Growth Mode: Comeaux sheds past identity with new-found success
by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
Comeaux High was on the brink of extending its 32-game losing streak. The Spartans trailed by three points with 12 seconds remaining two weeks ago when offensive coordinator Desmond Woods decided to go in an unconventional direction to try and bury the past.
Senior quarterback Sean Brinkaus got the ball back on a reverse and connected with Iulian Pop for a 60-yard touchdown and a 34-30 win over Patterson.
“Coach Woods ran that play ad nauseum in the offseason and at practice,” Comeaux head coach Marquis Newsome said. “We knew one day we were going to need it, but I didn’t think he would dial it up on the last play of the game.”
Comeaux needed a jolt to get out of its 3-plus-year doldrums. The Spartans were last victorious against New Iberia (30-28) on Oct. 22, 2021, before enduring three consecutive winless seasons, the last two under Newsome, who returned to his alma mater in ’23.
The Spartans enjoyed the sensation of the Patterson game so much that they traveled to New Iberia a week ago, where they overcame a 21-7 first-quarter deficit. Behind Celestine’s monster outing – 24 carries for 320 yards with 5 touchdowns – they emerged with a 42-28 victory.
Comeaux (2-1) opens District 4-4A play at home against Rayne (2-1) in search of its first three-game winning streak since 2019.
“Our kids are playing with a newfound confidence,” Newsome said. “A lot of these kids have been starting since their freshman year. They were going against guys that were older than them. Now they’re finally going against guys their same age and able to compete a little better.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Newsome said of his league opener. “(Head) Coach (Kaine) Guidry does a heck of a job at Rayne. He has a bunch of formations to prepare for. They’re a well-coached team. It’s not going to be easy, but none of them area.”
Comeaux was losing a bigger battle off the field.
The 60-year-old school, with a robust enrollment of 2,500 when Newsome graduated in 2001, experienced a decline of 900 students who were zoned in 2016-17 for the newly built Southside High in Youngsville.
An additional 500 students no longer attended Comeaux the following year, a number also attributed to the proliferation of charter schools in the Acadiana area.
“That’s something I wasn’t used to when I got the job,” Newsome said of the school’s falling enrollment numbers. “I was under the impression it would be the same numbers. It was 1,650 when I got here, and every year we’ve dropped, and now it’s down to 700.”
Nearly a year ago, the Lafayette Parish School Board voted 5-4 in favor of keeping open Comeaux, an A-rated school by the State Department of Education, during what was described as an emotionally charged meeting.
“We lost kids the last couple of years over whether the school would close or not,” Newsome said. “We lost a bunch of kids to charter schools. Parents weren’t sure if the school would still be open or not.”
Comeaux’s enrollment drop resulted in a move from District 3-5A to 4- 4A, where they’re paired with fellow Lafayette-area schools St. Thomas More and Teurlings Catholic, and Westgate of New Iberia, Rayne, and North Vermilion.
“Our district’s one of the toughest in the state outside of the one we left in 3-5A,” Newsome said.
Newsome, who was part of rosters with 150 players during his playing days and won a playoff game at St. Amant in ’01, has put together a roster that borders between 65 and 70 players, a group that’s taken its lumps with freshman and sophomores that have developed over the past two seasons.
With only nine seniors this season, the Spartans have a bright future with 44 players that are either juniors or sophomores comprising the bulk of the roster.
“I understood the process of building a program,” he said. “We were 0-10, 0-10, and 4-6 my first three years, and made a playoff run my senior year. I also coached at Westgate until we won a state championship (2021) during my six to seven years. We knew it would be a two to three-year process. They’ve believed. Our seniors have played a big part. The junior class is the one that had on their minds they wanted to change this by their junior year.”
Newsome said he and his staff, which includes Woods and defensive coordinator Marques Lewis, took a closer look at the team’s execution during the offseason.
The Spartans showed glimmers of hope during the ’24 season, holding the lead in seven of their 10 losses, but Newsome wanted to break down the game into segments – whether they led or trailed – to build a level of comfort when those situations arose this year.
“We did a lot more situational stuff, like how to close games,” he said. “If we’re down by five and have to go to our four-minute or two-minute offense. If we’re up by five, how to ice the clock. My coordinators have done a great job of putting these kids in positions to be successful. When we’re in these situations, it’s not a new thing.
“I tried to be more humble this year,” he said. “God humbled me. We’ve had something that we hadn’t since I’ve been here. We’ve had kids leading the team. Coach-led teams have success, but player-led teams have a lot of success, and our kids have stepped up big time.”
Brinkhaus and Celestine have been two of the bigger leaders on offense, along with senior center Reece Boutte, a four-year starter.
“They hold everybody accountable,” he said. “It helps when you have a talent like Celestine.”
Celestine’s performance last week against New Iberia pushed his team’s season totals to 56 carries for 650 yards – 11.6 yards per carry – and eight touchdowns. He averaged eight yards a carry last season, splitting time with Jamar Michaels, Newsome said.
“I was at Westgate when Kayshon Boutte was there,” Newsome said of the New England Patriots wide receiver who played at LSU. “I’ve seen special, and this kid’s different. He can run it; he can catch it. He plays some defense for us. He had the option to go to any school in the area and chose to come to Comeaux. In his words, he came to help turn this around. He said we were going to wake up Comeaux.”
Sophomore running back Jaiden Portalis has provided 180 yards and 3 TDs on 25 attempts in a relief role.
Junior Gabriel Cooper combined to galvanize the offensive line that led the way for Celestine against New Iberia, a game that was tied 21-21 at halftime.
“At halftime, he was like coach, ‘just give me the ball,’” Newsome said. “Our coordinator did a great job of not only calling the plays but listening to the kids and figuring out the next move with these kids. We went for it twice on fourth down. They did a great job of making sure the line was on the same page, and Celestine did the rest. The O-line did a heck of a job making creases.”
Newsome referred to junior middle linebacker Alex Satchell (27 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles, interception) as the unit’s “heart and soul”.
“He gets everyone aligned,” he said of the former Notre Dame of Crowley transfer.
Comeaux also has a pair of standout tackles in senior Braylen Thomas, an all-district selection in ’24, who has 2 ½ sacks and teams with 6-0, 285-pound sophomore Jovontrey Roberston for a difficult 1-2 duo to block.
“They’ve really taken a step forward,” Newsome said of his two tackles.
Sophomore noseguard James Johnson, a 5-6, 285-pounder, is nicknamed “speed bump” because of the opposition’s inability to move him.
The Spartans also have a talented collection of defensive ends in senior Julian Joseph (10 TFLs, 3 sacks) and junior Larry Vallier, a 6-4, 215-pounder.
South Terrebonne extended Comeaux’s losing streak, the third longest in the state, with a 17-0 win in the season opener.
The Spartans, who led by 10 points, trailed 30-27 with 12 seconds to play and faced the possibility of a 33rd consecutive defeat.
“Our biggest issue is that we were waiting to lose because we were used to losing if something happened,” Newsome said. “We were up 28-18 going to the fourth quarter, and the coaches and kids started pressing a little bit, and we went down to the last play.”
With Brinkhaus lined up wide at wide receiver Celestine, who rushed for 275 yards, took the snap from center and pitched to Brinkhaus, who motioned toward the line, and found a wide-open Pop, who atoned for an earlier drop before halftime.
This time, Pop’s game-winning catch triggered a jubilant sideline that spilled onto the field, where they were joined by their adoring fans who were reduced to tears.
It was the program’s first victory in 1,419 days.
“We had people smiling on the sideline before the play saying, ‘we’ve still got this,’” Newsome said. “We’ve put more of God into things and understanding that he has control. It was a blessing that Pop had another chance to rectify the situation after the drop before halftime. It was a big play.”
Newsome expected the outpouring after the final whistle, a group led by the “Meaux Moms” who have been regulars at home and away games since he took over. They’ve embraced the method Newsome relied on with all of his players – the opportunity to try and develop them beyond their high school days.
“They see that we’re trying to build it the right way,” he said. “We’re developing righteous men that believe in God. Not everybody’s going to play college football. Not everybody’s going to play in the league (NFL), but everybody’s going to be a man, they’re going to be a dad, and a head of a household. Our main focus has always been on building the man.
“It was not a surprise when they stormed the field; they’ve invested as much as we have,” he said. “It’s taken some time, but when you do things through God the right way, he takes care of it. These parents deserve the water shower as much as I did because of the time they’ve spent supporting us.”
Comeaux’s hour-long bus ride turned into a celebratory gathering. The team was met by a good portion of the student body, coupled with the volleyball and track team, where they were the recipients of streamers and doused with water.
Newsome believed he finally went to sleep at 4 a.m. before returning for the team’s film session three hours later Saturday morning.
“The love and camaraderie the school entails were on a whole different level,” he said.
Newsome said the team’s first practice last Monday in preparation for New Iberia left a lot to be desired, evidenced by the team’s slow start against the Yellow Jackets. The week’s practice sessions improved, though, mirroring the game where the Spartans outscored the home team, 21-7.
“The Monday practice wasn’t a great one; we had to kind of reel them in,” Newsome said. “They were still excited about the previous week. We had a nice talk after that and had some crisper practices for the rest of the week.
“At this point, we can’t be choosy,” Newsome said. “We can only play who’s in front of us. I know some people in the area have downplayed who we’ve won against. We had a 32-game losing streak; you take whatever you can. We’re going to use this momentum for the rest of the season.”
Featured Image Courtesy: BayouShadowsPhotography