Senior-laden East Jefferson ready to make return to playoffs

The memory is still fresh. In 2013, East Jefferson shocked the Louisiana prep football world, capturing the Class 4A state championship with a 38-28 win over favored Edna Karr.

The title was the first in school history and it was six decades in the making.

The following year, the Warriors returned to the 4A playoffs, winning an opening round game before falling in the regional round.

Since then, times have been a bit lean as East Jeff has not had a winning season and has made one playoff appearance (2017) in 5A.

That could change in 2019.

Frank Allelo enters his fourth year as the head coach of the Warriors and his third full year overall. The veteran coach has reasons for optimism with 13 senior starters. Allelo was the offensive coordinator of the Warriors when they won the state championship in 2013. Still, there are realistic expectations.

“It is not the most stable ground to be on but things are improving,” Allelo said. “The minimum is 1,148 for 5A classification and we are at 1,061. After turning numbers in, some kids in our system leave school so the number is not truly accurate. That is the dynamic.”

Allelo sees one other aspect that has made it more difficult to succeed in 2019.

“It is really harder in this generation to find young men who want to stay committed to this sport,” Allelo said. “It is a challenge. We are in the bottom five teams in the 5A classification but we are better off being in the Jefferson Parish district than in the Orleans Parish district in 4A we were in and would be in. We all play by the same district rules in this league and that is beneficial.”

Allelo has a new principal to work with for the first time in quarter century at East Jefferson.

Ben Moscona has taken over for Jimmy Kytle, an East Jefferson graduate who served the school in outstanding fashion for so many years. Kytle will be honored for his service at the week one game for East Jefferson against Country Day.

“Mr. Kytle deserves to be honored,” Allelo said. “It is exciting to have Ben Moscona as our new principal. He has been very supportive of the football program, allowing me to fill in some of the things we did not have in the past. He’s excited to be here. The slogan of ‘once a Warrior, always a Warrior’ will never leave. Our slogan now is ‘be a Warrior.’ If we can live up to that, things will be good for us. It is a new day here.”

The Warriors will lean on a solid amount of experience this season.

“We have 22 or 23 seniors,” Allelo said. “That is a very good start for us. We have five seniors on offense whom we will lean on.”

While the Warriors must replace quarterback Cornelius Beasley, running back Leroy Friloux and defensive end Darrius Harry, now at Southeastern Louisiana, there are a host of good players returning.

Junior Koby Marquez (6-0, 165) takes over at quarterback and he has the ability to create havoc for opposing defenses.

“Koby has been with us for two years,” Allelo said. “He understands the option game of what we do. When we switched to the spread look last year, he was learning on the fly. He has a really good arm and can push it down the field. He is the first young man we’ve had that can do that since I’ve been here. He is willing to learn and takes to teaching very well.”

Senior Marvin Smith (5-7, 140) takes over at running back. Smith brings speed and big play ability to the field.

“Marvin has been with us all four years and he is really fast,” Allelo said. “He is small but he is muscular. He understands our offense and can make big plays. We have to call plays that are smart for a running back to make sure he stays healthy. We have a little depth at running back with some younger kids as well.”

The wide receivers include a returning starter in junior Jermaine Guillard (6-0, 175). He is joined by senior Jeremiah Carey (6-2, 200), junior Brian Shaw (6-0, 165) and sophomore Arthur Oliver (5-8, 155).

“I am extremely excited about our wide receivers,” Allelo said. “Carey has good size and is strong. He has great hands and a good understanding of the game and he can block. Guillard played for us last year who is strong physically. He is our best baseball player, where he is an All-District player. Shaw is entering his third year in the program and has good hands. Oliver has very good speed.”

East Jefferson will be strongest up front with a trio of senior starters returning in talented Makyl Lee (6-6, 300), and Jonathan Herrera (5-11, 320) and Davanta Schneider (6-2, 240). The others starters are juniors Josh Diaz (6-1, 230) and Dwight Rixner (6-1, 294). Lee has an offer from Southern and is likely to receive more offers.

“We are strongest up front and that is always important,” Allelo said. “We have all 10 offensive linemen back so we have depth.”

The Warriors are experienced and should be good on defense with eight senior starters, six of who return from a year ago.

That includes defensive end Alfredo Avendano (5-10, 219), who is returning from an ACL injury suffered a year ago. He is joined on the other side by senior Marcus Bester (6-1, 225) and senior nose guard Chon Ulusan (5-10, 240).

“We have to replace everyone up front on defense,” Allelo said. “That will be a challenge for us. Bester has moved from offense to defense to bolster the front. He has taken well to it. We will play quite a few of our linemen both ways. Ulusan is strong as a bull and he is our best nose guard.”

The linebackers are seasons and all started games a year ago. Seniors Byron James (6-0, 190), Ahmad Harris (5-11, 176), Greg Gaudin (5-10, 190) and Dartevin Green (6-0, 180) are all back to hold down the second level. Avendano will play linebacker as well and can be a factor.

“I love the fact that for the third year, Ahmad Harris is our middle linebacker,” Allelo said. “He has played since he was 150 pounds in his sophomore year. He has 21 straight starts for us entering the season and he has had over 100 tackles in consecutive years for us. He is a tackling machine. He will play some running back as well. He is our captain. Green and James are similar and solid.”

The secondary features a returning starter in junior strong safety K’Ryan Buckley (5-9, 150). The free sasfety is Taj Phillips (5-11, 170) while the corners are Kevan Allen (5-11, 150) and Jahi Nkrumah (5-10, 165).

“Buckley started seven games for us last year,” Allelo said. “He is probably our best running back but we needed help in the secondary last year and he went out in the middle of a game last year when we had an injury and he has stayed there. Phillips is an athletic young man. We’re excited about him. Jahi transferred from Nova Scotia. Half of his family is from down here. Kevan is a basketball player and a good one. He is extremely athletic.”

The kicker is Geovany Ochoa while the punter is Hanniel Kiendrebeogo.

The schedule opens against an outstanding team in Country Day at Joe Yenni Stadium on Sept. 6. A pair of tough road games follow at St. Amant and Newman.

“That is a very tough pre-district schedule,” Allelo said. “St. Amant is a talented, 5A school. Country Day and Newman are extremely talented, well coached teams at their level and will be very tough. It is a good power point schedule and will prepare us well for district play.”

District 8-5A play opens on Sept. 27 at Yenni against Riverdale before the Warriors face rival Bonnabel at Muss Bertolino Stadium on Oct. 3. Three straight games at Yenni follow against Grace King, Chalmette and John Ehret. The Warriors head to Hoss Memtsas Stadium on Oct. 31 to take on Higgins and close the regular season at home against West Jefferson.

“Ehret is the team to beat,” Allelo said. “Chalmette is always solid and tough. Our kids will not be afraid to line up against the best teams. If we can grow depth, we feel good about our opportunity to compete. Riverdale is a rivalry game to start district play. It will be important to start well. Bonnabel is our big rivalry and that was a great game last year. We cannot overlook King or Higgins. The original rivalry in Jefferson Parish with West Jefferson is always huge.”

If the Warriors can survive a tough pre-district schedule and get at least one win, they could be in the upper echelon in district play with John Ehret, Chalmette and West Jefferson and contend to return to the playoffs for the first time in five years.

“We will have to play some kids both ways and if we can avoid injuries, we can be very competitive,” Allelo said. “We will throw the ball more this year and that is new for us and will be a tendency-breaker for those used to watching us and playing us. We are excited about the possibilities.”