South Plaquemines will start the field with one of the youngest teams in the state – Crescent City Sports

While 2020 was a difficult and challenging year for everyone, the South Plaquemines football program handled the distractions well and enjoyed a stable season.

Lyle Fitte led the Hurricanes to a record 5-4, including an exciting playoff win from Franklin.

Unfortunately, South Plaquemines had to lose their second-round playoff game with potential state champion Mone due to COVID 19 problems.

It was hard to see the season end in the same way, Fitte said. We really wanted the opportunity to play for many, the best team, to see how we would have fared. It would have given me a good benchmark to see where we are. It was still a good season for us.

It did not detract from the good sides of the season.

It does not dampen great memories and history. Fitte helped make South Plaquemines as a star player when he was part of consecutive state championship teams in 2007 and 2008 led by Cyril Crutchfield before playing for Louisiana Tech.

Season 2021 brings real challenges to the Hurricanes.

Most beginners are gone, including standouts with Bryce Edgerson, Isaiah Jason and Dallin Sylve.

Only six starters will return to the very young team this season.

Amazing that only two players who are due to start are seniors and only seven are juniors. There are six second-graders, three freshmen and up to three eighth-graders.

Most of our team are eighth, ninth and tenth grade students, Fitte said. We are challenged, but it is a year when we learn on the fly and get better.

Fortunately, one of the returning players is senior defender Taighan Jones (6-1, 165). Eighth-grade Roger Parker (5-7, 165) also plays.

We hope Taighan can play, Fitte said. Roger Parker is talented and will also be playing. We expect them to share their time.

In 2020, Jones was good at performing 992 yards and 13 touches out of 52 out of 88 passes with just two abductions.

Jones has an excellent recipient in returning beginner Ezekiel Bourgeois (5-10, 167). Senior Bourgeois scored 20 assists last year with 385 yards and six goals.

Kyle is our top manager, Fitte said. We have strong confidence in him. He will likely play in all three stages of the game.

Bourgeois joins out-of-spread junior Reed Sanger (5-9, 155), sophomore Kyrin Davis (5-10, 145) and freshman Daejawn Smith (5-10, 154).

The runner is likely to be freshman JyHeim Williams (5-5, 136).

JyHeim will start, but Malachi Williams and Khilan Williams will see the time, and we can also use Kamen Phillips in the attack, Fitte said.

Ahead is the experience of a couple of returning beginners at junior center Michael Brown (6-0, 255) and second-year left-wing Brysten Prout (6-1 195).

Other beginners are juniors Melvin Mackey (6-0, 240) on the left tackle and Jordie Ancalade (5-9, 185) on the right guard, as well as freshman Thoung Le (6-2, 210) on the right tackle, while Tylon Riley will also play.

Brown is the leader of the group, Fitte said. Prout will be back too and we will definitely trust him. Mackey saw time last year and it should be stronger.

In defense, all three novice line players are new, including a couple of sophomores at Alden Gonzales (5-9, 295) with a nose gun and Tylon Riley (6-2, 225) at the head of defense, as well as freshman Deanel McGee Jr. (6-3, 215) at the other endpoint.

It’s a new group ahead, Fitte said. We need to ripen quickly.

The strength of the defense lies in the linebacker, where starting pairs return with junior strong defender Malaki Williams (5-10, 195) and second-class midfielder Richie Espadron (6-3, 235). Williams had 54 matches, including 10 losses, as well as a kidnapping, two forced fumbles and a recovery last season. Espadron had 47 matches, including 13 losses and six sacks with the abduction.

We like our line players and rely heavily on them, Fitte said. Espadron played defense last year. This is a very good group that can do plays.

With them on the weak side is eighth grade Tyler Roberts (5-6, 155).

The secondary is distinctive in Kamen Phillips ’Junior (5-9, 175) for free. Phillips led 62 matches last season, eight of which were lost. Phillips led the team with three abductions and three fumble returns and also forced a fumble. Phillips returned one abduction from the point.

Kamen runs sideways to the side and plays the ball very well in the air, Fitte said. He is also a fighter, just an excellent player.

Strong security is Roderick Parker Jr. (5-6, 156), another eighth grader.

Also secondary are corners of Darmon Williams (5-11, 160), junior, and yet another eighth grader Josh Barthelemy (5-6, 145). Second-class Dawson Gilhang (5-10, 150) is also expected to begin.

Espadron takes care of the firing.

The season opens with the traditional Plaquemines Parish competition in Belle Chasse and then a road trip to East Fellicia. Next home games with Istrouma, ML King Charter and Abramson Sci Academy.

Belle Chasse is always a tough game, a big competition and they are always a solid team, Fitte said. I’m excited that we’re playing after we left each other out of play last year. We think the pre-district schedule should be competitive for us.

The District 11-2A game begins with three home games, including Cohen, Thomas Jefferson and Fisher.

The last two games are perhaps the most difficult as the Hurricanes travel to LaPlace to take traditional power from St. Charles Catholic and shut themselves home deeply to the talented Newman.

We’re glad we have a lot of home games and it was designed with a young team, Fitte said. It played perfectly for us. The area is one of the most difficult in the state. St. Charles and Newman are certainly area favorites.

One of the youngest teams in the region, if not the state, South Plaquemines may face a year of reconstruction. If young players can learn and mature in the first half of the season, the Hurricanes can become competitive as the district begins to play. While the present may be a challenge, the future looks promising for hurricanes.

This is a very young team, but I’m very excited, Fitte said. In more difficult games, we play guys in both directions. I just want our kids to be committed, have a great attitude and compete. The future is really bright. I still look forward to winning seasons and access to the playoffs. These are always our expectations here.

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