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Written by Ken Trahan, President--NewOrleans.Com/Sports | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 17:52 Prep Sports
Two of the more consistently good 5A programs in the greater New Orleans area collide Friday night at Joe Yenni Stadium in Metairie as eighth-seeded Hahnville battles top-seeded Archbishop Rummel. Despite the fact that the two programs have performed at a high level over a long period of time, the two schools have only met three times previously.
On all three occasions, the Tigers and Raiders met in the state playoffs. In 1974, Rummel ventured to the old Hahnville Stadium, taking the old route, down Highway 90 from the Huey Long Bridge. Along the way, signs greeted the Raider team buses with lines such as “crumble Rummel” and “pummel Rummel.”
In a hard-fought contest, the Raiders prevailed 7-6 in a quarterfinal battle. In 1995, first-year Rummel head coach Jay Roth took his Raiders to the new Hahnville Stadium in Boutte. Scott Hildebrand’s Tigers won 17-0 in a regional round game.
In 2007, Roth’s Raiders, despite being the higher-seed at #6, pulled off what was considered to be an upset, rallying to win over the 11th-seeded Tigers 33-22 at Joe Yenni Stadium. Some of the players remain from that Hahnville squad and they have not forgotten the bitter defeat. Neither has 11th-year Hahnville head coach Lou Valdin.
“We had an opportunity to put them away in the first half. They returned two interceptions for touchdowns. We learned a valuable lesson. You had better put them away when you have the chance. It hurt because we thought we were real good on defense that year and had a chance to go the ‘Dome. It was very disappointing,“ said Valdin.
Despite being the top seed at 12-0 on the season, the Raiders are considered underdogs Friday night by virtually all observers. Rummel is averaging a modest 17.1 points per game. The Raiders have won close games all season long, including nine of their 12 wins in the fourth quarter. With no returning starters from a year ago, Roth knew his offense would be challenged. Along the way, the Raiders lost starting quarterback Luke Cartozzo, fullback Sam Barnes and tight end Max Smith to injuries. Rummel advanced with a 14-7 win over Jesuit a week ago.
“I could not have imagined that we would be in this position at the start of the season. I thought we would be on vacation for Thanksgiving. It is great to still be practicing and playing. It’s a testament to the hard work of our players and coaching staff,” said Roth. “The script has been the same since the beginning of the year—great defense, great special teams and an offense that scores just enough to win at the end,” Roth said.
Defensively, Rummel has been banged up as well but the team got a big boost with the return of the NewOrleans.com/Sports 10-5A defensive district MVP a week ago in linebacker Phil Helmstetter. “It’s important to get senior leadership with Phil Helmstetter on defense. Offensively, it is good to have Sam Barnes back on the field. Of course, neither is near 100 percent. Our quarterback, Luke Cartozzo returned to practice Wednesday and he may play some though Damian Williams remains the starter. Luke has worked hard to get back. Luke started the first eight games and went 8-0,” said Roth. Cartozzo suffered a leg injury in the Barbe game which required surgery.
The heart and soul of the Rummel team is senior safety Carvin Johnson, a commitment to Michigan. Johnson has seven interceptions and two punt returns for touchdowns. “Carvin Johnson has been terrific. He is hardly coming off the field, playing safety, wide receiver, returning punts and returning kickoffs. We have done it in the past with guys like Craig Steltz, Terrance Dunbar, Nick Child in the playoffs, using our best athletes on both sides of the football,” Roth said
As for facing the high-powered Hahnville offense, Roth is realistic. “The numbers speak for themselves with Hahnville. They average over 41 points per game. They have a 1,000 yard rusher and a 2,000 yard passer. They have it all and are well coached,” said Roth.
“As a team, you have to keep them from making big plays and make them earn their points and drive the field. We have to move the ball as well to keep our defense off the field. Many times this year, they have been dog tired. We will have to score some points to have a shot,” said Roth.
Hahnville advanced with a 37-28 win over Barbe a week ago. Blue-chip running back Alfred Blue, who has narrowed his college choices to LSU and Ole Miss, has rushed for 1,597 yards and 30 touchdowns. He has 18 catches for 214 yards and three touchdowns. Junior quarterback Brian Ensminger has passed for 2,027 yards and 25 touchdowns with only five interceptions. Valdin says his quarterback was hot a week ago. “Ensminger played great against Barbe. He audibled for a couple of scores. He scrambled for first downs. Defensively, I thought our secondary played very well against a very good quarterback,” Valdin said. The Hahnville secondary is led by Tulsa commitment Brion James.
In the opening round of the playoffs, the Tigers got a huge scare before rallying to overcome LaGrange in overtime. “I think the LaGrange game was beneficial when we down more than 20 points. We know we are never out of a game. We know we can come back. We have been in some games that were close at half and put them away in the second half. It was 2-2 against East Ascension at halftime and we came back to win 37-2,” said Valdin.
While Hahnville and Rummel have only met three times officially, the two schools scrimmage each other every spring, a workout that both coaches find very beneficial. “The biggest benefit we get in scrimmaging Rummel in the spring is for blocking schemes. I look at the spring game to see how they will block us and how they line up in certain formations.
Jay likes to use a lot of motion when they play us. They run a few plays out of a lot of formations. We have to make sure we stay home. It will be a challenge to run the ball on their defense. They are pretty good,” said Valdin. Rummel allows just 8.5 points per game.
“They do such a good job at Rummel. That’s why we scrimmage them. It’s always a physical affair. We know they will line up right. They know we will line up right. After spring football, you want to see how your team compares. We find who can and cannot play when we face them,” said Valdin. “It’s a good opponent for us to evaluate our players. They are talented, well coached and let you know your deficiencies,” said Roth.
Valdin feels his team is pretty healthy and poised to make a run at getting to the Superdome. “We have been very fortunate. We have not had any major injuries. We are banged up a little bit but we are okay. Our fans are driving me nuts. They have done so all week. They snapped up 500 tickets Monday, they snapped them up Tuesday and Wednesday, too! We’re not even selling them at school with school closed. They will be in Metairie in force Friday night,” Valdin said.
Rummel will once again fill its side of the stadium as was the case against Jesuit a week ago. A word to the wise—if you plan to attend, arrive early and bring your radios to listen to the live broadcast on WGSO, 990 AM. The game is also on the Internet at www.wgso.com and at www.neworleans.com.
The Tigers will be bent on revenge. The Raiders will be bent on trying to prove that they are worthy of their top-seed. The weather will be cool and crisp. The stands will be packed. The winner will play the winner of the Central at Westgate game in the semifinals.
