2011 schedule - MediaSpan
2011 schedule - MediaSpan
2011 schedule - MediaSpan
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, <strong>2011</strong><br />
FOOTBALL <strong>2011</strong><br />
AMERICAN PRESS<br />
47<br />
DISTRICT 4-2A • 5-2A • COACHES’ POLLS<br />
KINDER: Stingy defense<br />
from PAGE 41<br />
Kinder will hang its hat on.<br />
The Jackets allowed more<br />
than 14 points just three<br />
times last year while pitching<br />
a trio of shutouts. And with<br />
experience back on the defensive<br />
side as well, the expectation<br />
for another solid performance<br />
is there.<br />
Leading the way on<br />
defense is senior linebacker<br />
Seth Langley (5-8, 177) who led<br />
is size. Leading the way is<br />
senior left tackle Matt<br />
Nichols, who checks in at 6-<br />
foot-4, 310 pounds. He is<br />
joined on the offensive line by<br />
Nathan Habetz (5-9, 270), and<br />
Robert Hackney (5-10, 270).<br />
All three are returning<br />
starters, with Habetz being<br />
just a junior.<br />
“We should have a good<br />
line,” Davis. said “I think that<br />
the team with 90 tackles and<br />
32 assists and earned all-district<br />
honors. Trahan had six<br />
interceptions.<br />
“I think we have a chance<br />
to be much better,”<br />
Wainwright said. “We have to<br />
see how things come together,<br />
but we have enough to have a<br />
good season.”<br />
He hopes the Jackets have<br />
enough to make a real run<br />
deep in the playoffs as well as<br />
a district title.<br />
VINTON: New coach<br />
from PAGE 42<br />
He is equally excited about<br />
having eight spots on defense<br />
going to returning players, as<br />
junior middle linebacker<br />
Tray Goodwin (5-9, 190)<br />
returns after a solid year to<br />
join Caraway.<br />
“Our defense is faster and<br />
stronger than last year,”<br />
Gates said. “We have the<br />
speed to make plays. We also<br />
have some size that has<br />
will be a strength of ours.<br />
They are not only big and<br />
experienced, but have some<br />
talent.”<br />
What Davis likes most is<br />
that the number of kids out<br />
for the program is up. This<br />
year 43 players are on the roster.<br />
“We are heading in the<br />
right direction,” Davis said.<br />
He’s hoping that direction<br />
remains up.<br />
WELSH: Top back returns<br />
from PAGE 44<br />
allowed us to make changes<br />
to the way we’ll play.”<br />
Whether that will be<br />
enough to put the<br />
Greyhounds back in the playoffs<br />
is the big question.<br />
“The kids know what it<br />
takes and they know what it<br />
feels like not to make the playoffs,”<br />
Gates said. “They don’t<br />
want to go through that<br />
again.<br />
“We are ready for redemption.”<br />
IOTA: Youth movement<br />
from PAGE 46<br />
said. “That takes time.”<br />
One other starter back is<br />
defensive lineman Taylor<br />
Duhon (5-11, 255). As a junior<br />
a year ago he was voted to the<br />
all-district team.<br />
“Taylor looks really good<br />
right now,” Lege’ said. “We<br />
are counting on him to<br />
anchor both of our lines.”<br />
Linebacker Connor Meyer<br />
(6-0, 145, Sr.) will also be<br />
counted on to lead the<br />
defense.<br />
The rest is up to the youngsters.<br />
Bunkie drops down,<br />
joins District 5-2A<br />
STAFF REPORTS<br />
The Bunkie Panthers are<br />
in a new location after dropping<br />
down from Class 3A and<br />
being moved out of an<br />
Alexandria-area district, but<br />
will hope recent results<br />
remain constant.<br />
The Panthers have had<br />
four straight winning seasons<br />
but must replace last year’s<br />
starting quarterback Hudson<br />
Bain. Leading the offense will<br />
be receiver Tonnie Wells. The<br />
defense will be led by defensive<br />
back Keslow Williams.<br />
Ville Platte returns doeverything<br />
quarterback Cody<br />
Jones, who passed for 1,466<br />
yards and 14 touchdowns and<br />
ran for 792 yards and seven<br />
touchdowns while leading the<br />
Bulldogs to an 8-3 record and<br />
playoff berth.<br />
Also back is running back<br />
Darius Poullard, who ran for<br />
212 yards and caught 19 passes<br />
for 392 yards. The outlook<br />
is not as bright on the defensive<br />
side of the ball, as the<br />
LA: Hoping to build on recent success<br />
from PAGE 43<br />
Lake Arthur returns eight<br />
starters on offense and seven<br />
on defense.<br />
“They have proven to be<br />
good followers; now we want<br />
them to be good leaders,”<br />
Lavergne said. “That is their<br />
challenge. I am confident in<br />
this group.”<br />
Leading the way will be<br />
senior tailback Trent<br />
Hargrave. Running behind a<br />
solid offensive line, Hargrave<br />
rushed for 1,451 yards, tops in<br />
District 5-2A. He scored 18<br />
touchdowns and 10 two-point<br />
conversions.<br />
In the last two years,<br />
Hargrave (5-8, 175) has gained<br />
1,969 yards to lead the Tigers.<br />
“He is one of the best<br />
around,” Lavergne said.<br />
“Trent is a real good football<br />
player. He will be a big part of<br />
Bulldogs must replace the<br />
entire front seven.<br />
Mamou sneaked into the<br />
Class 2A playoffs last season<br />
despite a 3-7 record, but faces<br />
a rebuilding season with just<br />
four starters returning.<br />
Tailback Corey Harris and<br />
quarterback Ben Israel, who<br />
split playing time last season,<br />
return to lead the offense, but<br />
the entire offensive line must<br />
be replaced.<br />
Defensively, junior linebacker<br />
Kye Fontenot and senior<br />
cornerback Aquino<br />
Gauthier are the only returning<br />
starters.<br />
The projected starting lineup<br />
includes two freshmen and<br />
four sophomores.<br />
Pine Prairie suffered<br />
through another winless season<br />
but returns senior starting<br />
quarterback Chris<br />
Bradley, who threw for 1,039<br />
yards and seven touchdowns<br />
last season and ran for a teamhigh<br />
382 yards and five touchdowns.<br />
what we do on offense,<br />
defense and special teams.”<br />
Hargrave is not alone.<br />
Back is junior Colbie Benoit,<br />
who added 511 yards to the<br />
Lake Arthur ground game.<br />
“Colbie looks good this<br />
year,” said Lavergne. “He has<br />
put on about 30 pounds (5-9,<br />
190) which should make him<br />
even a tougher runner and<br />
not lose any speed.”<br />
The offensive line is the<br />
key, with four starters returning.<br />
That includes two-year<br />
starters Jasper Martin (6-1,<br />
240) and Bryce Zaunbrecher.<br />
Add center Aaron Hebert to<br />
the club and you have a pretty<br />
good bunch of plow horses to<br />
run behind, according to<br />
Lavergne.<br />
“Our offensive line is very<br />
good,” he said. “We are going<br />
to be counting on them again<br />
COACHES’<br />
POLLS<br />
District 3-5A<br />
Acadiana(3).......................... 33<br />
Carencro (2) .........................31<br />
Barbe(2) ................................28<br />
Sulphur ................................ 21<br />
Lafayette.............................. 17<br />
Comeaux ............................... 9<br />
Sam Houston ......................... 8<br />
District 4-4A<br />
St. Louis(2)........................... 17<br />
Washington-Marion (2) ........ 17<br />
LaGrange ............................. 15<br />
DeRidder (1) ........................ 13<br />
Beau Chene............................ 7<br />
Opelousas.............................. 6<br />
District 4-3A<br />
Notre Dame(5) ..................... 25<br />
Crowley(1) ...........................19<br />
Jennings............................... 19<br />
Westlake .............................. 13<br />
Iowa....................................... 7<br />
South Beauregard .................. 7<br />
District 4-2A<br />
Lake Arthur(4) ......................38<br />
Kinder(2) ..............................38<br />
Welsh(1) ...............................37<br />
DeQuincy............................. 27<br />
Rosepine.............................. 23<br />
Pickering.............................. 13<br />
Vinton.................................. 11<br />
East Beauregard..................... 9<br />
District 5-1A<br />
Elton (4) ................................23<br />
Oberlin (1) ............................21<br />
Basile (1) ...............................18<br />
Hamilton...............................14<br />
Merryville................................9<br />
South Cameron.......................5<br />
this year to get us going.”<br />
The Tigers ran for almost<br />
300 yards a game last fall and<br />
believe they can do even better<br />
this season. They will<br />
have to replace quarterback<br />
Aaron Bertrand, who threw<br />
for five scores a year ago and<br />
was able to control the<br />
offense.<br />
On defense, some big<br />
names will have to be<br />
replaced, including all-state<br />
linebacker Josh Savage. The<br />
small school Southwest<br />
Louisiana Defensive Player of<br />
the Year left behind some big<br />
shoes to fill.<br />
“We have to move some<br />
pieces around, but we have<br />
some people who we think<br />
can step up and make plays,”<br />
Lavergne said.<br />
The only thing left to find<br />
out is if a new tradition at<br />
Lake Arthur has begun.