Bulldogs shows progress in Westminster scrimmage

OPELOUSAS – Some 33 or so miles northeast of Iota High School, Westminster Christian Academy has spent its summer rebuilding and working hard to erase the 2014-15 season as a distant memory.
After two losing seasons of its own (3-7 in 2013 and 1-9 in 2014), the WCA Crusaders are expecting improvement in 2015. They are in their second year under coach Vinnie Bullara, but it is that common bond of hopeful development that led Bullara and Iota Coach Josh Andrus to partner off for scrimmaging duties Thursday.
Through 30 plays offensive and defense and a couple of practice kicks, Thursday evening at Westminster Christian, both teams started to see what this summer has meant to the program. At least that’s the way Andrus sees things.
“All the work [the team has] put in over the spring and the summer and everything and in practice,” he said. “I think they finally saw how much it has paid off.”
The scrimmage flowed under the following format:
• Iota first team offense vs. WCA first team defense (15 plays)
• Iota second team offense vs. WCA second team defense (15 plays)
• WCA first team offense vs. Iota first team defense (15 plays)
• WCA second team offense vs. Iota second team defense (15 plays)
• Iota punt team vs. WCA punt coverage (two plays)
• WCA punt team vs. Iota punt coverage (two plays)
• Iota kicking team vs. WCA kick block coverage (two plays)
• WCA kicking team vs. Iota kick block coverage (two plays)
• WCA first team offense vs. Iota first team defense (15 plays)
• WCA second team offense vs. Iota second team defense (15 plays)
• Iota first team offense vs. WCA first team defense (15 plays)
• Iota second team offense vs. WCA second team defense (15 plays)
The first teams saw action for a total of 64 plays, second team saw 60. And, even with the special teams not being at full speed, it gave Andrus’ team a chance to see different looks then it had all offseason.
“Reps against another team are always good, because you can see how guys act,” he said.
In regards to offense-defense, the biggest change many noticed likely was the physicality Iota played with Thursday.
“We had a lot of effort and were physical at the point of attack,” said Andrus. “I’ve been telling these guys that everything is wonderful for us. We don’t make mental mistakes. We’re going to be a lot better.”
The Bulldogs won multiple battles at the line of scrimmage, seen best offensively in sophomore Alex Frey’s 61 yards on six rushes. Frey shouldered most of the rushing duties with fellow sophomore running back Kaleb Guillory still nursing an oblique injury, though Guillory did see playing time during the scrimmage.
“Alex always gives great effort,” said Andrus. “He came in and did a great job running the ball for us.”
“They’re not very big, but our running backs are tough.”
The Bulldogs had a fairly even night on the gridiron splitting its 103 offensive yards between the air (51 yards) and the ground (52 yards). The Bulldogs attempted 13 passes and Andrus was pleased with freshman Trae Rambin’s progress. Rambin stepped in for injured sophomore Triston Miller who tore his ACL in the offseason and has been sidelined indefinitely.
“[Rambin] threw some balls that we should have caught, he made a couple of mistakes, but that’s understandable,” said Andrus. “He’s throwing against guys that are two to three times his size that he’s never seen before – you can’t simulate this stuff in practice.
“Next week will be big for him, too.”
Defensively, the Bulldogs’ ability to not only stop plays near or at the line of scrimmage but to break through and cause disruption, particularly early on in the scrimmage proved invaluable as the Bulldogs kept the Crusaders off the proverbial scoreboard offensively.
And though Iota did allow a few pass plays to momentarily lapse them, juniors Cade Covalt (who is splitting duties as a wide receiver and cornerback) and Trevor Leger (strong safety) provided highlights breaking up passes and walking away with near interceptions. In his role as defensive back, Jacob Zaunbrecher, who is also a junior, actually came down with an interception that was called back due to a penalty.
Highlights also continued on the second team side of things as freshman running back Nicholas Gravot pulled off many big runs all evening and capped off Iota’s offensive attempts with a touchdown in the second set of series.
“He’s shifty and he’s tough,” said Andrus on Gravot. “Hopefully now it’ll be constantly there.”
In its final tune-up before the regular season gets underway, Iota takes on Church Point in the opening game of the 2015 Acadia Football Jamboree Thursday, Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m.