Patterson and Cecilia meet in spring game

The Marvin Dantzler era got off to a wet but productive start in Patterson’s spring game against Cecilia Monday at the Sugar Dome.
The first-year head coach would not let an off-and-on downpour dampen the opportunity to get better.
“It’s football. We’re going to play in it come September, November and December, so ain’t nothing wrong with playing in the rain,” he said with a chuckle.
As for the scrimmage, Dantzler was pleased.
“I thought we moved the ball well from the 20 (yard-line) to the 20, but we have to work on some red-zone stuff, but that’s all game planning,” Dantzler said. “And defensively, we made stops when we had to make them.
“I was happy that we were able to hold them scoreless,” Dantzler said. “That’s a pretty good football team over there with some explosive players, so maybe we’re better on defense than we thought we were.”
Running back Dontre’ Nicholas, quarterback Randy Paul and receivers Irvin Celestine, Kai Schexnayder and Jaquandre Williams all caught Dantzler’s eye.
“That’s what these spring games are for, playing good people, getting a good gauge of where you’re at and now we have the whole summer to get better,” Dantzler said. “I think we’re right on track, but we have a lot of young kids out there.”
As for the crowd, the scrimmage drew several fans with umbrellas and raincoats in the stands and others under the bleachers dodging the drops. Among those present was Nicholls State head football coach Tim Rebowe.
Patterson, which finished 9-3 last season and won the District 8-3A title with a 6-0 mark, opens the regular season Sept. 2 at Central Lafourche in Raceland.