Country Day, Chango seek to continue playoff success

Success breeds success.

Country Day has always had a solid football program. Under Joe Chango, the Cajuns have taken it to another level while competing at another level.

The move from Class 1A football to Division III football has gone seamlessly, solidly and successfully for Country Day as the program continues its winning ways while advancing in the playoffs.

In his previous two seasons, Chango led Country Day to a opening round playoff wins. In 2015, the Cajuns went to Monroe and shocked powerful Ouachita Christian before losing an epic overtime battle with unbeaten St. Thomas Aquinas. In 2016, Country Day whipped Holy Savior Menard before falling to elite Notre Dame.

As an assistant coach at Jesuit, Chango was an integral part of a Division I state champion. Clearly, he has the maps to winning against top level competition and demands reaching expectations from his players.

“I think it’s put us in an situation where our kids are looking forward to going to face a team and program like Amite to start the season,” Chango said. “That would not have been the case when we got here. The fact that we’re excited about it is the fundamental change that we’ve made. You should always aim high, have goals. The goal is to get the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in December. If that is not the case, you shouldn’t have goals or be playing.”

Country Day figures to continue its success in 2017, though the Cajuns must overcome the graduation of several key players, including quarterback Christian Kerut and two-way stars Jake Gitter, Avery Jenkins and Chandler Wynne.

Fortunately, Chango can call upon one of two talented, huge quarterbacks in 2017.

Junior Christian Becnel (6-5, 210) and sophomore Justin Ibieta (6-5, 190) each has huge upside and both continue to grow, physically and as players. Becnel could play wide receiver, where he excelled last year, if Ibieta lines up at quarterback.

“Christian was a phenomenal player,” Chango said. “It is always hard to move on but we have two guys are very good. I feel real good about either one of them being the guy. The players have fit in well with them and supported them. Regardless of which guy wins the job, we can be successful. Either one could play elsewhere if he does not start at quarterback.”

Senior tight end Cody Campbell (6-1, 220) will also play defensive line. Junior Ross Talbot (6-3, 230) is a two-way star at tight end and linebacker. Junior Buckner Heebe (5-10, 180) takes over at running back while senior Price Petagna (5-7, 180) is outstanding. Petagna caught 48 passes for 870 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago.

“With Price coming back, he’s a nice part of our offense,” Chango said. “He has a tremendous motor and makes plays. Adding Talbot and having Campbell gives us versatility and weapons.”

Ironically, the offensive line features five junior starters, including a pair of two-way starters in Thomas Polinard (6-2, 245) and Seth Fawer (6-2, 260), along with Brad Johnson (6-1, 230), Victor Bouy (5-11, 190) and Thomas Whealdon (6-2, 240).

“We have two others competing for starting jobs up as well and they are also juniors, giving us seven juniors up front,” Chango said. “We’re excited to have all seven for two years.”

Defensively, Talbot is a star at linebacker while the linebackers include a senior star in Clinton Nicholas (6-1, 180), along with juniors Nicky Corchiani (5-10, 170) and Robert Florence (6-1, 190). Petagna starts at one corner with senior Charles Redfearn (6-1, 170) at the other spot. The safeties are junior Kaleb Jenkins (5-7, 175) and sophomore Tyler Williams (6-1, 165). Campbell, Fawer and Polinard start up front. Petagna will handle kicking duties while senior Blake Masson (5-7, 165) figures prominently in the kick return game.

“We have to replace a lot of guys on defense,” Chango said. “We have the potential to replace the guys we lost and be pretty good again. We have three returning starters in the secondary in Jenkins, Petagna and and Nicholas. That will certainly be a strength. Corchiani is not big but he is smart and very competitive, just as he is in basketball.”

The schedule is a very difficult one.

The Cajuns open with a bang, on the road at 3A power Amite. The Warriors played for the 3A state championship a year ago, narrowly falling to Lutcher. Country Day entertains 5A Bonnabel and a good 2A team in Episcopal before traveling to former district rival St. Charles Catholic on Sept. 22. The Cajuns travel to Tallulah to face Madison High in week five.

“I think it is all about the mentality of preparing us for a tough district and playoff bracket,” Chango said. “We want to learn from those games, the wins and losses, and become a better football team. People ask why play Amite and St. Charles Catholic and my answer is why not? We want to test ourselves and to do so on the road. I’d rather push ourselves against a superior opponent and potentially lose, rather than play an inferior opponent at home and win by a lopsided margin. What does that accomplish?”

District 9-2A play opens at home against Newman on Oct. 6 before Country Day hosts Fisher and a non-district contest with Ben Franklin. The season closes on the road at defending Division III state champion Riverside and South Plaquemines.

“Riverside is obviously the team to beat,” Chango said. “They are just real tough and Chris Lachney is a great coach, just as Bill Stubbs was. The rest of us will slug it out after them. I’m excited about the new opponents in the league. It will be good to have Newman at home again this year.”

With a proven track record, an innovative offensive approach, frequent surprises and a demanding approach, look for Chango and the Cajuns to have another successful season in 2017, perhaps advancing in the playoffs once again.

“We have a small group of seniors but they contribute a lot to the team,” Chango said. “I expect we will fight hard and slug it out with a lot of people. We will strive to put the best product on the field each and every week, maximizing our ability, win or lose and I think that will give us a chance to win quite a few games again.”