Riverside ready for second time around with Roussel

After an outstanding debut season for Lee Roussel at Riverside Academy, the head football coach and his Rebels are looking for more. Roussel enters his second season off an excellent debut in 2022, leading Riverside to a 9-2 record, reaching the Select Division IV playoffs.

Returning to the high school level after several years coaching on the college level at Nicholls State, Roussel adapted well the Reserve school. Roussel, who played at Lutcher, was well prepared for the task at hand, having spent seven years coaching the offensive line at Nicholls State. He has extensive high school coaching experience at Lutcher and St. Charles Catholic and Archbishop Rummel, where he coached the offensive line in back-to-back state championship seasons.

Riverside, which reached the state championship game in 2015 and won a Division III title in 2016 under Bill Stubbs, is trending in that direction once more.

This year, the Rebels must replace quarterback Lyke Hymel, star running back Elijah Davis, top wide receivers Terrell Hilliard and Emmanuel Franklin, tight end Scott White and defensive back Cade Middleton.

“I was pleased to see from the spring to the end of last season the growth we experienced in installing our culture with the toughness and attitude of our kids which got better,” Roussel said. “We lost to real good teams in Newman and Ascension Catholic. Hopefully, we learned from that experience and can have a chance to beat those type of programs moving forward.”

The Rebels have another advantage moving into the 2023 season.

“We have the same staff together,” Roussel said. “That is a real plus for us as we are fortunate to have outstanding coaches.”

The skill positions are largely new for Riverside.

Six starters return on offense.

The new quarterback is sophomore Brock Bourgeois and the new wide receivers are eighth-grader Kenrick Johnson and Jerone Ordon.

“We’re trying to find who those guys will be,” Roussel said. “Bourgeois had a pretty good end to the summer. Preston Brown rotates in and he can play some receiver as well and he has been working at both. They are getting most repetitions at quarterback. I’m excited about Johnson. He can be very special and will start. He can also play quarterback.”

At tight end, senior Brennan Maus returns and he is joined by senior Mason Smith.

“Maus was a center and tackle and we moved him out to tight end as a returning starter,” Roussel said. “We moved Smith from outside linebacker and like his ability. We are looking to get our best players on the field.”

Junior Dedrick Lastie is a returning starter and he moves from slot receiver to running back. Cameron Matt will play in the slot position.

The strength of the offense is up front, where six players with significant playing experience return.

Among those returning are senior center Noah Trepagnier (6-1, 255), guards Taye Drake and senior Amiree Alexander (6-1, 310) and senior tackle Craig Matt.

The new starter is Cooper Emmons at left tackle while sophomore Ayden Bullock will also see significant action at guard.

“The line is clearly our strength,” Roussel said. “We will lean on that group heavily for our success. Alexander will play at the next level. He has offers from several colleges. He is big and athletic and can play defensive line. Trepagnier is a four-year starter and has a Centenary offer. He is tough, strong in the weight room.”

The defense is largely new, with just two starters back.

The defensive line is led by junior Martrell Henry (6-2, 285) at one end spot. The other end is senior Dayton Gipson (6-1, 180). The tackles are Alexander and Ahmad Cage.

“We are strongest in the box on defense,” Roussel said. “Alexander plays some at nose tackle. Henry has offers, including from Nicholls. He was a middle school running back who grew so he has athletic ability.”

At linebacker, junior Kaleb Brumfield (6-0, 205) returns on the outside after a solid sophomore season. He is joined by junior Chance Tyler (5-11, 196) while on the inside, Wayne Hymel returns as a stater and either Brody Vicknair of Cameron Galvez will start alongside him.

“Brumfield can run and he is tough and can play as a down lineman as well,” Roussel said. “He is very good.”

The secondary features three new starters in senior Jaedon Butler (6-0, 180), senior Kaden Brumfield and Jared Campbell with the fourth spot still up for grabs.

“We have two seniors who were all-district performers last year,” Roussel said. “We have just one player to replace on the back end of the defense. I’m excited about this group and the defense as a whole, knowing what we want to do and how we want to do it.”

Matt will handle kicking duties.

The schedule opens in Hammond at St. Thomas Aquinas before the Rebels host Newman and Central Catholic. Riverside travels to Houma Christian and returns home to host Country Day.

“We pick up Landry and it is a good opponent late in the season,” Roussel said. “It will help us prepare for the playoffs. I don’t know that we were ready for the postseason last year. Newman was our only regular season loss last year. They may even be better. St. Thomas Aquinas will be better. Central Catholic was a battle last year. Country Day is always solid. We overcame them in the second half last year.”

District 10-1A play opens in Metairie at St. Martin’s Episcopal before renewing acquaintances with rival West St. John in Reserve. After a trip to Behrman Stadium to face Landry, the Rebels return to district play, hosting Varnado and close with Crescent City Christian.

“St. Martin’s is the team we have to beat because of Harlem Berry,” Roussel said. “He is one of the fastest guys I’ve ever seen in high school football. He can go the distance on any play and they have other key players back. West St. John has better numbers and it is a rivalry. I’m not sure about Varnado and Crescent City but we will be ready.”

If the Rebels can mature early at skill positions, the Rebels can match the success of last season.

“Looking at the roster, people may think we lost a lot but I really like our team in year two,” Roussel said. “We may be a better team knowing what to do and how to do things. The expectation here is to win championships. We may not be there yet but we are building toward it. You have to work at it to build it. I like our team.”

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