By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

It’s would be to understand if Destrehan players believed themselves to be unbeatable entering the 2009 season.

After all, Destrehan has riding high on a two-year-long winning streak. A pair of state championships in Class 5A. Most of the underclassman on the team had never experienced a loss at all.

But after a jamboree loss to Lutcher and an opening week scare against Helen Cox, Thibodaux finally put an official end to DHS’ 30-game winning streak in the second week of the season, 31-21.

Since that time, the Wildcats have lost five more games, their reign as state champion ending in the bi-district round at St. Paul’s.

The Wildcats also introduced a new coach in Chris Stroud, the team’s defensive coordinator throughout the title run. Stroud was tabbed for the position after Stephen Robicheaux stepped down to accept a position with the St. Charles Parish School Board.

“I’m getting a lot more phone calls these days,” Stroud said.

He said that the team’s loss to Thibodaux seemed to take the players off guard.

“They were shell-shocked,” said Stroud. “They’ve learned that Destrehan isn’t invincible. Nothing is promised. They understand that you take it one game at a time.”

Stroud has a tough act to follow. Ten starters return, five on each side of the football.

But his fingerprints were on both title teams alongside Robicheaux’s. In 2008, Destrehan’s defense suffocated a powerful West Monroe offense, holding it to three points in a 14-3 Superdome victory.

Getting the defense back on track starts on the field with linebacker Tarquin Kenner. Kenner must be more consistent, Stroud said, but he carries a knack for making highlight level plays defensively. At 5-foot-10 and 240 pounds, Kenner runs a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash, making him a nightmare for opposing offenses.

“He hits with explosion,” said Stroud. “We need him to do it more consistently, but when he makes big plays, they’re really big.”

Kenner also could get work on offense. In the team’s scrimmage with Salmen last week, he ran the ball three times for 18 yards.

The secondary sees cornerback Josh Dewey return, and he too is a prospect to play at the next level. Two promising safeties comprise the last line of defense in new starters Spencer Bentley and Cardell Campbell.

The defensive line of the Wildcats’ 3-4 front has also had a fine summer, and Stroud says it will be an improved unit this season. Bryan Singleton and Marick Charles return.

That unit’s ability to step up is especially important to Stroud, as he stresses stopping the run above all else.

“At the high school level, you have to be able to stuff the run first and make them pass,” he said. “I want to see 11 bodies flying to the football.

Quarterback Taylor Dunn leads the offense, which is stabilized by a powerful offensive line led by center Ethan Hutson and guard Matt Gifford.

De’Ante Armstrong leads the receiving corps, and Kevin Smith is a new starter at tailback.

Dunn had a strong spring and summer, Stroud said.

“I feel very good about his progress. Overall, he had a great summer … he’s shown fine leadership ability and comes off of a good season a year ago.”

On Friday night, Destrehan faces its first real test of the season against Lutcher at the River Parishes Jamboree at DHS.

“That game is what will tell us where we’re at,” Stroud said.

“It’s up to us to teach these kids to focus. We’ve got a lot of tough games to look forward to. But now, it’s all about Lutcher and the jamboree.”