Football Preview: St. Paul’s experienced, ready to take step forward in 2021

It has been quite a run for Kenny Sears at St. Paul’s.

The veteran head coach enters his 32nd year at the Covington school in 2021 and his 23rd as head coach of the Wolves.

Sears has posted an impressive 154-87 record in 22 seasons and he has led teams that have played very well and made nice playoff runs but none have reached the sought-after state championship game appearance.

A year ago, St. Paul’s went 4-4, losing to Jesuit in the opening round of the Division I state playoffs.

The Wolves must replace several key players, who graduated a year ago, including offensive linemen Dylan Porche and Nick Vining, running back Mitchell Smith, linebacker Owen Vincens, defensive back Preston Calvert and both its kicker and punter.

Still, expectations are high for the Wolves in 2021.

“We have a lot of returning starters back a lot of kids with experience who know the system and the expectations,” Sears said. “We had a great spring and summer work has been good. We have good chemistry and a great senior class.”

The 2021 Wolves are an experienced group, particularly on defense.

Offensively, five starters return, including senior quarterback Grant Billson.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Billson completed 105-of-207 passes for 1,594 yards and eight touchdowns with seven interceptions a year ago.

“Grant has made tremendous growth,” Sears said. “He is a three-year starter who knows the offense and how to make adjustments on the field. He is a natural leader and runs the show quite well. We expect big things out of him.”

Junior Daniel Roushar is another quarterback who had a great spring and provides quality depth.

“He has really improved and probably made Grant better,” Sears said. “We know if anything happens to Grant, we are still in good shape. It is a comfort, to be sure.”

His top receiver returns in senior Brody Reina (6-1, 180), who had an outstanding season in 2020 with 32 receptions for 724 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 22.6 yards per catch.

Also returning is senior wide receiver Nathan Vitale (5-10, 175).

“Brody and Nathan came a long way last year,” Sears said. “Nathan is more of an inside guy while Brody is an outside threat. They brought a level of consistency for us last year. Nate is great in the slot with crossing routes. He will always make yards after the catch, getting north and south. Brody will make big plays.”

The new running back is senior Ben Knobloch (5-8, 160).

“Ben was our second back last year,” Sears said. “He does a great job. He has a knack of reading blocks and getting behind our offensive line and finding green space. We will be running back by committee but Connor Walsh will be a very good backup while Tristan Davenport has progressed as well. Jacob Davies and Jack Salvaggio are promising as well. Senior Colin Theiler, who plays basketball, is in the mix.”

Tight end is a solid spot with a returning starter in senior Nick Piazza (5-10, 225), along with junior Shelby Turner (6-2, 215).

“Piazza will double as an H-back,” Sears said. “Shelby played last year and got a lot of time and he has progressed,” Sears said. “We are excited about his potential. Austin South is another guy who has a lot of ability and we are looking forward to seeing what he can do this season. Logan Pontiff and Danny Sears will play in running situations.”

The offensive line will be a work in progress with just one returning starter in senior Ryan Blanchard (5-11, 280). The new starters include massive senior Hayes Creel (6-6, 280), along with juniors Andrew Viener (6-2, 240), Dylan Buckel (5-11, 225) and Gage Guzan (5-11, 230).

“We have Blanchard back at guard while Buckel played at center last year,” Sears said. “We lost Ben Dufour in the spring to a torn ACL and that is disappointing. He was our best lineman and a great kid. Cayden Arnold and Viener will battle for a starting job at tackle. Guzan started some games due to injuries last year and is experienced at guard. He is physical. Hayes is huge and he battled injuries last year. We’re excited about him.”

There are nine starters returning on defense, including stars at every level and the unit has excellent size.

“We are enthusiastic about our defense,” Sears said. “I love the way we fly to the ball. We have a chance to be really special on that side of the ball. We will be strong in the front seven and I feel confident about the guys on the back end with the guys returning.”

Up front, St. Paul’s returns all four starters, including senior Preston Hickey (6-2, 275), who is outstanding. Hickey had 25 tackles, including four sacks last season. He is joined by returning starters in junior Thomas Rushing (6-2, 275), senior Aiden Richards (6-2, 260) and junior Jake Satches (5-10, 225).

“Rushing is a three-year starter and he will command double team blocks,” Sears said. “He has good hands, is massive and is quick off the ball. He will play some at nose guard. Richards started a few games last year. He has really grown and gotten stronger. Hickey is solid and both can play inside or outside. Satches can play with a hand down or at outside linebacker.”

The linebacker position features three returning starters as well, led by senior Danny Sears (6-0, 220). Sears was in on 62 tackles, including seven for loss with three sacks last season. Offensively, Sears played running back and rushed 30 times for 150 yards and nine scores.

Joining Sears are seniors Gunnar Daussat (5-11, 225) and Kier Nunez (5-11, 215).

“Gunnar and Nunez are returning starters while Danny was our leading tackler a year ago,” Sears said. “We feel really solid with this group. We have some depth as well. Beau Loisel is tough and physical and Nathan Vincens had a good spring for us.”

The secondary has a pair of returning starters, including senior Daniel Dufour (5-9, 160). Dufour had 41 tackles, including four for loss with a team best six interceptions and seven passes broken up.

Also returning is senior Evan Scherer (5-8, 160).

The new starters include juniors Ethan West (6-1, 205) and Jacob Johnson (6-2, 200), along with senior Justin Washington (5-11, 160).

“We have Evan and Daniel back,” Sears said. “Daniel is a good return man in the kick game as well. Both are good in coverage and tackle well. We are really excited about Ethan West and Jacob Johnson at safety. Both are tall, with long arms and can cover ground. Washington is a newcomer who will play at free safety and could play corner.”

The schedule is challenging for St. Paul’s.

The Wolves open the 2021 slate at home against a talented Landry squad before facing a rematch in New Orleans against Jesuit.

A home game with Catholic of New Iberia follows.

“Landry is talented,” Sears said. “Keenan Lewis does a good job and they will present a challenge. Jesuit is always a solid competition for us. We saw how much better they got when we saw them in the playoffs last year. Scott Wattigny does a great job at Catholic.”

District 6-5A play opens at home against Slidell on Sept. 24.

After traveling to Hammond, a home game with Covington follows.

St. Paul’s heads to Northshore before hosting Mandeville. The regular season closes with a road game at Ponchatoula and a home game against Fontainebleau.

Once again, the district figures to be very balanced and competitive with Ponchatoula and Mandeville figuring prominently, along with Covington and St. Paul’s. Northshore should be improved and Slidell will be a challenge. Hammond is on the road back to being a contender.

“Ponchatoula has the most returning starters,” Sears said. “We had a great game against them last year. Covington has a chance to be really good. Slidell has a new coach with a chance to be good. Mandeville will be quite good again. Northshore will be vastly improved. Hammond is very athletic and improving. The league seemingly improves every year. All of the teams are solid with coaching and players.”

The ceiling for the Wolves in 2021 has risen.

“Everyone went through the pandemic issue last year,” Sears said. “We started very strong last year but the quarantines hit us hard late. I’m looking forward to a normal year and we like our potential. Our kids battled through it last year. We have a lot of three-year starters. It is a close team. If we play together, we can be a force to be reckoned with.”

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