YurView Louisiana’s week four matchup on GameTime has the 2021 Class 4A champion Westgate Tigers going on the road to play St. Martinville who is looking for a signature win after getting off to a slow start this season.
Expectations were high for St. Martinville heading into the season after reaching the semifinals of the Class 3A playoffs last season for the first time in 19 years.
St. Martinville returned nine starters on defense and a couple of big playmakers on offense in Steven Blanco and Harvey Broussard.
But the Tigers dropped their two games of the season to Cecilia and Notre Dame. They finally played like the team that everyone expected to see in 2022 when they blew out parish rival Breaux Bridge 41-13.
St. Martinville has a new quarterback in Kaden Zenon, who is trying to replace the talented Tanner Harrison. Zenon is not big, five-foot-ten 160 pounds. But he has 4.5 speed and throws the ball well. Coach Vincent DeRoeun, who is in his 8th season at St. Martinville, says his junior signal caller understands the game well.
His running back, Blanco, is a great mix of speed and power, averaging around 200 yards rushing a game. He scored four touchdowns in the win over Breaux Bridge. Memphis and Southern Miss are a couple of schools who have offered him scholarships.
St. Martinville is loaded at wide receiver with the talented Harvey Broussard who has 4.4 speed and is a tough kid. A very hard worker and a wide out who accepts coaching.
Cullen Charles is another pass catcher receiving interest from colleges. He’s a playmaker with good hands who can turn a reception into six points very quickly.
Makharee Narcisse and Ronelle Porter are good complimentary pieces at wide receiver.
St. Martinville’s offensive line returns four starters, including Dillan Phillips who has 3.8 GPA.
The defense has given up 70 points in the first two games. Coach Derouen believes the defense turned a corner with last week’s win over Breaux Bridge. He’s now seeing more intensity at practice. Ten of the eleven starters on defense are seniors including Ahman DeRouen, who has been starting since the middle of his freshman season.
Safety Jaylin Clay is another veteran player on defense. A three-year starter who returned an interception for a touchdown last week against Breaux Bridge.
Westgate has one of the top safeties in the country in Derek Williams. The Texas commit led the Tigers to their first ever state championship football season. Not only is he a standout safety, but he’s an effective running back, especially in goal line situations. Williams has four rushing touchdowns this season.
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The five-star recruit is one of the top players to ever come out of Westgate and is someone who can play multiple positions at a very high level.
So far Westgate has only allowed 31 points in three games. Defensive tackle Demyrion Johnson is another stud on that defense who is a run stopper and can pressure the quarterback. Johnson has received several offers from Power 5 schools.
Westgate is young in the offensive backfield. Jaboree Antoine is a first-year starter at quarterback trying to replace the dynamic Jordan Doucet. Antoine started at safety last year and head coach Ryan Antoine calls Antoine, who is his cousin, an athletic and savvy Q-B, who can make all the throws.
There’s speed at the running back position between Tavias Gordon and Davian Jackson, but they are both sophomores.
Westgate’s wide receivers are seniors. Dedrick Latulas leads the group. He’s committed to Louisiana Tech and is a 4.0 student. Latulas has a team-high eight receptions for 285 yards and three touchdowns.
Amaaz Eugene is a four-year starter and has seven catches for 95 yards on the campaign.
The offensive line has two seniors and three juniors. Raquinton Allen at six-foot-two, 270 pounds is the leader of the group.
Special teams could be pivotal in this game. Both teams have good returners, but both teams have experienced several miscues.
So can Westgate go to 4-0 and win its 12th straight game dating back to last year, or will St. Martinville show they are for real in 2022. Find out at 7 PM on Friday night Cox Cable Channel 4.
