New flexbone offense gives Tigers more versatility
Breaux Bridge – Without a whole lot of upperclassmen — seven seniors and eight juniors — the upcoming football season might be looked at as a challenge for Breaux Bridge High School.
But head coach Tyler Pierce has experienced players returning to help smooth out any bumps in the road.
“It’s young and fun,” Pierce. “For us, though, it’s the guys we know we can count on. Those kids give peace to mind. It’s just making sure all the new ones, all the incoming freshmen, the sophomores who had to step in and play as freshmen (last season), just having those layers of depth and seeing who we can count on.
“But they’re all great kids and they’re all capable. It’s just finding if Pop (Celestine’s) helmet comes off, who comes in and do we feel comfortable whether it’s in the secondary or at quarterback. As far as the team it’s just jelling as a team and who we can count on, and trust each other.”
The offense is moving from a split-back veer to a flexbone that features a fullback directly behind the quarterback and two slotbacks set up behind the line on each side of the formation. It’s built off timing with a lot of the same blocking schematics as last year’s offense.
While last year’s running game featured workhorse back Baylon Champagne carrying much of the load, the team will see senior fullback Kyle Bonin (5foot-9, 175 pounds) and split backs Noah Solo-mon, a 5-9, 170-pound senior, and Cruz Trail, a 5-11, 175-pound junior. Celestine (6-3, 195) moves from wide out to quarterback this season as a junior.
“For us it’s exciting because last year, everybody knew who the dive back was,” Pierce said. “They knew it was going to No. 7 (Champagne). You kind of knew who possibly the sweep back was.
“Well now, with the new offense and more of that flexbone appearance, we can give it to anybody at any time through a handoff, through a pitch, through a pass. It’s helped these guys become more versatile instead of asking them to do one thing and be great at it. The offense has really come a long way, especially since spring.”
Junior Jyric Lewis (6-foot, 265) returns at center with senior Emmanuel Watson (5-10, 225) and sophomore Christian Johnson (61, 215) at the tackles and seniors Joseph Roberts (5-11, 280) and Kenyan Domonter (511, 270) at the guards.
The defense is looking to build more depth with many of the starters from last year’s defense moving to offense.
“There’s some freshmen and new kids on the team that are going to be thrown in some spots,” Pierce said. “Were going to ask them to grow up quickly. Growing up on Friday night is a lot different than maybe a jayvee game on Wednesday. But we wouldn’t put them in there if we didn’t think they were capable of it.”
The defensive front includes two returning starters in senior Kenyan Domonter (5-11, 270) and sophomore Brylon Thibeaux (5-11, 235) with junior Diego LeBlanc (6-0, 175) also along the front line.
Trail is looked to as a leader on the defensive side of the ball, returning to lead the linebacking corps. He is joined by senior Hayden Guidry (5-11, 175) and sophomore Destin Rabon (6-1, 185).
Celestine returns at free safety with strong safeties Nelson Borel (6-3, 195, senior) and Rickey Gary (5-7, 160, sophomore) also returning.
Solomon (5-9, 170) is another returning starter with junior Cadin Joseph (5-8, 165) also starting at corner.
