Photograph: Opelousas Catholic head football coach Cullen Matherne stands alongside preseason Opelousas Catholic standout players Ty Daugherty, Braylin Henry and Dontre Henry. (Photograph by Freddie Herpin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
What’s New: The Vikings won’t display much resemblance to the teams of the last half decade. OCS football has an entirely new coaching staff and a new offensive scheme that presumably features flexibility for playmakers and skill position players.
Looking Back: It was another season of dominating District 5-1A as the Vikings (9-4) captured a second straight outright championship and two postseason victories.
What Does The Coach Say : “I think this new coaching staff is bringing a lot of youthful energy to the program. Since we have been in place, we’ve been providing a lot of high intensity and a hard-working mentality. It’s a young staff, with an average age of 32,” – Cullen Matherne.
Offensive Story: Matherne expects the Vikings to use more option sequences that he says will complement the varied skill set of quarterback Matt Collins, a senior and three-year starter. OCS graduated almost an entire group of offensive line starters however.
Defensive Story: Look for the Vikings to display more zone coverages along with different looks defensively. At least that’s what the players are saying. There are also a lot of new starters on this side of the ball.
Preseason Standouts: Matt Collins (QB), Brylin Henry (LB), Dontre Henry (WR), Ky Daugherty (RB-DB).
Comments From Brylin Henry: “So far the new coaches we have are pushing us harder than before. There are more options now (offensively) and I think there are a lot of players on this team who are looking to have a breakout season.”
Comments From Ky Daugherty: “Defensively we are looking at more zones. We’re going into the season knowing that the other teams in the district are looking at us, but we always have that target on our backs.”
Comments From Braylin Henry: “It’s going to be hard to win three district championships back to back, but that’s the goal. We don’t have a very big team, but (defensively) you will see us use our speed more than we have before.”
X-Factor: There is obviously a winning tradition that has been maintained in the program. How well the new coaching staff can harness that tradition while implementing a nee system will be the ingredient for continued success.
