“Canes Trending Upward
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Players on the North Central High football program seem to be buying-in rather than cashing-out.
It’s still early in 2025, but head coach Dwight Collins perceives a difference in the Hurricanes’ football program as he begins his second season.
North Central opened the year with a 46-40 overtime victory at Merryville last Friday night and although nine regular season games remain, Collins thinks he sees improvement and the tacit acceptance of what he has been attempting to accomplish since being named head football coach.
“I think they know now that they can play and if they execute, then good things are going to happen,” said Collins, who has also been a head football coach at Opelousas High and Mamou.
Collins said he feels the Merryville victory was important.
“The players I think are seeing that what we want them to do at practice is starting to take hold. We are also developing some team leaders and our kids are beginning to show some of the athletic skills that they possess,” added Collins.
Collins said he noticed that change in the players’ approach as it became evident the game was ending tied in regulation.
“I think in the past, the kids might have been hanging their heads a little bit when things happened negatively.. I didn’t see that at all, once we had to go into overtime,” Collins said.
Collins said the ‘Canes’ playmakers like 6-foot-3 receiver Steven Joseph, quarterback Chris Sylvester and Payshawn Mervil, provided 100-plus-yard performances, while offensive and defensive lineman Tristan LeBlanc continued to provide leadership.
“(Joseph) is really our big play guy on offense, while Chris (Sylvester) had 107 passing yards. Considering that it was (Sylvester’s) first game, I thought he did well,” Collins said.
Collins felt that Mervil’s three carries for 131 yards was also significant.
Sylvester, Collins said, is an experienced athlete who didn’t play football last year.
“In the spring he came out, picked up what we are trying to do on offense and has become a team leader for us,” said Collins.
LeBlanc, Collins pointed out, has become somewhat of an auxiliary coach.
“He’s a player who has been willing to help, getting players out, lining them up correctly and working with the younger guys. (LeBlanc) is the type of team leader you look for,” Collins said.
The ‘Canes are running a spread offense, while Collins has North Central employed in a 4-2-5 scheme defensively.
As the start of this season approached, Collins reflected on what he encountered when he first accepted the North Central head coaching position.
“It was a total rebuild. There was a lot more to do than I expected. That includes the culture of the program, finances and the attitude towards football. There were a lot of things to work through in order to make this program better,” Collins noted.
However, Collins said North Central held a fund raiser in order to purchase new helmets and there were other funding efforts that enabled the program to purchase other essentials that most high school programs have.”
