2011 schedule - MediaSpan

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011
FOOTBALL 2011
AMERICAN PRESS
21
ST. LOUIS
New faces key for Saints’ chances
St. Louis must
replace a host
of starters
RACHEL WHITTAKER
AMERICAN PRESS
St. Louis coach Mike
Johns has proven he has the
will to work in his 45 years of
coaching high school football.
But last year the football
community was rocked when
he suffered a heart attack the
District
4-4A
Wednesday before
the Saints’ week
nine game against
Sam Houston.
“Football just
stopped after Coach Johns
had his heart attack,” said
Washington-Marion coach
Freddie Harrison, offensive
coordinator at St. Louis from
2006-07. “He built that program
up to what it is right
now, and he did it the right
way. I love him and respect
everything he does for the
game of football.”
Johns missed only the Sam
Houston game, returning to
lead St. Louis to a second
straight district championship.
This year’s St. Louis team
will look different though,
with the loss of many starters
on both offense and defense.
The Saints will have their
third different quarterback in
three seasons with Bryce
Lanningham graduating.
Lanningham, currently playing
at UL-Monroe, was No. 2
in area 4A schools in passing
with 1,374 yards.
Johns said three players
are in the running to replace
him — juniors J.P. Crawford
and Blue David and senior
Derrick Rau. All of them
played junior varsity football
last season.
“The battle is very tight,”
Johns said. “I don’t want to
put too much pressure on
them.”
Another big loss for the St.
Louis offense was running
back Dillon Berlin, who set
school records with 2,046
St. Louis finished first in District 4-4A last season, and the Saints are hoping for a strong performance to propel
them deeper into the playoffs this year. Coach Mike Johns is in his 46th season coaching football and 11th at St.
Louis. Pictured with Johns, from left, are Jordan Saltzman, Harrison Flynt, Chaz Oubre and Blake Lamendola.
yards and 28 touchdowns, an
average of 186 yards per
game.
Stepping in at tailback this
season will be senior
Cameron Victorian, who got
some playing time behind
Berlin as a junior, playing in
four games and totaling 155
rushing yards. Fellow senior
Garrett Dufrene will also line
up at slot back.
“We’ve got a big hole to fill
with Dillon Berlin gone,”
Johns said. “Depth will be
key for us.”
The Saints are losing seven
starters on defense. That
group includes the team’s
2010 leading tackler Collin
Todd (54 solo, 77 assists, four
sacks) and leading interceptor
Darien Bartie (three interceptions).
But Johns is optimistic
about the group of five seniors
returning in St. Louis’ 4-
2-5 scheme. The unit last year
led its district in team
defense, allowing 15 points
per game and 263 yards per
game.
“Our defensive front was
hit the hardest with graduation
since we lost all four of
our front,” Johns said.
See SAINTS, Page 23
AT A GLANCE
BRAD PUCKETT / AMERICAN PRESS
■ HEAD COACH: Mike Johns (11th year at school, 148-97 overall,
58-47 at school)
■ DISTRICT: 4-4A
■ LAST YEAR: 10-2, 4-0 (first in district)
■ OFFENSE: (3 returning starters) LG JORDAN SALTZMAN; RG
BLAKE LAMENDOLA; LT Anthony Barcier (5-11, 240, Sr.); RT Jacob
Hughes (6-0, 215, Sr.); C Sal Ange (6-0, 205, Sr.); TE David Pigno (6-3,
245, Sr.); QB J.P. Crawford (Jr.) OR Blue David (Jr.); TB Cameron
Victorian (5-8, 180, Sr.); SB Garrett Dufrene (6-2, 190, Sr.); WR Sam
Boyer (6-1, 180, Sr.); WR HUNTER HODGKINS
■ DEFENSE: (5 returning starters) DE SEAN BYRD (6-0, 210, Sr.);
DE David Rau (6-0, 200, Jr.); DT Anthony Frank (5-9, 215, Sr.); DT
Elijah Woods (6-0, 225. Jr.); LB CHAZ OUBRE (5-11, 180, Sr.); LB Tim
Montet (5-9, 175, Sr.); SS DANIEL HENRY (5-11, 175, Sr.); SS MARLON
COLLINS (5-8, 170, Sr.); CB PATRICK BICE (6-2, 185, Sr.); CB ALEX
OWEN (6-2, 180, Sr.); FS Ben Drouilhet (5-7, 170, Sr.)
■ SPECIALISTS: P/PK HARRISON FLYNT (6-4, 180, Sr.)
Returning starters in ALL CAPS