OCS Starts District Undefeated
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
When your offensive line began the season without much overall experience while blocking in front of a new starting quarterback, there might be some initial cause for concern.
Obviously that situation hasn’t affected Opelousas Catholic, ranked No. 8 in the Week 4 Class 1A poll and currently one of two undefeated teams in St. Landry Parish.
So what’s been the difference for the first third of a season which now trends into a lengthy district schedule?
OCS head coach Cullen Matherne thinks the Vikings began the season with a key victory over Iota and his players have been riding the wave of that success since then.
So far the theme for 2024, Matherne thinks, is an escalating momentum and the ability to quickly develop a chemistry that has carried the Vikings to a 3-0 record.
“We started with that big win against Iota and that seems to have really jump started our season. We have also managed to stay healthy,” Matherne said on Monday.
Quarterback Kross Gillen is making a seamless transition to his starting role. Gillen has thrown nine touchdown passes and Matherne said Gillen is taking advantage of the playmakers around him.
“Kross got hurt in the Jamboree, but he’s all right now. Our receivers are getting the ball thrown to them quickly,” Matherne said.
Matherne said Gillen also has the benefit of two experienced playmakers in running back Royce Butler (227 rushing yards) and wide receiver Roderick Tezeno (330 yards of receptions. Rowen Bergeron had six receptions for 167 yards in the 42-6 win last Friday night over Port Barre.
On The Offensive Line
While Matherne admits the offensive line is still developing, he is encouraged about the ongoing improvement.
The Vikings began the season with starters at center and left tackle, but success for that part of the offense is usually a matter of creating chemistry among the moving parts, said Matherne.
“At this point they have been doing a great job for us and they are getting better with each game. We have a couple of sophomores there, but they are growing up,” Matherne added.
There’s also somewhat of an interesting sibling component among the Vikings’ linemen, Matherne said.
“We have three sets of brothers — the Latiolais’, Fontenot’s and the Griffin’s on the offensive line. That makes things different when they are all trying to compete,” Matherne noted.
Thursday Home Game
OCS opens district with a Thursday night Donald Gardner Stadium matchup against Sacred Heart-Ville Platte.
Both teams are undefeated after three games.
The Trojans in a second year under head coach Jacob Aguillard have already equaled their win total from last year.
Sacred Heart has beaten Oakdale, Pine Prairie and Basile, while the Vikings have scored 97 points in their victories over Iota, East Beauregard and Port Barre.
Matherne is impressed with what Sacred Heart, a perennial rival, has managed to do this year.
“They opened the season with a lot (of players) returning and they are playing physically. They are running to the ball and have skill players that can affect your defense. They are going to be a handful,” said Matherne.
