Hahnville defensive seniors serve as mentors to group of young Tigers

Photo by Thelezia Folse

Jordan Nunez, Danzell Lockett, Cameron Elmer, Wendell Boyd and Antoine Evans each do their part to make sure the Hahnville defense is successful this season.

The Hahnville offense has more than held their own this season, but it has been a young defense, led by five hard-working seniors, that has really stood out so far this year.

Jordan Nunez, Danzell Lockett, Cameron Elmer, Wendell Boyd and Antoine Evans have all helped lead the Tigers to a 5-2 record this year, which has Hahnville currently sitting at second place in their district.

“Those guys all bring experience, leadership and talent to our defense,” Hahnville head coach Lou Valdin said. “When you have a bunch of young kids, like we do this year, it's good to have returning starters.”

Valdin says that Lockett, Evans and Nunez, who all play in the secondary, serve as the last line of defense for his defense and all have enough talent and experience to make opposing teams think twice before gunning the ball downfield.

“And then Boyd is an all-state noseguard that controls the middle of the line and Elmer is our quarterback on defense,” he said. “All five of those guys work hard and the young guys see what it takes to be successful and what it takes to be a good player.

“Now, those younger guys are working hard because of the example set by our seniors.”

Nunez, Elmer and Boyd all feel that their team is improving as the season goes on, and each of them are trying to do their best to make sure that continues.

“I feel like we are getting better every week,” Nunez said. “I am just trying to be a leader and get the job done.”

Elmer agrees.

“We have really progressed a lot since our loss to South Plaquemines in the first game of the season,” he said. “I am just trying to live up to expectations and do my best to be a leader.”

Boyd says the team was playing as individuals early on, but all that has changed now.

“At first it was an ‘I’ team, but now we are really playing together,” he said.

And Nunez, Boyd and Elmer all want to do their best to set an example for the younger players on the team. Nunez says that he always tries to keep the younger players focused and makes sure they have their heads in the game. Elmer goes out of his way to lift them up after a bad play so that it’s not dwelled upon.

Boyd wants them to have a little fun and take over for him when he's gone.

“I want to show the younger guys that they can step in and become leaders when we're gone,” Boyd said. “I try my best to motivate them and set a good example. And of course, we want them to have fun.”