. He just recently committed to Nicholls State University, where he is expected to play football and baseball. He’s the guy who can make things happen, said senior offensive lineman Robert McDonald, a returning All-St. John selection. “Lloyd’s pretty special,” McDonald said. “He knows what he’s doing, he knows what he can do and he gets the job done.” Besides being a challenge to block for, however, Nash also brings another dilemma to the team. “Our problem right now is, offen-
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
QB Lloyd Nash RB Narquez Jones RB Phillip Tran WR Cameron Fabre WR Darrin Blystad TE Randall Campbell OL Robert McDonald OL John Waldron OL Evan Roussel OL Joshua Carter C Gavin Babesh
DL Rodney Blanks DL Mason Narcisse DL Trey Desilvey DL Gavin St. Pierre LB Dellary Oubre LB Jordan Jensen DB Luke Brouwer DB Bryce Authement DB Trey Joseph DB Nick Lorio DB Trey Arceneaux
SPECIAL TEAMS Punter Placekicker Jordan Jensen Cameron Fabre & Jared Babesh
Quarterback Lloyd Nash, No. 5, works the St. Charles Catholic Comets huddle during spring game action. The senior is being counted on heavily in 2017.
sively, our players say, ‘Let Lloyd do it,’” Monica said. “He makes the special plays. He’s exceptional. The other part of that is, he’s not Spiderman. He needs some help.” Nash should get that help from returning running backs Narquez Jones, who rushed for more than
1,000 yards last season; Phillip Tran, who was stellar as a freshman; and Joe Chiarella, who missed time with an injury. His receivers are Darrin Blystad and Cameron Fabre. Monica said he’s a little worried about the offensive line.
Coach: Frank Monica Record at School: 163-58 Career Record: 249-75 2016 record: 11-3, 4-1 2016 Finish: Division III Select State Runner-up “They have some experience, but I thought they would be further along than they are right now,” he said, adding rainy summer weather has not been the Comets’ friend. “They’ve been practicing in slop and the ball’s been squirting all over the place.” Senior Gavin Babesh said he and his fellow lineman are going to be just fine. “We have three offensive linemen back,” he said. “We have some holes, but we have a lot of experience back and I’ll think we’ll be good.” The defense had to replace five starters. Among the returning players is senior linebacker Dellary Oubre, who finished with 93 tackles and five sacks last season, and was a force in the championship game. “I’ve got to make sure they all line up in the right spots,” Oubre said. Add in the fact that the Comets have moved up from Class 2A to Class 3A and will be in a combined playoff bracket with Class 3A and Class 4A teams, Monica said this team has work to do. “I feel like I’m coaching a ninth grade JV team,” Monica said. “I’m not a happy camper because I’ve seen no progress. There’s a small transition from that practice field to that (game) field, but it’s a big walk. The practice field is where you win. If they haven’t done it in practice, miracles do not happen on Friday.”
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
| FOOTBALL 2017 |
PAGE 7
| FOOTBALL 2017 |
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Kurt Becnel
Jaclyn Hotard
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Marvin Perrilloux Councilman District IV
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
| FOOTBALL 2017 |
PAGE 11
‘We are writing our own story’
New Riverside Academy head football coach Chris Lachney talks to his Rebels players during summer workouts. (Lori Lyons/L’OBSERVATEUR)
RA Rebels attacking 2017, not resting on their laurels BY LORI LYONS L’OBSERVATEUR
RESERVE — Not much has changed at Riverside Academy in the eight months since the team won its first Louisiana High School Athletic Association state title, but everything is different. So says new head coach Chris Lachney, who took over the team in January after Bill Stubbs retired. With the state championship trophy safely tucked away, the Rebels
are moving forward. Despite the fact that the Rebels return a slew of starters, including a wealth of skill players with experience, Lachney says this is a whole new team and this is a whole new season. “We don’t look at it as a continuation of last year,” Lachney said. “We are starting from scratch. None of those wins count anymore. None of those points get to count this year. None of those big stops on defense count. We are starting fresh and we are writing our own story
this year.” The story starts with some familiar names and some talented skill people. Quarterback Jordan Loving, who was the MVP of the Division III state championship game after passing for 205 yards and two touchdowns, returns for his senior season. Also returning are running back Jeremy Gibson, a Tulsa commit, who rushed for 955 yards and 13 touchdowns, and wide receiver
Jalen Banks, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound senior. They all have a solid line up front, but with Mason Scioneaux as the lone returning starter. “I’m the only guy on the line coming back from the Dome,” Scioneaux said. “Having four new guys starting on the line, you really have to step up and be a leader because we need all five of us to fill our roles if we want to get back to the Dome. SEE REBELS PAGE 25
| FOOTBALL 2017 |
PAGE 12
RUNNING BACK SHAMAR SMITH
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
QUARTERBACK DEMARCUS WILLIAMS
St. James taking team approach BY LORI LYONS L’OBSERVATEUR
ST. JAMES — Superman has left the building. That is what St. James High School football coach Robert Valdez isn’t just saying that about his 2017 football team, he is saying it to his football team. For the last two years, Superman has been a Wildcat in the form of quarterback Lowell Narcisse, the highly-touted national recruit who brought fame and much media attention to the Wildcats locker room. Now he has graduated and gone on to LSU, leaving his former Wildcats teammates to carry on without him. Valdez is hoping they can recover. “For so long, it was Lowell and the Wildcats,” Valdez said. “Now it’s just the Wildcats. The task moving forward is, how do we become a team?” The task of bringing the 2017 team
Wildcats’ Projected Starters OFFENSE
DEFENSE
QB Demarcus Williams RB Shamar Smith RB Kailen Johnson RB Dontaz Sterling WR Devonne White SE Darian Harry OL Bryant Grows Jr. OL Chase Davis OL Jarius Hooker OL Zyshonne Harry OL Donald Nelson
DL Kyren Harris DL Dewayne White DL Jason Dumas DL Chase Davis OB Brehlan Domino LB Ben Clement LB Jonrell Jones DB Glenn Brown III DB Rashad Pierre DB Deandre Harry DB Shawn Preston Jr.
SPECIAL TEAMS Punter - Alec Mahler
together will fall on the muscular shoulders of senior quarterback Demarcus Williams. While on paper Williams has been
Placekicker - Zachary Folse
listed as the backup quarterback, on the field he has been much more. When Narcisse tore his ACL before the start of the 2015 season,
Coach: Robert Valdez Record at School: 8-3 Career Record: 81-40 2016 record: 8-3, 5-2 2016 Finish: Lost in Class 3A bi-district round Williams was moved into the starting spot. He filled in nobly, leading the Wildcats through the regular season. Narcisse was about to return for the playoffs and led St. James to the Class 3A state championship game against Lutcher. At the start of the 2016 season, SEE ST. JAMES PAGE 24
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
| FOOTBALL 2017 |
PAGE 13
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PAGE 17
LHS moving to 4A, ready for challenge Bulldogs taking state championship string into higher class BY LORI LYONS L’OBSERVATEUR
LUTCHER — The Bulldogs aren’t used to being underdogs. That’s what they will be this season, though. After winning back-to-back Class 3A state championships, one under former head coach Tim Detillier and one under new head coach Dwain Jenkins, the Bulldogs are moving up to Class 4A in 2017. That brings with it a whole new set of challenges. Instead of going into the season as the likely team to beat, Lutcher will go into the season as another team trying to beat Karr and Neville, who have met for the 4A title four times in the last six years, not to mention Plaquemine and McDonogh 35. “We’re the small people this year,” said senior center Brayden Bauer. “A lot of people have to step up.” One of those people is junior quarterback Kolby Bourgeois, who hadn’t played the position since he was a fifth grader until last season. He got only two starts last year, both due to an injury to starter Jontre Kirklin, who is now a potential defensive back at LSU. Jenkins says Bourgeois is ready. “He’s a different type of quarterback, now,” Jenkins said. “Whereas Jontre relied so much more on his athletic ability, Kolby is probably a little more of a pure passer. People underestimate the type of athlete he is. He started on our baseball team and was one of our best outfielders, so he’s got a good arm. He’s also got a really good command for what we do. We can pretty much throw anything at him and he can SEE LHS PAGE 24
Kolby Bourgeois, standing at right, returned to the quarterback position last year as Lutcher’s backup and looks forward to taking over as the Bulldogs’ lead signal caller this season.
Slot back Rondell Mealey Jr., left, will split time with the Bulldogs in 2017, while wide receiver Gregory Clayton, above, one of the top recruits in the state, gets ready for a huge season.
| FOOTBALL 2017 |
PAGE 18
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
Hahnville gears up for late-season run SPECIAL TO L’OBSERVATEUR
Boasting one of the state’s elite offensive weapons at running back, an exciting young prospect at quarterback and a deep, talented roster, the Hahnville Tigers appear primed to pounce in 2017. Nick Saltaformaggio is entering his fourth season as Tigers head coach, having led Hahnville to the state quarterfinals twice before a round two exit in 2016. Saltaformaggio still harbors a taste for championship glory — he led East Jefferson to an unbeaten state championship in 2014, and is hungry to take the Hahnville program back to those heights. “I really felt at the point we were playing at last year, we were one of the best teams in the state,”
Coach: Nick Saltaformaggio Record at School: 27-11 Career Record: 119-53 2016 record: 8-2, 5-1 2016 Finish: Lost in Class 5A regionals Saltaformaggio said. “A lot of coaches would sign up for it if they knew they’d make it to round two, but I feel like I coach at Hahnville,
Tigers’ Projected Starters OFFENSE QB – Jhaquan Jackson RB – Anthony Williams RB – Jace Myers WR – Jamel Byrd WR – Michael Gray TE – Brandon Thomas or Noah Zeringue OL – Larry Dixon OL – Torrin Borne OL – Edwin Wells OL – Gabe Medina OL – D’Quinn Butler
DEFENSE DL – Adonis Friloux DL – Lyncoy Reynaud DL – Jalen Singleton or Coby Ambler LB – Amonte Jernigan LB – Logan Robert LB – Laine McCully DB – Cyrie Lewis DB – Hunter LeBlanc DB – Khalil Mason DB – Lloyd Jones DB – Syre Lewis
SPECIAL TEAMS Punter - Dalton Meloncon
Placekicker - Thomas Rasco
SEE HAHNVILLE PAGE 23
DHS wants season’s wins extended to playoffs Wildcats’ Projected Starters OFFENSE
DEFENSE
QB – J.R. Blood RB – John Emery RB – Kyle Edwards WR – Carl Lewis WR – Quinton Torbor WR – C.B. Anderson OL – Samson Matthews OL – Brandon Oubre OL – Chase Cook OL – Avery Wagner OL – Jalen Richard
DL Kyren Harris DL Dewayne White DL Jason Dumas DL Chase Davis OB Brehlan Domino LB Ben Clement LB Jonrell Jones DB Glenn Brown III DB Rashad Pierre DB Deandre Harry DB Shawn Preston Jr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker:
Punter - Bradley Quinn
Ronal Santos/Perry Stubbs
SPECIAL TO L’OBSERVATEUR
The next time Destrehan falls in a regular season game will be the first since 2012. Destrehan is a perfect 38-0 in those contests and is fresh off of a semifinalist finish in 2016. This year’s Wildcats don’t have the size and strength of their most recent incarnations, but there is plenty of speed to burn—and enough talent to perhaps extend another season to that unbeaten run, with an eye on capturing the school’s first state championship since it won back-toback crowns in 2007 and 2008. Players to watch — John Emery Jr. is considered perhaps the best running back prospect in Louisiana and has been noted as a four-star recruit. LSU is among many schools who have already extended offers to Emery, still only a junior, with others including Georgia, Auburn, Ole
Coach: Stephen Robicheaux Record at School: 153-33 Career Record: 153-33 2016 record: 12-1, 6-0 2016 Finish: District 7-5A champion; lost in Class 5A semis Miss, Arkansas and North Carolina. “He’s a great, special talent,” Head Coach Stephen Robicheaux said. “But more than what he does on the field, his attitude and work ethic around school is tremendous. He’s fun to be around and he makes SEE DHS PAGE 23
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| FOOTBALL 2017 |
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| FOOTBALL 2017 |
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
PAGE 23
HAHNVILLE: Safety LeBlanc leads Tigers’ defensive approach FROM PAGE 18
and we should always be working at Thanksgiving.” PLAYERS TO WATCH: Star running back and Kansas commitment Anthony Williams enters this season after compiling over 1,800 yards from scrimmage to go with 20 touchdowns as a junior. Saltaformaggio said his senior has hit the weight room harder than ever and Williams says he’s ready for any additional workload he’s asked to take on. “No doubt, I’d love that,” Williams said. “I’m preparing for it. You have to be physical. If you’re not physical on the field, you won’t be anything. I’m ready to accomplish a lot of goals with my team and I think it’s gonna be a great season.” Joining Williams in the backfield will be first-year starting quarterback Jhaquan Jackson, a rising
junior who played wide receiver a year ago. Jackson was largely an unknown quantity entering the summer, but stellar efforts on the collegiate camp circuit have earned him a slew of offers, including one from Tulane. “He asserted himself from day one,” Saltaformaggio said. “He’s that athlete at quarterback who can extend plays and make something happen when nothing’s there. I’ve always felt that’s the dimension that leads teams to success. He’s already shown to be a great leader.” On the defensive side of the ball, senior safety Hunter LeBlanc is a returning starter and a playmaker for the Tigers. LeBlanc has started since his sophomore season with Hahnville, and his experience will be key for a defense bringing back just two starters from a year ago.
“He’s a really outstanding player and a guy we know we can count on,” Saltaformaggio said. “He’s one of the better players in the Metro area He’s one of those guys who have made their name, who know how to lead and who are gonna have really, really good years for us. He had a great summer.” At middle linebacker, Amonte Jernigan is someone Saltaformaggio calls a “special talent” and someone who will be extremely valuable to a team breaking in new starters in front of him on the defensive line. “That’s going to help (the defensive line), because the kid behind them is exceptionally good,” Saltaformaggio said. “Our talent at linebacker is better than it’s been. We’ve always had that one guy, Dwain Thomas my first year, then Peyton Robert … (Jernigan) is going to make a lot
of plays, and I think we have some guys around him, more talent than we’ve had at the position in the past.” WHAT’S NEW: On the defensive side of the ball, Saltaformaggio and coordinator Chris Stroud are making a shift to a 3-3 stack alignment that Saltaformaggio used in the past before joining Hahnville. He believes the scheme can create problems for opposing offenses by getting faster players on the field and opens up a variety of ways to pressure the offensive line. “I’m way, way more comfortable in that set,” Saltaformaggio said. “We were kind of all over the place last year, some 3-4 and shifting up front, a lot of movement. It should be simpler. When you’re simpler, you can play faster, and we’re not very big up front so we’ll have to play fast.”
DHS: Destrehan returns to 10-game regular season 2017 format FROM PAGE 18
people around him better. We’re lucky to have him the next two years.” Emery rushed for 1,323 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2016 while splitting time in the backfield. “Even last year as a backup or second guy, when he got the ball, the defense noticed it and it opened things up for everyone else,” said Destrehan offensive coordinator Greg Boyne. “John will open up our passing game early in the year because he’ll garner so much attention. J.R. understands John is his best friend.” The “J.R.” Boyne references is junior passer J.R. Blood, entering his first full season as Destrehan’s starter. He stepped in at midseason last year for injured starter Kohen
Veteran coach Stephen Robicheaux will again work the sidelines for the Wildcats in 2017.
Granier and went unbeaten in five regular season starts, while leading DHS to a win over archrival Hahnville in a relief effort. “Obviously, last year Kohen took the bulk of those reps,” Robicheaux said. “This year J.R.’s taken about every rep. He’s been the leader. He studies the game. If you’re looking for a
prototype, he fits the bill.” Defensively, Macon Clark is a jack of all trades for the Wildcats. Clark is a safety in name but does far more for DHS as he’s employed as a Tyrann Mathieu-like playmaker who can be asked to take on deep coverage responsibilities on one play before lining up on the edge to rush the passer.
His versatility is his primary calling card, and it makes the Wildcats’ defense tough to account for. “We can go back and forth with him,” Robicheaux said. “You have to account for him off the edge as a speed rusher or on the back end playing pass routes. He can do both. For that position, for us in that 50 defense, you have to have that type of kid. He’s the perfect body type for that position.” Alex Huszar is another returning starter who brings a “really physical presence” to the mix, Robicheaux says, forming a strong interior linebacker tandem with Rob Hall, who moves down into the box from the safety position he manned a year ago. “We’re going to have a lot of toughness inside,” Robicheaux said. “I really like this defense. We won’t be as big, but we’ll be as
quick as we’ve been in awhile.” What’s New? It’s a simple thing, really, one assuredly taken for granted in most other instances. But this season, Destrehan gets to play 10 regular season games, scheduled for a full slate for the first time since 2014. The past two seasons the Wildcats have been left without an opponent in Week 10, with each team in District 7-5A having an uneven number of teams. This year’s “bye” would have been Week 9, but Destrehan was able to schedule Jesuit for a home and home over the next two seasons. “Nobody ever wants to have a bye week in there. (Jesuit) will be tough, but it will be a great challenge and something that can get us ready for the postseason,” Robicheaux said.
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
LHS: Lack of returning defensive depth challenging Bulldogs FROM PAGE 17
handle it.” Bourgeois proved that last year when he threw five touchdowns in a 55-0 win over KIPP. Bourgeois also will be helped by the experience around him. The Bulldogs return four offensive linemen plus a couple of key skill positions. Wide receiver Gregory Clayton, one of the top recruits in the state, is the brother of former LSU great and current Miami Dolphins Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry. Clayton is by sophomore Jacoby Williams. Senior Daevon Adams has been the Bulldogs’ top running back, but was always overshadowed by Kirklin, who rushed for over a 1,000 yards each year. He will split time with slot back Rondell Mealey Jr. “They’ve told me I’ll be carrying the weight a lot this year,” said Adams. “It’s a step up as far as responsibility goes. I didn’t get the ball as much because of Jontre. He actually has a lot of rushing records.
Coach: Dwain Jenkins Record at School: 13-2 Career Record: 38-18 2016 record: 13-2, 6-1 2016 Finish: Class 3A State Champion I can’t get the career one, but I’m going to try for the season one.” The Bulldogs certainly will be tested on defense, where they return only three starters. Seniors Keiron Goudia and Rowdy Scott will anchor the line; Zane McCrary, a sophomore, is the lone returner in the secondary. Goudia said the Bulldogs defense is going to surprise some people. “I think we’re going to be really
Bulldogs’ Projected Starters Offense
Defense
QB Kolby Bourgeois RB Daevon Adams WR Gregory Clayton WR Jacoby Williams WR Rashon Williams WR Cam Amato or D’Onte Dennison OL Lamar Felton OL Brayden Bauer OL Josh Taylor OL Alex Beier OL Charles Chapman or Drake LaFleur
DL Keiron Goudia DL Norris Johnson DL Rowdy Scott DL Jamel Thomas LB Gabe Bland LB Darrion Scott or Chris Burkhalter DB Zane McCrary DB Ivan Clark DB Rashaud Long DB Jace Williams DB Trey Stewart or Rhett Whitney
SPECIAL TEAMS Punter - Stephen Major
good up front,” he said. “I think we’ll pull off some upsets this season.” Jenkins said there’s no pressure for his team — no more than usual. “It’s Lutcher,” he said.
Placekicker - Alec Bland
“Expectations are always high. It doesn’t matter who’s in or who’s back, they expect you to find a way to win. Nobody cares that you might be starting six sophomores on defense. Everybody has to step up.”
ST. JAMES: Wildcats defense returns eight starters for 2017 season FROM PAGE 12
Williams was once more penciled in as the backup. Then Narcisse tore his other ACL in the jamboree. Williams moved back into the spot again and passed for 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns. This year, there is no “backup” next to his name. He is the guy from the get-go. “He’s got to take the bull by the horns,” Valdez said. “Now the job is his.” Williams said he is ready to step into his new, permanent role. “It’s actually very exciting,” he said. “I’m very comfortable in my position this year. It’s a lot easier. The first year was very stressful because I didn’t know if I was ready. “You go in thinking you’re going to do this, then it turns out you’ve got to do this a week before Week
Demarcus Williams enters the season knowing he is the starting quarterback.
One. The second year I was more comfortable. This year, I knew since the beginning of the season I would be the quarterback. It’s better.” Sophomore Shamar Smith is now Williams’ backup and is the lone returning ball carrier. He will share duties with Kailin Johnson, Dontaz Sterling and Sean Lebouef.
Williams will have three returning senior linemen up front, plus two-way starter Jason Dumas, who just committed to Kent State as a defensive lineman. The St. James defense looks to be very solid with eight starters returning. Dumas is one of four returning starters on the defensive line, along
with Kyren Harris, Dewayne White and Chase Davis. All the linebackers are new, but Brehlan Domino, Ben Clement and Jonrell Jones all are seniors. There is only one new starter in the secondary, joining senior starters Glenn Brown III, Rashad Pierre and Mississippi State commit Shawn Preston Jr. “It’s time for people to step up,” Dumas said. “It’s going to be different, but the team is more together now. We have to count on our work ethic. I believe everybody is ready.” Dumas also believes Williams is ready to take over the team and be the leader. “I love Demarcus,” Dumas said. “He’s a very good leader. Under pressure he’s very cool and calm. I know he’s going to be the dude who’s going to drive us down the field and make a good decision.”
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
PAGE 25
Garland Robertson Jr., left, returns a punt 43 yards for a touchdown in last year’s state title game. At right, running back Jeremy Gibson is poised for a big year.
REBELS: Riverside making up for lost talent on defense FROM PAGE 4
We talk about it all the time. We never get our names in the paper. They never talk about you in the highlights. It just comes with the position. “You have to go in understanding that you’re blocking for someone else to score touchdowns. You have to be selfless.” Defensively, Lachney has a few more holes to fill, especially at linebacker. Defensive linemen Wilbert Robertson and Bridges, LB Jared Hymel and DBs Garland Robertson and Zach Geiger are the only returning starters. “We’ve got some good players,” Lachney said. “A lot of them have good experience from last year. Everybody assumes that we have a lot of people coming back because we have a lot of skill players on offense coming back. That’s the ones you read about. That’s the ones that you see. There are a lot of people coming
Rebels’ Projected Starters OFFENSE
DEFENSE
QB Jordan Loving RB Jeremy Gibson FB Cody Pellissier WR Kash Foley WR Jalen Banks DE Jeremiah Bigham OL Jesus Mendoza OL Hayden Cashio OL Reece Bordelon OL Mason Scioneaux OL Don Wetherington
DL Leboe Bridges DL Nick Rose DL Wilbert Robertson LB Aaron Thomas LB Chad James LB Jared Kenney LB Jared Hymel DB Shelby White DB Garland Robertson DB Zach Geiger DB Bryan Simmons
SPECIAL TEAMS Punter - Bobby Knowles
back but there are a lot of holes to fill too. You have to have the right people doing the right things at the right time,” The changes, Bridges said, are
Placekicker - Colton Wilson
among the team leaders. “This year is going to be different because as juniors, we looked at the seniors to be the leaders,” he said. “Now we have to fill those shoes and
Coach: Chris Lachney Record at School: 0-0 Career Record: 20-19 2016 record: 12-1, 5-0 Finish: Division III Select State Champion it’s a real test to be a leader.” At least the transition to the new coach has been virtually seamless. “There’s no difference at all,” Bridges said. “It’s not like he’s the new guy who comes in here and just changes everything. He’s been our defensive coordinator. I’ve been knowing him and talking to him since I was in middle school. He’s not a new face.”
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
EAST ST. JOHN: Crosby leads offense at quarterback FROM PAGE 5
nucleus and some talent. Injuries forced Dasmain “Duke” Crosby into the starting spot under center. His talent kept him there as he returns for his junior season. “He came in and did a great job,” Foster said. “He’s a great athlete. He knows the system now. He has a lot of confidence in himself.” Crosby said he is ready and “very excited.” “I’m open to wherever coach wants to play me,” he said. “I will do the best at any position I play. I feel like we can do whatever we want. We just have to execute. Just show up and play, that’s all we have to do.” Crosby spent the summer connecting with senior receiver Javon Antonio during 7-on-7 drills.
ESJH quarterback Duke Crosby is confident going into the season.
At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Antonio is easy to spot. “He’s a four-year starter for us,” Foster said. “He made some plays this summer that we expect to transfer to Friday night football. We’re expecting big things out of him.”
Crosby said he plans to spread the ball around to his other receivers, including 6-2 Kyle Henderson and 5-9 slotback Shelvin Keller. Another potential target is 6-3 Hoxie Brown, who is going to play tight end. “I try to get them as much work
as possible, every last one of them,” Crosby said. The key, Foster said, will be playing well up front. Ursin is the only returning starter on the line, but he will be joined by 6-4, 320-pound sophomore Jakobi Anderson and 6-1, 245-pound senior Drake Davis. Juniors Juanta Johnson (5-10, 220) and Nelson Ramos (5-10, 250) are the other new starters. The defensive line is all new and includes John Gayden, Brown, Brad Arceneaux and Welland Williams. Keller, who also can play quarterback, and Calvin Gardner will be the primary ball carriers. There are only four starters returning on defense, all in the secondary. Antonio is one of them; so are junior free safety Jarius Monroe, strong safety Chris Thompson and linebacker D’Andrei Pittman.
WEST ST. JOHN: Davis figures to be a force on both sides of the line FROM PAGE 4
spots, but the guys since then have stepped up over the spring and the summer and seem to be pretty eager to get it right now.” The main challenge for Walters is to settle on a quarterback. Right now there are three players vying for the spot, including senior Elijah Borne and sophomore Trenton Grows. But sophomore Deandre Gaudia will tell you the job is his. “I’m the new starting quarterback,” he said, and he has been getting the most reps. “It’s a lot of work. I just have to push my players to do better. Everybody needs to do better than the day before.” Walters said he’s not ready to make any announcement. “I don’t want to put anything out there to mislead anyone,” he said. “They all bring something different to the game. Elijah and Deandre are both baseball players so, naturally, their arms are really good. Elijah is more of an elusive guy that can deal with some of the other
Rams’ Projected Starters OFFENSE
DEFENSE
QB D’Andre Gaudia WR Aason Moll WR Jairon Johnson WR Kameron Ursin WR Dontrell Davis RB Kylan Duhe OL Calieb Batiste OL Jayjuan Pierce OL Brett Bailey OL Hauron Robinson OL Kyree Thorne
DL Covan Barnes DL Jonathan Porter DL Kelon Gardner DL Horace Lewis LB Niko Davis LB Zyron Wilson DB Alyjah Borne DB Aaron Moll DB Treton Grow DB Dontrell Davis DB Trejan Thomas
SPECIAL TEAMS Punter - Shamar Roussell
packages that we run, the things that we try to do. Deandre is more of a pocket passer that can kind of stand there and pick you apart. We want to get all three developing and get them to do what they do best.” Walters said it shouldn’t surprise
Placekicker - Horace Lewis
anyone to see any of the three under center, depending on the game or the situation. “We play the best 11 for that week,” Walters said. “Whoever’s alive and kicking and can go will play. We definitely can switch some things around.”
Linebacker Covan Barnes said there are many players who can carry the load. “We have a lot of workhorses,” he said. “I feel like we have a lot more leaders on this team.” One of those is senior Niko Davis, who Walters said could be the team’s marquee player this season. “He’s a really, really tough guy,” Walters said. “He’s going to be the guy to have to carry the load. You can’t stop him when he’s running the ball and, on defense, he’s going to be the guy you have to get by at Mike linebacker.” As for the move down to Class 1A, Walters said it should help his football team and all other sports on the Edgard campus. The Rams face Covenant Christian, Ecole Classique Houma Christian, Ridgewood, St. Martin’s and Varnado in District 8-1A. “Our district is a new challenge to us in and of itself,” Walters said. “We’ve never played any of those teams. The biggest thing now is finding out some things about those teams.”
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