By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

Lutcher coach Tim Detillier likes to say that while talent wins games, teams win championships.

But to Detillier, Jarvis Landry was the best of both worlds: a player with tremendous talent who bought into the team concept.

He’s brought that attitude to LSU, where Landry has made a noticeable impact on special teams as a freshman.

And much like Landry contributed to two state championships while at Lutcher, he hopes to repeat the feat at the next level as LSU prepares to take the Superdome turf to face the Alabama Crimson Tide.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Landry. “Alabama’s a great team. After the first game and seeing what’s happened since, it seems like the perfect rematch.”

Landry was a stellar wide receiver and return man while at Lutcher, known for eye-popping statistics and highlight reel plays.

He accounted for 716 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior and 62 passes for 1,158 yards and 13 scores as a junior.

Landry started for five seasons, including his eighth-grade year, and left LHS as its all time leading receiver.

During that time, the Bulldogs won 58 games.

He hasn’t broken into the starting lineup of a loaded Tigers receiving corps, but much as Detillier preaches the team concept, Landry has pushed himself to make an impact where he can right now — special teams, where he’s built a reputation as a fearsome hitter and sure tackler.

“You’ve got good athletes who play football and then you’ve got football players. He’s a football player,” said Detillier.

“He was by far our best receiver. But when we played him at linebacker, he was our best linebacker.

“Because he played wide receiver, you wouldn’t think of him as being physical. But he’s definitely the most physical wide receiver we’ve ever had and one of the most physical players, period. He’s showing the world that on special teams. Jarvis always had that knack for making the big play, whether it’s a reception or a huge hit.”

The Les Miles era at LSU may well go down as it’s golden age when it’s all said and done, and it’s largely because the Tigers don’t just bring in talented players, but winners. Landry qualifies.

“I can count on one hand the number of losses I’ve had to go through at Lutcher and at LSU,” said Landry. “Everything seems like it’s falling into place. We’ve got a great coach and we’ve all faced adversity. It’s made us stronger. We’ve got a great group of guys on this team, a special group.”

Even when Landry speaks of his individual efforts to come, it sounds drawn from a team attitude.

He speaks proudly of his home region and wants to make an impact on Monday night, to show on a worldwide stage the kind of talent that comes out of St. James Parish and the River Region overall.

“It’s exciting. I’m not only representing myself and my team, but my community,” said Landry. “Everyone in St. James Parish and the surrounding areas. There’s no greater feeling.”