Newman’s Relentless Pursuit of Greatness: A Program Built on Taking Challenges Head-On

Give credit to the Newman Greenies for being a football program that refuses to back down.

A Division III state semifinalist in five of the previous seven seasons, Newman continues to seek its first state championship in football and schedules accordingly. In that vein, the Greenies opted to tackle a familiar and formidable adversary in its 2024 opener in two-time state champion St. Charles Catholic.

Newman’s ensuing 24-10 victory at Michael Lupin Field in uptown New Orleans was as thorough as it was sweet, coming against a former district rival that had beaten Newman three consecutive times in addition to spoiling an undefeated regular season in Week 10 of last year.

“What was unique this year was (the game came in) the preseason schedule,’’ Newman coach Nelson Stewart, in his 19th season in charge of his alma mater’s program, said. “I (intentionally) put (St. Charles Catholic) one. I told the kids we’re not running from anything. You want to be the best, you play the best. That’s why we schedule them.

“I’d like to think that the kids knowing that they could open up with them helped (whereas) typically it was at the end of the year and building up to eight, nine or 10 games. But our kids responded. We felt like it was an opponent that our kids would focus in on. (Newman) hadn’t won in three years and (the players) embraced it.

“(Newman senior players) talked about how we’ve never beaten these guys and they wanted more than anything to be able to get that win. And they’re not going to see them again. (St. Charles) elected to play up, so it’s a one-off.’’

Senior quarterback Eli Friend accounted for all three Newman touchdowns and all but 30 of the Greenies’ 319 yards of offense while completing 15 of 22 passes for 258 yards and two scores to wide receiver Collier Villere. A Princeton commitment, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Friend additionally rushed 10 times for 31 yards with a 6-yard touchdown run for the Greenies final TD.

Opportunistic defense stole the show, however.

In overcoming an early 3-0 deficit, the Greenies intercepted three passes, with senior cornerback Alexander Dulitz recording two of those thefts to halt scoring threats. Dulitz also registered a key fourth-down tackle to end a late scoring threat in the fourth quarter and center Dylan Kolenovsky recovered a muffed punt via special teams to set up Friend’s 6-yard scoring run.

Nickel back James Reiss registered a team-leading 8 tackles and outside linebacker Ian Oboyle recorded 7 tackles and an interception for a unit that allowed 191 yards rushing, 83 passing, 274 total, and 15 first downs.

Defensive tackle Justin Wells, strong safety Jack Falgoust, and middle linebacker Corbett Parrino additionally each contributed 5 tackles with Wells also recording 2 tackles for losses and reserve safety Archie Casbarian getting 3 tackles and 1 tackle for loss.

“We hadn’t beaten them in some time,’’ Nelson said while acknowledging that, “Those (victories) are the ones that you really appreciate. We’ve played St. Charles off and on since 2000 and when we won in 2020 it had been 20, 21 years since we’d beaten them. Getting a win this year, I think this was the most decisive one we’ve had. Some of the (other) games were one or two scores.

“But we were able to get up early and hold on. They’re as good as they’ve been, to me. They have a lot of young guys, but they’ll be in the mix, I’m sure, in Division II when it’s over.

“I thought we played really physical defensively. We ran the ball well. We were able to throw off of the run. We played solid special teams. Not perfect, but we were able to control the line of scrimmage. We were able to build the lead and hold the ball late. They were able to get to within, 24-10,  and the defense made a good stand and we were able to milk the clock. So it was a great win.’’

One that the state’s No. 2 ranked team in Class 2A believed it had no time to savor with a Week 2 meeting at state-ranked Riverside looming. Originally scheduled for Friday night, the game in LaPlace initially was postponed till Saturday due to the arrival of Hurricane Francine in south Louisiana on Wednesday and then canceled on Thursday afternoon. Riverside is ranked No. 5 in Class 1A.

“(A win over St. Charles Catholic is) something that you don’t take it for granted,’’ Stewart said. “(St. Charles Catholic coach) Wayne Stein is a good friend and a whale of a football coach. With the success he’s had, when you get a win like that, it speaks volumes. But with Riverside (this) week, they’re even better than they were last year. I think they’re among the Division IV favorites. So you really enjoy it until you go to bed (that night). But we had to move on.’’

Still, Stewart interjected, “It’s a program win and obviously not one that we take lightly with the respect we have for St. Charles.’’

Tackling potentially superior opponents has become a Newman staple for success. 

“It’s just a mentality that we’ve gotten to,’’ Stewart, who owns a career record of 153-50-0, said. “Last year we were in the (semifinals). We’ve been in the semis five of the last seven years. Last year we were one touchdown short and on fourth down going in (in a 35-27 loss to eventual state champion Calvary Baptist in the semis.)

“When you’re that close, you start to make a decision (whether) you’re stagnant or you’re going to keep working. Scheduling (St. Charles Catholic) was a way of pushing our kids, keeping the bar high, saying that if we’re going to get there (deep in the playoffs) again, you’ve got to go against the best. It’s just the mentality that we have.

“We respect the heck out of St. Charles. We push our kids. We work hard. We really just tried to focus on ourselves. We did not get caught up in the wins and losses and the history of (the series). We just focused on the here and now. I’d like to think it paid off.’’

The Greenies must replace 14 starters from a 10-2 team that earned a No. 3 seed under Friend’s direction and a first-round bye in the Division III Select playoffs where Newman downed No. 19 St. Thomas Aquinas, 45-0, in the regionals and No. 11 Episcopal of Baton Rouge, 31-15, in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Calvary Baptist, 35-27, in the semifinals in Shreveport.

The eight returning starters are split evenly on offense and defense, with Friend, junior running back Jake Randle, and stellar senior tackles Brett Bordelon and Jack DeCastillo bringing talent and experience to their respective positions on offense. Bordelon is an LSU offensive line commitment who is scheduled to play both ways.

Friend has a completely fresh set of wide receivers in juniors Charles Wilson, George Loop, and Villere, who totaled six catches good for 71 yards and scoring catches of 25 and 22 yards against St. Charles Catholic, and Hendrix Hill, a sophomore. Randle had three receptions good for 65 yards, Loop four catches for 65 yards, and Wilson two receptions for 53 yards. Hill is the son of former LSU linebacker Eric Hill.

Bordelon (6-foot-6, 300 pounds) and DeCastillo (6-4, 300) will anchor the front five that also features the junior Kolenovsky (6-2, 250) at center and seniors Wrigley Stewart (5-9, 195) and Griffin Maxwell (6-2, 210) as guards.

“On offense, you’ve got to start with the quarterback, Eli,’’ Stewart said. “Eli took over for Arch Manning (in 2023) and was All-State, All-Metro, All-District. He threw for over 2,000 yards. What was unique was he didn’t play quarterback as a sophomore. Most of his work was done meeting on Saturdays, throwing nets, working on mechanics, getting a lot of work in on his own. And he’s in a whole other stratosphere this year. 

“So it starts with him. He’s a Princeton commit. I think he’ll play there early. He can run it and he can throw it. I think that’s a big thing, being balanced. When you look at us, (our quarterback) has to be able to do both. So it starts with him. He lifts with the linemen. He’s so strong. He’s like a 550-pound dead lifter. He is built different.

“The big thing with Eli in my opinion is (how) he keeps plays alive. He can make off-timing throws. Everything doesn’t need to be perfect. The other night we were playing in the rain. He didn’t care. He’s throwing wet balls out there. He’s sort of a throwback in a good way. You always have a chance with a running quarterback that can create explosives and make those kind of off-timing throws. That can really set you apart.’’

Then add in the wideouts.

“We have four really good wide receivers, just great route runners. They catch well. They work well together. They’re selfless. They have a high football IQ. They were great in the summer. George Loop has a Harvard offer. He’s very fast. Hendrix Hill is just a sophomore, but he is explosive. He can jump. He high points (catching the football). He’s just very dynamic. Charles Wilson has gotten a lot faster. He’s 6-2 and knocks the top off of coverages. They all really play their roles well.

“I think balance is key for us. We can run it and throw it. We want to stay balanced and create explosives. This is a good group. When it comes to offense, we’ve got a big line, especially with (Brett) Bordelon and Jack De Castillo. We’ve got a big center in Dylan Kolenovsky. We have guards that can pull. We have good size. I think we can run it, throw it and (our players) really play well together. For us, that’s a big thing.’’

Defensively, junior Henry Jackson (6-2, 300) and Wells (6-2, 245) the senior return at nose guard and tackle respectively with Dulitz (5-11, 170) at cornerback and senior free safety Brandon Favrot (6-1, 175) also back. Bordelon joins Jackson and Wells in the three-man front.

All three linebackers are new starters with junior Corbett Parrino (6-2, 195) taking over in the middle and flanked by senior Henry Cook (6-2, 210) and the junior Oboyle (6-1, 185) on the outside.
Junior cornerback Calvin Drake (6-2, 180), the junior Falgoust (5-9, 170) at strong safety, and Reiss (6-1, 170) at nickel back join the veterans Dulitz and Favrot in the secondary.

“Our defensive line is different (this season),’’ Stewart said. “We’ve never had one (that big) with that odd front. Big Henry Jackson, 6-2, 300 pounds, he’s an Ivy League type, two-gap player. He does a great job. Justin Wells, 6-2, 245, three-year starter is just technically sound and tough to get the edge on. Brett (Bordelon) also does a great job setting the edge. It’s just a lot of selfless guys.

“We have really, really smart kids in the secondary. Jack Falgoust and Brandon Favrot really can call (the defense). They totally understand the defense and can make checks on the field. They are super smart, aggressive box players.’’

About Bordelon, Stewart adds, “He’s pretty much an every-down lineman. We do rest him especially defensively, periodically. But he plays 80 percent of the snaps. He’s been awesome. He is a massive-like 295, 300 pounds, so he’s big, but he’s not puffy. He is rock solid strong, moves well. He’s got such good hand placement. He plays with a high motor.’’

On special teams, Friend handles the punting and Falgoust the place-kicking while Hill the wide receiver is scheduled to return kicks and Villere takes care of deep snapping. 

“The first thing you always think about (for a new season) is replacing starters,’’ Stewart said. “The big two spots for us were linebacker and wide receiver. We had all new wide receivers and they’ve been great. We’ve been happy with the development of the wide receivers and the chemistry they’re developing with Eli.

“Then, the linebackers, that group has been rock solid. They’ve stepped in. We play the run first.
“I think our strength is the defensive line, Brett Bordelon and Henry Jackson and Justin Wells, as well as the secondary. I think they’ve measured up. I think they’ve answered a lot of the early questions. Now it’s going to be (about) staying healthy, building toughness, getting a little bit of depth in spots because we’ve still got some young guys in there.

“But, look, you play to win. We set the bar to try to see where we are. We’re able to say where we are last year from Week 10 last year to Week 1 now. We were 28-0 (losing) against St. Charles, then it’s 24-10. Different teams, but it’s a good bar. So I definitely like the way we started, but I do think with Riverside on the horizon there’s definitely not a sense of relief or relaxing. We’ve got to step up even more this week.’’

The Greenies’ schedule tapers off for a few weeks following Saturday’s road game at Riverside. A bye in Week 3 is followed by non-district games against The Willow School and Riverdale. Then comes the 10-2A schedule where games versus M.L. King Charter, Cohen, Sarah T. Reed, Country Day, and South Plaquemines end the regular season.

“We love this team’’ Stewart said. “They work hard. They play selfless together. We have good size. I think we’re solid everywhere. While we have some (players) who are really good, elite guys who may go on (to play in college), we have a lot of good program guys.

“Our division (III) is super, super tough. We know that. But I’d like to think, at least, that with the pre-district schedule we’re playing that we’ll be doing everything we can to get ready for the playoffs.’’

So might this be the year?

“We’ve been close so many times,’’ Stewart said. “I always remind myself that when I took over 19 years ago that we were coming off of a 4-6 year and we had 39 guys. So you always kind of remember where you came from.

“I think, seriously, that we’re close. I do think our division is even tougher (than in 2023 with Calvary Baptist and Lafayette Christian Academy moving down to join De La Salle, Dunham, and Episcopal of Baton Rouge). I will say that.

“You’re going to have to play your best ball in the postseason. What is it to get there? We’ve never done it. But I do think that the biggest thing is our kids are accustomed to playing during Thanksgiving, playing in December. The moment, if we can get there, I don’t think will feel too big for us.

“But I know it’s a discussion that we haven’t (won a state title). But I’m also proud of how close we’ve gotten and how we’ve been able to narrow and cut down on that deficit to get there. And if it happens, that’s great. It’ll be all credit to the kids because they have had full buy-ins.

“If we get there, great. But we don’t want to look ahead too far to something we’ve never done. We haven’t gotten to the Dome yet either. But we’re close. We’ve just got to focus each week on getting in the playoffs. You can get such a tough opponent so fast. There’s going to be no gimmes, obviously.’’