Westminster Christian Chargers ready for second year of varsity football

It is a young program ready to grow.

It is a program which can often be confused with a school of the same name in Opelousas.

Westminster Christian Academy in Lafayette embarks on its second season in 2023 under head coach Jim Stomps.

This will be the last season which the Chargers will not compete for district honors after going 7-2 with losses to St. Edmund and to St. Patrick (Miss.).

“We started as 8-man in our first year and last year was our first year in the LHSAA,” Stomps said. “We had one helmet to start with. This was exciting to start a program. This is my 28th year coaching. This is a great opportunity as a chance to produce young men and develop them academically, through ministry and to coach my son is really special. We have only one senior. We look forward to district play next season.”

Westminster Christian has some good players to replace with the graduation of two-way stars Peyton Parrish, Gabe Guillory and Evan Richard.

WCA has eight starters returning from last season, including just three on offense. It is a junior-laden team, most of whom have played for the Chargers since their freshmen seasons.

Fortunately, one of those is at the most important position.

Junior Brock Stomps (6-1, 170) is back after an outstanding season in 2022. Stomps completed 125 of 203 passes (61.5%) for 1,946 yards and 26 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. Stomps is a college prospect.

“He’s doing a great job,” Coach Stomps said. “He’s been in my system since he was 4-years-old. He knows what we are calling and what to do. That is important to have a good quarterback.”

The other two starters returning are up front in junior guard Tyler Bolding (5-10, 175) and junior tackle Owen Morgan (6-0, 195). Joining them are senior guard Colin Luquette (5-11, 180), tackle Michael Landry (6-1, 180) and sophomore center Watson Delahoussaye (5-9 170).

Junior Jackson Davis (6-0, 175) is the running back while juniors David Beazley (5-10, 155) and Jack Lemoine (5-10, 150) are the slot backs. Junior Carson Periou (6-0, 170) mans the wide receiver position while the tight end is sophomore Gavin Hebert (6-0, 170). Beazley is a college prospect.

“Beazley is out slot receiver and our free safety and he has a couple of college offers,” Stomps said. “He is a very good athlete whom we will count on heavily. He is a ball-hawk on defense. He is smooth. He can get open and find the ball.”

There is more experience returning on defense with five starters back on a unit that is not big but has good overall speed.

Up front, Morgan is the nose tackle while Luquette and Landry are the defensive ends.

A pair of linebackers return as starters in Davis and Bolding and they are joined by Hebert at the second level. Freshman Ethan Simon (5-9, 155) is the rover.

“Davis broke his hand in our first game last year and he continued to play,” Stomps said. “He still had 60 tackles with a nub hand. That tells you about his toughness and character.”

The secondary has just one returning starter in Lemoine. Other starters in the deep will be Beazley at free safety, junior Nathan Henry (5-7, 155) at strong safety and junior Jessie Rhinehart (6-0, 170) at cornerback.

Henry will handle kicking and punting duties while Beazley is the primary return man.

The season opens with a home game against Berchmans Academy Sept. 1 before playing Crescent City Christian on Sept. 7 before five road games at St. Edmund, North Iberville, Beekman Charter, Lafayette Renaissance Charter and Montgomery. WCA will play Berchmans a second time before the regular season concludes at home against Thrive Academy.

It will be an exciting time as the WCA program matures in Lafayette.

“We are fun to watch,” Stomps said. “We throw it and we throw it to run it. We are a spread team. Craig Howard was my mentor who was Tim Tebow’s high school coach. We will throw it around the yard and run it when we need to. We are looking forward to progressing in our program this season.”

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