Hahnville’s players and coaches alike were eager to take the field last week to attempt to put together a second straight victory to start the season.
That wasn’t to be. Hurricane Francine necessitated the game’s cancellation. Hahnville head coach Greg Boyne said the Tigers searched for a replacement opponent for two days, but could not find a match.
So, Week 2 became an impromptu bye week for the Tigers, leading in to a Week 3 game that looks to be a true test for Boyne’s team.
E.D. White went undefeated in the 2023 regular season, winning most games by decisive scores and reaching the state quarterfinals in Division II – Select as the bracket’s No. 2 seed. The Cardinals host Hahnville this Friday night for the Tigers’ first road game of the season.
EDW defeated Holy Cross 27-14 in its season opener but fell last week to Jesuit, 22-15. Both games were at home for the Cardinals, who will host the third matchup in an early season homestand this week.
E.D. White is talented despite losing some experienced leaders from last year’s team, particularly on the offensive side of the ball where Grant Barbera commands the offense at quarterback in his first season as starter. He accounted for two scores in the team’s opening win over Holy Cross, one on a 40-yard pass, one on a 1-yard run. But Barbera missed last week’s game, one that saw Jesuit rally from a halftime deficit to beat the Cardinals.
“They present a lot of problems,” said Boyne.
Among those challenges for Hahnville this week will be preparing for a very unique attack in today’s prep football landscape: the Veer option. When run well, it’s a difficult offense to stop, and E.D. White is proficient under head coach Kyle Lasseigne. Because it’s not an offense typically seen in today’s game of spread passing attacks, it can also be quite difficult to prepare for.
Discipline will be key for the Tigers.
“The offense is very good. We were fortunate enough to be able to go see them play,” Boyne said. “Most of the teams in the state that run (the Veer) are very successful at it and they’re no exception. Coach Lasseigne does a great job. Defensively, it’s no different. That team is disciplined. They’re physical and well-coached. It’s a whole combination of things.”
Boyne said E.D. White embodies the same type of tough, physical football Hahnville looks to bring to the field every Friday night.
“We’re excited. This is an opportunity to show where we are,” Boyne said. “This is going to be a good football game in a good atmosphere on the road.”
While it’s Hahnville’s first road game of the regular season, the Tigers did go on the road to Fontainebleau for the preseason jamboree. Boyne said he wanted the team to have that road trip experience under its belt before this week’s game.
“We kind of used Fontainebleau as our trial run,” Boyne said.
Not knowing whether Barbera will be back at quarterback for E.D. White this week, the Tigers are preparing for both potential Cardinal quarterbacks. Senior Ben Guidry was at the helm last week and he’s experienced – he quarterbacked the Cardinals to the state semifinals in 2022.
“He’s very experienced, a tough, hard-nosed kid,” said Boyne of Guidry. “They were throwing a little more (in the opener with Barbera) and (the Jesuit game with Guidry) looked more like what we saw last year from their offense. We’ll prepare for both of them.”
Boyne noted the Cardinals offensive line is big and physical, and while the team has lost a few starters from last season, it still looks like E.D. White football in all ways.
“They’re a program with 30-plus seniors,” Boyne said. “Each year, you plug in somebody that’s been running that offense since grade school sometimes.”
The Cardinals bring back three starters in the secondary and play multiple looks. The run defense is very strong up the middle.
“All 11 guys make their way, rally to the ball,” Boyne said. “They’re very good coverage wise and they’re sound tacklers. They don’t play a ton of man, but it also can be man – they’re disguising coverages and it’s enough variety to where the quarterback has to be sound in their reads and go through their progression. And you have to run the football, which is what we hang our hat on.”
“I think win or lose, we’ll learn a lot about ourselves,” Boyne said.
