Plaquemine, White Castle set to host spring football games
PLAQUEMINE – Plaquemine and White Castle will host spring football games this week to conclude spring training. St. John has wrapped up spring and East Iberville will practice into next week.
The Green Devils host Livonia on Saturday at Andrew Canova Stadium at 3 p.m. The game will consist of scripted play followed by a live 15-minute quarter at the conclusion.
The Bulldogs host Pointe Coupee Central on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Milton "Rocky" Ourso Memorial Stadium. The game will consist of 45 minutes of running time per half.
The LHSAA allows 10 days of spring football practice. After preventing teams from scrimmaging opponents the past two seasons, the association will allow it this year.
The Green Devils were the District 6-4A runners-up last season in Paul Distefano's first year at the helm with a 5-1 mark and were 6-5 overall after falling to Breaux Bridge in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
"We are happy to be back on the field," Distefano said. "I would like 20 days but 10 is all I can do. We have all of our D-Line coming back but are going to be young at the skill positions on offense. The defense is going to have to hold it down until them young guys come around on offense."
Plaquemine's defense will be based out of 3-3-5 and 4-2-5 alignments depending on the opponent.
Davon Godchaux, a first-team all state selection, returns to the defensive line after registering 60 tackles including 16 for loss and 9.5 sacks. Also returning to the front is first-team selection Jaron Hooks and D'Quincy Buggs.
Orlando Batiste returns at linebacker and will be joined by Damien Oubre, while Colin Hughes returns in the secondary.
The Green Devils' offense will be based out of the Wing-T. Key departures include Northern Colorado signee Hakeem Deggs, who accumulated over 2,000 all-purpose yards last season, and quarterback Rickey Aro.
Julius Maracalin, an all-district selection at running back, returns after rushing for 750 yards and seven touchdowns last season and will be joined by Chazz Edwards in the backfield. D'Morea Wicks and Louis Conerly are vying at the quarterback position.
"Julius is going to carry the load come August but we are not going to dress him out for spring," Distefano said.
Returning to the offensive line is Damarcus Jenkins, Kevin Dotson and Khalil Harris, while Raekwon Thomas returns at wide receiver.
The Bulldogs were the District 9-1A runners-up last season with a 4-1 mark and were 9-3 overall after falling to West St. John in the Class 1A regionals in Lamar Thomas' first year at the helm.
"We weren't allowed to have a scrimmage last year so I am glad to be scrimmaging this year," Thomas said. "It kind of helps you move along as a team and you can find out what you need to work on a little earlier."
The Bulldogs' offense will run out of the Jet package with double slots. White Castle scored more than 40 points in seven games last season.
"We are going to add a couple of wrinkles and change blocking schemes a bit but we are going to do the same thing we did last year and just try to get better at it," Thomas said.
White Castle's backfield remains virtually intact with the return of quarterback Chris Major and running backs Daryl Young, Dontrell Taylor, Dajour Chaney and Jacory Jones. Robert Franklin, a first-team selection at wide receiver and kick returner, also returns as well as first-team picks Jared Little and Brian Jenkins on the offensive line.
The Bulldogs' base defense is a 4-2-5. Key losses include Curtis Jones, Marcellis Coleman, Tyrie Lang and Gregory Jordan.
"I think our overall speed is going to be better on defense because kids understand what we are doing and we got a lot of returning starters with experience and confidence," Thomas said. "When you understand things better, you play faster than the year before."
White Castle is loaded in the secondary led by first-team pick Young, who will be joined by Franklin, Taylor, Moses Young, Byron Pierre and Harold Zachary. Andre Prevost and Daniel Edwards man the front.
St. John finished 2-7 overall last season and 2-3 in District 9-1A play in one season under Mike Dugan. Oliver "Cricket" Crockett takes over the reigns this season and led the Eagles through the spring that included an intra-squad scrimmage.
"You always want more days but I think we got a lot accomplished," Crockett said. "We had about 10 guys still playing baseball. We are going to be pretty young but we played a lot of freshmen last year. We just have to get to work this summer."
The Eagles' offense will be more based out of the Spread this season from the Wing-T.
Hunter Schnebelen returns at quarterback and will be joined in the backfield by Benjamin Poirrier, Bo Dearman, Gavin Primeaux and Devyn Allen. Returning lineman include John Romig, Nicholas LaFebvre and Brennan Tyson.
Defensively, St. John's base alignment will be a 4-2-5. Top defenders returning include Jace Cedotal, Brandon Noel, Hayden Hemenway, Jacob Caballero, Gavin Landry and Koby Langlois.
East Iberville finished 3-6 overall last season and 1-4 in District 9-1A play in their first season under coach John Young.
The Tigers will practice Monday through Wednesday next week after opening spring this past week.
"You can always have more but 10 days is fine for us," Young said.
East Iberville returns quarterback Junius Chong but key departures include Lamont Kerr, Darryl Ingram, Javonta Sherman, Adrian Cummings, Tony Westley and Robert Williams.
Other returnees include lineman Reggie Brock and Taylor Graf and skill players Joseph Bailey and Jachai Scott.
