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LUTCHER — Lutcher brings back an experienced offensive line this season as the Bulldogs get ready for the 2021 season.

  The Bulldogs’ strength on offense will be the offensive line that played five juniors last season.

  “We’ve known since these kids were in middle school that this group was going to be good,” said Lutcher coach Dwain Jenkins, who enters his sixth season at the helm of the Bulldogs. “It was the first time we’ve had this many linemen in one class.”

The five seniors are tackles Donald Fleming and Semeij Scott, center Brandon Boudwin and guards Jayden Dumas and Daron Cooper. Junior Donovan Arbuthnot is a guard.

  Fleming is a four-year starter, while Boudwin and Scott are three-year starters. 

  Scott is a Nicholls State University commit. Jenkins said Scott is the first offensive lineman from Lutcher that will sign with a Division I school in more than 20 years.

  Cooper was injured the week before last season and missed the year. Jenkins said Cooper should play at some point this year.

  Quarterback D’Wanye Winfield returns at signal caller. He started as a sophomore after being a wide receiver his freshman year. Jenkins said the goal his freshman year was for Winfield to learn how to play quarterback, but the team needed him to play wide receiver. Last year, Winfield ran for 1,350 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also threw for 756 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions. 

  Winfield had a huge game in the first round of the playoffs last year when he set the school single-game rushing record with 323 yards during the Bulldogs’ 54-13 win over Grant. Winfield accomplished the feat on just 12 carries. He ran for five touchdowns.

  Jenkins said that Winfield had to rely on his athletic ability last year because of the lost reps in passing from COVID.

  “He’s capable of being a 1,000-yard rusher for us, but we think his growth is going to be in the passing game,” Jenkins said.

  Junior running back Cleveland Parquette missed last year with an injury. He was going to play slot receiver.

  “He is dynamic as a playmaker,” Jenkins said. “He had a great spring, and we feel he will be able to fill in that position.”

  The Bulldogs return two wide receivers in Noah Detilier and Carson LeBlanc. Detillier caught 16 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns last year, while LeBlanc had five receptions for 55 yards.

  Lutcher has a few players competing for the third wide receiver spot, including senior Damond Williams, freshman Dameium Marcell, sophomore Chad Carter and junior Clayton Jenkins. Jenkins played receiver as a freshman and quarterback as a sophomore. Coach Jenkins said Clayton Jenkins can play tight end and wide receiver.

  Junior Gavin Gill will be the tight end/H back dual guy. Coach Jenkins said that he can catch and block. 

  Switching to defense, the team brings back three linemen.

  Senior end/tackle Carter Poche is a four-year starter.

  Senior end Ty Cooper started last year and played some as a sophomore.

  Senior tackle/end Mekhi Love played a good bit last year.

  Sophomore end Colin Roques started last year at end.

  Moving to linebacker, Khalion Johnson will be in the mix at middle linebacker or defensive end.

  Inside linebacker Brayden Louque started a couple of games before getting hurt. Jenkins said that Louque was never really healthy after he got hurt.

  Sophomore Kai Brown played when Louque was injured. He played inside linebacker and can play outside linebacker. Jenkins said that where he plays will be based off of where he is best. Jenkins said they are building the linebackers around Brown’s skills.

  Junior Matthieu Garon started last year. Jenkins said he is an outside linebacker/safety type. He came in as a corner, got moved as a sophomore. He started at strong safety and outside linebacker last year.

  Linebacker/defensive end Terryne Harris, who is a sophomore, will be an outside linebacker/defensive end guy and will get a lot of playing time.

  The secondary is where the Bulldogs are most inexperienced. They return just one starter in Alex Martinez. Jenkins said that Martinez was undersized as a junior and still is, but knows what he is supposed to do and what everybody is supposed to do.

  There are several others in the secondary that include sophomore DeQuincy Alexander and sophomore Brock Louque. Alexander can play cornerback or safety. Jenkins said that Louque, who is a safety, had a good spring and a good summer.

  Junior Tyrek Brown can play cornerback or safety.

  Jenkins said that Brown is the most explosive of the group. He will be the kick returner, punt returner and will see time at wide receiver and running back. He did not play last year, but is back this season.

  Jenkins said junior Daevon Landry looks like a safety, but will probably play corner.

  Junior Craydon Long, who is a cornerback, played as a freshman, but not as a sophomore. Jenkins said that Long is a basketball player and plays good man-to-man defense on the court.

  Jenkins said that senior Tevin Long will play either safety or outside linebacker.

  Lutcher will open the season with a home game against Thibodaux on Sept. 3.

 

BY CHRIS KINKAID

THE DAILY NEWS

SPECIAL TO L’OBSERVATEUR