Photograph:
Bobby Ardoin <tmamou19@aol.com>
To:Carola Hartley
Sun, Jul 30 at 3:43 PM
Beau Chene head coach Marques Lewis and Gators’ senior players Tylon Major (5) and Nathaniel Ortego (65). (Photograph by Freddie Herpin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
What’s New: There’s the appearance of urgency among the players and coaches along with a renewed purpose that the program is better than it performed last year.
Looking Back: Marques Lewis (7-14 at the school) enters his third year as head coach. After finishing 6-5 in 2021, the Gators trended in the opposite direction, finishing 1-9 with apparent problems offensively and defensively.
What Does The Coach Say: “Last season was so much different than the one before. It was like we were always catching up after losing our best offensive and defensive players in the same game early in the season. We had a lot of kids step up and they are determined to practice hard, take on the challenge and make things better.” – Marques Lewis
The Offensive Story: Beau Chene averaged just over 10 points a game in 2022. Look for the Gators to maneuver behind an offensive line that has more experience. That probably means more emphasis on the run game and perhaps the increased use of a tight end.
The Defensive Story: Allowing 513 points in 10 games indicates there were things to fix on that side of the ball. Lewis thinks the Gators will be better along the defensive front. Beau Chene has always featured outstanding linebackers. Will another emerge this year?
Preseason Standout Players: Tylon Major (safety-cornerback) Nathaniel Ortego (right tackle).
Comments From Tylon Major: “I think we got a lot of motivation because of what happened last year. We don’t want the same thing to happen this season.”
Comments From Nathaniel Ortego: “You are going to see us improved from last year. We’re putting in the work and that has allowed us to put our trust in one another. There’s no doubt we are motivated.”
X-Factor: It’s possible the direction of the season will be determined during the first third of the schedule when Beau Chene plays non-district games. The Gators were outperformed in all four of those contests last year, setting the stage for what occurred during the rest of the year.
