Minton era begins again at Central Catholic

Central Catholic will begin its second go-round of the Tommy Minton era as Minton, who coached the Eagles in the 1990s before moving on in his career in what has included a successful career at Patterson High School, has return to the Morgan City school
Minton was hired by Central Catholic Principal Vic Bonnaffee earlier this year to replace longtime coach David Fuhrer.
Minton, who began at Central Catholic in March, said there was a time of adjustment for everyone with a new coach.
“You just come in and try to create a set of expectations, try to create some chemistry with the head coach with the coaching staff and also with the players, and I think we’ve done a good job of laying all that groundwork this summer and early part of fall camp here,” Minton said. earlier this month.
The new Central Catholic coach said that the Eagles utilized this summer and the beginning of fall camp to teach their new offensive system.
This year’s Eagles will run a spread offense, while last year, he said the Eagles were lined up about 90 percent of the time in a two-back, tight end set.
“Some of the terminology is new, but for some of the older kids, it’s not totally new because just a couple of years ago they were a spread type team,” Minton said.
Also, this season, the Eagles will have a no-huddle look on offense, something Minton said the Eagles did little, if any, a year ago.
Defensively, the Eagles will be based out of a 3-4 look, but at times they will use four men on the line.
“A lot of it is the same (as last year),” Minton said of the defense, “but we want to make sure we got the personnel in the right spots and that’s what we used the summer and the preseason for is to teach, make sure we got people lined up where they can best help us.”
The Eagles coaching staff from a year ago remains nearly intact.
Returning are Larry Lombardo, who will be the squad’s defensive coordinator; as well as Tyler Jensen, running backs’ and outside linebackers’ coach; Jamarr Garrett, defensive backs’ and wide receivers’ coach; and Zach Vorenkamp, quarterbacks coach.
David Irwin, who was a member of the Eagles coaching staff before stepping away for a few years, returns to coach the offensive line, while Keith Thibodeaux, who had years of coaching experience before moving into administration in the St. Mary Parish school system, will be a member of the Eagles’ coaching staff, overseeing inside linebackers. Thibodeaux recently retired as assistant superintendent of the St. Mary Parish School System.
Minton commended his assistant coaches’ work.
Quarterback
Sophomore Blake Byrne will take over under center for the Eagles this year, replacing graduated started Nick Case, a second-team All-District 7-1A selection a year ago.
“He’s done a good job of grasping the offense,” Minton said of Byrne. “Blake has all the intangibles you want in a quarterback. He’s very smart. He’s a good athlete. He doesn’t get rattled real easily. His demeanor is always on an even keel.”
Backups to Byrne will be freshmen Tyler O’con and Demarcus Mitchell, while eighth-grader DD Gant also has been working at quarterback.
“All those kids are really good athletes, and they bring something to the table that I think long term they can help the program,” Minton said.
Running Back
The Eagles return stud running back Stefano Guarisco, an honorable mention selection a year ago on both the Louisiana Football Coaches Association Class 1A All-State team as well as the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 1A team.
Guarisco also was a first-team all-district selection at running back, kick returner and defensive back a year ago.
“Stefano is short, but he’s not small,” Minton said. “He’s built compact. He does a good job of avoiding contact and then when he makes contact, he’s got a very strong lower body. He can break some tackles and run through some arm tackles. He’s a very talented kid and I think he’s going to be a key part, the focal point of our offense.”
Others working at running back for the Eagles are sophomore Sydney Holder, senior Logan Arias and freshman Chris Singleton, who Minton said “has a ton of potential.”
When the Eagles utilize a fullback in some sets, senior Garret LeBlanc will be in the backfield.
Also working at fullback is senior John Parker.
Wide Receiver
At wide receiver, the Eagles will be looking to replace the contributions of Tyler Hoffpauir, a Class 1A Louisiana Football Coaches Association All-State and Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-State pick who graduated. Hoffpauir also was a first-team all-district choice at wide receiver.
This year, the Eagles will use a four-wide receiver set with inside and outside receivers.
On the outside, sophomores Jalen Johnson and Samarick Paul are the projected starters, while senior Charlie Barron and junior Tanner Wiggins also were expected to see time there.
“I feel like all four of those kids have a lot of ability,” Minton said. “I’ve seen a lot of growth in Jaylen from his freshman year to this year, and I see him developing into a really good receiver and doing some good things. This is Samarick’s first year playing football. He didn’t play as a freshman, and I think he’s going to bring some big-play potential on the outside.”
As for Barron, Minton said, “He’s a good route runner, he’s got good hands. He’s just got that senior savvy. He does a good job of getting open and he’ll catch the ball” when he is open.”
At the Eagles’ inside slot receiver positions, the Eagles will be looking to seniors Matthew Barbier and Tony Pennison as starters, while sophomore Greg Leger also is in that rotation for playing time.
“They’re very good route runners,” Minton said. “They have good hands.”
When a tight end is utilized, the Eagles will be using senior Matthew Vorenkamp.
Offensive Line
Early in the fall, the starting offensive line listed was sophomore Mitchell Lemoine at center, sophomores Blake Hidalgo and Thomas Garber at the guard positions and junior Cole Baker and senior Kyle Autin at the tackle positions.
“But we have a lot of good competition going on, guys like Hunter Rulf, and Derwin Hebert and Tyler Landry are all there still competing very hard and are in the mix,” Minton said. “They’re going to get a lot of playing time if they don’t start.”
Gone from a year ago is Joe Michel, who finished his career as an honorable mention all-state choice on both the Louisiana Football Coaches Association’s Class 1A team as well as the Louisiana Sports Writers Association squad. He was an all-district second-team choice as well.
Also, second-team all-district selection Collin Conner graduated, too.
Defensive Line
Junior nose tackle T.J. Ruffin and senior defensive ends Sage Thibodeaux and Vorenkamp are penciled in as the three starters on the line.
Parker also will see plenty of playing time for the Eagles.
“When we go to our four-down look, he’s the first one in,” Minton said.
Among those gone from last year’s defensive line due to graduation are Michel, a first-team all-district choice, and Chaz Galloway, a second-team all-district selection.
A year ago, Thibodeaux was a second-team all-district selection at linebacker.
Others who are fighting for playing time for the Eagles are freshmen, Drake Boudreaux, Dominic Skipper, Ethan Whittington and Tyler Longman. Minton said the quartet have done well in the weight room as well as fall practice.
Linebacker
At outside linebacker, starters listed by Minton earlier this fall were junior Charlie Solar and Johnson.
“They’re both tall, rangy kids,” Minton said. “Good athletes.”
Backup at outside linebacker are freshmen Cooper LeBlanc and Mitchell.
At inside linebackers, the Eagles will feature Garret LeBlanc and Wiggins.
LeBlanc, who is entering his third year in the starting lineup, was both an honorable mention Class 1A All-State selection a year ago by both the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and the Louisiana Football Coaches Association. He also was a first-team All-District selection.
“They’re both big, physical kids, and they both do a good job of running to the football,” Minton said.
Backups to them are Hidalgo, sophomore Jesse Fontenot and Singleton.
Defensive Backs
The Eagles’ starting safeties will be Barron at strong safety and Guarisco at free safety.
Barron was a second-team selection at defensive back a year ago.
Barbier will back both up.
At cornerback, the Eagles will feature Holder and Arias, while Samuel Guarisco will see a lot of time, too.
“We’re going to get in some five-db looks at times against some spread teams where all those guys will be on the field,” Minton said.
Special Teams
Barbier will handle kickoffs and extra points for the Eagles, while Garber will be the team’s punter.
“I feel like we’ve done a good job with the kicking game this fall,” Minton said. “I think Matthew Barbier’s going to be excellent at both extra-point kicks and kickoffs.”
A year ago, Barbier was a second-team all-district selection at kicker.
Regarding Garber, Minton said, “He’s done a good job of getting hang time.”
Garber will replace, Case, a second-team all-district selection at punter.
Garret LeBlanc will serve as the team’s deep snapper. Minton said that LeBlanc is doing a good job at that position.
Schedule
Central Catholic’s nondistrict schedule features Class 2A Loreauville, Class 3A Lusher Charter and E.D. White.
“I think that’s games that definitely get you ready for district and get you ready for the playoffs,” Minton said. “That’s what you want.”
Later towards the end of district, the Eagles will face Class 1A Metairie-Park Country Day. All except Lusher advanced to the postseason a year ago, with Loreauville advancing to the Class 2A semifinals and Country Day, the Division IV quarterfinals.
The Eagles share District 7-1A with defending Division IV state champion Vermilion Catholic as well as Highland Baptist, Gueydan, Hanson Memorial, Ascension Episcopal and Lafayette Christian.
“When you look at the district of course, Vermilion Catholic’s the defending state champion so that’s where everything has to start,” Minton said. “From there, I know Highland Baptist and Hanson were both playoff teams. Hanson is a traditional rival. That’s something else right there that creates a good matchup. I think it’s a tough district. Lafayette Christian is a school that’s grown. Supposedly their enrollment is up around mid-2A level, so when you grow like that you feel like you should see improvement in your football program. It’s a situation where it’s definitely a good, competitive single A district.”
Central Catholic will open its season Sept. 5 at Loreauville.