Morgan City boasts the 3 C's in 2016

Numbers are up on Morgan City High School’s football team as the squad has approximately 65 players that fit the mold of character, commitment and consistency.
Morgan City head coach Scott Tregle said this past summer was the best the team has had in his time at Morgan City.
“We’re going to be a young team again,” Tregle said. “Some of the guys that were going to be seniors, they didn’t make it back through the spring and summer.”
Numbers on the team are up about 10 players this year from approximately 55 a year ago to about 65 this year.
“The kids are enjoying (themselves), and that’s what it’s about,” Tregle said. “You’re in high school for four years to get out here and work hard, work together, and then the guys (that are) going to play are the one’s that want to be out here and give 100 percent.”
Morgan City, which finished 4-6 a year ago but 0-5 in District 7-4A play, returns eight starters offensive starters. Defensively, Morgan City has six starters back.
The Tigers’ leading offensive returners are seniors Makye Richard, a second-team All-District 7-4A receiver a year ago, and Ethan Scioneaux. Richard caught 27 passes for 462 yards and four touchdowns. Scioneaux is the leading returning rusher with 65 carries for 339 yards and four touchdowns and eight receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown a year ago.
Morgan City will make the switch this season from a wing-t look to a spread offense.
“It’s basically the same offensive scheme that we’ve been doing, but we’re just going to spread it out,” Tregle said. “We don’t have big, big running backs, but they’re pretty quick in space, so (we’ll) try to get them the ball out there.”
Defensively, Morgan City will base out of a 50 look.
“We’re not that big on the defensive line, either, so we’re going to have to move around and just create havoc,” Tregle said.
The third-year coach will be assisted this season by Duriel Singleton (defensive backs, running backs and special teams), Jason Viator (offensive and defensive line), Josh Grizzaffi (offensive and defensive line), James Bennett (offensive and defensive line), Joey Crappell (quarterbacks, wide receivers and special teams), Brandon Tregle (running backs), Charles Maize (line) and Tim Vidos (junior varsity).
Quarterback
Morgan City has to replace Abram Hartley, who graduated, at quarterback from a year ago.
He completed 54 of 138 passes for 889 yards with five touchdowns and interceptions each during his senior season.
Looking to replace him will be juniors Isaiah Escort and Alex Brocato.
“We’re trying to give equal reps and just see who does the best,” Tregle said. “Isaiah (has) been doing most of the quarterbacking this summer for 7-on-7. He has a real live arm. We just got to try to eliminate the mistakes. Sometimes he just tends to do a few things that he knows after were not right, but he just (has) to learn to not try to win the game. To manage the game.”
Meanwhile, while Tregle said Brocato would prefer his defensive position at free safety instead of quarterback, but Tregle said his services are valuable in the offensive backfield.
“I told him he could do both,” Tregle said of playing offensive and defense. “We have to have two (quarterbacks), because if you lose one, you’re down to none.”
Running back
At running back, the Tigers will look to junior Trey Derouen and Scioneaux, who both return from last year.
Tregle said junior Chris Gant, who played some last year, will start at fullback.
Others slotted for time in the backfield are junior Kalen Hillen, who played some running back last year, along with junior Ke’Sean Francois and freshman Devonta Grogan.
“They’re all going to be our running back/slot positions,” Tregle said.
Wide Receivers
Seniors Makye Richard, newcomer, senior Keith Henderson and junior Logan Tingle will be the Tigers’ top outside receivers.
Tregle said Henderson and Richard “are great athletes.”
He said Tingle has improved his speed and also can jump.
While Richard returns as an all-district performer, the Tigers must replace the contributions of Lloyd Singleton. Singleton caught nine passes for 211 yards last season on his way to second-team all-district honors.
Offensive line
Morgan City will return three of its five starters up front in seniors Fred Ferguson, James Bennett and Frank Rangle. Ferguson and Bennett are the team’s starting left and right tackles, while Rangel is the team’s starting left guard.
The Tigers must replace first-team all-district center Hunter Vining, who graduated last year. Vying for that spot are sophomore Tai Nguyen and junior Zachary Miller.
Junior Carson Marcantel and junior Harlan Francis, who started some a year ago, also will play on the offensive line.
Defensive line
Defensively, the Tigers’ line will be led by senior Gage Gros, a returning starter.
While the team lost a few players from a year ago, Cain Naquin, who played some last year, and Nguyen, who started some, also return. Sophomore Brandon Jones will be in the rotation for playing time, too.
Linebacker
Senior Scott Comeaux, who is returning from a neck injury a year ago, has moved to a linebacker spot from his free safety position a year ago.
The team’s other outside linebacker will be Hillen.
Other linebackers for the 2016 Tigers will include junior Tyler Nugier and senior Nick Brown.
Senior Tanner Theriot also will play three different positions and special teams.
“He’s one of those kids (that) you ask him to do anything, he’s going to do it. … He’s going to play a lot,” Tregle said of Theriot. “He might start some games. He might play more than some of the starters in some games.”
Secondary
Morgan City will return Brocato, a three-year starter, at strong safety and Richard returns to his starting cornerback spot.
The Tigers lost Singleton, a second-team all-district performer, due to graduation in the defensive backfield.
Replacing him will be Tingle, who will get the start this fall.
Special Teams
At kicker, the Tigers feature freshman Seth Canty and senior Josh Nguyen, a soccer player.
While Tregle said Canty was ahead in the competition early in practice, he said both would see action.
Richard will be back as the team’s punter.
The Tigers will give multiple players an opportunity to return kickoffs, while in the punt return game, Tregle will look to Richard and Comeaux.
Schedule
Morgan City’s schedule is favorable in terms of home games as Morgan City has seven games in Tiger Stadium.
Even the team’s travel schedule this year is favorable as the furthest the team has to venture is Terrebonne Parish, where it will play district games against Ellender and Vandebilt Catholic.
Morgan City will open the year at Berwick before playing five straight home games against Sophie B. Wright, North Central, Cohen College Prep, Westminster and its District 7-4A opener against South Lafourche.
A district home game against South Terrebonne is sandwiched between away games at Ellender and Vandebilt Catholic before the Tigers conclude the regular season at home against Assumption.
Morgan City will host its annual jamboree Friday, facing Centerville at 5 p.m. in junior varsity action and Berwick at 6 p.m. and Patterson later in varsity play.