Riverside Academy starts over again with Dizer at helm

It has become one of the top lower classification football programs in the state.

Riverside Academy was always an outstanding football program under Mickey Roussel and the program finally achieved the pinnacle, winning a state championship under legendary coach Bill Stubbs in 2016.

Chris Lachney took over for Stubbs and endured scheduling quirks, a brutal schedule and injuries to have a fine season in 2017 before leaving for the college ranks.

Riverside athletic director Timmy Byrd could have hired virtually anyone for what is an attractive job in Reserve.

Instead, he turned to the promise of a very promising future by staying in-house, promoting Kevin Dizer to the head coaching position.

Dizer, 29, had been an assistant under Stubbs and Lachney for three years. Dizer was a three-sport star at Sterlington, shining as a defensive back and wide receiver in football before going on to play at Belhaven.

Now, the talented young coach has the keys to the kingdom at Riverside, where expectations are always high.

“The opportunity is a complete blessing,” Dizer said. “It came out of nowhere. You never know when God is going to call you but you have to be prepared. I’m not worried about the wins and losses but I a most concerned about getting the kids to buy in. If they do, the wins will take care of themselves.”

Riverside must replace gifted quarterback Jordan Loving, who was a four-year starter, along with talented running back Jeremy Gibson and superb receivers in Jalen Banks and Garland Robertson. Also gone are Jarred Hymel, Lebeau Bridges and Wilson Battley.

“As a coach, you don’t even look to replace those guys,” Dizer said. “We are not going to find another Jordan Loving or Jeremy Gibson. You have to take the kids you have and develop them into those kind of players, to be the best they can be. No one is expecting the next Loving to work in the building. We are going to fit our team to what our kids on hand can do.”

Still, there is talent on hand, though the Rebels face a tall task with only five starters returning from a year ago.

Offensively, the Rebels return just three players who started games last season.

That includes outstanding wide receiver Kash Foley (6-0, 190), a fine basketball player as well. He will be joined on the outside by another talented receiver in senior Isaiah Bigham (6-1, 170), who also doubles as a basketball player for Byrd. The other wideouts are senior Jaylen Watkins (5-9 ,150) and sophomore Tairyn Lockhart (5-10, 165).

“We feel good about our receivers,” Dizer said. “Kash Foley can do just about anything. Isaiah can step up and make big plays. Jaylen is one of the best athletes on the team and we expect him to have a breakout year. Tairyn is coming from basketball as well and he is learning how to play football and he is a good athlete.”

The new quarterback is another two-sport star in sophomore Gage Lavardain (5-8, 140). A fine point guard in basketball, Lavardain is athletic and very competitive.

“Gage has one of the biggest hearts of any athletes I’ve ever been around,” Dizer said. ”The kid doesn’t like to lose at anything. He has to be a vocal leader. He doesn’t have the biggest arm but he is pretty accurate and he is extremely smart and can make plays with his feet.”

With Gibson hurt much of last season, Louis Cheneau (5-7, 190 Sr.) got a lot of time and is back to carry the load in the running game.

“Louis has had an outstanding offseason,” Dizer said. “He’s been working really hard. If we want to give it to him 30 times a game, it may not be smart on our part but he would do it in a heartbeat. We expect a big senior year from him.”

Up front, the only returning starter is junior Cody Pellissier (5-9, 240) at center. The other starters include seniors Jesus Mendoza (6-1, 250) and Dakota Hicks (5-9, 200), along with massive junior Nathan Faucheaux (6-1, 330) and sophomore Colby Wilson (6-0, 185).

“We’ve got Pellisier back and he is doing a good job for us, Dizer said. “We have some able bodies but they have no real game experience. They will have to grow on the fly. We have do learn against other teams and learn quickly.”

The defense has just two returning starters from 2017.

Up front, huge lineman Wilbert Robertson (6-1, 350) is back to stuff the run game and he is joined by senior Jacob Mullens (5-10, 190) and junior Connor Naquin (5-10, 175).

“Wilbert is huge and he is in the best shape he’s ever been in,” Dizer said. “He’s moving really good. A lot of what we are doing defensively will be about him. He can occupy two or three offensive linemen. We’ve moved some guys to defensive end in Mullens, who moved from safety to linebacker to defensive end. He plays hard and can move.”

Senior Chad James (5-7, 220) is the only upperclassman at linebacker and he is joined by sophomores Chamar Jackson (6-1, 180), Nick Washington (5-11, 210) and Anthony Fernandez (5-9, 175).

“The linebackers may be the most talented group we have on the team,” Dizer said. “Anthony Fernandez did not play football last year as a freshman but he is going to be really good. Nick Washington was a safety last year but he has put on about 45 pounds and can run. Jackson put on weight as well and moves from running back. James has experience but is coming off of an injury.”

The secondary has a returning starter in junior Bryan Simmons (6-0, 180). He will be joined by sophomores Andre Murphy (5-8, 160) and Ahmonte Watkins (5-10, 160).

“Simmons can be one of the best defensive backs we’ve ever had come through Riverside,” Dizer said. “He is strong and he has really improved his speed while growing height-wise and weight-wise. He can play anywhere in the secondary. He is the leader of the group. Watkins is one of the fastest kids in the state. Murphy is another basketball player who will help us.”

Senior Colton Wilson (5-10, 160) returns to handle kicking and punting duties.

The youthful Rebels will not have much time or a grace period to improve as the schedule is again brutal.

Riverside opens on the road on Aug. 31 at Southern Lab, which won state championships on the field in 2015 and 2016 and played for a state title in 2014.

Then comes another very difficult road trip to Lake Charles to take on 5A power Barbe, which reached the state title game in 2012.

The first home game is Sept. 14 against always tough Archbishop Rummel, which won back-to-back state championships in 2012-13, before the Rebels have a bye.

Then comes another very difficult non-district contest against Division II power De La Salle, who reached the state championship game a year ago.

“It’s obviously not an ideal pre-district schedule,” Dizer said. “We are not bracing for impact. Everyone talks about surviving the first four games. We are full speed ahead. We know it’s going to be a head-on collision and whatever happens will happen. We are not preparing for losing. If we get wins, great. If we don’t we’ll deal with it.”

District play opens against a good South Plaquemines squad at Roussel Field on Oct. 5 before a key home game against defending league champion Newman on Oct. 12. The Greenies upset the Rebels at Lupin Field in a thriller a year ago.

Road trips to Fisher and Country Day follow before Riverside closes the regular season with a non-district game against North Central on Nov. 2.

“This could be one of the more competitive years for our district in years,” Dizer said. “Newman has given us problems. Country Day is good. South Plaquemines is solid. We are not ahead of the pack this year. It’s going to be a fun year. Our pre-district schedule will prepare us well for district play. The pre-district schedule will make us or break us.”

The key to success for the Rebels is to not fall into too deep of a hole against an incredibly difficult early schedule. If the Rebels can mature and improve as a result of the stiff competition, they could be a force by the time the Division III playoffs roll around.

“I’m not the kind of coach to run or hide from expectations,” Dizer said. “I believe in the power of man, of a man’s heart. There is no telling what a man can do. If we come together as a team, we can succeed. I have been around 1A and 2A football a long time and I have seen a lot of teams succeed that weren’t particularly expected to succeed. Don’t count us out until we’re done.”

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