Tigers looking to repeat as champs

The defending Bayou District champions reside at Terrebonne High School.

To repeat in 2011, some new faces will have to learn to shine under Friday night lights.

With just seven returning starters, Terrebonne coach Gary Hill said his team will rely on several inexperienced players in their quest to build on last season’s 10-2 campaign that saw the Tigers win their first playoff game in several seasons.

“It’s a very, very young bunch this year,” Hill said. “There’s definitely going to be a lot of young kids on the field. We’re going to put a lot of seniors on the field, but they are some kids who haven’t played a whole lot. They’ve been at practice and have been in our system for a few years, but they still will need that game experience.”

On offense, Terrebonne will be tasked with replacing 2010 All-District quarterback Mike Williams, who graduated following a senior season in which he completed 99-of-169 passes for 1,583 yards and 16 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns.

The player who will be asked to take the next turn will be senior Kendrick Boudreaux. In a limited role last year, Boudreaux completed 9-of-13 passes for 119 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Hill said it’s unrealistic to ask a first-time starter to fill Williams’ shoes, especially early in the season. He was quick to add he fully supports Boudreaux as the team’s new leader and expects him to quickly establish himself as a productive player.

“We’re not asking him to replace Mike, but I think he expects himself to replace Mike and that’s a good thing to have, because it shows he cares,” Hill said. “But we understand he’s Kendrick and Mike was Mike.”

Hill’s players agree and say they have complete confidence in their new quarterback.

“He’s doing a good job,” senior linebacker Cody Peeler said. “I think he knows the plays real well. He’s a strong runner and he’s got a good arm, too. He’s going to shock people back there.”

With one Williams gone, the Tigers will rely heavily on another in 2011. Mike’s little brother Justin Williams returns for his junior season as a wide receiver and is looking to have an expanded role.

Justin became known as one of the area’s best receivers last year as a sophomore, catching 31 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns.

The younger Williams said he’s excited to build on those numbers and become a safety valve for a new quarterback.

“I’m ready to go,” Justin Williams said. “We just have to execute. Like Coach Hill tells us all the time, when we execute, we win games. When we don’t, that’s when we don’t.”

Up front offensively, the Tigers will be raw, returning just one starter, center Jess Robertson.

The senior lineman admitted fall practices have been a grind, but added he thinks the team has size and will gel in the trenches before the start of the season.

“It’s tough right now,” Robertson said. “There’s a lot of young guys in new positions, positions they’ve never played before, so we’re just slowing it down and are trying to teach fundamentals.”

On the defensive front, Terrebonne will be just as inexperienced and have just one returnee.

But that returnee is a big one in 245-pound defensive tackle William Moses.

Moses recorded 74 tackles for Terrebonne and had two interceptions last year as a junior. He did so while battling multiple injuries he said he accumulated throughout the season. Now 100 percent, he said the sky’s the limit.

“I’m going to work hard all year long,” Moses said. “I really want to have a better year this time around. It’s my last shot.”

With Moses taking up space in the middle, Terrebonne’s experienced linebackers should be able to make plays. The Tigers return three of their four linebackers from last year’s defense.

One of those returnees is Peeler, who recorded 60 tackles last season.

“Our linebacker corps is kind of what we’re counting on this year,” Peeler said. “We have a full senior group coming back, so we’re kind of hoping all of us are able to step up and have big seasons to help out the younger guys.”

If offense and defense need a boost, Terrebonne has a luxury not many teams have, a dominant punter and kicker.

Senior Ryan Domangue returns to the Tigers after booting 48 of his 72 kickoffs for a touchback last season. Domangue also slammed home 57 extra points in 2010 and has the ability to make 50+-yard field goals.

“What an asset in the field position game,” Hill said. “To have that ability to always be able to kick a field goal when we’re close, you know, not everyone has that opportunity. He’s huge.”

Terrebonne’s schedule will begin in Bourg, as the Tigers will play in the Swamp two straight weeks to take on Ellender and South Terrebonne.

The Tigers will open district play in Week 4 against Westgate. In Week 9, they will travel to take on New Iberia, the team that handed Terrebonne its only regular season loss a year ago.

Despite youth, Terrebonne believes it has talent.

With experience, they believe another district title and playoff run could be in the cards.

“We’re just hoping to repeat last year and maybe go a little bit further,” Peeler said. “That’s our goal, to keep last year’s success going.”

Terrebonne High Tigers

District 7-5A

Sept. 2 at Ellender

Sept. 9 at South Terrebonne

Sept. 16 vs. E.D. White

Sept. 23 vs. Westgate*

Sept. 30 vs. South Lafourche*

Oct. 7 at Central Lafourche*

Oct. 14 at Thibodaux*

Oct. 21 vs. H.L. Bourgeois*

Oct. 28 at New Iberia*

Nov. 3 vs. Istrouma

* Denotes district game

Coach: Gary Hill

Assistant Coaches: Peter Barrilleaux, Corey Bourg, Zachary Chauvin, Joseph Clement, James Frank, Nicholas Guidry, Charles McElroy, Daniel Roane, Kit Williams

Record last season: 10-2

Returning Starters: 7

Players to Watch: Justin Williams, Ryan Domangue, Robert Gordon

Primary Strength: Linebacker depth

Fun FACTS

436: The total number of points the Tigers’ high-octane offense racked up in 2010

55-60: The length field goal Terrebonne kicker Ryan Domangue boasts he can convert if given a proper snap and hold

13: The total number of pass attempts new Terrebonne starting quarterback Kendrick Boudreaux had last season

Terrebonne quarterback Kendrick Boudreaux drops back during a 7-on-7 summer game. Boudreaux will replace Mike Williams under center for the Tigers as they attempt to repeat as district champions. CASEY GISCLAIR