Tom Dodge
BASILE – There are only five seniors on the Bearcats football team this season, but Basile head coach Kevin Bertrand believes that group can help lead the way to a District 4-1A championship.
“They are a lead by example group,” Bertrand said of seniors Issac Cortez, Keeman Ivory, Gabe Duplechin, Isaiah Ceaser and Logan David.
“They have been starters and they have experience in the big games so I think they will be a big part of our success this season.”
Basile will scrimmage DeQuincy on Aug. 22 and then host the Evangeline Parish jamboree on Aug. 30.
“This is the hardest working group I have seen around here in a long time,” the coach said of his Bearcats. “They never feel that there is something they can’t do.
“They are really pushing themselves to try an get to different level this year.”
St. Edmund moved to District 5-1A, and South Cameron dropped football, so the District 4-1A line-up has changed for the next two years.
Basile finished second in district to St. Edmund the last two seasons.
East Beauregard and Gueydan are new to the district, joining Basile, Elton, Grand Lake, Hamilton Christian, Merryville, and Oberlin.
The Bearcats enjoyed an 8-2 mark in regular season play last season and finished 6-1 in district play under Kevin, who has a 42-19 record.
The Bearcats opened the playoffs with a 56-8 win over Tensas before advancing to defeat Montgomery by a 63-40 margin.
Basile’s season ended their playoff season with a 44-14 loss to eventual state champion Kentwood.
The Bearcats open the 2019 season at Lake Arthur on Sept. 6 before entertaining Mamou.
Basile will travel to Sacred Heart of Ville Platte before opening district play at home against Hamilton Christian.
Road trips to Grand Lake and Elton will be followed by a home game against East Beauregard on Oct. 18.
The Bearcats visit Elton before closing the regular season with home games against Gueydan and Oberlin.
Bertrand will have eight returning offensive players this season, led by senior tight end Cortez; senior split end /wide receiver Ivory; senior left guard Duplechin and junior center Beyson McCoy.
Junior Wesley and sophomore Anphorey Guillory complete the offensive line.
At running back are seniors Ceaser and David.
New Starters on offense include junior tackle Jayce Smith, junior Tyler Martel, and junior quarterback Cole Manuel.
“We will change the offense this season,” the coach said. “We won’t be as much of a grind it out between the tackles type running game.
“We plan to spread the defenses out more and use some of the speed we have.”
Probable defensive starters include Cortez and Duplechin at the defensive end.
The linebacker duo for the Bearcats include Ceaser and a player to be determined.
In the secondary, Ethan Bazinet and David are the strong safeties.
Cole Manuel will play free safety. Juniors Tyler Martel and senior Ivory will be joined in the secondary by Logan Guillory.
“We have to stay healthy with such a small group of upper classmen,” the coach said. “The younger guys really need to learn how to play early on in case we need any to step into a game.”