2024 Catholic League Football: Battle for Supremacy in a Stacked District – Part Two

by: Mike Strom // GeauxPreps.com Contributor

The Catholic League is poised for an exciting season with each team striving to make their mark in one of Louisiana’s most competitive districts. Brother Martin, led by veteran coach Mark Bonis, is determined to bounce back from last year’s disappointing playoff exit. Holy Cross, under Scott Wattigny, aims to build on their surprising success from last season with a robust returning roster. St. Augustine welcomes new head coach Robert Valdez, who brings a championship pedigree and a renewed sense of optimism. Jesuit, with a strong focus on their trenches, is looking to solidify their place among the state’s elite, driven by experienced linemen and a promising senior class. These teams, each with their unique strengths and challenges, are set to battle it out in a league where tradition and competition run deep.


BROTHER MARTIN: 

The Crusaders will not lack for effort when it comes to removing the distasteful experience of a one-and-done exit from the 2023 state playoffs that spoiled an otherwise highly respectable, injury-plagued 7-3 regular season and second-place finish in league play.

“I’m really excited about our guys based on the sense of their work ethic from the offseason,’’ said Bonis, who is in his 16th season of directing Martin’s program. “I think our guys have really done a great job of maximizing or reaching their athletic ceiling up to this point. And I think we had a great offseason from a physicality standpoint. So everything we’ve asked our guys to do, they’ve done that and more.’’

Ten starters must be replaced from a team that was seeded No. 4 in the playoffs only to be upset, 23-0, by No. 13 Alexandria in the regional round. Brother Martin’s 12 returnees are split evenly with six back in Martin’s multiple offensive sets and another six returning in the Crusaders’ 3-4 “tight’’ defensive scheme.

Senior Seth Dazet returns for his third season as a starting quarterback and has four veteran targets back in wide receivers Easton Royal, Brodie Dumontier, Rex Leblanc, and tight end Nico Paulin. The running backs are new and only senior left tackle Caleb Smith returns upfront.

“We have to be efficient in the passing game in order for our running game and offensive line to come along as we go. We’re excited about the linemen group. They’re just young. I’m really excited about the running back room. They’re just young as well. So we’re going to start out with (a) running back by committee (approach).’’

Defensively, noseguard Nathan Malek and end Chase Chesser are integral pieces in the Crusaders’ stop ’em plans. Senior linebacker Jadon Weber is another veteran as are secondary members, cornerbacks Treshoun Ware and Kaeden Goodman, and safety Camden Buras. Malek and Ware are returning All-District performers.

“We’re leaning on the trenches early on,’’ Bonis said of the defense. “We’re banged up in the secondary. On defense, we’ve got to be real good up front and control the line of scrimmage in the running game. We’ve got to create havoc and cause pressure so the young secondary guys can gain confidence and experience as the season progresses.

“The really neat thing about our (3-4 tight) scheme is we have a lot of ‘tweeners,’’ Bonis added. “We have a lot of guys who play multiple spots who are starters who play different positions. Which is fun. A lot of guys are interchangeable at different spots. Which week to week is very difficult to attack for an offense. Our defense is so multiple because we have so many guys who are versatile.’’

The Crusaders as always will trust in the process as laid out by their coaching staff.

“The key to me is getting better,’’ Bonis said. “We talk about the process and ha, ha, ha (get teased). But getting better every week and progressing through the district and hoping you stay healthy are important.

“The thing that got us last year was the fact that it was the first time that we faced an abundance of injuries. So you have to make sure you get better every week and hope that you stay injury-free or minimize injuries and then make sure that you’re playing your best football at the end of the season.’’


HOLY CROSS

Holy Cross running back Ke’Rynn Smith was an offensive linchpin for the Tigers in 2023 while earning All-District 9-5A honors as a sophomore.
Photo courtesy of Holy Cross High School

Scott Wattigny believes and so apparently do his Tigers.

“We have confidence that this was not a one-hit-wonder type of situation,’’ said Wattigny, who returned to his alma mater to direct a 9-3 turnaround in his first season on Paris Avenue following a demoralizing 3-8 campaign in 2022 that led to his hire. “Our guys believe in the program and what we’re trying to create.

“We surprised people last year. We’re not going to surprise people this year. We’re going to get everybody’s best game. Which is a good thing. But it took time to get the players to believe. I feel confident in who we are and what we’re doing. Our kids believe in what we’re doing.’’
Sixteen starters return from a team that earned the No. 1 seed in the Division I Select state playoffs and defeated arch-rival Jesuit twice by shutout in addition to downing John Curtis before advancing to the state quarterfinals where a 28-14 loss to No. 8 Acadiana ended the Cinderella season.

The Tigers do have a glaring opening at quarterback where All-District performer Cole Cannatella has graduated and been replaced by the senior tandem of Jake Leveque and senior Claude Johnson. Johnson also plays running back alongside fellow returning starters Ke’Rynn Smith and Kayden Andoh when not under center.

Smith, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound junior, is a returning All-District selection at running back and a four-star prospect for 2026, Wattigny said, Tight end Derrick Johnson and wide receiver Finn Martin additionally are two proven senior targets, but the really good news is that four senior starters return upfront in center Noah Remetich, guards Joshua Adams and Andrew Huete and right tackle Albert Sherman.

The Tigers almost had the entire front five back until senior left tackle Caleb Bourgeois sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury that has sidelined him indefinitely, Wattigny said.

“Both quarterbacks will play,’’ Wattigny said. “How much I don’t know. Jake is the starter and Claude is never coming off the field (whether at quarterback or running back). I think our team and the kind of season we have is going to depend on how our quarterback plays. But it doesn’t have to be about yards passing.

“They just need to manage the game and not put us in negative plays. We’re going to try to manage that as coaches. We’re not going to put them in positions that they’re not ready to make. They’re going to have to play efficient and effective and execute. As long as they do that, I think we’re going to be OK.’’

Defensively, it is the front seven that is expected to provide the charge with nose tackle Cole Todd, ends John Best and Sebastian Perez, and linebackers Nicholas DiGerolamo III and Jourdan Johnson giving the Tigers five proven hands. Cornerback Joshua Brown and safety Cedrick Harmon Jr. are returning starters in the secondary. DiGerolamo and placekicker Noel Mora are returning All-District players.

The Tigers also should benefit from a non-district schedule against E.D. White, De La Salle, and Chalmette that appears designed to generate momentum prior to opening league play at Karr in week four.

“Our box, the interior guys, those seven guys around the ball, I think we’re going to be pretty good there,’’ Wattigny said. “The one place we may be susceptible is on the back end. We have two or three positions that have to solidify themselves. I think if we can keep the ball in front of us, we’re going to be tough to beat.’’


ST. AUGUSTINE

Photo Courtesy: On3

Optimism also reigns just down the street from Holy Cross at St. Augustine where Robert Valdez is bringing 15 years of head coaching experience and a state championship-winning resume to the A.P. Tureaud Avenue campus following two seasons of coaching offensive line at Grambling.

St. Augustine, which owns six state titles split evenly between two athletic associations, last won a state championship in 1979 when the Purple Knights captured consecutive state crowns and the last of three titles as members of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. The Knights’ fall from grace in 2023 included a 3-7 regular season, a 4-8 mark overall, and an alarming 0-6 report card in the Catholic League.

“We have two goals,’’ said Valdez, who owns a career won-loss record of 126-58-0 in 15 seasons as a head coach at St. James, Scotlandville, West St. John and McKinley. “Our first goal is to win district. The next goal is to win state. I’m a red beans and rice kind of guy, so I’m not worried about 100-yard rushers or other stats. Our goal is to win.

“I don’t want to set a mediocre bar. We’re going to set the bar as high as we can and then do everything we can in our God-given ability to attain it.’’

The Purple Knights must replace 10 of 22 starters with seven veterans back on defense and the other five manning offensive slots. Only 10 seniors, however, currently project as starters with five of those in the offensive line.

“We have a really good group of kids in our young guys,’’ Valdez said. “Our seniors are fine, quality young men who exemplify the values of our school. But we have a lot of ninth- and 10th-graders that are very intelligent and are learning fast. So we’re really dialed into the development of our players and establishing the culture we want.’’

The Purple Knights expect to field a solid defense led by stellar junior tackle Jahkeem Stewart, who holds scholarship offers from virtually all of the nation’s top Power 5 programs. Senior end Warren Roberts, a Tulane commit, and tackle Calvin Guidry are other impact players up front.

The other experienced hands are cornerbacks Frederick Lewis and safety Ryan Montague and safeties Clinton Hill Jr. and Tyrone Mathieu, the cousin of former St. Aug, LSU, and current Saints standout Tyrann Mathieu

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“We have to lean on our defense to be able to give our offense opportunities,’’ Valdez said. “Offensively, we’re going to have to be consistent. Special teams, we have to be on par.

“The biggest key for us is can we line up properly, can we execute our assignments? And can we execute with great effort? If we can do that, it will give us a chance to compete.’’

St. Augustine’s offense is quarterback-centric so the play of junior Vashaun Coulon will be important though likely secondary this season behind the rushing of returning starter Keith Hill Jr. and the blocking of a veteran line led by three returning starters in left tackle Juelz Baptiste, a Tulane commit, left guard Gavin McCoy and right tackle Terrence Cormier.

“Defense is no secret around here,’’ Valdez said. “We’re going to lean on Jahkeem Stewart, the No. 1 recruit in the country (for 2026). He’s such a big, physical guy.’’

Bottom line, Valdez said, “We’re just trying to build a first-class program and compete. So we’ll throw the first punch and see what happens.’’


JESUIT

It’s what’s up front that counts for the Blue Jays this season as they seek to back up their coach’s bold statements about this team’s potential to be one of the state’s top 25 teams.

“I think our strength lies in our trenches if we can stay healthy,’’ said Manale the coach, who is in his fourth season with the Blue Jays and fielding his first senior class. “We return a lot of players in the offensive and defensive lines. I like the guys upfront if we can stay healthy. To be good in this league, you’ve got to be good in the trenches. I think we can be good there.’’

All-District left tackle Chris Bourg joins right guard Luke Cunningham and right tackle Sam Macaluso as returning starters in the offensive line which is tasked with paving the way for an inexperienced group of skill position players in the backfield save for fullback/tight end Caden Sanderson. The Blue Jays return six starters total offensively.

Juniors Taylor Norton and Johnny Nyein are newcomers scheduled to share the quarterback position while the running backs also are new. Junior Roman Larre’ and sophomore Calvin Magee do give the quarterbacks experienced hands at wide receiver.

Defensively, the Blue Jays return five starters, one less than on offense, with end Will Berry and tackle Griffin Ellis leading a deep front four that should also get contributions from promising sophomore end Zyron Forstall.

Senior linebacker Wyatt Mire, senior cornerback Darrick LeBeouf, and junior safety Beau Matulewski complete the group of returning defensive starters with senior linebacker James Roniger and sophomore safety Jack Maguire being other defenders that have the coaching staff excited.

The Blue Jays also return both of their kicking specialists punter Andrew Bordelon and placekicker Ethan Cabos. Both are juniors.

“I like the team. I think they’re ready to compete,’’ Manale said. “There are 21 seniors who have been with us for four years now so they know what to expect. I really like the seniors we have. We have enough experience to contend.’’

Manale’s next victory at Jesuit also will be his 100th of his career. The Blue Jays open non-district kick off the season with non-district home games against Jesuit College Prep of Dallas and Bonnabel sandwiched around a Week 2 road trip to E.D. White in Thibodaux before diving into Catholic League play.

“I think we’re a program on the rise,’’ said Manale, who directed the Blue Jays to the Select Division I state finals in his first season in 2021 following nine uber-successful seasons at De La Salle. “I feel that we are contenders in the state. Our schedule may look like we’re playing against the best teams in the state. We look forward to the challenge this year to see how we stack up against the best in the state.’’