When Hahnville visited Terrebonne in the last week of the 2023 regular season, the team understood the condition: win and get in, lose and the season ends.
It wasn’t to be for Hahnville. Terrebonne’s rushing attack proved the difference in a 45-28 win as THS ended Hahnville’s season without a trip to the playoffs, the first time after 23 consecutive playoff seasons that HHS missed the postseason.
Hahnville may be seeking a measure of payback, then, as Terrebonne visits Boutte this Friday night. But whether that is the case or not, this game carries great importance for Hahnville, which is coming off its first loss of the season, a tough 21-18 loss at E.D. White, and is opening District 8-5A play with this week’s matchup.
Unlike the past few seasons, Destrehan does not await to kick-start district play, but this is tough matchup that awaits. Terrebonne enters this game undefeated thus far in 2024. THS (3-0) won in the season’s opening week, 48-42 over Riverside. It won via forfeit against Ellender and edged St. James 24-21.
Terrebonne – coached by former West St. John standout running back Tyler Lewis – is 2-0 thus far this season against teams hailing from Lewis’ old River Parishes stomping grounds, and would love nothing more than to make Hahnville the third on that checklist.
“They’re very well-coached, disciplined and they have very good size,” said Hahnville head coach Greg Boyne. “Anytime you beat Riverside and St. James, you obviously get people’s attention … they have our attention, for sure.”
Terrebonne went 7-4 last season, bowing out in round one of the playoffs as a 17 seed to No. 16 Westgate. It was the first time in four seasons the team made the postseason, and Terrebonne appears to be continuing its upward trajectory.
Boyne said while a few of the HHS seniors might have last year’s result between the teams on their mind, Hahnville’s team-wide focus is upon looking forward, not back – and specifically, right now, making adjustments and cleaning up some things after the team’s first loss of the season.
“We like where we are,” Boyne said. “Obviously, we’d like to have won last week but I think the kids realize if we do a few things better, we would have won that game, and it will help us win some games going forward.”
Quarterback Owen Oliver returns and he’s got wheels. Hahnville will have to attempt to limit his chances to hurt the Tigers when he takes off. His favorite target is Quincey McKay, a receiver with good size and a lot of experience. And this team has an experienced, talented offensive line with good size across the board.
“(Oliver) can run when he needs to, he can get out of trouble if they do give up pressure. They’ve got a balanced attack … a very well-coached offensive line, two good backs. They throw the ball downfield, but also quick. Some RPOs sprinkled in. But that offensive line is big and very well-coached – and they know it. It’s their focus.”
While Terrebonne brings back most of its offensive starters, defensively the team is less experienced – though still talented. Nose guard Julian Coleman is a returning starter and creates problems for opposing run games at 6’0, 330 pounds. Linebacker Zyon Simmons is another returning impact player for Terrebonne. Boyne added the Terrebonne secondary looks improved from a year ago.
The loss at E.D. White sent Hahnville to regroup this week, and Boyne said his players have been up to the task.
“Honestly, they’ve been awesome. We had a great two days. We brought them in Saturday, everyone was present and on time, we got a good little workout in, got some treatment and we talked over and watched Friday night’s film. (Monday)’s practice, I thought, was probably our best day overall offensively. Everyone was locked in.”
