'Jacks to begin the Marvin Dantzler era this fall

There will be a lot of new faces at Patterson this football season.
That starts at the top as Marvin Dantzler replaces Chad Blanchard as head coach. While Patterson hadn’t had a coaching change in years with Tommy Minton at the helm, it’s now on its second head coach in three seasons.
Dantzler, a Louisiana native, comes to Patterson after four years as head coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 36-year-old finished with a 33-12 record at Booker T. Washington, including back-to-back Class 6A semifinal appearances in 2014 and 2015. He also qualified for the playoffs in his first two seasons at the school.
“I think the kids and the coaching staff have made a smooth transition, so we are all focused on the season,” Dantzler said of his new head coaching job at Patterson.
Patterson finished the 2015 season with a 9-3 mark, a District 8-3A title and advanced to the second round of the Class 3A playoffs where it was upset by West Feliciana.
Another key new face for the Lumberjacks this year will be at quarterback. Patterson has to replace two-year starter Sirbatian Charles, who concluded his senior season as the District 8-3A Most Valuable Player and as a Class 3A honorable mention All-State selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
He completed 134 of 210 passes (63.8 percent) for 2,052 yards with 27 touchdowns and five interceptions. Charles also rushed 129 times for 669 yards and five touchdowns.
He has moved on to play collegiately at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas.
“Just looking at the film of the last couple years, it’s going to be hard to replace that guy,” Dantzler said. “But we’re only asking Dillan Giandelone to be Dillan Giandelone. We’re not going to ask him to be anyone else. We are to play to his strengths. He throws a decent ball, and if nothing else, he’s a good athlete, so he can run the football. He’s also a very tough kid, and you need someone there with grit.”
Giandelone, a senior, is so tough he was a linebacker last season.
Backing him up at quarterback will be senior Hector Tolento.
“Hector (Tolento) split reps with Dillan (Giandelone) all summer, and he started in the spring because you are always just one play away from playing the next guy,” Dantzler said.
Freshman Randy Paul will be the junior varsity quarterback.
“We are excited about our young QB, because he’s a guy that can play for you at the end of the season after some growth,” Dantzler said. “I really liked what I saw in the spring game, and he’s continued to play well in practice. He’s a natural quarterback. He’s not a guy you are trying to turn into a quarterback.”
Paul was 5-of-7 passing for 153 yards in the spring game against Cecilia.
In the backfield, Patterson will have to replace D.J. Jones and Tristen Ausama. Jones rushed 68 times for 696 yards and 11 touchdowns, while he caught 28 passes for 437 yards and five touchdowns. The MidAmerican Nazarene University signee was a first-team All-District 8-3A running back as well as an honorable mention Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 3A All-State selection.
Ausama, who signed with Louisiana College, rushed 110 times for 657 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 15 passes for 123 yards and a score as a senior.
Replacing the college signees in the backfield will be two dynamic young running backs, junior Dontre Nicholas and sophomore Dajon Richard.
“We are excited about both of those young guys,” Dantzler said. “Richard is more elusive, while Nicholas has good vision and he’s a strong runner. Both are fast, too, and I think they complement each other.”
Nicholls rushed 28 times for 187 yards and two scores a year ago, while Richard had 19 carries for 177 yards and three scores as a freshman.
Freshman Alex Langston, who had a strong summer camp, will be the third running back.
At wide receiver, among the losses due to graduation for Patterson are Oklahoma signee Mykel Jones, Nehemiah Augustus, who will play defense at Memphis; and Brennan Gouaux.
Augustus caught 33 passes for 540 yards and nine scores a year ago, while Jones, a first-team all-district wide receiver, hauled in 26 passes for 431 yards and six touchdowns. Gouaux, a second-team all-district selection a year ago, had 18 catches for 321 yards and four touchdowns.
This year’s receivers include seniors Jordan Butler and Khyri Harris, sophomore Jaymioun Butler and senior Matt Dardeau.
“Jordan (Butler) is our big-play guy,” Dantzler said. “We have to find ways to get the ball in his hands. Khyri Harris is also one that can catch and run. I think Jaymioun Butler can mature and help us, while Matt (Dardeau) can do it all. He’s a fullback, wide receiver, tight end and H-back.”
Harris had three catches for 72 yards and a touchdown a year ago, while Butler had four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown.
Look for sophomore Irvin Celestine and freshman Kai Schexnayder to also be in the mix at wide out.
While the Lumberjacks lost first-team all-district offensive lineman Sean Stewart to graduation, the offensive line still will be a strength in 2016.
“We’re big, and we’re getting physical and we run pretty well up there,” Dantzler said. “This is our most experienced group. We have two juniors and three seniors starting on the offensive line.”
The guards are seniors Treyvon Burrell (6-2, 350) and Aarion Hartman (6-0, 260). The tackles are junior Brad Beaubouef (6-3, 290) and senior Kaylon Bruno (6-3, 265), while junior Zachary Burke (6-0, 254) will be at center.
“They are good run blockers, so that’s what we will hang our hat on,” Dantzler said. “We want to show those guys some love because we will only go where they take us.”
Freshman Javin Turner (6-0, 233) and sophomore Brady Richardson (5-10, 237) also will see action on the offensive line.
“Two young linemen who, if they can keep pace, they can help us at some point,” Dantzler said. “The freshman has some really good feet, and he’s a good football player. He just doesn’t know it yet. He could be one of the special ones from Patterson if he commits and works hard.”
Patterson will run a 3-3-5 defense this season — three down linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs.
On the defensive line, Patterson will have to replace Charlie Kelly, a second-team Class 3A All-State selection by the Louisiana Football Coaches Association as well as a first-team all-district selection a year ago. Kelly, who graduated last year, had 87 total tackles — 52 solo and 35 assists. He also had six tackles for a loss of eight yards, one forced fumble and one pass breakup in 2015.
This year’s defensive line will feature junior Deondre Diggs (6-2, 242), Hartman and senior Jaylon Johnson (6-0, 263). Johnson was a second-team all-district offensive lineman a year ago.
The linebackers are led by senior middle linebacker Tyric Garrett, a first-team all-district selection a year ago on the defensive line. Freshman Treylon Bennett and senior Dariont’e Brown will be on the outside.
“Those guys have to stop the run, and they have to be sound with gap fills and our different alignments,” Dantzler said. “The fewer mistakes, the less chance someone takes it 75 yards for a touchdown on you.”
Dardeau, who plays all three linebacker spots, also will see time at linebacker.
Gone from last year’s group are first-team all-district linebacker Blake Dreyer and second-team linebacker Dominique Washington, who both graduated.
In the defensive backfield, Patterson will have to replace D.J. Jones, Augustus and Shea Ragas, who all have graduated. Jones and Augustus were first-team All-District 8-3A selections a year ago, while Ragas was a second-team choice.
Augustus also was a first-team Class 3A All-State selection by the Louisiana Football Coaches Association and a Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 3A honorable mention All-State selection. He finished his senior season with 88 total tackles — 52 solo and 36 assists. He had five tackles for a loss of nine yards, including two sacks. He forced two fumbles, broke up 11 passes, intercepted six passes and had one defensive touchdown.
Senior returning starter Brandon Ramagos will lead the defensive backs. Others expected to see playing time are Jaymioun Butler, senior John Brooks, Harris, Celestine and junior Danon Hue.
“We are just asking these guys to cover and compete,” Dantzler said. “That gives us a 50-50 chance against the pass. Then make tackles when you have to make tackles.”
Senior Christian Soria returns to handle the kicking duties for Patterson.
In addition to Dantzler, Patterson’s coaching staff this season includes defensive coordinator Ryan Stewart, offensive coordinator Brandon Harden, and assistant coaches C.L. Grogan, Grant LaGrange, Garrett Grogan, Terrance Johnson, Calvin Washington, Travis Darnell, Stephen Schaub, Blake Rodriguez and Mike Calamia.
The Lumberjacks’ nondistrict schedule is nearly all higher classifications teams. Patterson will open the season at Class 5A Central Lafourche before hosting Class 5A Hahnville and Class 2A Catholic High-New Iberia.
In week four, Patterson will travel to Class 4A Ellender before beginning District 8-3A play. Patterson will face Kaplan, Berwick, E.D. White, Erath, North Vermilion and Franklin in league play.
The Lumberjacks conclude their preseason Friday in the Morgan City Jamboree at Tiger Stadium. Patterson will face Berwick and later Morgan City in the nightcap. Patterson opens the regular season Sept. 2 at Central Lafourche.
Additional reporting by The Daily Review Sports Editor Geoff Stoute.