Hahnville looks to take next step back to upper echelon

As always, expectations are high at Hahnville High. However, this year marks 20 years since the last title of six state titles won by the Tigers, coming under Lou Valdin in 2003.

The power has shifted to the other side of St. Charles Parish where Destrehan is the defending state champion. The Tigers are working to close the gap between themselves and the Wildcats.

Hahnville is coming off a 6-5 season and Daniel Luquet is entering his third year on the job with a 16-12 record after he spent four years as the head coach at Woodlawn in Baton Rouge.

“I felt like last year was a chance to get where we wanted to but we were bit by the injury bug with our quarterback, among others, getting hurt,” Luquet said. “I think this game falls so much on the quarterback and the confidence your team has in him. I feel like our experience has grown over the last couple of years. In 5A football, experience is really where it’s at. We have a lot of guys coming back who have played on Friday nights.”

The Tigers have experience and have good players returning.

Offensively, that starts at quarterback where Ryan Gregson is back to run the show.

“Ryan has had a great offseason,” Luquet said about the 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior. “He has grown into being bigger, thicker and stronger. Things have slowed down for him. He has mastered the offense. We lose good receivers but with Ryan and the running backs we have, it fits more of what he is, putting us in good situations with a lot of movement. He gets it and he can be that coach on the field that we need. I’m looking forward to seeing what he will accomplish.”

Gregson has support with junior Calvin Smith (5-11, 195) returning. Smith is joined in the backfield by senior Chase Brooks (5-10, 185).

“I thought at the end of last year, Smith and Brooks had come into their own,” Luquet said. “Brooks has quickness and speed while Smith is more of the ground-and-pound guy, though he has gotten quicker. For us to be successful, we need them to be good as we want to run it. These two guys are guys we will lean on heavily. They can both catch the ball well out of the backfield.”

The wide receiver position is a good one with senior Titus White (5-11, 180) and junior Kobe Louis (6-3, 185) returning. They are joined by senior Dyron Lorio (5-9, 165).

“Titus has played since he was a sophomore,” Luquet said. “I think he is the guy with the ability to match up against guys in the slot or on the outside. It’s a matter of getting mismatches. He can play running back or quarterback. We have young guys in Lorio and Karon Henderson and we get Louis back.

The offensive line features a good player who started last season in Kenneth Lorio (6-4, 275). He is joined by seniors Devin Delpino (5-10, 250), Riley Hampton (6-0, 220) and Kota Verdin (6-2, 250), along with juniors Brodie Donnaud (5-11, 230) and Khailan McLean (5-11, 245).

“We have three guys back in Lorio, Donnaud and Delpino” Luquet said. “We have eight or nine guys who could see playing time. Hahnville has always been known for having a big offensive line. This group has had the best offseason of any position. They are playing well together. Coach Chandler Arceneaux is doing a good job with them. They are versatile to move around.”

The defense starts up front with junior Fred Downing Jr. (6-4, 260), a stalwart from a year ago. He is joined by three seniors in Cameron Darensbourg (5-11, 230), Torrey Holley (6-0, 275) and Caiden Robertson (6-0, 235).

“Downing is huge,” Luquet said. “It is all about getting him experience. When he gets his long arms on you, he is good. Holley and Darensbourg are solid and Robertson is a key as well. We are moving them around to multiple spots. The sky is the limit for Downing.”

At the linebacker level, senior Chase Morales (5-11, 175) returns as the anchor while the other starters are senior Beau Parker (6-0, 200) and Tylen Kilili 95-11, 185).

“Beau Parker started last year and Morales is back as well,” Luquet said. “Kilili played a lot as well so we have great experience at the second level. I expect big things from them.”

In the secondary, senior Ahmand Simmons (5-11, 175) and junior Ryan Simmons (5-10, 165) are experienced while Louis will see action there as well. Junior Raynel Gales (5-11, 170) is the other starter.

“Ryan played corner as a sophomore,” Luquet said. “He’s not big but his cover skills are impressive. He plays much bigger. He has faced great receivers. Ahmad played corner last year and we are moving him to safety. We will go to a 3-high look with three safeties and two corners. Gales is good and William Brown will play at safety as will Xavier Champagne. You need speed back there and I feel we have that.”

Sophomore Myle Borey (5-11, 165) will handle kicking and punting duties.

“Borey has a good leg and is working on accuracy,” Luquet said. “He can put kickoffs in the end zone. Gabby Touchard is a freshman and she may see time as well as she is accuracy.”

The season opens with a pair of tough road challenges at Newman and at Mandeville. The final non-district game is home against Northshore.

District 7-5A play opens with a bang at home against defending Non-Select Division I state champion Destrehan on Sept. 22, followed by tough road games at East St. John and Thibodaux. The Tigers venture out of district to battle defending Non-Select Division II state champion Lutcher Oct. 13 before returning to league play at home against H.L. Bourgeois and Central Lafourche. The regular season closes at Terrebonne.

“We try to play teams that prepare you for the playoffs,” Luquet said. “Our first seven games are pretty stout. Newman does a great job. Northshore came out of nowhere the last two years and coach Bobby Sanders is really good. Mandeville was a barn-burner for us last year. Coach Craig Jones does a great job. We struggled most recently with Destrehan and East St. John. Lutcher is a great program. I’m glad they don’t have D’Wanye Winfield. Terrebonne has talent. Thibodaux will be very well prepared. H.L. Bourgeois and Central Lafourche are well coached. We have to be well prepared.”

With talent on hand and with Luquet now in firm control of the program, look for the Tigers to improve on last season’s record with a chance to advance in the playoffs.

“Expectations are always steep here,” Luquet said. “That’s why I took the job. Kids that grew up here understand the expectations and passion in this school and community. We tell our young football campers about the tradition and expectations. You have to act and prepare like a champion and take care of your body like a champion while finding and developing leadership. We are transforming into a physical team. That’s what Hahnville was when it was successful and that’s we are working to return to. We believe we are on the way.”

Click here for more CCS Prep Football team previews (including archives of past season previews).