By Ben Love
There’s something about Carencro Football that has a way of reeling in people, even outsiders to the community, and keeping them glued to the Golden Bears.
Tradition, success, a Hall of Famer? Sure, Carencro’s got those.
But it’s something additional, something you have to take in to understand. The program exudes toughness and old-fashioned grit, with everything earned and nothing given in an environment that couldn’t be any more blue-collar.
The Open Air Cro Dome is an intoxicating atmosphere for a ballgame, a throwback bruiser’s palace more than some kind of modern prep Taj Mahal.
And it’s a place that by all accounts started to bring back a familiar nineties-era swagger in 2016, drawing in droves of local fans and lovers of good football to see one of the Acadiana area’s most talented and complete teams.
Through it all – 10 wins and three losses – I had the pleasure of cutting my teeth as a high school football broadcaster with Carencro this fall. Like the players, no doubt, I hated to see the season end as I too felt I was hitting a stride and craving more.
But this isn’t about me, or really even the list of people who helped give me my crash course in CroBear Football, including Joel Hilbun, Blaine Viator, Chet Yoder and the entire coaching staff.
It’s about appreciating the experience, one that frequented the Cro Dome but also toured New Iberia, Moss Bluff, Breaux Bridge, Loranger, three rounds of the Class 4A state playoffs and even made two lively pep rally stops at Swanky’s in Downtown Carencro.
It’s also about paying homage to the season that was and previewing what’s on the horizon.
HEADLINES FROM 2016
– Carencro continued its winning streak over Acadiana on September 16 with a wild Hail Mary pass answered at the gun. Quarterback Carl Randall hit Mondarius Poullard from 36 yards out and the 5-foot-4 receiver stood tallest on a memorable night in the Cro Dome. Go crazy, folks!
– Defensive tackle Juan Journet made a big-man play for the ages the week before with a 57-yard interception return for six at New Iberia Senior High. Corralling the ball was one thing, but Journet’s jets after the catch were a sight that had to be seen to be believed.
– In round two of the playoffs, the Golden Bears traveled to Loranger and beat the division champion Wolves 28-7 in front of a raucous crowd just north of Hammond. The win enabled the program to practice and play into Thanksgiving week, no easy feat in the rough and tumble Class 4A bracket.
– Seniors set the tone, from Randall and Poullard twins Mondarius and Kendarius to Big Ken Mouton on the offensive line to defensive leaders Kory Augustine, Rashaad Harding and Kordell Williams. There was also three-phase terror Eric Tolivour, a wide receiver and punt returner who became the team’s lead corner by season’s end.
– The Bears lost only three times, with two coming in nail-biters at district foes St. Thomas More and Teurlings Catholic, and the final coming in the state quarterfinals to top-seeded Neville, whose playoff win at Carencro was its 38th consecutive victory. At the time of this writing, one of those two teams is set to play in the Dome and another is a week away.
– There were also numerous program records broken in 2016. Here they are, per Joel Hilbun:
Team Passing Offense in Season – 2,118 yards
Passes Completed in Game – Randall, 24 vs. Neville
Tied Record for TD Passes in Game – Randall, 4 at Westgate
TD Passes in Single Season – Randall, 18
Passing Yards in Season – Randall, 1,860
Passing Completions in Season – Randall, 111
Yards/Reception in Season – Tolivour, 22.8
COMING ATTRACTIONS IN 2017
– Get to know the name Keon Jean-Batiste. By the time the 2017 season arrives, he may just find himself among the top-recruited pass rushers in Louisiana. Listed before this past season at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Jean-Batiste entered the Neville quarterfinal credited with 40 tackles and 7.5 sacks. He blossomed in a big way in 2016, eventually drawing regular double-teams on passing situations and even playing stout against the run. KJB will have plenty of college scouts in Carencro next season.
– Expect big senior year campaigns from the following: RB/CB Treylon Barnaba, after he scorches tracks around the state this spring; LB Jalen Angelle, who like Jean-Batiste will draw plenty of defensive college coaches to practices and games; DB Brendan Willis; and a slew of linemen on both sides including Billy Clay, Titus Major, Langon Wangler and Vaughn Johnnie.
– Finally, as my booth partner Blaine Viator liked to refer to them, look forward to “the toys” taking center stage at the skill positions. With the Poullard twins moving on, Kevin Faulk’s offense will feature plenty more of Theonte Allen and Artrell Marks, both entering junior campaigns. Marks may even take over some option quarterback responsibilities. They are electric with the ball in their hands, and they can go a long way to helping replace Twin-sanity.