Pioneers travel to District 4-4A favorite LaGrange

 The penalty and error plagued jamboree performance last week against St. Thomas More was not without positive moments for the Notre Dame Pios.  It was, though, a flip from the scrimmage performance against the same Cougars seven days earlier and it will be that type effort Head Coach Lewis Cook will be looking for when the Pios open the regular season at LaGrange Friday night in Lake Charles.
“It is hard to complete drives and put points on the board with that many setbacks.  Don’t get me wrong, we self inflicted ourselves with the penalties and some mistakes, but I was still a little aggravated after watching the film because we had some big plays called back that should have stood.  The ineligible receiver downfield that took away a long pass, we didn’t see that in the tape.  The block in the back on the scramble pass was another that was hard to see because of the scrambling from Brad.  We did see a lot of good things we can build on.  We didn’t give up a first down in the second half and we never had a three and out on offense, so, there were some positives.”   
The defensive front, expected to be the strength of the Pios defenders this season, never really got a chance to take control of the game against the STM no huddle, quick pass offense.  Cook doesn’t expect STM will be the last team to see that.
“They knew they had to do something to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quickly and that is what the hurry up does.  Their longest pass probably didn’t travel farther than 10 yards downfield.  We don’t think teams will be able to stand there and hold it against our defensive front.  They won’t get a lot of time to get the pass off.  We have to game plan with things like more press coverage.  For the jamboree, we stayed basic, working on fundamentals.”
EXTRA  POINTS
Junior running back Lance Bertrand stepped into the lead back role this season.  His first carry in the jamboree was a 24 yard, change of direction, tackle breaking run.
Senior kicker Dustin Reiners had punts of 47 and 54 yards.
QB Brad Stoma and WR Boedy Borill connected on two completions over 30 yards that didn’t show up in the stats after being called back for penalties.
Look for junior Joe Faulk in your program as QB/RB/WR.  Faulk took a direct snap in the “wildcat” formation, caught five passes and was called on to run the ball for a fourth down short yardage conversion.  He will probably be involved in kick returns also.  Just another day!  
SCOUTING REPORT
Two seasons ago, LaGrange won its last four regular season games to earn District Co-Champion honors and went on to reach the quarterfinals of the 4A playoffs to finish 9-4.  Last season, after starting 1-4, The Gators won their last five games including a season ending 26-14 victory at Washington-Marion to capture the District 4-4A title and advance to the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons.  LaGrange defeated Lutcher in the opening round of the playoffs before dropping a regional matchup with Landry-Walker.
Head coach Jules Sullen enters his seventh year at LaGrange and like most of his opponents the Gators have some key spots to fill and some top contributors returning.  Enough to be tabbed the favorite to again win the league that includes Crowley, Eunice, Rayne, Beau Chene, Opelousas and Washington Marion.
“We made some mistakes early last year against a tough schedule,” noted Coach Sullen.  “Our kids have had a year to think about it and with the way we finished, they have a whole new outlook and confidence.”
In that season opener last season, the Pios took the opening kickoff and marched 74 yards on the way to a 21-0 halftime lead.  LaGrange rallied in the third quarter and the Pios answered to win 28-14.
Pios running back Lance Bertrand made his sophomore presence, sparking a 15-play, seven minute drive to end the half.  That score would prove ever important in the win as the Gators scored on the first possession of the third quarter and rallied to pull within one score.
“They came out in the second half with some trips and leveraged us with formations,” explained Pios coach Cook.  “That helped them get some things going against us and that is a concern for this week.  We have to identify those formations and not leave something open.”
Brad Stoma passed for 46 yards and ran for 33 yards including a game clinching TD with six minutes to play on an 11 yard option keeper.  Notre Dame ran for 238 yards against the Gator defense.
“They have a mature defensive unit and they are playing a couple of guys both ways due to depth issues,” explains Cook.  “We have to mix it up and pick our spots, maybe speed up the tempo, get those inside guys to chase us and wear them down a bit over the game.”
Junior running back Markell Hawthorne (5-10, 180) shared the backfield with now departed Tyler Guillory last year.  Guillory rushed for 62 yards on 10 carries and had a 36 yard run on the scoring drive to start the third quarter comeback against the Pios last year.
“Their speed in the backfield gives them the chance to go long distance,” said Cook.  “They can turn the corner on you and if that happens they can go a long way.  In their scrimmage against Sam Houston we saw a lot of big running plays just like that.”
Hawthorne steps into the lead back role for the Gators this season.  In that first ever meeting, Hawthorne gained 58 yards on nine carries in the game and scampered 29 yards to the Pios 14 to set up a score.  Hawthorne will be the star of the show this year and his per game touches are expected to increase.
“He is such a good receiver out of the backfield that we want to continue to also take advantage of that ability,” added Gators coach Sullen.  “Sharing time last season made him stronger through the game and we have enough depth in the backfield to do that again.”
Gone is imposing quarterback Quindon Berry (6-3, 225) who threw a pair of TD passes against the Pios last year.  The Gators will turn to baseball standout Jeremiah West to take the snaps this season.
“He has played a lot of baseball games, so he knows how to handle the pressure and doesn’t get rattled,” noted the LaGrange coach.  “He has tremendous arm speed and did well in our 7-on-7 passing drills.  If we can control what he is asked to do, he’ll be competitive.” 
Junior Jaylun Myles (6-0, 170) leads a trio of experienced receivers that includes Dondal Lewis and Jalen Thomas.  Three offensive linemen return with seniors Casey Vincent (5-9, 225) and Wilson Lemelle (5-8, 285) joining Keydrick Guillory to anchor the front.
Defensively, the Gators have made some moves that coach Sullen feels will take advantage of their speed and result in more consistency.  Senior Marquise Talbert (6-5, 290) was a starter on offense last season and will now anchor the defensive front with returning senior Kenneth Joubert (6-2, 180).
Junior Zavier Hall (5-10, 190) returns at linebacker and strong safety Traelon Anderson (6-0, 185) will spend his senior season filling the vacancy at weakside linebacker.
Three starters return in the secondary, led by versatile Alvinosky Lafleur (5-11, 175) who has also seen time as a receiver on offense.  Lafleur caught one of those scoring passes in last year’s game.  Tarik Wellmaker and Michael Leday (5-9, 170) also return to defend the pass.