From Underdogs to Contenders: Covenant Christian Surges to 6-0 Under Coach Jesse Turner

by: Lori Lyons // GeauxPreps.com Contributor

Sometimes, Covenant Christian head football coach Jesse Turner wakes up and wonders if he’s dreaming.

It isn’t a bad dream that’s keeping him awake. It’s the fact that Turner’s upstart football team is 6-0 for the first time since joining the Louisiana High School Athletic Association in 2013. As they head into this week’s District 7-1A opener against Hanson Memorial, the Lions are one of only 26 teams to remain undefeated through Week Six. 

“Sometimes you fall asleep at night and you wake up and you’re like, ‘Oh man. I’m really 6-0,’” Turner said.

It isn’t a dream, but it’s a dream season for Turner, an All-Southland Conference running back at Nicholls State University now in his second season as coach of the Lions. He spent 11 seasons coaching at his alma mater, Ellender Memorial, across town, including three as the Patriot’s head coach. 

“It’s a different territory,” said Turner. “It’s the best start in my career as well. I never went 6-0 like this. And I don’t think the school did as well. Did have some good seasons in the past with the Christian League, but that’s a little bit different.”

In his first season at Covenant Christian, Turner led the Lions to the Division IV Select playoffs as the 20th seed where they upset No. 13 Delta Charter, 35-6, before losing to No. 4 St. Martin’s 40-27.

Turner said he’s just happy not to have to play teams like Warren Easton and Karr in the playoffs anymore.

“At Ellender, we saw the best of the best playing 5A schools like Terrebonne every year,” he said. “We played tough district opponents like Lutcher, Vandebilt, Assumption. So coming in here was like a breath of fresh air. I was like, I can get my career restarted in a district that’s pretty fair.”

That’s not to say it was easy.

“It was actually very very challenging for us that first year, learning how to practice with a 1A team, learning how to take care of the kids’ bodies throughout the season, learning how to make adjustments during the game when your QB is playing defense and your running back,” Turner said. “So we created like a little system where we don’t go both ways as much. That helps us plan a little more effectively and it’s working so far.”

A lot is working for the Lions who are averaging 46 points per game while holding their opponents to 75 points all season. 

Junior quarterback Owen Trosclair is leading the way with 1,123 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and only one interception. In a 45-3 win over Archbishop Hannon on Sept. 27, Trosclair was a perfect 12-for-12 for 308 yards and five touchdowns. He also had two sacks, caused a fumble, and blocked a punt on defense.

Trosclair has many weapons to go to as well. 

Junior wide receiver Jaden Carter (who happens to be Turner’s nephew) has caught 17 passes for 404 yards and three touchdowns. He also has three kickoff returns for scores and two interceptions.
Senior wide receiver Bailey Streams has 20 catches for 288 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Jahari Carter (another nephew) has 13 catches for 237 yards and three touchdowns. 

Junior running back Connor Lally is the “bell cow” for the Lions, rushing for 646 yards on 70 carries with seven touchdowns. And when the Lions get deep inside the red zone, the give is usually to 190-pound senior Carson Hebert, who has five touchdowns. He also plays linebacker, defensive end, and can punt and kick.

Ask Trosclair which is his favorite target and he will refuse to choose.

“I’ll be honest with you,” he said. “All of them. Even the guys on the bench, the ones that come in. I can throw to all of them and they’ll catch it. They all make me look good.”

Trosclair, who has been a CCA student since the sixth grade but missed his freshman year with an injury, said this is a special season for his team and his school.

“Back then, it was different,” he said. “It was just going into a game knowing we were going to get blown out. Just watching film and seeing the big guys and we just didn’t have the numbers that they had. We go into the game on Fridays having the mentality that we have a chance, we have a shot. It’s so much more fun.”

But with success comes pressure.

“Everybody’s waiting for us to lose,” Trosclair said. “A lot of people bought in, but there’s always people waiting for us to lose.”

Said Turner: “For so long people did not expect you to be one of the best teams in the state or even compete for a district title, so you always went into a game, especially the big games, as the underdog. Now the attention is like, ‘OK. What’re you going to do? You’re no longer the underdog. You’re the favorite.’ It’s new territory for me, new territory for the team.”