Experienced St. James primed to make another run at Dome

The precedent is there recently.

In 2015, St. James made a run to the Class 3A state championship game under Dwain Jenkins, falling to Lutcher.

Jenkins then left the Wildcats to return to Lutcher, his alma mater, following the retirement of Tim Detillier.

Enter Robert Valdez.

A proven winner at West St. John and Scotlandville, Valdez guided St. James to an 8-3 record and playoff appearance in 2016 despite losing star Lowell Narcisse to a knee injury prior to the start of the season.

A year later, Valdez returns with a very experienced, talented squad that is fully capable to making a run at the Class 3A state championship.

“We feel real confident in what we are doing,” Valdez said. “We have a lot of kids who have played a lot of games. We want to maintain the integrity of our program, to win a district championship and to win a state championship. Those are the goals, first and foremost.”

With Lutcher now in Class 4A, the path is a bit easier and clearer for the Wildcats to make that run.

There are 12 starters returning from a year ago, including five on offense.

That includes senior quarterback Demarcus Williams (5-11, 185), a second team all-district performer a year ago when he completed 80-of-131 passes for 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns with just two interceptions and rushed 72 times for 337 yards and eight touchdowns.

“We are very comfortable with Demarcus,” Valdez said. “His maturity level is through the roof. When we first got there and changed philosophies, it was a change. He is healthy now. He played with a chipped bone in his foot last year. We expect him to have a great senior year.”

Also returning is sophomore wide receiver Shamar Smith (5-10, 170), who caught 20 passes, including six for touchdowns as a freshman. Sophomore Devonne White (6-4, 205) is a huge and talented wide receiver who had nine catches a year ago. Sophomore Sean Lebouef (5-8, 165) will also start as they seek to replace all-district performer Dontaze Costly.

“The best things about those guys is that they are all sophomores,” Valdez said. “Shamar is the likely heir apparent at quarterback when Demarcus leaves but he is a good receiver. White gives us size. Lebouef is versatile. We will move him around, including playing him at running back.”

At running back, junior Dontaz Sterling (5-9, 190) returns after rushing for over 400 yards a year ago. That will help offset the graduation of Curtlan Johnson, who ran for 1,023 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago. Senior Kailin Johnson (5-9, 190) will also play running back for the Wildcats.

“Dontaz has had a great offseason,” Valdez said. “Kailin is a kid we picked up who came out for football this year for the first time. We think he will be good but we expect Dontaz to carry the load. It helps to have both as weapons for us. We make no qualms about it. You have to run the football to be successful.”

The offensive line should be good with three starters returning. Senior guard Chase Davis (6-0, 270) was a second team all-district player last season while senior tackle Bryant Grows, Jr. (6-4, 250) and senior center Jarius Hooker (5-10, 270) return as well. The new starters are senior Zy’shonne Harry (5-10, 270) and sophomore Donald Nelson (6-3, 260). Senior Jason Dumas (6-0, 255) will play as well.

“We have Grows and we are moving Hooker from guard to center,” Valdez said. “Our guards should be solid while Harry is short but tough. Our skill guys will help make them better as a unit.”

The defense is more experienced, with seven starters returning.

The strength lies clearly up front, where all four starters return as seniors.

The ends are Kyren Harris (6-3, 230) and Dewayne White (6-0, 225) while the tackles are Jason Dumas (6-0, 255) and Chase Davis (6-0, 270). Dumas was a first team all-district performer with 35 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He is committed to Kent State.

“We will lean on our four seniors up front,” Valdez said. “He plays with a real high motor. He is a bull in a china cabinet. I’m glad we don’t have to block him. Davis is a big presence inside. We have gone to a four-man front. Harris played a lot last year. We moved White to defensive end from linebacker. He is a smart kid and will help us against spread and zone read offenses.”

The linebackers are all new, including seniors,Brehlan Domino (6-0, 215), Ben Clement (5-10, 190) and Jonrell Jones (5-11, 170). Senior Joshua Hines (6-0, 190) and sophomore Lamon Lewis (5-11, 186) will anchor the inside.

“It’s almost like having a creamed filled doughnut,” Valdez said. “We are solid up front and in the deep but we are breaking in all new linebackers.”

The secondary is very good, with three of four starters returning, all of whom are seniors.

Glenn Brown, III (6-0, 175), Rashod Pierre (5-10, 180) and Shawn Preston, Jr. (6-1, 195) are back. Brown was a first team all-district performer and an honorable mention all-state player with 32 tackles, six interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Preston had 4 tackles, four interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries. The new starter is junior Deandree Harry (5-10, 165) while sophomore Brad Batiste (5-9, 140) figures prominently as well.

“We have excellent skill in the secondary,” Valdez said. “Preston is committed to Memphis. We can move him around on the field. Pierre, Batiste and Brown are solid as well. We feel good about Harry as well.”

Freshman Alex Mahler and Zachary Folse will share kicking duties while Mahler is the punter.

The schedule opens as Valdez returns to Edgard to face his former team in West St. John on Sept. 1 before the Wildcats host arch-rival Lutcher in what is now a non-district game. E.D. White Catholic comes to St. James before the Wildcats travel to Wossman. The final non-district game is with St. Amant.

“What a road we have in non-district,” Valdez exclaimed. “We like to play up in class to make our team better. It slows the game down as the season moves on. It will be a lot of fun coaching at West St. John again after coaching there for eight years. Lutcher is pure madness. I’ve never seen a parish shutdown like this for a game. The kids get caught up in it. I don’t buy that they are rebuilding. E.D. White is a rivalry, the closest school to us. Traveling to Wossman will make us better. We get St. Amant at home and that is good.”

District 10-3A play opens Sept. 29 at Donaldsonville before St. James hosts Haynes. A showdown for a possible district title follows as the Wildcats host De La Salle Oct. 20. The regular season closes with a pair of road games at Lusher and with a very stern test at St. Charles Catholic, another favorite to win the league.

“We have ten weeks of hell because of how good our league is,” Valdez said. “De La Salle is strong and fast. They come straight at you. St. Charles Catholic has a great quarterback and they are well coached. That will be a playoff preview for us. Lusher and Haynes are solid and Donaldsonville has good athletes. It is simply an outstanding league.”

Though Lutcher is not around, De La Salle and St. Charles Catholic are elite Division II teams and with St. James, a talented Donaldsonville team and capable teams in Haynes and Lusher, District 10-3A is one of the state’s best. The Wildcats should fit right in, contend for a district title, and, without having to deal with Lutcher, De La Salle or St. Charles Catholic, will have a real shot at the 3A state championship in 2017.

“We are made for speed,” Valdez said. “It seems like everyone is bigger than us but we are ready to compete with everyone.”