Tierney has Shaw back on track

Archbishop Shaw as the Eagles had a winning season and an impressive playoff run in 2022. It was the first winning season for the Eagles since 2009.

Shaw had won just 17 games in its previous seven seasons. It was time to shake things up in significant fashion.

And that they did.

In a move that caught many by surprise, the Eagles turned back the clock, bringing back legendary coach Hank Tierney ahead of the 2022 season. It did not take long to find some magic.

Tierney made his mark in his first year back at the program he made famous, leading the Eagles to the Select Division II quarterfinals, posting the school’s first playoff win since 2013 with a 42-6 win over Livingston Collegiate before losing a close 27-21 game to Teurlings Catholic in an eight-win season.

Clearly, Shaw is much more competitive in Division II than it was competing in the always tough Catholic League on the Division I level but do not rule out Shaw returning there in the future, regardless of enrollment, if Tierney continues the clear momentum he has established in the program.

That Tierney is again enjoying success at Shaw is no surprise.

“I was pleasantly surprised at how it turned out,” Tierney said. “I felt we were a long way from where we needed to be last summer. Numbers were an issue. It was a bit more daunting than I thought it would be. We had great kids, with a great school and great support from the community. We worked hard and they responded. We got better as the season progressed.”

He is a brilliant head coach, as proven at Shaw over 19 years previously, including winning a state championship, many Catholic League titles and reaching the title game four times. At Ponchatoula, Tierney led the Green Wave to a state championship game as well.

As year two of his second stint arrives, there are huge expectations.

The Eagles lost some superb players to graduation, including speedy running back David Kensey, along with outstanding wide receiver Mike Williams and an excellent defensive lineman in Ronald Allen, among others.

There are 11 starters returning and the clear challenge is on offense, where only three starters return.

The new quarterback is junior Mason Wilson (5-11, 180).

“Mason has a chance to be a very good player,” Tierney said. “He can run and throw. We run the spread option and he can handle it well. I think we will be able to spread it out this year. He had a really good spring game and he is very smart and he finished third in the state in wrestling so he is tough.”

There is talent at running back with the arrival of junior Jasper Parker (6-1, 190), who transferred from Jesuit. He is joined by junior Darrell Hains (5-8, 155).

“Jasper as a chance to be an outstanding running back while Hains backed up Kency last year and he is very capable,” Tierney said. “We moved Caleb Williams to the slot position with Parker with us.”

A pair of wide receivers return, including senior Cameron Marigny-Bolden (5-10, 155) and junior Gavin Richard (5-9, 180). They will be joined by another nice addition in junior Jacob Washington (6-3, 175) from Jesuit, along with juniors Dennis Seal (6-4, 155), Stephen Houin (6-0, 170), Ivey Smith (6-1, 170) and Williams (5-9, 175).

“Marigny-Bolden started every game last year,” Tierney said. “Washington is big and has a lot of tools. Houin has good size and he returns. We feel we are very deep at the receiver spot.”

A pair of starters are back up front in senior tackles Raymond Howard (6-3, 275) and Brycen Punch (5-11, 210). Howard is a commit to Air Force.

“Raymond is a four-year starter,” Tierney said. “Committing to Air Force tells you about him academically. He is a tremendous leader who wants to do everything the right way. He has the kids around him wanting to work hard to improve. He was second in the state in wrestling and he wrestles with a torn labrum. Punch returns.”

The guards will come from a group of three, including juniors Bryson Bustamante (5-10, 235), Adam LaMark (6-2, 306) and Carter Newsham (6-3, 225).

Junior D’Artanian Miller (5-11, 250) is the center.

The tight end is solid in senior George Sartor (6-3, 215).

“Sartor will play the H-Back position as well,” Tierney said. “He has size. Ivey Smith is a good player as well who will contribute there. Both can block.”

The defense will be stout, with eight returning starters.

Up front, senior end Jayden Scott (6-3, 235) is a Tulane commit and returning All-District player and is flanked by junior Sheldon Green (6-4, 200).

The tackles return as well in senior standout Kilas Francis (6-3, 310) and senior Trevor Whitted (6-2, 245).

“I believe three of our four guys up front will play college football,” Tierney said. “Scott is outstanding. Francis is huge and he can move. Green will be highly recruited. Whitted is big. We have a lot of quality players there.”

The linebackers are young, including sophomore J’Quan Carter (5-10, 178) and freshman Rontrae Carter (5-11, 170).

“Rontrae started as an eight-grader and made All-District,” Tierney said. “J’Quan is his cousin and he can play as well.”

There is vast experience in the secondary with four senior starters, including cornerbacks Kardell Allen (5-8, 155) and Dallas Borne (5-9, 150) and safeties Louis Foster (6-0, 175) and a star in Jordan Evans (5-11, 170).

“Foster has offers and all are experienced players,” Tierney said. “They can all run.”

Junior Henry Zelaya (5-10, 160) will handle kicking and punting duties.

“Zelaya was an All-District player who kicks off to the end zone 79 percent of the time,” Tierney said. “He can make long field goals and he punts well also. He is a real weapon.”

The Eagles will measure themselves immediately, opening the season at home against two-time defending state champion St. Charles Catholic. The Comets humbled the Eagles 37-0 in LaPlace last season.

Then, Shaw travels to Kinkaid, Texas, another tough assignment.

It does not get any easier as Shaw returns home to host rival Archbishop Rummel in the annual Megaphone game. Home games with Bonnabel and West Jefferson are next.

“St. Charles Catholic is a proven state champion,” Tierney said. “I knew exactly what we were getting into and they handled us. They are always the same, tough and well coached. We have them at home. We have not been Rummel since 2006. That is a good program.”

District 10-4A play begins at Behrman Stadium against Landry before the Eagles host Belle Chasse.

Shaw then plays a non-district game at home against Patterson before closing district play and the regular season against Higgins at Hoss Memtsas Stadium. The final regular season game is at home against a traditional power in Carencro.

“We needed a final week opponent and Carencro is awfully good every year,” Tierney said. “Landry has talent, Belle Chasse is tough and well coached, and we expect challenges from Higgins and Patterson.”

With a future Hall of Fame coach, a pipeline for talent back flowing and high expectations, look for the Eagles to fly high as a favorite to win another district title and advance in the playoffs again.

“We’re way ahead of where we were last year,” Tierney said. “We have an outstanding coaching staff of young guys who work hard and have earned the respect of our players. We cannot wait to get started.”

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