Hahnville hosts Woodlawn Friday night for the third season opener under coach Nick Saltaformaggio, who has led the Tigers to victories in the season’s first week in each of the past two years.
Woodlawn wasn’t intimidated last season, offering a stern test for the Tigers from start to finish. Hahnville defeated the hosting Panthers 24-14 after a Mike Neal to Drew Dunn touchdown pass with just under six minutes left pushed the Tigers ahead for good.
Woodlawn will be adjusting on the fly to a significant injury after losing starting quarterback Brian Byrd to an injury in a preseason scrimmage. Devin Whiting took over in his stead in last week’s jamboree contest against McKinley, a 27-7 Panthers loss.
Saltaformaggio said he expects little to change regarding what Woodlawn does to attack offensively. But regardless, senior Javin Myers, a Louisiana-Monroe commitment, is a big play generator and the driving force behind the Woodlawn offense.
“He’s got a great skill set, similar in some ways to what we have with Anthony (Williams),” Saltaformaggio said. “He’s very elusive and hard to tackle. We’ve got to get a lot of hats to the ball and we have to tackle well.”
The Panthers’ offensive line boasts considerable size. Guard Anthony Hardesty is listed at 368 lbs., center Edward Ducre, 270 lbs., and tackle Fabian Coleman, 285 lbs, presenting a challenge to HHS nose tackle Tre’Vas Chambers and his teammates on the defensive line.
Saltaformaggio wants to see the Tigers’ defense earn stops, but also takeaways. HHS forced one turnover last week and scored on the play, but Hahnville turned the ball over three times to Jesuit’s one, a ratio the veteran coach said won’t add up to many wins for his team.
Williams was largely limited by the defense of Jesuit in last week’s scrimmage, the Blue Jays spending considerable attention on the junior. He found a way to impact the game nonetheless, his long kickoff return setting up his own 19-yard touchdown reception late in the first half.
Saltaformaggio said the Tigers know Williams has to see the ball more while at the same time taking advantage of the team’s other playmakers.
“The good news is, in a full game, it’s a little easier to make sure everyone gets their opportunities,” Salta-formaggio said. “You have more time to work with.”
At the top of his to-do list is getting running backs Devonte Clark and Cade Miguez going. Hahnville failed to establish its running game last week, something Saltaformaggio said must change against Woodlawn.
One difference from last year’s game against Woodlawn is that this time, the Panthers travel to Hahnville, where the Tigers will open the season at home.
“It means a lot to start in our building because this is a special place to play high school football,” Saltaformaggio said. “The atmosphere at Hahnville on a Friday night always makes it fun.”
Jesuit won last week’s jamboree exhibition, 21-14, behind a 100-yard rushing effort by the Blue Jays’ Connor Prouet. Prouet scored two touchdowns, including the eventual game-tying touchdown from 5 yards out in the second half.
Hahnville led 14-7 at halftime after scores by Williams and Elgin Collins. Williams’ blasted upfield for a 78 yard kickoff return before Austin Perrin connected with him over the middle for a touchdown, while Collins recovered a bad Jays snap and rumbled 75 yards to paydirt.
Jesuit passer Alex Watermeier’s touchdown toss to Ashton Loria from 9 yards out provided the winning points.
Perrin nearly led a game-tying drive on Hahnville’s final possession, shaking off a bit of rust to put together his best effort down the stretch. Perrin went 8-2 as a starter at quarterback in his sophomore season, but did not play last year as he focused on baseball — he is a Louisiana-Lafayette commitment in that sport.
“I think people tend to forget that this was his first action in nearly two years, and it came against Jesuit no less,” Saltaformaggio said. “He has to readjust to the speed of the game, and you can’t simulate what it’s like under the lights. It’s a whole different environment and he got better as the night went on.”
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