OPELOUSAS CATHOLIC VIKINGS

Photographs by Freddie Herpin

2022 Football Team Outlook

Head Coach: Thomas David

2021 Record: 9-2 (includes playoffs)

Looking Back – The Vikings featured the best overall record in the parish with a 2021 defense that allowed only a touchdown each game. OCS was also a district champion with a team that included a vast group of newcomers.

Looking Ahead – The major schematic change is on defense. OCS still plans to run a 4-2-5 defense, but the Vikings are adjusting to a new defensive coordinator in Quentin Payne, who will bring his own nuances to the alignment. Defensively though, there are many returnees including some three-year starters. Offensively the Vikings return a quarterback and featured play maker Chris Brown, who was the overall parish MVP last year. Brown is also a defensive catalyst who intercepted seven passes last season and returned nearly half of those for touchdowns. OCS emphasized the run game last year. Expect the same this year due to four senior linemen.

What Does The Coach Think – David says don’t scrutinize the defense too severely. “It’s going to be a work in progress. There are going to be some differences in roles and assignments. Our biggest losses came on the defensive side, but we have some great play makers on the defense. We are keeping the same offense. We might throw a little more than we did last year, but don’t expect any big changes in what we plan to do.”

Meet The Key Players – Mark Collins (QB, junior); Chris Brown (WR, DB, senior); John Michael Jarrell (LB, RB, senior); Markaas Daugherty (WR, DB, senior); Cole Lafleur (OL, DL, senior).

Making Predictions – Anticipate OCS to experience similar success this year, although the Vikings may not match their won-loss percentage of 2021. One thing to consider is the Vikings are without assistants Tommy Tate and Willard Hanks, who combined 75 years of coaching experience. David has developed his share of excellent high school quarterbacks during the past 10 seasons and this year Collins, who is one of those pupils, is 25 pounds heavier, taller and more confident. Brown reigns as a top play maker and the offensive line should again carry the running game. Expect OCS to win another district championship with Catholic Pointe-Coupee as again the main challenger.

*Note (analysis by editor Bobby Ardoin)