Football Preview: Brother Martin looks to build on excellent season

It was a banner season for Mark Bonis and his Brother Martin Crusaders in 2020.

Brother Martin went unbeaten at 7-0 and won the prestigious Catholic League title outright for the first time since 2008, earning the top seed in the Division I playoffs.

Unfortunately, the Crusaders got a bad draw, having to face defending state champion Catholic High in the semifinals and fell short of the goal of a state title game appearance for the first time since 1989. Brother Martin’s first and only state football championship to date came in 1971.

“Anytime that happens, it’s a big accomplishment for the guys in your program,” Bonis said. “It came in one of the most difficult years there was which revealed physical and mental toughness by all involved in our football program.”

Still, the direction and consistency of the program are unmistakably very good.

In 12 seasons, Bonis has posted an 87-48 record and has guided his Crusaders to the semifinals four times, falling just short of the ultimate goal.

Now, Bonis has invested in coaches who have invested in Brother Martin, with five alumni as part of his varsity staff.

The Crusaders must replace an outstanding offensive line, one of the very best in Louisiana, from a year ago. They must also replace a superb running back in Jaylon Spears and a terrific wide receiver in Austin Jackson, who transferred to Northshore.

The good news is that Brother Martin has a huge advantage with a four-year starter in senior quarterback Garrett Mmahat (6-2, 190).

Mmahat is coming off a very good season in which he completed 97-of-155 passes for 1,785 yards and 16 touchdowns with just four interceptions and will be one of the best quarterbacks in the state.

“It is a blessing to have such a great young man, an outstanding player with outstanding character,” Bonis said. “His physical skills are tremendous, among the best, if not the best we have ever had here. He is similar to Jake Broggi as a student of the game. He is capable of doing so much for us. He sees defenses and knows what to do. That allows us to expand what we do. He’s the most athletic quarterback we’ve had.”

At running back, juniors Torey Lambert (5-11, 193) and Troy Santa-Marina will log time. Lambert rushed 21 times for 225 yards and three touchdowns last season. Lambert is also an outstanding cornerback while Santa-Marina can swing between running back and wide receiver.

Also returning is senior Jordan Thomas (5-10, 195) who rushed 46 times for 405 yards and three scores last season.

“Jaylon Spears was really good for us last year,” Bonis said. “Torey stepped in and played well for us but he will still play at corner as well. Thomas is explosive. We are excited for both of them. Troy will play running back and receiver and Jordan West is a young player who has a good future and has promise as well.”

The wide receiver spot will feature senior Julien Oubre, juniors Chase DePhillips, Hunter Shaw and Austin Tatum, sophomore Joshua Jackson (6-4, 190). Jahron Manning (6-0, 185), a defensive star, could see time as well while Jackson is a huge target with a bright future.

Another key player who figures in the receiving game is junior Clayton Lonardo (6-3, 205), who accounted for 400 all-purpose yards last year.

“I like where we are outside,” Bonis said. “With no individual star, it will enable Garrett to spread the ball around. Lonardo is a tremendous athlete, a major Division I prospect who can play a lot of spots and is our backup quarterback. Jackson is just a sophomore and he is huge. He is still growing. Oubre is a senior who has had a good offseason. Phillips played last year and he is quick. Tatum is very fast and Shaw can play.”

The tight ends are senior Simon Provenzano, juniors Alejandro Ferreyra and Nicolas Malek and freshman Nico Paulin.

“Tight ends are always important to us,” Bonis said. “Malek has been playing since he was a freshman. Provenano and Ferreyra will play extensively. They are athletic. Paulin has shown a lot of growth as a freshman. He is going to be good for us.”

Up front, Brother Martin will lean heavily on senior Jayson Montgomery Scott (6-3, 315), an Air Force commit and returning starter, along with massive senior Michael Braud (6-3, 335), a college prospect.

They are joined by Grant Buqoui and Jayden Shephard, along with juniors Brett Guillory and Sam Harris.

“We graduated perhaps one of the best, if not the best unit we’ve ever had up front,” Bonis said. “We had three guys that rotated in with Scott, Braud and Shephard. We feel good with those guys. Buqoui is a real leader from a big Brother Martin family. Guillory and Harris are very capable.”

The defense has experience and should be very good.

“We were young last year and learned on the run,” Bonis said. “

Up front, Brother Martin should be very good. Standouts include senior Juniors Kai Brown (6-3, 235), Dakota Burns (6-1, 250) and Brendan LeBlanc (6-1, 250) all return and are outstanding. Senior Andrew Arrilaga will also be counted on.

“I love our defensive front,” Bonis said. “All have played since they were freshmen. Arrilaga will rotate in while the other three are standout players. The concern is depth. Burns had a breakout year last season. LeBlanc and Burns are studs.”

There is experience at linebacker as well with seniors Anton Brown and Ashton Sheperd, along with juniors Rylon Johnson and Blake Ranlett.

“Johnson has played since he is a freshman,” Bonis said. “He is the nephew of West Jefferson coach Willie Brooks. Brown is a senior and Ranlett will play outside.”

The secondary is solid, led by Torey Lambert at corner and superb senior Corey Lambert Jr. (6-1 ½, 210) at free safety.

Another standout in the deep is senior Jahron Manning (6-1, 195).

Senior Austin Roberts (5-11, 185) will play some at the other safety spot while the other corners are senior Emilio Garcia and junior Gregory Jackson.

“We have a lot of versatility in the secondary, with guys who can play different positions and do different things,” Bonis said. “We struggled with youth last year but they are smarter and stronger now and had a great offseason. They love moving around. Both Lambert brothers are very good. Corey is the leader and our best player. He can do everything you want him to do and we will move him around. Manning is versatile.”

Leyton Liuzza returns is the kicker while Liuzza and junior Jacob Zimmer will compete for punting duties.

The schedule may be the most difficult in school history and perhaps the toughest schedule any team in Louisiana will face.

The Crusaders open on the road against three super powers.

The opener is at two-time defending Division II state champion St. Thomas More and LSU commit Walker Howard on Sept. 3.

Week two has Brother Martin at West Monroe, an eight-time state champion since 1993.

The Crusaders then travel to Ponchatoula to take on an extremely talented Ponchatoula squad, the defending District 6-5A champion.

District 9-5A play opens against Jesuit, whom the Crusaders defeated in a pair of epic, down-to-the-wire affairs last season, including in the state quarterfinals.

It does not get any easier as games with St. Augustine and Division I power Archbishop Rummel follow.

After hosting Archbishop Shaw, Brother Martin ventures out of district again to play defending 4A state champion Carencro on the road.

The final two regular season games are against Holy Cross and John Curtis Christian.

“In building our program, we’ve always tried to build a strong schedule,” Bonis said. “You want to be battle-tested and playing your best football at the end of the season. The end goal is hoisting the trophy, winning it all. If you want to be the best, you’ve got to play the best. By playing these teams, our kids get to experience what we used to experience when all schools were together in the playoffs.”

As for the Catholic League, Bonis knows it will be tough.

“The league is good, as always,” Bonis said. “John Curtis is always going to be a favorite. St. Augustine is enormously talented and will make a run at winning it. I know Rummel is young but that is a championship program and you know they will be good. Jesuit is solid and nearly beat us twice last year. Shaw is definitely improved. Holy Cross is changing offenses and that will be a challenge.”

The skill is there. The fronts are good and the secondary and kicking game are solid. The coaching is excellent.

“We have good players, good coaches and very good leadership,” Bonis said. “It is a fun group to be around. We are excited for the opportunity to compete with the best.”

It is easy to envision Brother Martin winning another district title and making another deep run in the Division I state playoffs.

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