Mike Coppage
New Member
West Monroe's 29-game win streak came to a halt in the Superdome last December at the hands of the Acadiana Rams. The underdogs from Scott, Louisiana (located just west of Lafayette), were able to wrestle the Class 5A state title away from West Monroe in a hard-fought (21-14) tussle.
The Rebels say goodbye to the dynamic offensive duo of Paul Turner (LSU) and Tyler Cain (ULM), but there's a great deal of talent returning on defense. The defensive line, despite losing DT Chuck Hunter (TCU), will be ferocious. DEs Terrell Lathan (6-4, 235) and James McFarland (TCU commit) are both ranked inside the Top 80 in the nation at their position.
LB Deano Casola (6-0, 215) led the team in tackles last year with 90-plus stops. He'll be flanked by Jacob Tyson (6-0, 220), who is coming off an impressive performance at LSU football camp earlier this week.
In the secondary, the Rebels must replace CB Michael Hunter, who signed with Indiana. Junior Cade Stone is generating a lot of buzz among West Monroe faithful.
On offense, FB Bubba Reeves and OL Edward Boley (6-4, 320) are returning senior starters. There's talk among West Monroe insiders that Reeves will make the switch to tailback. With Turner at QB (and D.J. Banks prior to Turner), head coach Don Shows opened up the offense and incorporated the spread. This year, however, many expect the Rebels to take the bulk of their snaps in the "usual" WM offense: the option-I formation.
Conner Osbourne will face the unenviable task of trying to replace Turner, unless the staff decides to move him to WR. If that happens, junior Michael Mims will get the call at QB. Kicker James Benson will be an additional reliable weapon.
Turning to the schedule, everyone remembers the heated West Monroe/Evangel Christian rivalry from when the two programs were in 5A. The Rebels don't face ECA, but they'll face ECA's nemesis - Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport) in week two. Calvary is coached by former ECA head honcho John Bachman, and the bulk of Bachman's staff is comprised of former ECA players and coaches.
Madison Central (MS) comes to town in week three. Last year, the Jaguars enjoyed a 12-2 season in which they reached the Mississippi Class 6A semis (lost to eventual state champ South Panola). The Jags are absolutely loaded for '11.
Center Devon Desper, ranked No. 13 in the nation at his position, is committed to Mississippi State. Three-star DT Maurice Bennett (6-2, 280) holds a Washington State offer. OT Logan Ellzey is 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds. Junior WR Keith Williams (6-3, 180) and classmate RB Travis Singleton (5-9, 210) are playmakers.
The following week, West Monroe visits Bastrop and four-star DE Denzel Devall. The Rams are coached by another Evangel grad, Thomas Bachman. In week eight, a senior-laden Ruston team takes on the Rebels in a pivotal district matchup. Ruston has a splendid secondary that includes seniors Cyril Noland and Kentrell Brice.
As if that isn't enough, everyone is already talking about the week nine collision with Cocoa, Florida. In 2010, Cocoa recorded a perfect 14-0 mark. Along the way, the Tigers took out defending Texas 5A state champ Abilene.
Cocoa has an outrageously challenging '11 schedule. The Tigers travel to Cincinnati early in the year for a bout with Ohio power Colerain. The next week, they'll encounter Skyline (Dallas) at Cowboys Stadium. Skyline's roster includes four-star WR Thomas Johnson and four-star LB Peter Jinkins. Both are Texas commits.
Cocoa succeeds with speed and a squad that doesn't generate much recognition when it comes to big-name recruits. '13 RB Tarean Folston is a player to watch.
REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 10-0
Call me a Louisiana homer, but I don't see any team on the Rebels' schedule being able to move the ball enough to warrant a West Monroe loss...Terrell Lathan and James McFarland are as good a pair of DEs as you'll find on one team.
Oh, and did I mention they're angry after losing in the Superdome?
http://louisianatech.scout.com/2/1078292.html
The Rebels say goodbye to the dynamic offensive duo of Paul Turner (LSU) and Tyler Cain (ULM), but there's a great deal of talent returning on defense. The defensive line, despite losing DT Chuck Hunter (TCU), will be ferocious. DEs Terrell Lathan (6-4, 235) and James McFarland (TCU commit) are both ranked inside the Top 80 in the nation at their position.
LB Deano Casola (6-0, 215) led the team in tackles last year with 90-plus stops. He'll be flanked by Jacob Tyson (6-0, 220), who is coming off an impressive performance at LSU football camp earlier this week.
In the secondary, the Rebels must replace CB Michael Hunter, who signed with Indiana. Junior Cade Stone is generating a lot of buzz among West Monroe faithful.
On offense, FB Bubba Reeves and OL Edward Boley (6-4, 320) are returning senior starters. There's talk among West Monroe insiders that Reeves will make the switch to tailback. With Turner at QB (and D.J. Banks prior to Turner), head coach Don Shows opened up the offense and incorporated the spread. This year, however, many expect the Rebels to take the bulk of their snaps in the "usual" WM offense: the option-I formation.
Conner Osbourne will face the unenviable task of trying to replace Turner, unless the staff decides to move him to WR. If that happens, junior Michael Mims will get the call at QB. Kicker James Benson will be an additional reliable weapon.
Turning to the schedule, everyone remembers the heated West Monroe/Evangel Christian rivalry from when the two programs were in 5A. The Rebels don't face ECA, but they'll face ECA's nemesis - Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport) in week two. Calvary is coached by former ECA head honcho John Bachman, and the bulk of Bachman's staff is comprised of former ECA players and coaches.
Madison Central (MS) comes to town in week three. Last year, the Jaguars enjoyed a 12-2 season in which they reached the Mississippi Class 6A semis (lost to eventual state champ South Panola). The Jags are absolutely loaded for '11.
Center Devon Desper, ranked No. 13 in the nation at his position, is committed to Mississippi State. Three-star DT Maurice Bennett (6-2, 280) holds a Washington State offer. OT Logan Ellzey is 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds. Junior WR Keith Williams (6-3, 180) and classmate RB Travis Singleton (5-9, 210) are playmakers.
The following week, West Monroe visits Bastrop and four-star DE Denzel Devall. The Rams are coached by another Evangel grad, Thomas Bachman. In week eight, a senior-laden Ruston team takes on the Rebels in a pivotal district matchup. Ruston has a splendid secondary that includes seniors Cyril Noland and Kentrell Brice.
As if that isn't enough, everyone is already talking about the week nine collision with Cocoa, Florida. In 2010, Cocoa recorded a perfect 14-0 mark. Along the way, the Tigers took out defending Texas 5A state champ Abilene.
Cocoa has an outrageously challenging '11 schedule. The Tigers travel to Cincinnati early in the year for a bout with Ohio power Colerain. The next week, they'll encounter Skyline (Dallas) at Cowboys Stadium. Skyline's roster includes four-star WR Thomas Johnson and four-star LB Peter Jinkins. Both are Texas commits.
Cocoa succeeds with speed and a squad that doesn't generate much recognition when it comes to big-name recruits. '13 RB Tarean Folston is a player to watch.
REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 10-0
Call me a Louisiana homer, but I don't see any team on the Rebels' schedule being able to move the ball enough to warrant a West Monroe loss...Terrell Lathan and James McFarland are as good a pair of DEs as you'll find on one team.
Oh, and did I mention they're angry after losing in the Superdome?
http://louisianatech.scout.com/2/1078292.html
