Covington expected to return to state football playoffs in 2019

Two years ago, Covington was one of the best teams in the state in Class 5A with 31 seniors.

Last season, Lions head coach Greg Salter had to start over with a young team that took its lumps in the midst of a 3-7 season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

The experience gained should benefit the Lions in 2019.

“The young guys get a year older and with more experience to benefit from the tough experiences,” Salter said. “Hopefully, they have learned from them and I believe they have.”

There are 16 starters returning from a year ago, including four who started on the 2017 team which reached the state quarterfinals.

That includes eight on each side of the ball.

On offense, the strength lies in the receiving corps which has three excellent senior players returning in Reggie Gause (6-3, 180), Chandler Washington (5-10, 150) and Kobe Callahan (6-4, 190).

Gause caught 22 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns, Washington had 12 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown and Callahan had 11 catches for 128 yards and a score a year ago.

“Gause and Callahan came to us from basketball last year,” Salter said. “They understand the game more now and are improved. Washington can really help us in the slot and he is a superb kick returner who returned four or five kicks for touchdowns last year. He started as a sophomore for us at safety on our quarterfinal team. He has really good speed and he can be a huge difference-maker, able to score anytime he touches the ball.”

Running back Edgerrin Cooper is back as well after rushing 64 times for 385 yards and six scores last season. Junior fullback Gauge Bourque (5-9, 180) also returns for the Lions.

The offensive front has experience with three returning starters in senior guards Trace Bland (5-9, 290) and Peyton Mayo (5-9, 270), along with senior tackle Remi Bourque (6-0, 310). The new starters are senior tackle Matthew Taylor (6-0, 260) and senior center Zac Bushnell (5-9, 220).

“We always pride ourselves on having a physical run game,” Salter said. “We feel that will be the case with our offensive line.”

The question mark is at quarterback where a pair of players are competing to run the offense in junior Blake Sharp (5-9, 180) and senior Jhi Franklin (6-0, 180). They hold the key to the Lions becoming a good offensive squad.

“In our district, quarterback is the key position. In our league, whoever has the standout quarterback does well. St. Paul’s and Slidell proved that last year. That is our one question mark. Both Blake and Jhi got spot play last year but both have a long way to go to get used to the speed of the varsity level. Blake looked sharp in our spring game against Destrehen. Jhi is more of the runner, very athletic but he has a big arm as well. I expect we will be improved there with whichever player ends up starting.”

The defense is experienced as well.

Up front, nose guard Kobe Amos (6-0, 305 Sr.) is a force. Amos had 52 tackles a year ago. Trevor Rainey (6-0, 240) moves to defensive end and should be solid.

The strength may be at linebacker, where all four starters return as seniors.

They include Cooper, who will start on both sides of the ball, along with Cedric Laird (5-9,2 15) and Blake Glass (5-10, 175). Trent Rainey (6-2, 210) moves from defensive end to linebacker and he is awfully good, having recorded 68 tackles, including a pair of sacks a year ago.

“Amos is a really good player while Trent Rainey played really well for us last year,” Salter said.

“Cooper has many offers, including from Oklahoma. He was the MVP of the district on defense a year ago. We were really good on defense last year and we expect our defense to be really strong again this year.”

The secondary is led by senior corner Bobby Showers (6-0, 160), who had 38 tackles and an interception a year ago. Senior Jaylon Carter (5-9, 160) joins him on the other side.

“Carter was out last year with a torn ACL after a good sophomore year and he should be full go and should be really good,” Salter said. “He will make us that much better in the deep.”

Junior free safety Dyonati McDowell (6-2, 155) returns while sophomore Ian Goodly (5-9, 155) is expected to start at strong safety.

Baron Padilla is likely to handle kicking and punting duties.

The schedule opens at home against Franklinton on Sept. 6 before the Lions host Holy Cross on Sept. 13. A road game follows against Dutchtown.

“We love the Franklinton game,” Salter said. “They mirror our demographic, as does Dutchtown. Franklinton always produces a good atmosphere and good crowd. Holy Cross is a team we are familiar with and we are very familiar with Guy Lecompte from his days at Mandeville. Holy Cross will be a good measuring stick. Dutchtown will be similar to us with good, hard-nosed, well coached athletes.”

District 6-5A play opens on Sept. 27 at Ponchatoula before the Lions host Fontainebleau. After a trip to St. Paul’s, the Lions have Homecoming against Hammond on Oct. 18. Covington will host Slidell on Oct. 25 before a trek to Northshore. The regular season finale is against Mandeville on Nov. 8.

“It’s as wide open as it has been in years,” Salter said. “I can see as many as six teams winning the district.
I think there will be a lot of parity in the league. There will be good games every week, in my opinion. We are really looking forward to it.”

With an experienced team, look for Covington to return to the playoffs in 2019 after a one year hiatus.