Eagles seek turnaround under Crockett
PLAQUEMINE - St. John the Evangelist High School played its home games at COPAC for the first time in decades a year ago and will continue to do so this year.
The Eagles struggled in a tough non-district schedule but managed to finish 2-3 in District 8-1A play in coach Mike Dugan's only year at the helm of the program. St. John finished 2-7 overall just one year removed from a regional playoff berth.
Oliver "Cricket" Crockett enters his first season as head coach after serving on the staff for the past six seasons.
"Instead of opening it up and looking outside for a coach, they decided to hire from within," Crockett said. "And they decided to go with me. Being a head coach has always been a goal for me.
"This is what I've been working toward and hoping would happen. And now that it has, I can't wait to get started."
The Eagles return six starters to an offense that managed 150 points a year ago while eight return to a defense that surrendered over 300.
St. John will run its offense out of the Spread formation from the Wing-T a year ago. Key losses include running backs Trevor Curry and Seth Gulotta.
Senior Hunter Schnebelen (5-10, 150) returns for another season under center as the Eagles' quarterback. Gavin Primeaux (5-11, 190, So.) is St. John's leading returning rusher.
Hayden Hemenway (6-0, 155, Jr.) returns as the top-receiving leader and will be joined in the receiving corps by Brennan Miller (5-10, 140, Sr.) and tight end Collin Crockett (6-0, 150, So.).
Tackles Brennan Tyson (6-1, 210, Jr.) and Peyton Voisin (6-0, 185, So.) return to anchor the line with center Dylan Tempanaro (5-6, 190, So.). Jacob Maranto (5-10, 177, Sr.) and Andrew Gulotta (5-8, 165, So.) round out the front at guard.
The Eagles move from a 4-2-5 front to more of a multiple defensive scheme this year.
The line backing corps returns three starters in Ben Poirrier (5-11, 190, Sr.), Nicholas Lefebvre (5-8, 190, Sr.) and Koby Langlois (5-7, 150, Jr.).
In the secondary, all-district performer Brandon Noel (5-8, 145, Jr.), returns with Bailey Whittington (5-11, 150, Sr.) and Gavin Landry (5-3, 130, So.).
The front returns defensive ends John Morgan Romig (5-10, 190, Sr.) and Jace Cedotal (5-8, 185, So.).
Tyler St. Germain, an all-district performer, also returns to handle kicking duties as punter and kicker.
St. John opens the season at rival 3A Brusly, a regionalist a year ago, before hosting 2A regionalist Episcopal and Dunham.
The Eagles then travel to 3A regionalist North Vermilion and Erath before traveling to blood rival Ascension Catholic to open District 8-1A play in Donaldsonville.
After hosting parish rivals regionalist White Castle and East Iberville, St. John travels to district champion and semifinalist West St. John before hosting Ascension Christian in the finale.