For Coach David Brewerton last year’s exit in the quarterfinals to eventual state runner-up Alexandria Senior High School was premature based on his previous six seasons where the Broncos either exited the 5A playoffs in the semifinals round or, like in 2015, 2017 and 2018, as the 5A State Champions.
There are some old and new faces in place to aid the Broncos as they try to reestablish themselves as the top team in 5A football. “I feel good about where we are,” Brewerton commented on the team’s preparation for the 2021 campaign.
The defense will return the most starters and will be relied on heavily as the offense gels. The returning defensive starters include linebackers Lamar Smith and Riley Howard who were lost last year to knee injuries.
“We have an experienced secondary coming back and the strength of our defense will be our defensive line,” Brewerton said. Brewerton praised the players and defensive coaching staff for their summer and preseason preparation. Anchoring on the inside will be seniors Ashton Freeman (the 220 pounds state wrestling champion last spring) and Kameron Hamilton. Back deep in the secondary will be junior safety Kylin Jackson who wreaked havoc on receivers last year as a sophomore.
Four starters will need to be replaced on the offensive line and phenomenal receivers Chris Hilton and Kenson Tate have moved on to compete at the college level. Junior Eli Holstein returns at quarterback with a year of experience under his belt. “Any time you return your starting quarterback that is a major plus, especially one as talented as Eli,” Brewerton said.
Beside Holstein in the backfield will be running back Connor Wisham, who ran for over 1,000 yards in 2020. Holstein will also have familiar targets Charles Robertson and Cameron Senegal returning as receivers. “We have some threats in the specialty position that can be really good,” Brewerton said. He also expects big things from Jordan Williams at wide receiver this year.
As a former offensive lineman, Coach Brewerton can appreciate that the challenge for the young line will be to see how fast they can gel together as a group. “The upgrade of our preseason schedule (scrimmage with West Monroe and jamboree with Lafayette Christian) will battle-test the offensive line before week 1 more than in years past,” Coach Brewerton explained.
The early returns from the West Monroe scrimmage indicate that they were up for the early challenge. For those of you who did not hear, the Broncos scored twice and held the Rebels scoreless during the 15-minute live scrimmage at Tioga High School on Aug 19.
On the tougher scheduling this year Coach Brewerton indicated that “finding opponents has become difficult as our program has improved.”
“Bottom line is if there are championships to win, we want to win them. When district rolls around we want to win it. Our goal will be every year to win another state title. How we get there may be a little different,” the coach said.
“I don’t think last year we ever played a game where we peaked,” Brewerton commented when reflecting on team development, maturity and dealing with COVID-19 distractions and the eventual cancelation of multiple district games.
The Broncos traveled to Lafayette Friday to play Lafayette Christian Academy in the LCA jamboree.
Brewerton is hoping that this year’s schedule will help with the maturation process that was adversely affected in 2020. The Broncos home opener against East Ascension is Friday, Sept. 3, and so it begins.