Though the Hahnville community would certainly love for their Tigers to still be playing this postseason, the arrow seems to unquestionably be pointing up for the HHS program at the conclusion of their 2015 campaign.
Though the Tigers absorbed a lopsided 55-27 defeat at the hands of host Zachary in last week’s quarterfinal matchup, ending Hahnville’s season, there’s a lot to like following year two of the Nick Saltaformaggio era. Hahnville has finished as a quarterfinalist in each of the past two seasons — their first appearances in that round since 2009 — and the team looked dominant in its seven-game winning streak headed into last week’s game, winning each of the seven games by 22 points or more.
Saltaformaggio, who guided East Jefferson to its first-ever state championship and undefeated season in 2013, will likely never be completely content with any season ending before a victory on the final weekend, but said the back-to-back quarterfinal appearances were a sign the team is on the right track.
Now, he says, it’s a matter of taking the next step.
“We’ve got to find a way to get over that hump,” he said. “We’ve had a good two-year run, and now we’re working toward extending that.
“It’s like I told our kids after the game … there are 32 teams, and everyone’s crying at the end, but only one team’s crying tears of joy.”
He pointed to establishing more consistency as a point of emphasis. Hahnville struggled offensively for the first five games of the season before evolving into a powerhouse that topped the 40-point barrier in five of the final seven weeks. Meanwhile, the HHS defense has two separate two game stretches where it allowed 100 and 88 points, respectively; conversely, the Tigers allowed 95 total points over its other nine games this season.
A huge part of establishing that consistency, Saltaformaggio said, is rising to the occasion in the team’s biggest games.
“We showed flashes of that, in our first round game (a 49-12 win over Alexandria) and even in the second half against St. Amant (a 55-33 Hahnville victory). But no question, taking that next step means we’ve got to be better in the biggest games. We’ve got to be great when we take on the big boys.”
Of course, one of those big boys operates within the parish.
“The elephant in the room, for me, is that we’ve gotta find a way to beat Destrehan,” Saltaformaggio said. “They’ve got a lot coming back. They are who they are. They’ll reload and be among the best. We’re still chasing those guys.”
Of course, Hahnville will bring back a number of talented players of its own, one of those being sophomore Anthony Williams, who broke out in electrifying fashion this season. Williams gained more than 1,800 yards from scrimmage and scored 31 total touchdowns in 13 games, lining up at running back, wide receiver, returner and even quarterback at times.
Fans might see more of Williams at quarterback next season. The Tigers lose a clutch performer in senior quarterback Mike Neal, whose play down the season’s stretch — culminating with a number of key, memorable plays in the postseason win over St. Amant — was critical to the team’s success.
Saltaformaggio said a potential return of quarterback Austin Perrin to the program could clear some things up — Perrin started a number of games with success in 2014 as Neal recovered from injury. An alternative would be a lot more of Williams at quarterback. Williams played a number of snaps from the Wildcat formation in the postseason, and was the starting quarterback of Hahnville’s undefeated freshman team in 2014.
Saltaformaggio would like to continue to utilize Williams in his current role, a hybrid receiver/running back — in summary, a matchup nightmare — but said he won’t lose sleep if the junior to be lines up behind center next fall.
“If the worst case scenario ends up being Anthony Williams at quarterback, a guy who put up those numbers, then that’s a nice problem to have,” Saltaformaggio said.
The Tigers will also have to replace running backs Norquell Flowers and Drew Dunn, which should lead to an expanded role for bruising runner Devante Clark.
Along the offensive line, key tackle Drew Melancon will depart, though Drew Jones and the rest of the line will return.
Go-to slot receiver Devante Cravin is also among those bidding farewell. Saltaformaggio is high on the team’s young group of up and coming receivers.
Defensively, the Tigers will have to replace most of its secondary and top linebacker Peyton Robert, among others..
No. 7 seed Hahnville (9-4) trailed No. 2 Zachary (12-1) 26-20 in the second half before Broncos quarterback Lindsey Scott got loose and took over.
The Broncos took a quick 14-0 lead, but Hahnville responded to three times cut the lead to a single score, first on a Flowers run that made it 14-7, then on a Neal touchdown pass to Williams that made it 20-14, and then on a second Neal to Williams touchdown pass that made it 26-20.
Hahnville couldn’t get over the hump, however, as Zachary never allowed the Tigers to tie the score. Hahnville had a chance to do that — or take the lead — when it drove inside the Zachary 30 in the third quarter, down by six. But Zachary recorded a fourth down sack of Neal.
Scott’s touchdown pass to Trae Shropshire on the ensuing Bronco drive pushed the lead to 34-20 late in the third quarter.
Scott exploded in the fourth, rushing for a 6-yard score and finding Douglas Coleman for scoring passes of 20 and 36 yards.
Scott accounted for seven touchdowns in the game. He passed for 300 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 153 yards and three more scores.
Anthony Williams scored two touchdowns to lead Hahnville. Norquell Flowers and Mike Neal each had rushing scores for the Tigers as well.
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