Ready for the lights?

Losing a ton of senior experience usually does not bode well for any gridiron team.
However, despite the loss of 17 players to graduation last season, the Sacred Heart Trojans do return a number of guys with game time experience because injuries last season forced younger players to step up and carry the load at times.
Sacred Heart parlayed the great fill in play from the lower classmen into a 7-4 overall record in 2018 and a trip to the first round of the Division IV playoffs.
Head coach Josh Harper and his staff hopes that those players are ready to be the man when the lights come on starting with game one against Ville Platte High.
“With the injuries that we dealt with last year, the kids that are coming back this season did get a chance to get a lot of playing time,” stated Harper. “Still, it is going to be tough to replace the leadership, the discipline, and the continuity that the seniors from last year had. What we are hoping that even though the returners this year had some game time experience, that they gain that ‘now its my time to step up’ mentality as quickly as possible.”
“Last year they were the supporting cast for the seniors,” Harper continued. “Now they are the dudes. We want to see if they can take that role and all that comes with it and apply it to the field come game one. It is a big job, but from what I have seen so far, from the summer workouts until now, I think we are on the right track and they are ready for the next chapter in their high school football careers.”
Offensively, Sacred Heart brings back four returning starters and a couple of players that wound up getting a ton of playing time on a rotating basis. Up front, the Trojans get back seniors Connor Bordelon and Jacob Soileau and junior CJ Boudreaux to help open holes for the backs in the run heavy single wing offense that Sacred Heart employs.
Also helping up front in the run game will be junior tight end Tanner Bergeron.
The backfield will utilize the talents of junior running backs Alex McElwee and Noah Soileau and sophomore Kyle Miller, both, with McElwee and Soileau getting a ton of time carrying the football in 2018 when then returning starter JT Harper went down with a season ending knee injury.
“Last year was basically running back by committee and that is how it will be this season too,” said Harper. “Both Alex and Noah will have to play defense for us this year. So, we can’t just hand the ball off to one of those guys 35 times a game because we would lose them on the defensive side of the ball. Now, if we see that one of the three is getting it done, then we will obviously ride him until we can’t anymore and somebody else will have to step up on the defensive side of the ball.”
The toughest job for Harper and his coaching staff will be trying to replace first team all-district and all-parish quarterback Wesley Launey. The Air Force Academy candidate combined for over 1,600 yards rushing and passing last year.
Looking to take over at the signal caller position will be two viable, athletic players, junior Gabe Fontenot and sophomore Ethan Karonika. Both players could split time at the position, depending on what the situation is.
“Right now we have not settled on one guy to be at the quarterback position,” said Harper. “Both Gabe and Ethan bring something different to the table and have their own skill set. I think we can use them equally and we have some offensive packages where they may be in the game at the same time.”
Returning at the wide receiver/wing back slot will be senior Tyler Perron along with his counterpart senior Lucas Vallet.
As far as the offensive scheme is concerned, Harper will stay with the tried and true single wing concept that he has utilized over the past four seasons. With the single wing, the Trojans will also keep a spread package in place to allow their athletes to operate in space.
“Our plan is to stay with the single wing concepts, but change it around just a little bit as far as formations go,” commented Harper. “We want to be able to line up in different ways instead of always getting into the overload formation but still have the same blocking concepts and terminology.”
“We also plan to have a spread package in place, just as we did last year,” Harper continued. “I think that our two quarterbacks have good arm strength and will be able to pass the ball effectively. If you have seen us play in the past, you know that we rely on the run. But, we cannot stay one-dimensional and have to be able to the throw the ball to stay as balanced as possible.”
Filling vacant spots on the defensive side of the ball is going to be a little more tricky for Sacred Heart. The Trojans are facing having to replace not only their linebacking corps, but also their defensive backfield. Gone are first team all-parish selections Garrett Fontenot, Nick Perry, Drew Bordelon and Wesley Launey, along with Cade Manuel and Alec Gotro.
One bright spot for Sacred Heart on defense will be the return of their three defensive linemen, led by first team all-district and all-parish selection Michael Monier. The returning senior nose tackle recorded 67 tackles, three sacks and one fumble recover in 2018.
Joining him up front on the defensive line will be Bordelon and Boudreaux, both returners as well.
Sacred Heart plans to return to the 3-3-5 defensive scheme used the past few years. According to Harper that defensive alignment allows the Trojans to do multiple things to confuse the opposing offenses.
“I like the 3-3-5 because it give us the opportunity to adjust to the different offensive schemes that we face during the course of the year,” said Harper. “If we face teams that are run heavy, we can get more guys up on the line of scrimmage and make it look like a 3-4.”
“Being in this defense also allows us to blitz more and bring pressure from different spots,” Harper continued. “It gives us the chance to play fast and react instead of sitting there and reading, which can slow us down.”
A big concern for Harper and the Trojans will be the lack of depth awaiting on the sidelines. The Trojans only have 34 players on the roster and will have to play a number of guys both ways.
“I told the players at the start of fall camp that there are no ones and twos,” stated Harper. “Right now we have 1A and 1B players. That means that everyone has to know what is going on, because if we get any injuries, you may have to step up and be the man.”
Sacred Heart will be tested throughout the season, especially the first three games. The Trojans begin with cross-town and Tee-Cotton Bowl rival Ville Platte and then travel to 2019 Class 1A quarter-finalist Oberlin. Sacred Heart follows that up with another Class 1A quarter-finalist Basile at home.
The Trojans then take on Rosepine, a team that made it to the second round of the Class 2A playoffs. Sacred Heart follows that up with a trip to Mamou before beginning district play.
Once the Trojans start district they will face a very tough Catholic of Pointe Coupee squad; a team they have not beaten in the last two years. Sacred Heart then travels to Westminster before they host long time rivals St. Ed’s.
The Trojans wrap up the regular season with a trip to another rival, Opelousas Catholic, before hosting North Central.
“We have a very tough schedule this season,” said Harper. “It will be very important for us to get off to a good start. The first three games will be key in knowing how we stand.”