Mamou hosts Raiders for homecoming 2008

By: LANCE REED
Sports Editor

Mamou takes a break from District 6-2A action this week to meet the Class 3A Northwest Raiders (2-1). The Demons (1-2) are looking to break their two-game losing skid. Mamou fell to Parkview Baptist in week three and most recently to the Westminster Crusaders. This is a good week for Mamou to not only iron out the kinks, but to also pick up some power points and improve in the Class 2A standings before getting back to district action next week. Unlike most of Evangeline Parish, the Demons are going to play tomorrow night. The Demons are going to be pumped up and excited for their homecoming contest.

The Mamou offense continues to be geared around senior standout tailback Robert Walker. The 2007 All-State running back piled up another big game last week, despite the Demons’ loss to Westminster. He score four times and ran for 178 yards. One of the scores came on an 87-yard kickoff return to begin the third quarter. Walker’s ability to light up the scoreboard will give the Northwest Raiders fits tomorrow. Walker, a senior, should be in true form in front of the Mamou faithful. Sophomore quarterback Alex Vidrine showed he can carry the ball and take some pressure off of Walker. He hauled the ball 17 times last week for 60 yards.

The biggest thing the MHS offense is lacking is the threat of a passing game. If the Demons could throw the ball effectively, it would spread out the NHS defense and give Walker and company even more room to shine. Vidrine was 4-9 last week for 53 yards. He hit Alex Chapman three times for 47 yards.

The Raiders give up an average of 25 points per game. While that works right into the Demons’ favor, you have to consider the people the Raiders have faced. South Plaquemine, the defending Class 1A state champs, put up 39 points on the NHS boys. Opelousas Catholic, however, did scratch up 21 points against the Raiders. Most recently, the Tigers of Jeanerette did a 14-point number on the boys from Prairie Rhonde.

Look for the Demons to exploit any weakness the Raiders may have. A total of eight starters are back on defense, including Thaddeus Kennerson. The senior is back with his 6’2” 210-pound frame. Along with him is fellow senior returner Jerry Duffey who is equally as big. Both defensive tackles are back this year for the Raiders. Terry Allen and Jamarcus Williams both tip the scale at 300 pounds, with Allen being the taller of the two at 6’3”.

Linebacker Chris Jenkins leads the defense in tackles and makes his return to the squad. The secondary has two starters back. Senior Calvin Sam and junior Joseph Fontenot lace the pass defense for the Raiders this year.

Mamou’s defense continues to struggle against opponents. It’s been two long weeks for the boys in green and white. Opponents have scored over 100 points on the Demons. That has to be a huge concern for second-year head coach John Lafleur. The Demons have to stiffen up this week. Northwest senior tailback Alvin Williams is one of the best running backs in Class 3A. Williams, a four-year starter, ran for over 200 yards against Jeanerette. Along with Williams, quarterback Shone Richard is back for the Raiders. The three-year starter has the ability to throw the ball a long way down the field at any time. Sam is the primary receiver who is back at the wide-out position this year. Fullback Chris Jenkins will get plenty of carries. The returning starter is the go-to guy in most short-yardage situations.

Most of the D-line turns around to play on the offensive line for the Raiders. Center Dusty Richard and offensive tackle Quin Johnson joins Kennerson, Williams, Duffey and Allen to make up the starting O-line for Northwest High School. With so many linemen going both ways, it seems stamina has to be a factor for the Raiders. Look for Lafleur to take advantage of that by blitzing linebackers and sending safeties off the corner to get to Richard. If he does not have time to throw the ball, it could put all of the offensive pressure on Williams and Jenkins.