Their names might not jump out at you, but their production is undeniable.
They are the Hahnville Tigers’ silent warriors: Torin Borne, Larry Dixon, Edwin Wells, Gabe Medina and D’Quinn Butler comprise the Hahnville offensive line, and along with tight end Noah Zeringue, these are the players who set the tone at the point of attack for Hahnville’s steamroller of a running game.
The Tigers have rushed for a whopping 4,924 yards and 66 touchdowns this season. Standout rusher Anthony Williams garners much of the attention and leads the way with 2,908 yards, but he’ll be the first to tell you about who clears the way for the Tigers’ signature splash plays.
“They make a huge difference,” Williams said. “Once they hit their man, they stick with them and drive. They make it go.”
Quarterback Jha’Quan Jackson is the team’s second 1,000 yard rusher, gaining 1,033 yards on 164 carries while scoring 17 times. Daryle Evans, Brandon Comardelle, Mike Grey and Termon Nash all have more than 140 yards on the ground this season.
“We’re a brotherhood,” said Borne, a leader of his line at offensive guard. “We communicate and if something breaks down, we don’t blame each other. We just go ahead and look at the board, see what we have to correct and go back at it.”
Hahnville offensive line coach David Baudry called his pupils “a physical group that works well together” and credited them for being students of their craft. He also noted their selflessness, as offensive linemen tend to toil anonymously in comparison to their teammates.
“It’s really the most selfless position on the team,” he said. “Going into the year, you kind of know your job is to open up holes and the recognition comes when you rush for a lot of yards. Even then, it’s collective, not individual, recognition. This is a great group of high character kids with a strong work ethic.”
The Tigers were 1-2 and coming off of an offensive struggle in a 21-6 loss to Brother Martin, one in which the team gained season lows in both total offensive yardage (127) and rushing yardage (96).
But a week later at Destrehan, everything turned around. Hahnville rushed for 357 yards, with Williams topping 200 and Jackson 100 yards, and snapped the Tigers’ five-game losing streak in the heated rivalry series.
“I thought that game was our turning point,” Baudry said. “That was when our guys developed a one-heartbeat mentality.”
Dixon said the line’s consistent ability to pave the way comes down to its mentality.
“We take it personally when someone lines up against us,” Dixon said. “We have to come out dominant and we have to come out on top.”
Baudry noted Borne’s leadership as a big plus for both the line and the team as a whole. He has evolved into one of the state’s most dominant blockers, a process Baudry said began to click last season.
“It’s been awesome to watch him develop,” Baudry said. “He had an epiphany in the middle of last year and realized, ‘This is how I’m supposed to play the position.’ He’s been tremendous.”
Borne credited former Hahnville offensive lineman Landon Kinler as someone he learned from early on, both in terms of on-field skill and off-field leadership.
“He was a good leader and I stuck with him,” Borne said. “He showed me the ropes, showed me how to lead and also let me know what I didn’t want to do in that position. I always kept his words in my head.”
Another senior, Dixon transferred to Hahnville before his junior season. He’s the biggest lineman on the team at 6-foot-6 and 318 pounds, and Baudry called his tackle a “tremendous, physical down blocker” with a strong football IQ.
The line’s third senior, Wells, in some ways joined the group under protest, moving from the defensive side of the ball in the spring.
“He was not happy about it,” Baudry said. “But I asked him about that this week and he said it was the greatest thing to ever happen to him. He’s really taken to that right tackle spot.”
Medina, Butler and Zeringue are each juniors and first year starters who quickly came together with their senior counterparts to form one of the more devastating blocking units in the state.
Baudry pointed out there have been times where the Hahnville backs averaged more than 8 yards before contact.
“It’s certainly one of the most successful lines I’ve been around,” Baudry said. “And when you add Anthony … he’s as great as anyone who’s played the game in Louisiana. He’s the total package. Our guys know if they can handle the point of attack, Anthony and Jha’Quan hit that hole so fast. Just open up a crease and you don’t have to keep it open long.”
Borne concurred.
“(Baudry) always says, if you can’t find someone as soon as you come off the line, work your way to the secondary because nine times out of 10, Pooka already popped one by the time you get there,” he said.
He added the opportunity to play for a championship is something he cherishes.
“Coach (Saltaformaggio) told me he’d get us to the Superdome one day, and he kept his promise,” Borne said. “I just want to bring a championship back for our school, our community and for Coach Salt.”
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