By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

EDGARD — It’s often said that success breeds success.

For a West St. John team that finished 2011 just shy of adding another state championship trophy to its display case, it’s not difficult to see that statement playing out in 2012.

As the Rams roll through their spring practice, head football coach Robert Valdez has been extremely pleased with the competition between players and the intensity his team has shown.

Emboldened by their Class 1A state runner-up finish, these players, he said, are a hungry bunch.

“In that championship game, (Ouachita Christian) brought the fight to us a little bit, we felt,” said Valdez. “So we’ve stepped up the intensity level. It’s been physical … We’ve gotten some good work.”

But physicality can come with a price, and the Rams have been snakebitten to this point. Though the team’s numbers are up after last season’s postseason run, injuries have cropped up on both sides of the ball, including several key players from a season ago.

“A couple of hairline fractures, knee sprains … the guys have been out there really competing, which is the good part about it,” said Valdez. “We’ve had to cope with some of our guys sitting out, but luckily we have time to heal before our first game.”

The injuries have hampered West St. John’s ability to work on its power running game in spring practice, Valdez said. That rushing attack was paramount in the Rams’ run to the Superdome last season, as Kylum Favorite rushed for just under 2,000 yards as the team’s lead back last season.

He’ll return this season along side Jeremy Jackson, who broke out as an eighth grader in 2010 but was hampered by injury in 2011.

Jackson is currently among those sitting out, rehabbing a knee injury. But Valdez said that come September, fans can expect to see both play, sometimes in sets with both on the field.

“Kylum is versatile enough to be that fourth receiver for us,” said Valdez. “We’ll play them both. With some guys that can play multiple positions, we’ll be able to play multiple offenses without having to make substitutions.”

Valdez said the team’s focus has been to attempt to perfect its running game out of the spread and its short passing game.

Quarterback Austin Howard will be instrumental in guiding both. He’ll be a junior next season, but started all 15 games for WSJ last season and a number of games as a freshman — he’s already garnered more game experience at his position than many seniors.

“He’s been very, very steady,” said Valdez. “We’re working on reads, on getting it out quick. He’s been doing a good job with it.”

With the graduation of lead wide receiver and all-purpose threat Jarius Moll, there’s been a lot of competition to become Howard’s top target. Valdez said Brandon Matthews, Chris Shavers, Keith Miller and Dajon Taylor have all been vying to impress and earn playing time.

“A lot of the added numbers have been at the skill positions. We’ve got a lot of guys at wide receiver, a lot of guys at defensive back,” said Valdez, alluding to the fact that Moll also leaves a void at cornerback.

But though Moll and star linebacker Ronnie Feist have moved on — the former a signee at Jackson State, the latter at LSU — plenty of talent remains from what overall was a young team last season.

In fact, Valdez noted that more college scouts have been attending West St. John practice. In addition to the team’s offensive standouts, defensive anchors like tackle Eric Bell, cornerback Justin Bethancourt and linebacker/defensive end Javon Toney, among others, have caught the eye of recruiters.

“They’ve garnered a lot of attention, and people are coming through to see them,” said Valdez. “They have to be leaders for us.”

On Monday night, West St. John will hold a scrimmage to punctuate the spring.

“We’ll line up the healthy guys we’ve got and hopefully it’ll be enough to go,” chuckled Valdez. “Offensively, we want to become more proficient at a few things and defensively, we want to develop some guys, especially at safety and linebacker.”

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