– Kohen Clues and Zyrian Johnson are expecting to fulfill multiple roles for the St. Martinville Senior High Tigers in their final football season in the Purple and Gold.
The two seniors may have their biggest impact on defense again this season as the Tigers look to bounce back from an off year with a return to the playoffs this fall. SMSH dealt with injuries at key positions in missing the playoffs in 2024 for the first time since 2014.
“My main thing is making it to state (playoffs) and having all the seniors sign on signing day,” said Clues. “That’s one of my biggest goals. I would like to see all of my brothers succeed and for all of us go somewhere to college on signing day.”
Clues, 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, already has several offers to play college football and hopes a good season leads to more NCAA Division I scholarship offers.
“It’s a blessing to receive an offer and go to school for free,” he said. “Playing the sport you love and having a free education is the main goal.”
Johnson, 6-0 and 195 pounds, also has high goals for the Tigers to aim for this fall.
“District championship and state title,” Johnson said. “We need to prepare more. Everybody’s got to hustle on and off the field. It’s just the little things that prepare us.”
Both Clues and Johnson primarily play linebacker on defense, with Clues also playing defensive end, running back, receiver and tight end.
“Those guys are going to play big roles for us on the defensive side,” first-year SMSH head coach Garrett Kreamer said. “Kohen Clues will be playing Mike linebacker (middle linebacker). We rely on him to make all the calls and the checks. He’s a threeyear starter so we’re expecting big things from him.
“Zyrian Johnson can do multiple things. He’s also going to play Will linebacker (weak-side linebacker) and some defensive end.”
Clues prefers linebacker but will play any position he’s asked to, Clues said.
“Linebacker, but it doesn’t matter, whatever the coach needs,” he said.
Johnson also plays tight end and some running back. He earned first-team All-District honors in 2024 at defensive back.
“I would say defense more,” he said of his preference. “I like tackling. Tackling, the physicality, all of that stuff.”
Clues said that he’s expecting to play a leadership role for the Tigers this season.
“I need to make tackles, lead, be a leader, talk on the field,” he said. “Communication is the key on defense, I feel. I’ve got to let everybody know where they’ve got to go, and just execute, play 100 percent.”
Clues earned secondteam All-District 5-3A honors at linebacker last year but isn’t resting on past accomplishments.
“You’ve got to improve on everything,” he said. “I feel like I wasn’t perfect last season. I’ve got more stuff to improve on.
“The goals I’ve got for myself is to be a leader. And being honest. Honesty is the key in football. I feel I’ve got to know everybody’s responsibility and my responsibility.”
Johnson said he’d like to get faster, bigger and stronger this season.
“Just help my team out more,” he said. “I’m trying to at least have a hundred tackles this season and help my offense.”
Both players should have a big impact on the team’s success on defense, their coach said.
“They’re two physical kids that have got good size and good intangibles,” Kreamer said. “They’re big-time leaders for us so we’re going to need them to play a big role.
“They’re very bright. We love what they bring to the table. They play on both sides of the ball so they’ve done a good job of grasping the offensive and defensive schemes, so we just need them to be leaders.”
St. Martinville opens the regular season on Sept. 5 at home against parish rival Cecilia, the defending Division II Non-Select state champion.
