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GAMES BEGIN! THE TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2, 2019 • WEEK 1 FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
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CONTENTS 04 06 08 12 14 18 20 22
5 THINGS TO SEE Week 1 filled with intrigue
BACK IN THE SADDLE Lasseigne eager to lead E.D. White
TIGERS, TROJANS ROAR Lafourche-Terrebonne Jamboree recap
THE SCHEDULE IS SET See all 11 local schedules
GAME-WINNING PICK SIX Tarpons score thrilling, last-second win
YOUTH NO MORE Gators hungry for 2019 season
UNITED SCHOOL OF FISH SLHS has new attitude this fall
UNDER THE LIGHTS See photos of jamboree week
No more mud. No more potholes. No more sand. No more divots. No more game cancellations. No more lost revenue and ticket sales. No more beat up, worn down and torn to shreds natural grass. It is with great pleasure that we bring you this inaugural Friday Night Lights — coinciding with an exciting time to be a high school football fan in the HoumaThibodaux area. With the opening of new, turf fields, Terrebonne’s public school teams join Lafourche Parish public schools, E.D. White and CCA as 9 of 11 local teams who now play on an artificial surface. The student-athletes are hyped up for the change and so are we. We’re excited to follow the journey every step of the way — for the next 13 weeks leading up to the road to the dome. Good luck to all! We can’t wait to see what the 2019 season holds!
Casey Gisclair SEPTEMBER 2, 2019 • WEEK 1
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
3 SEPTEMBER 2, 2019
5 THINGS TO SEE IN WEEK 1 BY CASEY GISCLAIR
casey@rushing-media.com
Ah, there’s simply nothing quite like the start of a new season. Everyone is 0-0 again — the one time in an athletic year where everyone is truly equal and on the same playing field. The 2019 season is expected to be one of intrigue locally because I can literally make the case for just about every, single local team. That’s not just lip service or me blowing smoke. There are whispers that the 2019 season will be terrific locally and the word on the street is that there are a lot of squads who will be pushing
strongly for playoff spots. But it all starts in Week 1, right? It’s the first step on a 10-week journey toward the playoffs. So here are 5 things I’m looking forward to keeping track of this weekend. May the games begin. 1. Mighty Terrebonne showing its muscle. Terrebonne opens its 2019 season with Jesuit. That’s no cupcake. The Blue Jays were just 5-5 last season, but all of their losses were close defeats to some of the best teams in the state of Louisiana, including Warren Easton, John Curtis, Rummel and heck, even Destrehan. The Blue Jays are what I like to
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
call a “gatekeeper” team. They likely won’t win the state championship this fall, but they’re sort of right in the middle. The elites will beat them. But those just below the elites may lose to them. Where does Terrebonne stand in the pecking order? We will find out on Friday night at Tom B. Smith Stadium, won’t we? I have a feeling the Tigers will be A-OK. 2. Just how mighty is Thibodaux? There is a lot of buzz coming out of Thibodaux’s camp this fall. The Tigers finished just 3-7 last season, but that team was brutally young and was completely torn apart by injuries. This year, the
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Tigers return the lion’s share of its roster and little local birdies are chirping and saying that the Tigers are one of the sleepers in our area. I believe those little birdies. I think Thibodaux is going to be the most improved local team in 2019. They open with Riverside Academy on Friday — a chance to face a Class 1A opponent with a lot of quality talent. I am curious to see just how impressive the Tigers look in their first chance to showcase themselves in the 2019 season. If the words we’re hearing are true, look for Thibodaux to score lots of points and be one of the more explosive, high-powered offenses in the area throughout the fall.
Thibodaux is expected to be one of the top local teams in 2019. The Tigers will get a chance to showcase their roster on Friday against Riverside. PHOTO: JARED SHANKLIN
3. Year one better than year two? Both South Lafourche and H.L. Bourgeois changed offensive philosophies last year and, to be quite honest, both had significant growing pains. Both teams finished 2-8 and neither had any significant, sustained offensive success throughout the season. But coaches always say that while year one of a drastic change is tough, year two is often far better because the kids know what’s expected. We’ve seen flashes of that throughout the offseason from both teams. They both scrimmaged well — the Tarpons getting the
better of Patterson, while H.L. Bourgeois trumped Morgan City. The Tarpons and Braves also faced on another on Friday at the Jamboree and both teams showed marked signs of improvement in all phases. So now, it’s time to put it into action. I’m curious to see how both teams look. 4. Lasseigne v. Ledet, Chapter 1 E.D. White vs. Vandebilt is always a significant game locally, right? That’s one of the biggest rivalries in our area. But this year’s installment of the annual game is a little bit bigger because it marks the first game for two first-year head coaches in E.D.
White’s Kyle Lasseigne and Vandebilt’s Lance Ledet. Both guys are decorated. Heck, Lasseigne was once a highly successful head coach at E.D. White before a hiatus and Ledet is a longtime assistant coach who has won championships almost everywhere he’s been. So what gives? This is a big-time football game between two teams with high hopes going into 2019. The winner of this one will get a jolt of momentum into the season. 5. All of that turf — that sweet, beautiful turf And last, but certainly not least, we couldn’t get
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out of this column without talking about Terrebonne Parish’s turf. Back 10 years ago, turf games were a rarity. I remember it being a special occasion or a big deal when a local team got the chance to play on an artificial surface. Now, 9 of our 11 local teams have turf and it’s more a story when games are played on grass. That’s good for our area. That means fewer delays, fewer rainouts and less drama. I can’t wait to see our kids playing on that turf in Week 1. Soak it all in and enjoy it. •
BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN LASSEIGNE SAID HE’S ENJOYING 2ND TENURE AS E.D. WHITE COACH BY CASEY GISCLAIR
casey@rushing-media.com
When Kyle Lasseigne stepped down as E.D. White’s head football coach in 2014, he said he was tired and in need of a break. “I just couldn’t keep on going at the speed I was going,” Lasseigne said at Tri-Parish Media Day. “I was exhausted.” Flash forward five years to the present and Lasseigne is back on the practice field with the Cardinals again. The fatigue is gone and lessons from his first tenure have been learned. And for Lasseigne, there’s just simply no place like home on the sidelines on Friday nights in the fall. Lasseigne is back in the saddle for E.D. White this season — the start of his second tenure as head coach of the team. Excitement around the team is high. The
Cardinals have more than 100 players. And Lasseigne said he cannot wait to get started on Friday night, adding that he’s so grateful for another chance to lead the program that he loves. “This is the program I know and love,” Lasseigne said. “There is no place I’d rather be. The response we’ve gotten is humbling and the support we’ve gotten from the community, it’s just been great. Now, we’re just ready to get started and work to getting our young men ready for the season and all of the challenges that are ahead.” Lasseigne’s first run at E.D. White was incredibly successful. He coached the team for 10 seasons and posted a 66-49, which included several deep playoff runs — some of the most successful seasons for the Cardinals in recent years. But Lasseigne said it all FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
wasn’t sustainable. He said he worked like a dog in his first tenure — posting long hours without 2nd thought. When Lasseigne resigned, he said he didn’t know if he would ever be a head coach again, because he was burnt out. “I just was trying to do too much,” Lasseigne said. “I didn’t delegate well enough. I was doing too much.” He took a little time away, but not much. Lasseigne stayed involved with E.D. White football as an assistant coach. In the past several seasons, he worked with the Cardinals’ middle school team. Lasseigne said doing that started to develop that itch and passion for coaching again. “It was great,” Lasseigne said. “There wasn’t much pressure to win or anything. It was just about coaching the kids
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and making them better. We had a ton of fun doing that the past few years.” And then came a second chance. After the 2018 season, E.D. White head coach Chris Bergeron resigned, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. The Cardinals opened up the job and there was mutual interest in a reunion. Lasseigne said he thought about the job long and hard, developing a plan for how he’d make his potential second tenure different from the first. He was then offered the job, but before accepting it, he had one stipulation. “I wanted to make sure Chris Bergeron stayed on and worked with us,” Lasseigne said. “I wouldn’t have taken this job without him here — I’ve not told many people that, but I meant that. Having him here makes things just so
much easier for us and what we’re doing. We’re so grateful he’s stayed on board and is being a part of our transition.” So what’ll be different? Well, Lasseigne said he absolutely cannot be the micromanaging head coach who dictates every, single last facet of the program anymore. He said that style is not healthy mentally or physically. This go-round, he said he’s going to trust his assistant coaches to coach more and give them more responsibility. Bergeron will run the team’s defense and Lasseigne’s former quarterback from his first tenure, Grant Chiasson, will coach the team’s offense. Lasseigne will be more what’s called a “CEO” coach, working to oversee all aspects of the team. Schematically, the Cardinals will look different, as well. The defense will mostly be the same as its been with Bergeron still in control. But offensively, Lasseigne said E.D. White has to be more balanced after years of being runheavy. The coach said the game has changed and he and his staff have to change with it. “We will still be a runfirst team,” Lasseigne said. “But we have to open it up some. We have to make teams respect us in the passing game. I know what we’ve done in the past and I know how teams have defended
us. Heck, I know how I would defend us if I were coaching against us — and I’d put everyone on the line of scrimmage and dare us to throw the football successfully. We know that, so we’re working on that. We have to — absolutely have to — be more effective throwing the football. And we will.” And kids are buying in. The Cardinals are a rarity locally. Where other teams are lacking numbers, they’re thriving with more than 100 players — a huge amount for a Class 3A school. Lasseigne said he wants the Cardinals to be a big family, adding that he’s comfortable around his current players because he coached most of them when they were in middle school. Lasseigne is working to visit every, single player in their home before the school year ends. He said he’s done more than half of the visits so far. At each, he said he’s reminded why coming back was the right decision — because there’s no place he’d rather be than coaching football in Thibodaux. “This is my home,” he said. “We had to change some things to fix some mistakes we’d made in our first tenure. But now, we’re ready to get back out there and I’m so grateful for the opportunity. We can’t wait to take the field on that first Friday night.” •
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TIGERS, TROJANS ROAR IN LAFOURCHE-TERREBONNE JAMBOREE BY CASEY GISCLAIR
casey@rushing-media.com
romped over Ellender 380.
On paper, Thibodaux and Central Lafourche should both have explosive offenses. They each flexed their muscles on Friday night. The Tigers and Trojans both rolled in the Lafourche-Terrebonne Jamboree — both scoring impressive victories over Terrebonne Parish opposition. In the first game, Central Lafourche beat South Terrebonne 30-21. In the nightcap, there was little drama. Thibodaux
TROJANS USE BALANCE TO SECURE VICTORY With a new quarterback for the first time in a couple seasons, Central Lafourche coach Keith Menard spent the whole offseason pondering how his offense would look in 2019. In the jamboree, the Trojans eased some of the coach’s anxiety, marching the ball mostly at ease in the win over the Gators. But there was a little adversity. FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
The Gators got the ball first and marched the length of the field — a touchdown drive capped by a short from from Jamala Ricks to go up 7-0 just three minutes into the game. Once the Trojans tasted their own blood, there was no looking back. Central Lafourche dominated the rest of the half, scoring on threestraight drives to take a 23-7 halftime lead. The Trojans had balance. On the ground, senior halfback Deon Jenkins was a force — much like he’s been throughout his
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career. He struck after the Gators’ touchdown with one of his own. After a swinging gate conversion, the Trojans led 8-7. Then first-year starting Ashtrien Duncan got in the act. Duncan completed two long firsthalf touchdown passes — one to Aaron Delaune and another to Jansen Folse to put the Trojans up 23-7 at halftime. Menard said the team’s ability to both run and pass is a luxury — one which gives him options as a play caller. Duncan passed for
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almost 200 yards in his debut. “It’s a great thing to have,” Menard said of the ability to run and pass. “I thought we did a good job in the jamboree working on both of those things. We have some things to clean up, but it was a good start for our offense.” In the second half, the Trojans continued the onslaught, putting another touchdown up to go ahead 30-7 — another touchdown run from Jenkins. Menard said this offseason that Jenkins
is evolving and is now a more complete back. That’s bad news for opponents, because he’s been a standout now for two-plus seasons. “He’s always had the power. Now he has some wiggle,” Menard said. “He’s a big-time player for us and he’s a guy who leads this team.” Late in the jamboree, South Terrebonne made some hay, putting two scores on the board to trim the final score to 3021. Menard said he put some younger defenders in the game to get them FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
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some work, and the Gators took advantage. “They’re going to be a good football team,” Menard said of the Gators. “We’re proud of the kids. Tonight, they got the job done.” TIGERS ROLL OVER ELLENDER WITH BIG PLAYS The Thibodaux High School football team had a tough 2018 season, but they were youth … and injured. Not anymore. The Tigers showcased their experience and their explosiveness, torching
Ellender with big plays en route to a 38-0 jamboree win. The Patriots were their own worst enemy, as well — especially on special teams. The Patriots got the ball early and stalled. A shanked punt set up a short field and an easy 40-plus-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Luke Alleman to receiver Kyren Lacy. Alleman and Lacy were a lethal duo on Friday, connecting several times for big plays. On Ellender’s next drive, the punt team had FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
problems again. A muffed snap caused a fumble and Thibodaux’s Darius Walter fell on top of it to put the Tigers ahead 14-0 early. “We scored and made big plays in all three phases,” Thibodaux coach Chris Dugas said. “You have to be happy about that. It’s one thing to see it in practice, but until it’s another opponent across from you, you don’t actually know. So it feels good for us and we’re proud of the works the kids have put in.” The Tigers added another score before halftime to go up 21-0
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— another strike from Alleman to Lacy. In the second half, they cruised, getting touchdowns from Alleman and Feronte Miller to go ahead 35-0, then a short field goal from Peyton Domangue to put the cherry atop what Dugas said was a solid performance. “We have some things to work on and clean up like everything else, but I’m pleased with how we played,” Dugas said. “Now, we have to have a good week of preparation and get ready for Week 1.” •
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2019 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
SCHEDULES SOUTH LAFOURCHE
CENTRAL LAFOURCHE
E.D. WHITE
Sept. 6 - vs. St. Charles Sept. 13 - vs. Thibodaux Sept. 20 - at Central Lafourche Sept. 27 - at Lutcher Oct. 4 - at Belle Chasse Oct. 11 - at Vandebilt Catholic Oct. 18 - vs. South Terrebonne Oct. 25 - vs. Morgan City Nov. 1 - vs. Ellender Nov. 8 - at Assumption
Sept. 6 - vs. White Castle Sept. 13 - vs. Franklin Sept. 20 - vs. South Lafourche Sept. 27 - vs. Thibodaux Oct. 4 - at Ellender Oct. 11 - vs. H.L. Bourgeois Oct. 18 - at Hahnville Oct. 25 - vs. East St. John Nov. 1 - at Destrehan Nov. 8 - at Terrebonne
Sept. 6 - at Vandebilt Catholic Sept. 13 - at H.L. Bourgeois Sept. 20 - vs. Assumption Sept. 27 - at St. Charles Catholic Oct. 4 - vs. South Terrebonne Oct. 11 - vs. Donaldsonville Oct. 18 - at Patterson Oct. 25 - vs. Lutcher Nov. 1 - at Berwick Nov. 8 - vs. St. James
THIBODAUX
SOUTH TERREBONNE
ELLENDER MEMORIAL
Sept. 6 - vs. Riverside Academy Sept. 13 - at South Lafourche Sept. 20 - vs. McDonogh 35 Sept. 27 - at Central Lafourche Oct. 4 - vs. Terrebonne Oct. 11 - vs. Hahnville Oct. 18 - at Breaux Bridge Oct. 25 - vs. Destrehan Nov. 1 - at H.L. Bourgeois Nov. 8 - at East St. John
Sept. 6 - vs. H.L. Bourgeois Sept. 13 - at Berwick Sept. 20 - vs. Terrebonne Sept. 27 - at Patterson Oct. 4 - at E.D. White Oct. 11 - vs. Assumption Oct. 18 - at South Lafourche Oct. 25 - vs. Vandebilt Catholic Oct. 31 - vs. Morgan City Nov. 8 - at Ellender
Sept. 5 - at Thomas Jefferson Sept. 13 - vs. Terrebonne Sept. 20 - at H.L. Bourgeois Sept. 27 - vs. McMain Oct. 4 - vs. Central Lafourche Oct. 10 - at Morgan City Oct. 18 - vs. Vandebilt Catholic Oct. 25 - at Assumption Nov. 1 - at South Lafourche Nov. 8 - vs. South Terrebonne
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VANDEBILT CATHOLIC
TERREBONNE
H.L. BOURGEOIS
Sept. 6 - vs. E.D. White Sept. 13 - vs. Westgate Sept. 20 - at Berwick Sept. 27 - at Dutchtown Oct. 4 - vs. Welsh Oct. 11 - vs. South Lafourche Oct. 18 - at Ellender Oct. 25 - at South Terrebonne Nov. 1 - at Assumption Nov. 8 - vs. Morgan City
Sept. 6 - vs. Jesuit Sept. 13 - at Ellender Sept. 20 - at South Terrebonne Sept. 27 - vs. Hahnville Oct. 4 - at Thibodaux Oct. 11 - vs. Destrehan Oct. 18 - at H.L. Bourgeois Oct. 25 - vs. Brother Martin Nov. 1 - at East St. John Nov. 8 - vs. Central Lafourche
Sept. 6 - at South Terrebonne Sept. 13 - vs. E.D. White Sept. 20 - vs. Ellender Sept. 27 - at East St. John Oct. 4 - vs. Destrehan Oct. 11 - at Central Lafourche Oct. 18 - vs. Terrebonne Oct. 25 - at Hahnville Nov. 1 - vs. Thibodaux Nov. 8 - at Archbishop Shaw
COVENANT CHRISTIAN
HOUMA CHRISTIAN
Sept. 6 - vs. Central Private Sept. 13 - vs. Sci Academy Sept. 20 - BYE WEEK Sept. 27 - vs. Loranger Oct. 4 - vs. St. John Oct. 11 - at Highland Baptist Oct. 18 - vs. Centerville Oct. 25 - at Central Catholic Nov. 1 - vs. Vermilion Catholic Nov. 8 - at Hanson Memorial
Sept. 6 - at Highland Baptist
Sept. 13 - vs. Westminster Christian
Sept. 20 - at Ascension Christian Sept. 26 - at West St. Mary Oct. 4 - at Loreauville Oct. 10 - vs. Jeanerette Oct. 18 - vs. Ascension Episcopal Oct. 25 - vs. Catholic - New Iberia
Nov. 1 - at Franklin Nov. 8 - vs. Delcambre
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
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UNBELIEVABLE PLAY SPARKS TARPONS PAST BRAVES BY CASEY GISCLAIR
casey@rushing-media.com
We knew going in that history would be made at Terrebonne High School on Friday night because it was the first game ever played on the new turf field at Tom B. Smith Stadium. But fans left the stadium that night having seen history of another kind — a play at the end of the jamboree between South Lafourche and H.L. Bourgeois that will be talked about for decades among the most avid local high school sports fans. It started at the 10-yardline. Well, let’s call it the 10-and-a-half-yard-line to be exact. An interception. South Lafourche senior Jake Pitre was the culprit. No big surprise — it was his third interception of the game (one was negated by penalty). The time. Before the play, there were 4 seconds left on the clock. By the time the ball
got into Pitre’s hands, the clock was on zero — the last play of the game. The score. It was tied at 14. Pitre had to either score or the jamboree would end in a tie. He scored. Pitre zig-zagged the field. The Braves’ receivers were in the end zone when he intercepted the ball, so he had 10 yards of a head start. He weaved through the offensive linemen and got trapped near the 50. “I thought the play was over at that point,” South Lafourche coach Blake Forsythe said. “It looked like they had him hemmed up a little bit there near mid-field.” Oh, but it was just getting started, coach. Pitre somehow got out of congestion near midfield, then reversed course. He again approached defenders near the 30 and again broke free. It was then a mad-dash to the end zone where he crossed the goalline and scored —
his body collapsing as he crossed the plane — the last steps needed in a 90yard walk-off pick six that secured a 20-14 South Lafourche win. After the game, fans on both sides were in awe. Braves’ players were dejected — many left in tears. On the Tarpons’ side, the ride home from Houma was smooth — the talk of the town being the madness that happened on the last play of the game. “It’s just unreal,” Pitre said. “I don’t know how to explain it or describe it. They were going to
kick a field goal and then they decided to try a Hail Mary. To me, I looked at it like they were giving me an opportunity — one more opportunity to make something happen. I just took advantage of that opportunity.” Pitre’s play will be the talk of the town, but the battle between the Tarpons and Braves was epic. The Braves led 7-0, then 14-7. They got a touchdown pass from Jordan Rainey to Tyrik Jenkins and then also a fumble recovery scoop and score from Rontrell FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Holmes. But South Lafourche had a match for every body blow. The Tarpons tied the game at 7-all after a long drive capped by a short touchdown run from quarterback Patrick Gisclair. Gisclair, who was in a timeshare with Austin Danos under center throughout the offseason took every snap for the Tarpons in the jamboree. His biggest play was a deep touchdown pass to receiver Eric Thibodaux, which tied the game at 14. Forsythe said he was
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proud of Gisclair and Danos both, adding that Danos was “lights out” at linebacker — his more natural position. “They’ve both handled it so well,” Forsythe said. “We need them both, and I think they both rose to the occasion for us — in their own way.” So that set the stage for the late-game theatrics. The Braves had the ball in Tarpons’ territory and were first going to try a 49-yard field goal, but a 5-yard penalty pushed them back. They then had another 5-yard penalty for delay of game, putting the
ball outside of his kicker’s range. Fournier said the plan was to throw up a jump ball and “see if we could make something happen.” The coach said he was scared the Tarpons would block a long field goal and run it back for a score. Rainey dropped back, but was pressured. His throwing motion was altered, which hung the ball up in the air well short of the receivers in the end zone. That’s when Pitre sunk
under it and, well, as they say, the rest is history. “I’ve never seen anything like that,” Forsythe said. “And I may never see anything like that again.” “It was everything you want out of a high school football game,” Fournier added. “We just were unfortunately on the losing side of it.” TERREBONNE TIES E.D. WHITE With the echoes of Pitre’s crazy-good play still FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
ringing in Tom B. Smith Stadium, the second half of Friday night’s jamboree was really good, too — a battle between Terrebonne and E.D. White. So good, it ended in a tie 7-all tie. Terrebonne struck first on the opening drive — a scoring drive capped with a score from standout Jakhi Douglas to go up 7-0 — a score which carried to halftime. But E.D. White was stingy. With an
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opportunistic defense and ball-control offense, the Cardinals tied it up midway in the second half on a short run from Hunter Becnel. Terrebonne had chances late, but E.D. White buckled at every turn. The last meaningful play of the game was de ja vu from the first game. Terrebonne was driving and attempted a pass, which E.D. White intercepted. But the Cardinals were tackled, which ended the game in a tie. •
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BY CASEY GISCLAIR
casey@rushing-media.com
South Terrebonne head football coach Richard Curlin has been a football coach for 36 years. By now, he knows a good team from a bad one. By now, he enters each football season with a pretty good idea of what the Gators will have when the season begins. About 3-4 years ago, Curlin admitted it would be a struggle. In a candid interview, he said the
Gators were as young as they’d ever been in his coaching tenure, playing sophomores and even freshmen in some spots. “We’re as young as we’ve ever been,” Curlin said in 2016. “We’re playing more sophomores now than we’ve maybe ever played combined in my time here.” In 2016, the team finished 2-8. In 2017, they finished 3-7 — rare tough times for a program that’s been a staple for consistent over the past FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
several decades. But the best part about youth is that, given time, it someday becomes experience. And that time is right now in Bourg. The Gators are older now, and they have winning experience after making the playoffs last fall. Now, it’s time to mesh and make it happen under the lights. Expectations are high at South Terrebonne after last season’s trip to the
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Class 4A State Playoffs. Curlin, now entering his 30th season as a head coach, said he thinks the Gators have a chance to be good if they stay healthy and if the team stays on an even keel. “We have a chance,” Curlin said at Tri-Parish Media Day. “We have some guys coming back with experience and we have some younger guys who we’re pretty excited about, too. It’s a good mix. We still need to execute. But we think we have the
talent to be in the mix.” The Gators have playmakers on the offensive side of the ball — perfect fits into their Wing-T system. Quarterback Michael Gautreaux III is back after serving as a game manager last year for the Gators — a guy who made plays with both his arm and legs at times last fall. Curlin said Gautreaux has had a good offseason and is ready to help the team. “He’s one of the best athletes we have on the team,” Curlin said. “He can help us in a lot of ways.” Also back is playmaker Jamala Ricks and Colby Chelette — a powerful inside runner who played fullback a lot last year for the Gators. He will also have chances to play wing back this fall, and can even be a pass catcher at times as the team looks to grow its short passing game. “The kid just never stops,” Curlin said. “He’s strong and physical and he has a motor. He’s a guy that we’re going to be looking to quite a bit on Friday nights, but I think everyone knows that.” The Gators are also excited about the potential of Peyton Parr on offense — a guy who has been a defensive back in years past, but who is testing out wide receiver. Curlin said Parr is a physical player who loves contact and is aggressive. Those traits could make him an inside weapon on the middle. He also has sneaky quick speed to potentially take the top off of defenses.
“He’s a football player,” Curlin said. “He plays with an edge.” Defensively, Curlin said the Gators will be stout. Chelette will play on the defensive line and the Gators also return experienced hands like Tyler Melancon, David Lirette, Dylan Authement and others. Parr, too, will play on that side of the ball at his usual defensive back position. “We like our defense,” Curlin said. “We have a lot of guys there who have played on Friday nights. We think that group is coming together and doing a lot of really good things.” So the key for the Gators now will be to progress and build off last year. South Terrebonne started slow in 2018, then got hot late, making a final push into the postseason. This year, the Gators play H.L. Bourgeois, Berwick, Terrebonne, Patterson and E.D. White before opening up district play. Curlin said making the playoffs last fall was good for his team, adding that throughout the offseason, coaches have preached continuing that momentum forward and into the new season. “I think getting to the playoffs was good for us,” Curlin said. “I think this year, we’re challenging ourselves to maybe have the chance in the final weeks of the season to avoid that big, long bus ride to North Louisiana and maybe have someone coming to play us in the first round.” • FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
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SOUTH LAFOURCHE LOW ON ROSTER NUMBERS IN 2019, BUT UNITY SPARKING TEAM BY CASEY GISCLAIR
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Patterson High School’s quarterback dropped back to pass a couple Friday’s ago for a fall scrimmage. Immediately, the offensive line collapsed around him and he was swallowed up by several South Lafourche High School defenders. One of them was sophomore Hunter Condley, who immediately shot up off the ground, jump up in the air and pumped his fists. “That’s what I’m talking about, baby!” Condley shouted, looking at the sidelines where his team stood. Looking back at Condley was a wave of support. Tarpon players jumped up and down on the sidelines to celebrate Condley’s sack. “Let’s go,” shouted one player. “Let’s eat, baby, eat,”
said another. Off in the distance in the middle of it all was Tarpons football coach Blake Forsythe, calmly coaching his defense, instructing them to not allow a big play. The noise? The cheering? The chemistry? That’s not new in Tarpon Land. That’s just what the 2019 does. Roster numbers are not high this fall at South Lafourche. The Tarpons have a little more than 50 players, and that covers all grades — 9-12. The Tarpons also have fewer coaches than they’d had in years past with a six-member staff. But because of that, coaches and players say a small, united, tight-knit family has formed and members of the team believe that their unity will be a strength heading into the season. “I think it’s a small, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
united family,” Forsythe said. “The players are all together. We have great leadership. And I think with our coaching situation, everyone is doing a little more, which means we’re spending more time with all of the kids. They see us more. They hear us more. I think there are some benefits to that. We’re a smaller group, the kids have bought in and we’re in it together — a united front.” The push for greater unity down the bayou in Galliano comes after a rough year. South Lafourche struggled mightily in 2018, finishing just 2-8 — an unheard of poor season for a program that’s historically excelled. A switch to a triple option offense took a lot of the blame for the struggles amongst fans, but Forsythe said he also didn’t always like the vibe of last year’s team. So he changed it. From the time 2018 ended and in the lead up to 2019, Forsythe said he’s preached energy and unity amongst his players.
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The Tarpons practice fast and with tempo and speed. There’s music blaring in the background and coaches are urging players to give it 100 percent on every play — no matter how hot it is or any other external factors. If you’re not physically in the game, you’re a fan of your classmates — rooting them on. When they do well, you cheer. When they don’t, you’re encouraging them to keep fighting. All of those things have been on display throughout the Tarpons’ spring game, fall scrimmage and also this past Friday at the jamboree against H.L. Bourgeois. In the scrimmage, coaches even had to sometimes urge bench players to tone down their enthusiasm to avoid drawing warnings from officials for standing too close to the field. “We believe you’re going to play the way you practice,” Forsythe said. “So for us, knowing that, we want to make sure that in practice, we’re doing all of the the things we want
to see in our games. We have the energy going. We have our adrenaline flowing. So far this year, it’s been great. The kids have really bought in and everyone is really getting after it.” Energy and adrenaline are needed to combat what’s ahead. The Tarpons have a brutal non-district schedule. They’ll play St. Charles Catholic, Thibodaux, Central Lafourche, Lutcher and Belle Chasse before giving way to the district schedule. All five of those teams are expected to strongly contend for the postseason. Forsythe said he knows the schedule will be a challenge, but added that he thinks his team
is improved and better equipped to handle those challenges this year, as opposed to last. Offensively, the Tarpons return several starters off last year’s squad, including Southeastern commitment Jhy Orgeron, receiver Eric Thibodaux and playmaker Braxton Pitre. At quarterback, the Tarpons will likely play Patrick Gisclair and Austin Danos. Defensively, the Tarpons have Danos, Condley, Kendall Walker and Elijah Barnett back with a secondary full of guys who had experience last fall. “We’re still young,” Forsythe said. “But we have a lot of guys now who have experience. We think that experience will pay off for us when the games start.” •
good luck to all teams!
HAVE a safe football season!
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THE ATHLETE’S PRAYER: “As I compete, help me to seek Your glory, with a brotherly affection towards my opponent, always striving to see You in them. As I sweat and fight through pain, help me unite my struggle to the suffering of Your son on the cross. If I win, allow it to be for Your honor, in Your name, with a humble heart. If I fail, let it be with dignity and a courageous spirit, always willing to stand strong and compete again. Make my desire for greatness firm, yet with peace of mind know that my worth is always found in You, in victory or defeat. Amen.”
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