West St. John starts anew with Thomas

It has been a rollercoaster for West St. John football over the last few years. The traditionally powerful program is now on its third head coach in four seasons.

This time, there is a reasonable to good chance that the current coach will stay a while. Derron Thomas started his prep career as a student at West St. John.

Now, he is back in Edgard to steady and right a listing ship.

Accustomed to playing for championships with four state titles to its credit, West St. John slipped to 2-7 a year ago, a true departure from the norm.

“We are getting things back together,” Thomas said. “We had a really good summer, building it from 17 players in the spring to 42 players now. We are getting it back to what West St. John is with discipline, hard work, dedication and desire. That is what it will take to get the program back where it belongs, taking care of little things that will turn into big things.”

The norm may return in 2023.

The Rams return 14 starters from a year ago, all of whom gained valuable experience.

“The majority of our starters are back and we only have five seniors this year,” Thomas said.

West St. John graduated key players in Timothy Bartholomew, Mikhail Burrell and Lykem Thomas but there are a host of good players returning to lead the way.

Junior Keimyron Weber (5-10, 160) returns at quarterback.

“Keimyron will play quarterback and will play wide receiver,” Thomas said. “He is dynamic and is gaining the trust of coaches and of his teammates. He’s picking up everything well. He will play cornerback as well but he wants that challenge.”

Junior running back Kailen Edwards (5-10, 170) is back and he is joined by sophomore Jakari Milton (5-9, 165). The H-Back will be senior DJ Jarrow (6-1, 180).

“DJ will play wide receiver, H-Back and will start on defense as well,” Thomas said.

The wide receiver spot features two returning starters.

Seniors Kylin Smith (5-10, 160) and Michael Motton Jr. (6-3, 160) are back. The third starter is senior Tyler Singleton (6-0, 165).

“Smith will play both wide receiver and quarterback and he is outstanding,” Thomas said. “Smith is being recruited as a cornerback and he will play there. Singleton comes from basketball and he will be a very good player for us.”

The offensive line is a real strength, with four of five starters back, led by senior guard Brandon Jones (6-1, 250). Sophomore guard Tim Coleman (5-11, 245) also returns, along with junior tackle Jarrien Smith (6-2, 250). Sophomore center Damarcus Turley (6-0, 255) is also back in the fold. The new starter is sophomore tackle Ke’Juan Fobb (6-3, 260).

“Jones is the leader of the offensive line,” Thomas said. “He has started for a few years now. He is leaving it all on the field. He handles his business very well. Fobb is a player with Division I ability and a great future. He is the most athletic lineman we have and will play both ways. Turley is another talented sophomore.”

The defense returns six starters.

The strength is up front with three returning starters in Jarrow, Jones and junior Darrious Patterson (6-1, 175). The fourth starter is Fobbs.

Edwards returns to start at linebacker and is flanked by sophomore E’Miray Fletcher (5-11, 180).

The secondary returns a pair of starters in Weber and Smith. The other three starters are junior Matthew Borne and junior Joradae Grows (6-1, 170) at the safety spots and sophomore Za’Kyrian Howard (5-11, 165) as the nickel back.

“We will be very active and fly around,” Thomas said. “We are very athletic and have natural speed on defense. Grows is extremely athletic and Howard is very active and can run sideline to sideline. Edwards is a gifted junior who will play running back as well.”

Borne is the kicker and punter.

The season opens at home with games against Ascension Catholic and St. James before a road game at Donaldsonville. Two more home games with Thrive Academy and Ascension Episcopal are next.

“The non-district games will get us ready for our district and playoff run,” Thomas said. “We like playing higher classification teams early in the season to teach us to compete and prepare well. We are up for the challenge. We expect to win every game. That is West St. John Ram football. We are working hard to change the narrative.”

District 10-1A play opens at home against Varnado before a road game at Riverside Academy.

After hosting St. Martin’s Episcopal, the Rams play at Crescent City Christian. The regular season closes at home with a non-district contest against Pine.

“You always have Riverside and they are always tough,” Thomas said. “St. Martin’s has one of the top running backs in the nation. We will come out and work hard to find a way defensively to slow them down. Crescent City and Varnado will be worthy challenges as well.”

As always, a key for the Rams is to stay healthy with six players slated to play both ways.

With a motivated new coach, good young talent and some experience, look for West St. John to return to winning ways in 2023.

“Everyone has bought in, everyone is excited,” Thomas said. “If we do everything we are supposed to do, we can be successful. We have to play tough, physical, fast and be a well-coached team. The sky is the limit. It’s a new era, a new day as we work to get the program back where it was. We are doing everything to make sure that happens.”

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