Hammond High's two starting quarterback candidates, sophomores John Michael Williams, left, and Trevor Ragan, work on their drop techniques during Tuesday's spring practice at Hammond High. Photo by John Lenz.

Tors set sights on turnaround

By John Lenz

The pattern over recent seasons is clear for the Hammond High football team. The Tors start slowly in the spring and in the fall, but somehow by September they're usually able to cobble together a competitive team.

The formula hasn't been very successful for the Tors in recent seasons, however, and changing that course is key for third-year Tors head coach Rusty Barrilleaux, whose teams have gone and 2-8 and 3-7 in his first two seasons.

"I'm trying to get out of that stigma," Barrilleaux said. "I want us to look good and consistent in the spring and in the fall. It's important for (our fans) not to have to wonder. It always seems to work it's way out, but gosh, I'm tired of that.

"I really want to go in positive into the summer and come out of that fall scrimmage with Thibodaux — which is not going to be an y easy task — with a little confidence going into (the season opener) against Catholic (Baton Rouge)."

Hammond will construct this year's team around a solid corps of returning third-year starting linemen in Demarcus Chester, Devon Whitehead and A-Trey-U Jones, and a solid running backs group led by Torian Weber, Dearius Bland, and T.J. Ponds, and a receiving corps which includes two-way standout Dorian Watkins, promising tight end Terrance Bridges, and Abram Taylor, who just won the 5A 300-meter hurdles state championship in track.

But there are holes that will have to be plugged with young pups. That starts at quarterback, where sophomores Trevor Ragan and John Michael Williams are the lead competitors.

"We're going to see which one's going to step up the most and take the starting spot," barrilleaux said. " At wide receiver we do have some guys back, and at running back I think we're going to be pretty good.

"Other than that we're going to be filling some shoes with some young guys . All we can do is put them out there and let them learn by playing the game. We might take our lumps with them, but eventually they're going to be some really good football players."

But first, they have to learn to turn it loose on the field. The Tors spent a good portion of their first full practice in pads in ‘Oklahoma’ drills, with the coaching staff gauging and promoting their willingness to pass a lick.

"I try to instill that attitude in them that it's not a game for somebody that doesn't like contact, or somebody that's not nasty," said Barrilleaux, a former SEC-caliber offensive lineman at LSU. "That's something hard to teach. It's the old saying that if he doesn't bite as a puppy, he won't bite as grown dog. I hope they start to understand what it takes, and that's being physical.

"I just want to see who knows what it takes to play this game the way it's supposed to play. It's about hitting people. That's why we wear equipment in football. If you've got a kid who (loves the contact), I think we can teach them the fundamentals and the responsibilities."

Like everyone else connected with the program, Barrilleaux realizes it's time for the Tors to return to football prominence after a sting of losing seasons. Barrilleaux swears he can see it coming.

"I really think we're going to be better," Barrilleaux said. "I'm really excited to see these young guys get out there, and I'll be excited to get these freshmen in in the fall.

"I think it's going to be a good stretch; I think we're going to get back to that point where we're very competitive. We might shock a few people this year."

The Tors will play their spring game a week from Saturday (May 17) at East Ascension starting at 5 p.m.