Central Football Kicks Off Friday With Jamboree

CENTRAL — Jamborees are supposed to be “fun” — a good chance to size up your team and your talent.  But Friday night’s Jamboree in Denham will be a little more than that when Central High faces off at 6:30 against 3A East Feliciana, a team which would best be described as “disturbing.”

The Wildcats will get to see a player who is arguably the best high school football player in the state, if not the nation, Kendell Beckwith, a 6’4”, 230-pound quarterback who could probably play any position he wants on the field.

In last year’s Jamboree in Zachary between the same two teams, Beckwith marched East Feliciana to the Wildcats’ 15-yard line and appeared ready to score, when he managed to get himself ejected from the game.  A lucky break for Central, which came back and eked out a 7-2 victory over East Feliciana.  East Feliciana is a consolidated school composed of Clinton and Jackson, two teams always known for speed.  This East Feliciana team will be no different.

Central is probably the better team but in an abbreviated jamboree game, a team may only get the ball two or three times, and the breakaway style of Beckwith could give the Wildcats big trouble.

Central’s offense should be very strong this year — strong enough to win a 5th straight District 4-5A title in a much-improved district.  The offense this year could remind us of the Briscoe years.  But it will really all depend on the Central defense, which will have to improve rapidly.

On offense, veteran senior quarterback Brett Courville can be counted on to provide solid leadership.  The receivers are impressive, and the coaching staff will have a challenge to decide who to play with the likes of Devon Gales, Gary Triplett, Jeremy Anderson, Joseph Pourciau, James Schoppe, Terrel Chatman, Jake Myers, and Matt Edwards on hand.

Likewise, the Wildcats offer a powerful array of running backs in Devon Gales, Gary Triplett, Lamonte Janeau, and Justin Vessell, who has been suffering from an ankle injury.  Vessell will dress out Friday night.

On defense, Central will count on defensive ends Corey Guercio and Jarett Williams and defensive tackles Logan Green and Demetri Colomb.  The linebackers, whom Coach Sid Edwards describes as the strength of his football team, will be led by Tony Ragusa, Dalton Holdman, and Thomas Edelman.

The Wildcats have been nursing injuries in the defensive secondary.  Kevin Henry, Hunter Cazes, Cole Edgens, Sean Parker, Donnie Lewis, Paul Broussard, and Craig Jones all could see action.

Coach Sid said, “Playing East Feliciana will be good for us because they have a lot of speed and athletic ability.”

The Wildcats will have their hands full with Beckwith, he said.

To see highlights from Beckwith’s 2011 season, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btu_Z0anIF4.

Truly a man among boys!

HHH

District 4-5A will be even more competitive this year.

Leaving out the Wildcats, here’s what we can expect:

1. Denham Springs — One of their best teams in years.  They have all of the components for victory.  A very big team.  They have an SEC-caliber running back who didn’t play Central last year.  They are loaded.

(Tie) 2. Zachary — They’re huge upfront.  They have a transfer from Redemptorist who has signed with the University of Houston.  A world-class runner.

Scotlandville — Never short on talent, Scotlandville has 17 starters returning.

4. Walker — Walker will enter the conversation.  Not the team you want to play for Homecoming.  Walker has great parental and community support.  Over time, that is paying big dividends.

5. Live Oak — Improving, and Central knows it.  During the summer, Live Oaks played Central in a seven-on-seven scrimmage and won by three TD’s.

Can Central win a 5th straight District title?  Absolutely, but there won’t be anything easy about it.