David tackles Goliath as STA returns to Newman

Call them the little engine that could.

With a new coach and a drastically reduced roster in 2017, expectations were much lower, if not invisible, compared to recent years. After all, the Falcons started 12-0 and reached the state semifinals in 2015 with a pair of Division I players in Cameron Dantzler and Ed Alexander under previous head coach John White.

Enter Hutch Gonzales.

The former Southeastern Louisiana and New Orleans VooDoo player knew he had a task on his hands in assuming the job, though he thought he may have more players available to get the job done. After reducing his roster by choice or otherwise, Gonzales set about the task of tackling the challenge at hand.

“We’re down to 28 kids and play 15 or 16 per game,” Gonzales said. “We simply tell our kids to match the intensity of the opponent and to outwork them weekly. That is what we’ve done the last five or six weeks.”

The numbers are not the story. The story is that the little engine that could is the state quarterfinals. The 10th-seeded Falcons travel to New Orleans to take on unbeaten second-seed Newman in the Division III round of eight Friday night at 7 p.m. at Lupin Field. On the other side of the field, the Grenies will dress out 70-75 players.

St. Thomas Aquinas has come a long way in a short time.

“When I took the job, it is something I envisioned could happen but when you get in, reality hits. When we were sitting at 2-4, it was a mentality of just getting through the rest of the season and to keep it positive. To believe we would have beaten the teams we’ve beaten and to be in the quarterfinals is pretty awesome.”

Ironically, the two teams squared off in a scrimmage on August 18 at Lupin Field. Newman dominated, scoring six times while the Falcons did not score. Watch the replay of the scrimmage and read an in-depth recap here.

“It is interesting that we are going back to Lupin Field,” Gonzales said. “I joked with Nelson (Stewart) that we would throw away the film. We got beat up by a really good football team. I told our kids that when we left there that evening. I told them that if we see them again, it would be in the playoffs because they would be there and we would be a lot better than them. Here we are!”

Since the scrimmage, St. Thomas Aquinas reduced its roster, made scheme adjustments and changed players at key positions.

“I think we made some wholesale changes that needed to be made,” Gonzales said. “Little adjustments just weren’t going to get it done. We made difficult decisions personnel-wise and schematically. They weren’t easy decisions but everyone was on board and it’s really paid off for us.”

The Falcons are led by senior quarterback Kade Bleakley, who has enjoyed a terrific season.

“Kade is a game-changer, a season changer,” Gonzales said. “He was not totally sold on playing football his senior year. Fortunately for all of us, he decided to be part of this. We are blessed that he did, the beneficiary of that decision.”

Devon Wilson is a good running back and Tyler Tillman has provided big plays while Luke Dibenedetto and Zach Gras are standouts on defense.

Gonzales has immense respect for Newman coach Nelson Stewart and his staff.

“They are extremely well coached,” Gonzales said. “Nelson is a friend. They are meticulous. They know what is going on at all times. They are always where they are supposed to be. They have a bunch of guys who know what they are supposed to be doing and they do it at 100 miles per hour. They are intelligent. They know what you are up to. It makes it tough. Our kids believe they can win. Our confidence level is that if we execute, we can play with anyone.”

Stewart has presided over a historic unbeaten season, even with the great tradition Newman enjoys on the gridiron.

“We are so proud of this group, a selfless group of individuals who bought into the team concept,” Stewart said. “We have a great group of coaches. We’re battle tested. We’ve played really good teams and passed every test. Obviously, to be 10-0 is historic but we’re 0-0 now. All that matters is our next game and that is St. Thomas Aquinas.”

Stewart has immense respect for Gonzales and the Falcons.

“Hutch has done a phenomenal job,” Stewart said. “They play so hard and are well coached. They figure things out. The first thing we did is to not watch the scrimmage video. They are not the same team. Their execution and what they are doing is so much different. We treated the scrimmage like it didn’t happen. They have played really good teams. They beat Amite and Ascension Episcopal. They throw it well and are good in the kicking game. Our kids are focused and they have to be.”

Newman has a balanced offense, led by junior quarterback Martin Butcher, who has distributed the ball equally to Storey Charbonnet, Dylon Hill, Jarmone Sutherland and Murray Calhoun. James Poche has been outstanding in the running game. While the Greenies are good offensively, they have three shutouts on defense this year.

Despite handling St. Thomas Aquinas easily in the scrimmage, Stewart believes his team will be ready to face a much tougher opponent this time around.

“A mature team handles every situation,” Stewart said. “We have truly taken it one game at a time. We have a bunch of seniors and 18 starters back from last year. We expected to be good and to be a mature team and mature teams focus daily, weekly, monthly, yearly.”

In what has been a historic season, Newman hopes to add to that history Friday night.

“Our program has never won a home quarterfinal game,” Stewart said. “This is a special opportunity for us. We know what is at stake. St. Thomas Aquinas has our full attention. Our kids have approached it well and they will be ready. There is certainly attention to detail. Two weeks is a long time to wait. We’re ready to play football.”

St. Thomas Aquinas will need a sizeable stone to overcome the odds but based on what we have seen recently, you cannot discount the Falcons.