Loreauville looks to repeat perfect regular season, make deep postseason run

It was an outstanding season in 2021 for Loreauville.

The Tigers were terrific, going a perfect 10-0 in the regular season and earning the No. 2 seed in the Class 2A playoffs.

Included in those 10 victories was a thrilling 47-42 win over Franklin.

After winning its playoff opener 49-0 over Jeanerette, Loreauville had to take on Franklin again.

This time, it was the Hornets who prevailed in a thriller by a 16-14 margin in an upset, a sour ending to an otherwise sweet season for the Tigers.

In his fifth year, Terry Martin would love to see his team get that opportunity again in 2022.

Martin has 30 years of coaching to lean on, including as the head coach previously at Cecilia and Breaux Bridge.

They may just get that chance, thanks to a host of good players who started a year ago returning.

On offense, eight starters are back, including senior running back Evan Simon (5-10, 180) and senior split end Landon Lancon (5-8, 155). Senior Laith Nguyen (5-9, 206) provides depth at running back while senior Ethan Vicknair (6-0, 145) will play at wide receiver. Simon rushed 104 times for 725 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Both tight ends return, including senior Parker Richard (5-10, 195) and junior Jack David Martin (6-0, 175).

The strength of the offense is up front, where four starters return on the offensive line.

That includes senior center Bralyn Fruge (5-8, 245), junior guard Trace McHugh (5-8, 190) senior tackle Ean Price (6-0, 235) and junior tackle Kaine Olivier (6-3, 215).They will be joined by senior Blaythen Plaisance (5-11, 245).

The big question for Loreauville is at quarterback, where district Most Valuable Player Calep Jacob graduated. Jacob completed 76 of 126 passes for 1,351 yards and 16 touchdowns with just two interceptions and rushed 157 times for 1,407 yards and 22 touchdowns. Defensively, Jacob had 104 tackles and three interceptions. That is a huge hole to fill.

The new starter at quarterback is junior Trevor Dooley (5-7, 155).

The defense is not as experienced, with four starters returning.

The hole to fill is with the departure of Collin Jacob, who was the defensive Most Valuable Player in the district a year ago. Jacob is the twin brother of Calep and both signed with the University of Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.

They include Olivier at defensive end, Fruge at nose guard and McHugh and Richard at linebacker. Senior Hunter Vital (6-2, 185) will start at the other end spot while sophomore Dylan Singleton (6-2, 280) returns as an imposing force at tackle.

The secondary is a concern, with no starters returning.

Those being counted on include senior Lancon, freshman Blake Delcambre Jr. (5-6, 145) and Kylon Polk (5-7, 150).

Logan Templet returns to handle punting and kicking chores. Templet averaged 39.7 yards per punt last season.

The schedule opens at Erath on Sept. 2 before a home date with DeQuincy. Then comes a trip to Vermilion Catholic before home games against North Vermilion and Welsh.

District 8-2A play begins at West St. Mary and at Franklin before a home date against Ascension Episcopal. A trip to Catholic of New Iberia is set for week nine and the regular season closes at home against Delcambre.

Not having the Jacob twins is glaring but with an experienced coach and a program which experienced winning in significant fashion a year ago, Loreauville should be a contender for district honors again in 2022.

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