Young pups

How do you lose one of the biggest senior classes in a number of years and rebound the following season?
The Ville Platte High Bulldogs are about to find out.
This year’s version of the Bulldogs will look totally different, as they try to manipulate a very tough schedule with a number of key guys missing due to graduation.
Gone are All-District and All-Parish selections Terrian Roy and Jahmal Byers. The dynamic duo combined for over 2,600 yards of offense.
“We graduated a great senior class,” stated Ville Platte High head coach Jorie Randle. “They were some great athletes that gave us four good years, and they will be missed.”
“I am not going to lie our team is very young this season,” Randle continued. “Hopefully, the guys on the team this year were able to get some inspiration from the seniors of last year. The bulk of our club are freshmen. The biggest positive is that we can groom them to the Bulldog way of football.”
One of the toughest problems Randle and his coaching staff has had to face is the split school schedule the players are currently on.
With half of the players only being there on certain days, it has been hard to get players to get to practice simply because they sometimes do not have a way to get there. In a full week schedule, players were already there after school to get ready for practice.
“I am not going to try and paint this fairy tale picture, but the first few weeks of school, it was tough to have everybody here at practice everyday,” Randle said. “Now that we have a set routine, the kids have committed to being here and they have worked really hard the past few weeks to get prepared for the upcoming season.”
Offensively, the main position to be filled is that of quarterback. Randle and his staff will have a tough time trying to replace Roy who’s duel threat ability scared opposing offenses to death.
According to Randle, that key position will be handled by a veteran receiver turned quarterback and an incoming freshman.
“Right now we have Ernest Roberts and Jaquan Lavergne working at the quarterback position,” commented Randle. “Ernest is one of those athletes who can definitely help us there. He is a veteran who just needs some work.”
“Jaquan is a freshman who has come a long way since the start of practice,” Randle continued. “He has shown some glimpses of what a quarterback should be.”
As far as running backs are concerned, the Bulldogs will have to fill some big shoes with the loss of Byers. The versatile back rushed for 1,100 yards in 2019.
One of the backs that seems to be stepping up for Ville Platte to take the place of Byers is Jaekwon Fontenot. The senior has added some pounds to his 5’5” frame. Sharing the main running back duties will be junior Keelan Bruno. Freshman Latelldrick Prejean also looks to get some touches.
One of the young bucks that will get some definite playing time is Montavis Seraille. The 6’5” 190 pound freshman is expected to make an impact on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
The other wide outs are not yet set, but according to Randle battles are happening that will determine a lot before the season starts.
On the offensive line, 6’3” 340 pound senior Alan Arvie returns to anchor a line that will see a number of new faces.
Defensively, Ville Platte brings back a trio of players including Roberts, Fontenot and sophomore Zyrion Leday. Roberts was a defensive end for the Bulldogs last season, but will alternate between that position and outside linebacker.
Fontenot, who started at strong safety in 2019, will move to the inside linebacker position this season. Although still young, Leday will have to produce some veteran leadership up front.
One newcomer to the defensive scene is Barbe transfer Ja’Bronski Edwards. The 6’2” 280 pound senior is considered a three-star player and has already committed to Texas Southern.
In the kicking game, Jacolin Roberts comes back to anchor down the placekicking duties.
As youthful as the Bulldogs will be this season, Randle believes there are advantages to having a number of underclassmen, and even seniors vie for their positions.
“Competition is good, because it brings out the best in each player,” Randle said. “The best will get to start.”