The Greg Boyne era at Hahnville begins, as the Tiger alum and longtime Destrehan offensive coordinator makes his head coaching debut this season, looking to lead the Tigers back to the playoffs.
Hahnville’s 23-year streak of reaching the postseason came to an end in 2023, so the main goal is clear as day for the Tigers – make a return to postseason play.
What is also clear is how Boyne intends to attack the opposition this season – by running the ball early and often. Perhaps an extra emphasis on early is a given here: the Tigers will be breaking in a new quarterback and several new starters at wide receiver, so taking the pressure off the passing game as it grows will carry high importance.
Quarterback
Junior Bennett Naquin and sophomore Landen Teague have been battling it out to earn the Tigers’ starting quarterback job following the graduation of Ryan Gregson, who started the past two seasons for Hahnville.
Naquin started the team’s preseason scrimmage against St. James. Teague is scheduled to start tonight’s (Aug. 29) jamboree game against Fontainebleau. Hahnville head coach Greg Boyne has consistently called this a tight race since the spring, and believes the Tigers can have success with either leading the way – or even both, if it comes down to it.
“Both guys have made a lot of progress. They’re both very smart kids,” Boyne said. “That can lead to overthinking sometimes instead of seeing it and throwing it … it’s a work in progress, but both are very capable.
“The good thing about this team is it isn’t one that goes as the quarterback goes. Our defense, our run game will carry us early. It will give them time to develop.”
Boyne said both are good athletes at the position – noting each of them have been Top 10 in the Tigers’ 40-yard-dash and shuttle times.
“They’re also really good friends. So, if we don’t name a starter going in and there’s still a competition for playing time, they both get it,” Boyne said. “They’re mature enough where neither is going to do anything negative if the other gets more reps. They’re supportive of one another – both really good kids who want to learn.”
Running back
Boyne perhaps put it best when it comes to this position.
“We’re very fortunate,” Boyne said.
Hahnville has a long tradition of strong running back talent, and again the team brings a talented group into the season. But the leader of this backfield is Calvin Smith.
Smith has proven to be a complete back in his time with the Tigers – he runs with power, can make defenders miss and is a strong receiver out the backfield or out wide. He becomes all the more difficult to deal with in short yardage when the Tigers put him in the Wildcat formation as quarterback.
“He’s a great kid and he’s very talented. It all centers around him,” Boyne said. “Having him, we know we can take the pressure off of the quarterback.”
Boyne said Smith is a quiet leader, but that when he speaks, the team listens. He also praised his work ethic.
“He had to miss practice for a couple of days, and I was told that’s the first practice he’s missed since he’s been here,” Boyne said of the senior. “He’s one of those kids you have to pull by the jersey to get him out because he wants all the reps he can get in practice, so he’s seen everything by the time he gets to the game.”
Sophomores Fabian Celestine – who broke off a long touchdown run in the scrimmage last week – and Patrick Jackson Jr. and junior Rydell Nathan Jr. will be backing Smith up and mixing in. Jackson is the son of former West St. John star rusher Patrick Jackson. Boyne was happy with the play of both during the St. James scrimmage. Jha’man Preston, who will start as the team’s H-back, will also see time here.
Receivers
Kobe Louis emerged as Hahnville’s go-to pass catcher last season, and that’s the role the senior will hold as he enters 2024.
At 6’0 and 180 pounds, he brings good size and a strong catch radius downfield. Boyne said Louis had something of a quiet start to the offseason, but that he’s been exceptional over the past month of practice as the season gets closer.
“He’s been unbelievable since we put pads on,” Boyne said. “I thought, besides the running backs, he was the best player on the field in our scrimmage. Anytime the ball was close, he caught it – three third down catches. I thought he dominated blocking … every run, every screen, he was right there.”
Boyne said Louis is a physical player who has responded to a challenge.
“We talked and I said, you watch those wide receivers who are being recruited – they do some things that you don’t. And he knew he could do it,” Boyne said. “He’s accepted it and he was willing to respond.”
Junior Kevias Singleton will start as well. Another big wide receiver standing 6’, Boyne said Singleton plays even bigger and has developed significantly as a blocker since the spring. Singleton is the nephew of former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver and current Hahnville wide receivers coach Nate Singleton.
In the slot, Hahnville can turn to several players. Landyn Dufrene brings experience after earning time last season as a junior. Lance Marshall, Kaiden Bran, and Aaron Williams are all vying for snaps.
Hahnville will play primarily out of sets with a tight and/or an H-back. Senior Jha’man Preston will be the H-back and is a very good blocker, but also had the chance to play as a tailback in the scrimmage and ran the ball well, and with physicality. Junior Michael Propps is the tight end and Boyne said he’s emerged as a weapon over the summer.
Offensive line
This is a senior heavy group – in fact, all five starters are part of the Class of 2025.
Cameron Sumrall, Brodie Donnaud, Kentavious Daniel-Black, Christopher Wilkinson and Khailan McLean will pave the way up front for the offense, with fellow senior Anthony Dwyer playing the role of the line’s top reserve.
The group has good size and Boyne said this group, despite three players on the line not starting a year ago (Donnaud and Wilkinson are the returning starters) is set up to give the Tigers’ offense a rock-solid foundation.
“The line’s played really well both times we’ve gone live, against Jesuit and St. James,” Boyne said. “We’ve had some mistakes as well there. False starts. Out of position a couple of times. We have three first-time starters. But this group comes out every day, practices hard and is very physical. And these guys take control in the weight room – they make sure everyone is intense and getting the right workout done.”
Defensive line
Defensive tackle Frederic Downing is a strong returning junior. Downing is drawing attention at the college level following a strong spring performance. Junior Raymond Williams, senior Jayvian Shelvin, senior Azur Karahasanovic and junior Dahniel Banks are among the key returning players up front, with sophomore Raanan Russ and senior Daniel Gamez also set to play. Defensive coordinator Malter Scobel likes to rotate the line to keep players fresh, and Boyne said the Tigers like their mix up front.
Russ is a rising player, a transfer from Rummel who started every game as a freshman for a Raiders team that marched to the state semifinals. He could be a big addition to the front line for HHS.
“He’ll play defensive end – he’s very strong,” Boyne said.
Gamez, meanwhile, did not play football for last season, but will be strongly in the mix for his senior year.
Linebacker
Junior Carter Burns and senior Braylon Crayton lead this group. Sophomore Koa Romero is very promising – a baseball standout who got into the team’s preseason scrimmage very early on and impressed.
“He’s physical. He will knock the snot out of you,” said Boyne. “As good of a baseball player as he is, he’s probably as good a football player.”
Tylen Kalili did not play a year ago, but his size and physicality makes a difference when the senior takes the field.
“He moves people around when he’s in the game,” Boyne said.
Kaleb Guarisco is another promising sophomore and two-sport athlete who also broke out on the baseball diamond.
“We have some seniors, juniors and sophomores all in the mix,” Boyne said. “It’s a good, physical group.”
Defensive back
Senior Ryan Simmons is the top returning Tiger on the backend of the defense. Simmons is a strong cover corner who brings a lot of energy to both the practice field and on game night.
A newcomer has starred alongside him this preseason, as fellow senior Jacob Jeffrey has proven a quick study after not playing football for his first three years at HHS. Jeffrey will play safety primarily.
“(Jeffrey) is a high energy kid (too), and he and Simmons really feed off of one another,” Boyne said. “Everyone else falls in line behind the example they set.”
Junior Raynell Gale, senior Zion Triggs, junior Avonte Smith and sophomore Aaron Walker are all in the mix in the secondary as well, a position group Boyne said is as competitive for playing time as any on the team right now.
Specialists
Boyne calls junior kicker Myles Borey a weapon.
“At Destrehan last season, we think that there’s no way they’re putting in this 10th grader in here, and he drilled it, a 48-yarder. He has a cannon for a leg,” Boyne said, noting Borey will handle both kicking and punting duties this year.
Guarisco and Romero will be the long snappers and Naquin the holder. Returners will be a mix of Jeffrey, Louis and Bran on punts and Jackson, Celestine and Rydell Nathan Jr. on kickoffs.
