Bonnabel looks to improve under Bonnaffons

At one point in the 1970’s, Bonnabel was a superb football program under Willie Hof, reaching the Class 4A state championship game in 1977, falling by one point to Bobby Hebert and South Lafourche. The Bruins had a superstar then in Tommy Wilcox.

While there have been good players and some good coaching, particularly under Mike Villemarette, the winning seasons and accomplishments have been waning.

Brett Bonnaffons accepted the challenge at Bonnabel in 2018, guiding the Bruins to a 3-7 record. Previously, Bonnaffons was the head coach at Pope John Paul II and at Riverdale and served as an assistant coach at Helen Cox, West Jefferson, Desire Street Academy, Redemptorist and Carroll.

“I feel like it is a really good school that hasn’t been really represented properly in a while,” Bonnaffons said. “We have a new principal who is very supportive.”

The experience in coaching is there. Now, there is some experience in the player ranks that provides reason for optimism for the Bruins in 2019.

While Bonnabel must replace key players in wide receivers Kevin Allen and Joel Shaw, along with key linemen in Dejuan Franklin, Malik Lucas and Tory Collins, there is plenty of experience and some talent returning.

Nine starters are back from a year ago, including senior quarterback Torrence Bardell (6-1, 200). A year ago, Bardell passed for 1,843 yards and 16 touchdowns and he rushed for 613 yards and four scores. Bardell has size and talent to make plays. He has already been offered a scholarship by Navy.

“Torrence is a legitimate college prospect at quarterback,” Bonnaffons said. “He is not real tall but he is tall enough. He runs pretty well and he has a cannon for an arm. He is on the leadership council, he is a member of the National Honor Society and he has a 3.5 GPA. He is the whole package and he is a three-year starter. That is a great way to start your team.”

Senior running back Deaune Nicholas (5-9, 190) was solid a year ago, rushing for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns and he had 123 yards receiving a year ago. Nicholas has an offer from Langston University.

“Nicholas came out of nowhere,” Bonnaffons said. “He hardly played as a sophomore but he really emerged last year. I knew we had something special. He is a good football player. He is the radar of other colleges as well and he is a 3.2 (GPA) student. His story is a good one. He has overcome quite a bit and he is a great kid.”

Senior wide receiver Chris Toler (5-7, 180) had 169 yards receiving with three touchdowns last season. He is joined by seniors Lawrence Joseph (5-7, 160), Rome Fannin (5-11, 160) and Tyron Williams (6-5, 180). The tight end is junior Ronnie Patton (6-5, 230).

“I have smurfs at receiver who are all under 5-foot-eight but they can really play,” Bonnaffons said. “Toler is a really good player who is very tough for his size. He runs through tackles. He is entering his third year playing. Joseph is a speed guy who can run extremely well. Fannin is not flashy but he is a true possession receiver. Williams and Patton are coming to us from basketball and will help us. Williams had a really good summer.”

Up front, the Bruins will be led by junior left guard Tyler Tate (6-2, 240) and sophomore center Robert Batarseh (6-1, 240). The right guard is senior Greg Young (5-8, 230), the right tackle is junior Christian Parker (6-2, 220) and the left tackle is Miguel Coelho (6-3, 260).

“I think the offensive line is a huge strength,” Bonnaffons said. “I feel they will help us run the ball very well this year and we have to be able to run the ball this year. Tate is very good and Batarseh has squatted 555 pounds and runs a 5.1 in the 40-yard dash. He just turned 15. He is an athletic freak. Coelho has size and potential. Young moves from defense to offense for us. He will do a good job as a pulling guard. Parker came to us out of our band. He is kind of a mystery but he has ability.”

Defensively, there are four starters back from a year ago. Baterseh is the nose guard while junior James White (5-10, 240) will start at tackle. Senior Dorville Thomas (5-10, 210) starts at end. Sophomore Savion Brown (6-2, 200) has great ability.

“It is all new starters up front,” Bonnaffons said. “We lost all of our starters from last year. We have to get the guys we have up to speed quickly. We do have some ability there. White did not play varsity last year but he has potential. Thomas had a shoulder injury but he finds his way into the backfield regularly. Brown transferred from out of state and he has a lot of raw ability.”

Linebacker is a good position for Bonnabel with a pair of key players back in seniors Jacolby Alexis (5-10, 220) and Joe Taranto (6-0, 190), who had four sacks in 2018. Taranto has been offered by Louisiana College. The other starters are sophomores Josh Martin (6-3, 210) and Ronald Ussanaz (5-10, 180).

“Ussanaz is strong and athletic and will grow into the weakside position,” Bonnaffons said. “He was a reserve running back. Alexis started games for us last year and he is the smartest kid on our defense who makes the calls for us. Taranto will play at the next level. Martin has a chance to be one of the best players ever to come out of Bonnabel. He is big and runs a 4.7. He has it all.”

The secondary is led by senior free safety Kendrick Eugene (5-10, 160), who had four interceptions last season and sports an offered by Langston and by senior corner Johnathon Brock (6-3, 190), who has an Arkansas-Monticello offer. Senior Darren Horton (5-10, 160) also returns at strong safety while the new starters is senior Bishop Lynch (5-9, 160). Charles Smith will also contend for playing time.

“We have a basketball player in Brock who has size and athletic ability to match up with big receivers,” Bonnaffons said. Lunch is solid. Eugene made big-time plays last year. Horton does a good job for us.”

“We lost a lot on defense from last year,” Bonnaffons said. “That will be our challenge.”

The schedule opens on Sept. 6 in very difficult fashion at powerful Destrehan before the Bruins face another stiff test against Newman at Joe Yenni Stadium. The final pre-district contest is at Victory Stadium against Abramson-Sci Academy.

“When you are starting a program, you always want to show your kids what a good program looks like,” Bonnaffons said. “We go to Hahnville for our jamboree and went to Mandeville for our spring game. We agreed to play Destrehan. We will get power points and a great experience. Newman is a perennial power at their level. Steve Robicheaux and Nelson Stewart are two of the greatest coaches anywhere. I grew up in New Orleans East so going to play at Joe Brown against Abramson is special for me.”

District 8-5A play opens on Sept. 28 at Hoss Memtsas Stadium against Higgins before the Bruins host East Jefferson in their traditional rivalry game on Oct. 3 at Muss Bertolino Stadium. A very tough road trip to face John Ehret follows at Memtsas before the Bruins face West Jefferson and Riverdale in consecutive weeks at Yenni. The season concludes with consecutive games at Bertolino against Chalmette and Grace King.

“Ehret was a semifinal team a year ago,” Bonnaffons said. “They are the team to beat.” East Jefferson will be good. Riverdale is moving into the league and they are solid. West Jeff has a great pedigree and good athletes. Grace King is much improved. Higgins will be better. You always know what you are getting with Chalmette. They play very hard and Jason Tucker will have them ready to play.”

With a good senior class, if young players can develop as the season progresses, Bonnabel could be an improved team in 2019.

“I think we can be a playoff team but what we are trying to accomplish this year is to make our alumni proud,” Bonnaffons said. “That has not happened in a while. We are capable. We have to believe it can be done. We are starting a new tradition. Bonnabel was once a superb program. We want to be that again.”