Eunice Seeks More Success
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com. Editor
There is still a youthful aura attached to the Eunice High football program, but head coach Andre Vige thinks there is more experience now as the Bobcats attempt to trend away from a disappointing 2024 season.
Last year was a frustrating one for Eunice, which completed the season 2-8.
There was also no EHS playoff appearance, which was additionally uncharacteristic for the Bobcats, who have either won or shared a district title in all but two of the five seasons that Vige has been head coach
However Vige points to continuity in the Eunice High system, which intends to again employ the Wing-T offense which has traditionally carried the Bobcats to state championships and deep playoff runs.
Eunice also plans to use the 3-4 defense, which Vige thinks will be supported by experience in the secondary.
Eunice approaches 2025 with what Vige describes as a young team composed of a large junior class, which played key roles as inexperienced sophomores last season.
“We have 10 seniors, but we are basically still young. Our o-line, which was tossed into the mix last year, will undergo some changes. Our big question is whether our o-line can hold up. We will have new running backs, but our quarterback (Montana Brown) is back,” Vige says.
The District
Leesville and Iowa were dominant in 3-4A last year, but both programs had chances to win the Class 4A title, but graduated the bulk of their talent.
DeRidder is searching for a new quarterback, while LaGrange should be improved along with Washington-Marion, according to their head coaches.
Offensively
Brown, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior, will start for a third season. Last year Brown passed for 463 yards and rushed for another 471.
The Bobcats have normally been supported by squadrons of running backs that support the Wing-T concept. However that is now changed.
Entering this season Eunice will rely initially on Malik Thomas, (5-7, 155) to assume the load initially. Thomas gained 165 rushing yards in 2024 and caught 71 passes.
Senior Parker Pedigo (175) is the fullback.
Brown will have tight end Cameron Carrier (6-4, 205), a senior, as an inviting passing target along with Brighton Leday (6-0, 175), who caught seven passes for 74 yards last year.
The offensive line contains mainly juniors and sophomore Austin Sittig (210), the center.
As the season begins, Eunice will use Liam Schouest (195), Hunter Abbott (175), Austin Francois (190) and Caleb Haley (215) as primary blockers.
Defensively
It’s mostly a similar situation defensively for Eunice.
There are five seniors sprinkled across the back and front ends, Vige says, but like the offense, the Bobcats will be junior dominated with their defense.
Senior Andrew Fontenot (180) is the nose guard, while will be flanked by tackles Tacorious Cesar (160) and De’Andre Reed (215).
Tyler Coward (230) and Nicholas Dequir (190) are also linemen who can play offensively or defensively.
The linebackers are Peyton Brown (170) and Marquis Hooker (165), both seniors who play the outside, while the inside backers are Ryan Guillory (170) and Jacobie Fontenot (170), a pair of juniors.
Tommy Black (175) is a junior two-year starter at safety, who will play behind sophomore cornerback Demarkus Williams and junior Devonte Williams.
