Northshore eyes next step after breakthrough season

The attitude of a team and program matters, and a coach can make a difference.

The attitude of the football program at Northshore High School has clearly changed.

That went hand-in-hand with the hiring of Bobby Sanders as head coach of the Panthers prior to the 2021 season.

The result was a very competitive team that went 5-5 and reached the state playoffs, nearly pulling a huge upset but falling just short in a 37-30 double overtime loss at powerful West Monroe.

It was the first playoff appearance since 2017 for the Panthers, who have not finished with a winning season since 2008 and had won just two games in the two previous seasons combined.

Sanders was an excellent player in his time at Archbishop Rummel and was part of a state championship coaching staff at Rummel. Sanders was also part of a coaching staff which reached a state championship game at De La Salle.

Last year, Northshore posted very impressive wins over Mandeville, Slidell, Salmen, Fontainebleau and Lakeshore and lost very close games to St. Paul’s, Covington and Hammond, as well as the heartbreaker at West Monroe. Those five losses were by a combined 23 points.

“I was happy that the 17 seniors we had experienced success,” Sanders said. “The biggest thing was to show the underclassmen that we could compete with everyone. They must believe they can play with anyone and win. We had not been very successful in the past. The West Monroe experience helped. It was a good start.”

The challenge for Sanders to build on the momentum of last season is to replace 15 starters who graduated.

The 2022 Panthers will be very young, with only 13 seniors in the program.

Still, there is talent on hand to go along with a winning attitude.

Eight starters return, including five on offense.

Most importantly, senior quarterback Jack Buell (5-10, 160) is back. As a junior, Buell completed 59 of 108 passes for 1,136 yards and 14 touchdowns with just four interceptions.

“Jack was on the right path last year, improving in his first full year as a starter,” Sanders said. “He’s athletic and smart. We are doing a new offense this year with a spread look and he’s making good decisions. Bill Conides is taking over our offense and we will be multiple.”

Buell has two good wide receivers returning in senior James Bridges (6-1, 210) and junior TJ Coleman (5-9, 165).

Bridges caught 19 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns while Coleman had nine receptions for 271 yards and four touchdowns a year ago. They will be joined by seniors Ethan Areizaga (5-6, 141) and Yamil Calderon (6-0, 181) on the outside.

“James and TJ are both entering their third seasons as starters,” Sanders said. “TJ has started every game on campus We have to replace Brandon Hines and Austin Jackson. James is big and physical. Coleman is more shifty and a good route runner.”

Junior Brice Cherry (5-7, 180) is the running back but lurking is the ominous presence of superb two-sport star Kohen Rowbatham (6-1, 202).

“Brice is a new starter,” Sanders said. “He has picked things up. We need to develop depth. Hopefully, he can carry the load. Of course, Kohen will take snaps at quarterback and running back. We need to get the ball in his hands.”

Went last seen on the basketball court, Rowbatham was leading Northshore to the Class 5A state championship game as an All-State performer.

When last season on the gridiron, Rowbatham was taking Wildcat formation snaps and running wild at West Monroe.

While Rowbatham will start at safety, he will certainly figure on offense as well.

The tight end is junior Cooper Tarifa (6-2, 188).

Up front, Northshore will have one of the biggest, if not the biggest offensive line in Louisiana, with starters averaging 317 pounds per player.

Two huge starters in seniors Bennett Kastner (6-2, 332) and Casey Carstens (5-11, 316). Joining them are seniors Louis Stokes (5-8, 366) and Reagan Bolin (6-2, 340), along with junior Kevin Kingston (6-1, 231).

“We are certainly very wide,” Sanders said. “It looks like five guards up front. They move fairly well for their size. We are still a work in progress. Kastner and Carstens started every game last year. I like where we’re at. We’ve had them all together this summer.”

While the offense has size and talent, the defense will have to play catch-up, with only three starters returning.

The strength is at safety, where Rowbatham roams, along with a returning starter in junior Jordan Fugate (6-1, 180). The corners Coleman, junior Kyle Williams (6-1, 188) and sophomore Brody Dukes (5-7, 160).

“Kohen has the ability to play Division I football or basketball and he keeps getting bigger, he is thick and he runs really well,” Sanders said. “He is a superb player and athlete. He had three interceptions against Mandeville as we beat them for the first time in a decade. He can play anywhere. He was our team MVP last year.”

At linebacker, senior Da’Juan Jacque (5-10, 220) returns as a striker and he is joined by senior Darin Albert (6-0, 195) and juniors Jackson Fugate (6-1, 180) and Ricky Mistretta (5-8, 175).

Up front are a trio of juniors, including Shaun Collins (6-1, 239), Ja’Mire Bolden (6-1, 221) and Grant Simmons (6-0, 225).

“We are very new on defense,” Sanders said. “We are playing the same defense which is important. They changed defenses so much before last season. Stability will help. We should be smarter and should play faster.”

The kicker is senior Belle Airey (5-4, 139), a returning starter.

The schedule is very tough.

Northshore opens at Dutchtown before hosting Salmen and traveling to Hahnville in pre-district play.

“Dutchtown is good every year,” Sanders said. “We were supposed to play the last two years and did not get to play. We play Salmen every year and it is a city rivalry. It was a great game last year. Hahnville is talented and deep.”

District 6-5A action begins at home against Mandeville on September 23 before the Panthers head to Ponchatoula. After hosting Fontainebleau, Northshore travels to St. Paul’s. The Panthers entertain Hammond and close the regular season on the road at Covington and Slidell.

“I think it’s a coin flip with virtually everyone,” Sanders said. “Ponchatoula and St. Paul’s will be good. Mandeville and Covington are good. Slidell is worthy. Hammond beat us last year. Fontainebleau is well coached. Ponchatoula was great last year. This year should be more wide open.”

With a huge offensive line, the Panthers should run the ball well and with Buell and solid receivers, the offense should be good. If the defense can mature quickly enough in what is a very evenly matched, competitive district, Northshore could make a return to the playoffs and could end the winning season drought in 2022.

“I thought we were better than five wins last season,” Sanders said. “We have to learn how to get tougher and win close games. That is about hard work, dedication and attitude, believing you will win. We are getting there. We have to believe to take the next step.”

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