By GEORGE MAHL

EDGARD – West St. John High School is a small school having a big year.

The Rams recently claimed their first district 2A title in six years with a 30-6 thrashing of Redeemer-Seton High School. WSJ is showing no signs of slowing up, as they have put together an impressive seven-game win streak.

The team’s last defeat was to 3A power St. James High School on Sept. 6. Several of the players, coaches, and employees at the school feel this is the time for the Rams to shine.

Pre-season

Before the season began, thoughts of a state championship danced through the minds of the WSJ players.

“I think for us it all started this past spring. Even when we were just lifting weights, everyone could see how confident we were,” said senior wide receiver/defensive back Brad Boudoin.

West St. John, which was defeated in the state semi-finals last year, only lost three players from the 2001 roster.

“I think the fact that we only lost a few guys really helped. I think this year we are playing more like a team than we were last year,” said senior defensive end Travis Young.

“We have been excited about this year since last year ended. I expected us to be this good,” said 16-year head coach Laury Dupont.

One of the reasons Dupont feels the team is having a successful season is a tough pre-district schedule he composed. The Rams played St. James, South Terrebonne and Patterson as part of the pre-district schedule.

“You’re going to have Patterson finish 8-2 and South Terrebonne and St. James make the playoffs. I wanted to play good competition early on to see how our kids could handle it,” Dupont said.

Success

Attitude is a word usually associated with success. If a team has the right attitude, then it will generally be successful.

“I want to have the attitude where after every game I can say ‘I’m not where I want to be,'” said Young.

Boudoin added, “I think you also develop a better attitude when you challenge your teammates.”

Dupont, who has coached a total of 30 years, said colleges are looking for students with good character, attitude, and discipline.

“Success in high school also leads to success in college. There are some coaches who ask while they are recruiting can a person accept discipline and can they accept constructive criticism,” Dupont said. “If they have good attributes then they’ll be able to handle criticism.”

According to Dupont, the Rams really do not have a player that stands out from the crowd.

“We don’t have a person that is a superstar. We don’t have anyone with outstanding statistics,” he said.

Two players on offense who have greatly contributed to the team’s winning record are quarterback Randall Nicholson and running back Patrick Jackson.

Nicholson is an on-the-field leader who makes positive things happen, even on a busted plays.

“I think he (Nicholson) is making better decisions this year. I guess he is sort of like Michael Vick in the sense he can make a big play even when it was messed up,” Boudoin said.

Young believes Nicholson’s leadership is a big factor in the team’s overall chemistry and this fact will help the Rams go to the next level.

This season

West St. John coaches and players said there are various reasons as to why the team has played well in 2002.

“Everybody has been playing together. We have been practicing hard and playing as one,’ said Young.

Senior offensive guard Alonzo Edwards said pre-season goals have a lot to do as far as what the team has accomplished.

“The district championship was our first goal. We have already achieved that one and are ready to move on to the next one,” Edward said.

Another significant factor is due to the success of a quartet of seniors – Young, Edwards, Boudoin, and Tramaine Mitchell – who have played for the Rams all four years.

“All four of those guys are leaders for us. They have done a good job of handling pressure during football games. They also have been preparing with the same intensity for the entire season,” Dupont said.

Off the field

Like all student-athletes, it can be difficult for some players to fit in their school schedule with their football schedule.

“We talk about education all the time,” Dupont said.

Chris Lebouef, who teaches english at the school, said the student-athletes she teaches work just as hard as the regular students do.

“I think they take pride in their work off the field. These kids realize how much we stress the importance of grades,” Lebouef said.

Loubertha Pierre, who works at the school as a teacher’s aide, is most impressed with the respect the players give to her and her colleagues.

“They are really polite kids. I think that is what counts the most when they are not playing,” Pierre said.

Mona Green, who son Marlon is a defensive back, said her son realizes academics are more important than football right now.

“I think we all realize that we need to go to college in order to get an education and receive a degree to fall back on in case things don’t work out at the next level,” Green said.

Dupont said the adjustment to the “real world” may be a difficult transition for some of his players.

“They don’t know what it’s like to be in the real world. Part of the reason is because they have never lived in a big city,” he said.

Fans

Most schools in the River Parishes draw well for football games. However, in the small town of Edgard it is more than a game, it is a gathering.

“When you look at it there is no mall or no movie theater in this town. This is what people look forward too a few times a year,” Dupont said. “When it comes to restaurants, the closest the fans get is when they eat chicken and jambalaya at the football games.”

However, playing virtually in front of the entire town every week does increase expectations. Dupont said the pressure has been building for more than 15 years.

“Our job is to perform for the people and keep up the intensity. I feel the best is yet to come for our fans,” Dupont said with a smile.