First look

The flowers are blooming and the temperatures are creeping higher and higher each day; sure indications that spring has got a grip on Evangeline Parish.
Now that the season has made its presence known one certainty abounds in this the final month of the school year, it is time for some spring football.
Spring football is the period that coaches go through to evaluate the talent returning and the talent yet to be found.
All around the parish, head coaches and their assistants are trying to get their schemes in to the heads of their younger players and refreshing the retuning players on good habits forgotten.
The Ville Platte High Bulldogs’ 2019 campaign was an up and down one, going 3-7 in the regular season. Nevertheless, the Bulldogs were able to get into the Class 2A playoffs for the second time in as many years.
Ville Platte will have to move up in class this coming season, which means the Bulldogs will need some players to step up, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
“We are going to be very young on defense this coming year,” said Ville Platte head coach Jorie Randle. “That is why this spring is so important to us in terms of getting the younger players ready to step up. Our focus all spring long has been on the younger guys. Right now we are taking baby steps in terms of getting them acclimated to the basic fundamentals. What we want to do is rep things everyday, so when the fall come we are not having to focus so much on those things.”
The Bulldogs will travel to Oberlin on Tuesday for their spring contest. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
For the Sacred Heart Trojans the spring has brought a chance to find enough younger talent to fill the gaps left by a pretty successful senior class lost to graduation.
Last year the Trojans finished 7-4 in the regular season and earned a spot in the first round of the Division IV playoffs. The upcoming season for Sacred Heart will be filled with big returnees up front and talented skill players that got a taste of playing time last year.
“The spring has been better than expected,” stated Sacred Heart head coach Josh Harper. “Our biggest concern for the spring is trying to build some depth, especially on the offensive line. We have some players back with game experience despite the loss of the big senior class this past year. Offensively, I think we will be just as good as last season, but we have a number of players to replace on the defensive side.”
The Basile Bearcats come off of a tremendous 2018 campaign, going 8-2 in the regular season and making an appearance in the Class 1A quarterfinals. However, the Bearcats will have to replace a host of players that will not be back after completing their senior season.
“Right now the spring is going good for us,” stated Basile head coach Kevin Bertrand. “We are still in the learning process, but we are getting better everyday. The younger players are getting a lot of reps and with two starters out with shoulder injuries it is allowing us to get the underclassman some huge time on the field.”
Basile will take on St. Ed’s for their spring game on Monday at home. Start time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
The Mamou Demons spent last season trying to figure things out with the number of freshmen and sophomores that dotted the lineup. The Demons completed the season with an overall record of 0-10, but showed promise throughout the year.
Head coach Dwight Collins is hoping that this spring will spotlight those players that can help the program get in the win column come the 2019 season.
“Just looking at the spring so far, I think we are heading in the right direction,” commented Collins. “Obviously the older players are going to look more comfortable because they have the playing time behind them. We just need to get the younger guys some more seasoning. It may be that when the season starts in the fall, we will have to go both ways in some positions until the younger players come around. But, so far things are looking like they are coming along.”
The Demons will host Grant High School today at 5:30 p.m. for their spring contest.
The Pine Prairie Panthers have improved every season but just cannot get over the hump in terms of total number of wins. The Panthers seem to be stuck on the number three, as that is the number of games they have won each year since 2014.
Pine Prairie will have to face the 2019 campaign without the talented senior crop that just graduated. That group included all-purpose athlete JJ Sims and his incredible rushing style.
Still, Panther head coach Yves Prince is optimistic that his team can become a good team by the time the season ends in November.
“It is going to be hard to replace all of those guys we had on the team the past few years,” said Prince. “But, I think we have a good crop of young talent coming up that will give us the same intensity and effort. We are just going to have to become even better teachers as coaches to get those guys to understand the game of football. I think we will be fine up front. We will just have to find the skills guys to fill in the gaps.”
Pine Prairie will not scrimmage for the spring. Instead the Panthers are planning an inter-squad game this coming Wednesday.