Ascension Episcopal offensive leaders include: Preston Peebles (13), 53 Charlie Milam (53), Andre Abshire (1) ,Andrew McCormick (7), Hayes Beaulieu (17) and Branon Mitchell (16). Ascension Episcopal will use two quarterbacks who may be short on varsity snaps at the position but will promise excitement with their legs, arm, and their versatility, as both will play other positions. Branon Mitchell started at receiver as a sophomore and caught four passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns in the last game of the regular season.
The other quarterback, DJ Kelly, will be a sophomore. "They're both dynamic," Blue Gators coach Stephen Hearen said. "Branon grew up a javelin thrower.
He has a strong arm. DJ has a strong arm, too. We're going to use both.
When one isn't playing quarterback, he'll be in other spots." Three of four starting linebackers return, including leading tackler Luke Curry. The fourth spot belongs to a veteran, too.
Christian Singleton slides down to linebacker after starting in the secondary last year. Special teams, as always, is strong with kicker Andrew McCormick and punter/kicker Cole Pesson. McCormick, who is rated a 4.
5 star kicker, caught five passes for 103 yards in a game last year. Pesson, a four star punter/kicker, can hit a field goal from nearly 60 yards. "I think we have a good group of returning starters that bring some experience on Friday nights," Hearen said.
"We have six guys who played as starters on both sides of the ball. It's a good mix of experience and new guys. I feel pretty good about the nucleus.
" The Blue Gators are working through their second year with a small senior class. Last year, a large group of inexperienced sophomores were forced to grow up early, and that will be the case again. "I think our question mark is the same as last year," Hearen said.
"Will a bunch of sophomores be ready to play by Week 1? We're going to have to be healthy coming out of Week 1, which is against Kaplan. That's going to be a physical game out of the gate." The Blue Gators moved down from Class 2A to 1A, but their non-district schedule is full of larger schools: 2A Rosepine, 2A Lafayette Renaissance, 3A Abbeville, 3A Kaplan, 4A North Vermilion and 4A Archbishop Hannan.
Ascension Episcopal regularly plays against large schools in non-district and competes well. As long as they stay healthy, which is a must with a substantial number of two-way players, the Blue Gators should match up in each game. Vermilion Catholic is the big name in the new District 7-1A.
The Eagles defeated Ascension Episcopal each of the last two years in non-district, and quarterback Jonathan Dartez is back for one more season. Last year's game was a 30-28 nailbiter. Beau Domengeaux A first-team all-district selection who led the team with three interceptions (returned one for TD), he returns with starting inside linebackers Preston Peebles and Luke Curry on an experienced corps.
Joseph Rizzuto Rizzuto, who has the best size on the offensive line, is a three-year starter. He'll play left tackle and protect the young quarterbacks, as well as make calls and open holes for tailback Andre Abshire. Luke Curry Another first team all-district pick, Curry led the team with 87 tackles, 18 assists and 15 tackles for loss.
He and Peebles will make it tough to run inside against the Blue Gators. Cole Pesson Does any school anywhere turn out kicking specialists like Ascension Episcopal? Kicker Peyton Woodring is at Georgia; punter Badger Hargett is at LSU. Pesson, a first team all-district punter, and McCormick are the next Blue Gators bound to play college ball.
Noah Justus The senior, who has good range from his end position, is marked by his coach as a defensive candidate to have a breakout season. Ascension Episcopal defensive standouts include: Jo Falgout (79), Christian Singleton (10), Noah Babineaux (8), Garrett Yeates (2), and Hudson Campbell (6). WR Andrew McCormick (5-9, 160, So.
)* WR Noah Babineaux (5-10, 175, Sr.) WR DJ Kelly (5-11, 170, So.) TE Preston Peebles (6-0, 175, Jr.
)* OT joseph Rizzuto (6-3, 230, Jr.)* OG Andrew Clement (5-11, 190, So.) C Merrit Hawkins (6-0, 190, So.
) OG Charlie Milam (6-0, 205, Jr.)* OT Hayes Beaullieu (5-11, 185, Jr.)* QB Branon Mitchell (6-2, 175, Jr.
)* RB Andrew Abshire (5-10, 160, Jr.)* DE Noah Justus (6-1, 190, Sr.) DT Jo Falgout (5-10, 185, So.
)* DE David Kennedy (6-0, 180, So.) LB Preston Peebles (6-0, 175, Jr.)* LB Luke Curry (5-9, 180, Sr.
)* LB Christian Singleton (5-9, 170, Jr.) LB Beau Domengeaux (5-11, 175, Sr.)* CB Garrett Yeates (5-10, 170, Sr.
)* CB Hudson Campbell (5-10, 165, Jr.)* FS Hayes Trotter (6-1, 165, Jr.) SS Sport Gros (5-11, 160, So.
) Stephen Hearen Stephen Hearen (13-11) Jay Domengeaux (Offensive Coordinator/QB), Scott McCullough (RB/OLB), Joey Holt (O-Line/D-Line), Hunter Welch (ILB/RB), Gus Maraist (WR/CB), Andrew Menard (D-Line/O-Line), Brandon Mitchell (D-Line) Sept. 6 KAPLAN Sept. 13 Archbishop Hannan Sept.
20 Abbeville Sept. 27 ROSEPINE Oct. 4 NORTH VERMILION Oct.
11 GUEYDAN Oct. 18 Vermilion Catholic Oct. 25 Highland Baptist Oct.
31 WESTMINSTER-LAF Nov. 7 Lafayette Renaissance Beat Plaquemine 23-20 Lost Vermilion Catholic 30-28 Beat Patterson 40-6 Lost Breaux Bridge 51-16 Beat Wesh St. John 49-0 Beat Catholic-NI 30-17 West St.
Mary 60-6 Lost Loreauville 30-9 Beat Delcambre 49-14 Lost Franklin 44-43 Beat Loyola Prep 34-17 Lost St. Charles 43-0 7-5 6-6 8-4 7-1 8-3.
