2011 schedule - MediaSpan

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