St. Louis Catholic poised for better season in 2019

If you are a football team in Louisiana bearing the name Saints, chances are you are very popular and a definite threat to win a championship.

While the NFL team in New Orleans certainly fits that description, there is a high school team in southwest Louisiana that the prospect of winning and winning big applies to.

Don’t sleep on St. Louis Catholic.

The Saints battled through adversity and a tough schedule to finish 5-7 a year ago but that included a playoff victory over Loyola Prep before falling to eventual state champion University Lab in the Division II quarterfinals.

The 2019 season holds great promise for St. Louis Catholic.

The Saints return 13 starters, including seven on offense and six on defense.

The strength of the offense is in the backfield, where junior quarterback Cooper Miller (5-10, 165) returns. Miller completed 38 of-78 passes for 659 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions and rushed for three touchdowns a year ago.

A pair of running backs are back as well, including junior tailback Evan Joubert and junior fullback Wesley Maze (6-0, 200). Joubert led the Saints in rushing in 2018 with 140 carries for 687 yards and five touchdowns while Maze rushed 45 times for 285 yards and two touchdowns.

At wide receiver, senior Jadon Johnson (6-0, 180) returns and should be outstanding. Senior Joe Percle returns as well, along with senior Charlie Drost (6-4, 220), who will line up at tight end. Johnson was the top receiver a year ago with 28 catches for 297 yards and three touchdowns.

Up front, senior Tim Thompson (6-2, 200) and junior Win Goodwin (6-0, 260) are the anchors of a solid unit.

Defensively, senior Gabe Johnson (5-10, 245) is a strength up front. He should see action on the offensive line as well while Drost will also play both ways, as will Goodwin.

Maze will see action at linebacker while Percle will also play defense on the back end.

Sophomore Juan Seymore (5-9, 172) should be good in the secondary and will see some action at running back as well.

The season opens on Sept. 6 a home against Crowley before a trip to Jena. Consecutive, tough road trips to Kinder and Welsh follow before the Saints host Church Point in week five.

District 4-3A play begins on Oct. 11 at home against Jennings before a road game at Lake Charles College Prep. After hosting South Beauregard, St. Louis Catholic goes to Westlake. The regular season concludes at home against Iowa on Nov. 8.

With experience and returning talent, the Saints have a real shot at a district title and advancing at least as far as a year ago in the playoffs.