Bogalusa is on the road to begin the season tonight against Southern Lab in a game that is being played at Glen Oaks.
The Lumberjacks are coming off a 4-6 regular season that saw them reach the Class 3A playoffs, but lose to Loranger, 35-7, in the opening round.
Last week, Bogalusa fell to Northlake Christian School, 20-6, in the Covington Jamboree.
Bogalusa first-year coach David Roberts said tonight will be a big test for his club.
“We cleaned up some of the mistakes we had last week like turnovers and tackling and a couple of blown coverages,” Roberts said. “Southern Lab is really big up front. Southern Lab has been going deep in the playoffs the last few years, so this will be a big test for us. They’re big up front. They’ve got athletes and a good quarterback. He’s tall and he can throw the ball. Our kids are going to have to come out and play.”
Offensively, the Lumberjacks struggled last week. Bogalusa lost the turnover battle, committing three turnovers while creating one.
One of the big offensive highlights for Bogalusa last week was an impressive 53-yard run by quarterback Tym Toussaint where he was able to break a few tackles. He finished with 87 yards rushing and 21 passing.
The turnover Bogalusa created was a big one. Northlake Christian fumbled and Tyrese Cotton picked it up and returned it 26 yards to the end zone for the game’s first points.
Defensively, the Lumberjacks hung tough. Northlake Christian had one very long play, a 46-yard touchdown pass near the end of the first half, but the Wolverines did a good job of continually getting first downs.
Roberts said linebacker O’Trevious Gatlin played well along with linebacker Javon Tate, as did the defensive line, which includes Micah Gray, Sheylyn Griffin and Jaylon Carson.
Southern Lab enters this season after being the Division IV state runner-up last year, falling to Ouachita Christian, 52-6, in the finals.
The Kittens played Woodlawn in the Woodlawn Jamboree last week and lost, 10-6.
First year coach Marcus Randall, who played quarterback at LSU from 2000-04, said Bogalusa is a talented team.
“They’ve got size and good skill players. We match up with them in size and skill, so it’ll be about who commits the least amount of mistakes and who can make those adjustments,” Randall said. “It comes down to different things when you match up with a team in size and skill.”
The Kittens are multiple on offense.
Quarterback Bladrick Veal threw for 90 yards on 6-of-12 last week and a touchdown to Curtlan Williams. Williams was an all-state player two years ago, but injuries hurt his season last year. Darbbeon Profit, who ran for 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, is the running back. He was also an all-state player. Randall said others will carry the ball too, including Pat Green and Demonte Lang.
Defensively, Southern Lab is a 4-3 base, but will also run other fronts. The top defenders are end/linebacker Deion Rainey and end Chris Allen.
Randall said the unit has a large number of starters returning from last season, so they’ve got some good experience.
“They’ve played in some big games,” Randall said. “Our secondary has some guys that can play and can come up and make some tackles. Our defense is where we’re hanging our hat until we can get our offense rolling. We’ve got the talent on defense to be one of the best in the state, but it’s about them continuing to work hard and being able to come out and having the mindset each and every day and each and every play to work hard and take care of their responsibilities.”