By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

EDGARD — Before the 2014 football season, West St. John coach Robert Valdez told wide receiver Morell Bartholomew and linebacker Trey Nathan the Rams would be counting on them for big production.

They delivered everything he asked, and then some. It hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Bartholomew and Nathan were named to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s All-State team this week, capping off a season in which the duo led the Rams to reach the Class 1A semifinals for the fourth consecutive season.

Fellow Rams Bradley Borne, Lamore Boudoin and Jemoine Green earned honorable mention.

Bartholomew, a 6’4” deep threat, entered the season as a budding star after a late-season emergence in 2013. He became the security blanket for first-year starting quarterback Jemoine Green, hauling in 54 receptions for 975 yards and 19 touchdowns.

“We knew with a young quarterback and offensive line, we were going to need him to come up big for us,” Valdez said. “Everyone knew who we wanted to throw the ball to, they knew we’d have to stop him, and we continued to go to him and get results.

“I told him before the season, ‘We need you to step up and make your quarterback look good.’ It gave our offense balance.”

Valdez said he had a knack for coming up with critical plays in the clutch.

“Against Bogalusa, he brought in the game-winner. He made big plays against Riverside and St. James,” Valdez said. “When you look at it, he wasn’t just putting up numbers against Class 1A teams, but against strong competition above our class.”

Nathan, meanwhile, has been a defensive leader and mainstay for West St. John during his tenure. This season, he made 59 total tackles, nine of those for loss, while registering five sacks and two interceptions.

A defensive back in past seasons, Nathan shifted to linebacker primarily this year. He made plays everywhere they were to be made, however.

“He’s been a stud for us,” Valdez said. “His size, speed, football IQ and toughness … he played hurt all year, and not a lot of people know that. He made big hits at key times. He anchored our defense, which made a big improvement this season.”

Valdez noted Nathan’s proficiency as a cover man made him tremendously valuable to the Rams.

“When you’re at the high school level and you have a player who can not only play in the box and rack up tackles, but also cover, it makes everything you do easier,” Valdez said. “He was an aggressive tackler but he made big plays downfield. There wasn’t much you couldn’t ask him to do.”