WCA Looks For More Improvement
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
If football program success is measured by consistent improvement, then Westminster Christian Academy-Opelousas should be considered a recent success story.
It wasn’t too long ago that the Crusaders were struggling with numbers of players in addition to compiling victories in a tough Class 1A district.
Those concerns are beginning to diminish, however, as WCA is stockpiling player depth and building from within.
Westminster also won eight games in 2023, an accomplishment that head coach Byron Porter hopes can continue this season.
“I think we are showing that we are getting better each year. When we got here (two years ago) we had just four players over 200 pounds. Now we have 10. It’s correct to say we have more depth now, but it’s going to be vital that we stay healthy,” says Porter.
“We have kids that are willing to work hard and the enthusiasm is there,” Porter points out.
The Crusaders are 13-9 overall under Porter with a team that has reached the second round of the playoffs in each of his seasons.
Offensively
Quarterback Stephen George, now a senior, was taking varsity snaps as an eighth grader.
Porter thinks George is capable of performing multiple tasks.
In the backfield the Crusaders will have 220-pound running back Kyle Horde, who also ranks as one of the best linebackers in the area. Horde had 127 tackles last season.
One preseason question is establishing other runners that can help with the weekly grind.
George has a number of competent receivers in Damien Thomas, Evan Lemon and Gavin Firth.
Mac Profitt, accurate from long distance, is one of the best placekickers in Acadiana.
The offensive line has three major centerpieces in Matt Lalonde (200 pounds), Cooper Campo (220) and Connor Payne (285). Jayden Johnson (250) and Marquis Butler (260) will also add protection, while George has an inviting tight end target in Omar Guillory (6-3, 207).
Defensively
Horde and Jack Hunt (190) are the linebacking starters, while the defensive line includes Guillory, Lalonde, Alex Thomas (230) and Tonnerick Hayes (330).
Firth, Thomas and Lemon are in the secondary as starters.
The Outlook
“Right now I like to think that we are better now than when we came in. I’m comfortable with the 11 guys that we will have on the field both on offense and defense. However it’s important that we stay healthy,” Porter says.
The Crusaders play in a district that is packed with perennial playoff teams as well as established programs.
District opponents Opelousas Catholic, Catholic High-Pointe Coupee and St. Edmund have dominated the league for nearly two decades.
“I like to compare our district to the SEC. Week in and week out, it’s going to be tough. It’s a deep district as far as talent and each week it’s like a playoff game,” Porter adds.
