St. Paul’s looks to build on excellent 2021 season

The 2021 season was a very good one for St. Paul’s.

The Wolves fashioned an excellent defense and an opportunistic offense into an 8-3 record and a run to the Division I semifinals, falling in heartbreaking fashion 29-28 to eventual state champion Catholic of Baton Rouge. It was the deepest playoff run in program history.

“It was a tough loss to Catholic but we felt like we grew as a program in the playoffs, in terms of what we are trying to do,” Wolves head coach Kenny Sears said. “It was a breakthrough in our mindset as far as where we are as a program. We know you can play with the best. The kids set a standard for us for this year and the future. We believe we are right there with everyone.”

Entering his 33rd year at St. Paul’s including his 24th as head coach, Sears has a rich history of district championship teams as part of his 163 victories and he is poises to add to that total.

St. Paul’s graduated a large senior class of excellent players but there is talent and experience returning in 2022.

On offense, six starters are back, including junior wide receiver Jeb Reina (6-2, 190) and junior tight end Matt Gower (6-3, 215). Reina had six catches for 71 yards while Gower had four catches for 52 yards and a touchdown last season.

“Gower had an outstanding season last year at tight end,” Sears said. “He has size, blocks and can catch it well.”

The other wide receivers are senior Jack Salvaggio (5-7, 155), junior Austin South (6-2, 195) and sophomore Stone Celestin (5-11, 175). Sophomore Jake Walker also figures in the mix, along with sophomore Chase Ravin.

“Jeb had a great summer and he has really transformed himself into a bigger, stronger, faster player. He has really progressed as a player. Austin gives us size. Chase is a great route-runner who can block. Celestin will get time in the slot and has great hands. Sal Baggio gives us speed. Roman Cumberland also has speed and can catch it.”

The new starting quarterback is Danny Roushar (6-0, 170) but junior Ben Buisson had a very good spring and could play as well.

“Danny had a great summer and has earned the starting job,” Sears said. “We like what we have behind him. Ben had a great summer. Brennan Keim is a sophomore and he has looked very good as well. All have strong knowledge of the offense and what we are trying to do. We have good depth there.”

The running backs will be senior Jacob Davies (5-9, 175) and junior Tristan Davenport (5-9, 170). Junior Jack Trahan (5-8, 150) provides depth.

“Davies played some last year and is good and Davenport had a tremendous summer,” Sears said. “Both are great in the passing game in terms of their ball-catching ability.”

The clear strength of the Wolves is the offensive line, where four starters return, all seniors. They are center Dylan Buckel (6-1, 250), guards Gage Guzan (6-2, 270) and Dominic Liviccari (6-0, 260) and left tackle Andrew Veiner (6-4, 280). The new starter is junior Cayden Arnold (6-3, 260).

“Andrew, Gage, Dylan and Dominic return and we expect big things from them,” Sears said. “Cayden has very good size. We like our size and the fact that they can zone block and are good at gap-scheme blocking. Guzan and Buckel are three-year starters.”

The Wolves return four starters on defense and face the task of replacing seven senior starters from last season.

The defensive line is all new, including senior ends Ian Shafett (6-0, 185) and Brennan Shaffett (6-0, 195), along with senior tackles Beau Loisel (5-10, 220) and Wyatt Rathe (6-1, 240).

Senior Ethan West (6-1, 210) returns at linebacker and will see time at safety and is joined by senior Nathan Vincens (6-1, 200), who will likely play in the middle. Max Biggs will see action as well, along with Gavin Bourgeois on the outside.

“The biggest losses were our front seven,” Sears said. “The guys came a long way in the spring. Ian and Brennan will play the ends. Loisel moves from linebacker to the nose and he has had a good offseason. Rathe will be in there as well. Sophomore Ashton Bedford gives us length as well. Luke Wahden is a senior who missed last year and will certainly help us.”

The strength of the defense is in the secondary, where three starters are back from a year ago.

Seniors Matthew Cody (5-10, 180) and Jacob Johnson (6-2, 205) are joined by junior Connor Lacoste (5-10, 170). Johnson, a Southern Miss commit, was in on 89 tackles, including 10 for loss with three interceptions and a touchdown last season. Cody had 31 tackles with two interceptions and a touchdown. Lacoste was in on 30 tackles last season.

The new starters are juniors Devan Menon (5-10, 160) and Jack Ourso (5-10, 155).

“Cody is back at corner and Jacob is our strong safety, along with Ethan West,” Sears said. “Menon started a few games last year and he has been good all offseason. Lacoste is a returning starter at free safety.”

Sophomore Drew Talley (5-7, 140) returns to handle kicking duties.

“Talley made some big kicks in the playoffs for us and Bryce Bepino is back as well,” Sears said.

The schedule opens at home on Sept. 2 against West Jefferson before the Wolves host a very tough Brother Martin squad. The final non-district game is with another very good opponent in De La Salle.

“Those first three games will certainly get us ready for district play,” Sears said. “Willie Brooks does a great job at West Jeff. Brother Martin is new on the schedule and it is a consistently good, well coached program. We are excited to play De La Salle at Yulman Stadium, a great venue, against a very good opponent.”

District 6-5A action starts on Sept. 23 at Slidell, followed by a home date with Hammond. After the inner-city battle at Covington, the Wolves host Northshore. Then comes a trip to Mandeville and a home game with Ponchatoula. The regular season concludes at Fontainebleau on Nov. 4.

“I see the league as wide open,” Sears said. “Week in and week out, it will be a battle. I think anybody is capable of beating anybody. That is why the pre-district schedule is important for us. We’ve got great coaches and athletes in our league.”

With a strong non-district schedule an a strong team, St. Paul’s is set up to build significant power points if the Wolves can wins even or eight games, if not more as St. Paul’s to build on the huge success of a year ago as a threat in Division I.

Click here for more CCS Prep Football team previews (including archives of past season previews).