Pigott still sees ‘talented’ group of Jaguars
By CHRIS KINKAID
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – Pope John Paul II comes into this season with a young team that features mostly freshmen and sophomores, returning only four seniors to kick off the ’23 campaign.
“It’s a very talented group of young kids,” Pope John Paul II coach Philip Pigott said. “It’s just a matter of them growing up.”
Pigott is in his third year as the team’s head coach after the Jaguars went 4-6 last season.
“I think our last two senior classes did a great job of flipping the program and establishing a great culture,” Pigott said. “This group of freshmen and sophomores came into a program where the weightroom was established. We’re excited to see their work pay off on the field.”
The Jaguars bring back several 2022 all-district players.
Junior running back/athlete Blaze Rodriguez, who is 5-foot-8, 155 pounds, was a first-team all-district player last year.
Through the first nine games last year, Rodriguez ran for 1,066 yards on 146 carries (7.3 yards per attempt) and eight touchdowns, while also making eight catches for 150 yards (18.8 yards per reception) and three touchdowns.
“We use him all over the place,” Pigott said. “I think he’s one of the best athletes in the state, but better than his talent, I think he’s an elite human being on and off the field.”
Sophomore running back Landon Guidry, who is 5-10, 165, was a second-team all-district player in 2022. Last year he ran for 203 yards on 50 carries (4.1) and a touchdown and caught a pass for 36 yards.
Rodriguez and Guidry will be joined at the running back position by sophomores Dominik Smith (5-9, 180) and Josh Greenwood (5-9, 175). Smith ran for 5 yards and caught two passes for 47 yards (23.5), while Greenwood ran for 50 yards on two attempts (25).
“They’re all really good,” Pigott said. “Blaze is more elusive, kind of a highlight reel kid, while Landon and Josh are more of the complete running backs. Dominik would be considered our power back.”
Senior Allen Ramier (6-2, 180), who was a second-team all-district linebacker last year, will cross the line and become the team’s starting quarterback.
Ramier played the last two games at signal caller last season and went 4-of-6 passing (66.7 percent) for 74 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran 44 times for 236 yards (5.4) and a touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball, Ramier made 78 tackles with a sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
“He had to fill in, but when he filled in, he did a great job,” Pigott said.
“He can run the ball; he is tough and has a strong arm. Overall, the kid is just a good athlete,” his head coach said.
Pigott said the transition from linebacker to quarterback has been good.
“He’s picked up the offense and he’s stepped into a leadership role,” Pigott said.
Senior kicker Joseph Whitehouse (6-1, 170) was a first-team all-district player in 2022 and returns to the squad to give the Jaguars an added bonus when it comes to scoring points.
“He’s one of the best kickers in the state and can probably be an all-state player this year,” Pigott said.
Back to the offense, sophomore Gus Pizza (6-0-190) is the wide receiver who made five catches for 81 yards (16.2) and a touchdown.
“We’ve got him starting at receiver, but we’ve got him playing all over the field,” Pigott said. “He had some really big games last year.”
The tight end is senior Micky Strain (6-2, 210), called by his coach, “A great athlete and a team leader.”
On the offensive line, the Jaguars return three linemen, who all play in the interior.
Senior left guard James Thompson is 5-10, 210; junior Sean Smith (6-3, 260) is one of the strongest kids in the state; right guard Michael Thiel (6-0, 210) is a sophomore; and new guys to the lineup are sophomores left tackle Jax Dean (6-1, 250) and right tackle Colin Kornrumpf (6-3, 250).
“Oline has some big pieces to replace from graduation last year,” Pigott said. “They have worked harder than any unit on the team so I’m really excited to see them take their game to the next level.”
Switching to defense and starting with the line, junior end Nick Andre (6-0, 200) is returning after making nine stops in 2022.
Sophomores Wesley Geiman (6-0, 210) and Brady Deharde (6-3, 215) enter the starting lineup at nose guard and defensive end, respectively. Last year, Deharde recorded 14 tackles.
“We lost two of the three to graduation that were great players for us, but the group has worked hard and I’m excited to see what the future holds,” Pigott said.
Strain returns at outside linebacker after he tallied 24 tackles last year with a sack, while freshman Joseph Sprinkle (6-2, 200) will also play outside linebacker.
“We think he’s going to be a special player,” Pigott said of the young Sprinkle.
Thiel and Thompson will rotate at weakside linebacker, while junior Cole Monnier (6-1, 190) is the middle linebacker.
“There’s a lot of talent there, but there’s a lot to prove outside of Micky (Strain),” Pigott said. “He’s the only one to do it on the field so far.”
“I think there’s a lot of sizes,” Pigott said. “They’re physical, tall and run well, but they are still athletes who need to prove it on the field.”
At defensive back, the Jaguars graduated almost everybody.
Sophomores’ free safety Aiden Fairchild (5-10, 155) and cornerback Greenwood have seen limited time, while Greenwood made seven tackles and intercepted a pass, deflected a pass and caused a fumble.
Pizza is the strong safety with sophomore Trey Dieudonne (5-11, 150) playing at cornerback.
“I think they’re very smart players with a passion for the game of football,” Pigott said.
The punter is sophomore Kale Oertling (6-0, 180), who is called by his coach, “a kid with a strong leg.”
Pope John Paul II opens the regular season with a road game against Pearl River on Sept. 1, while their first District 7-2A game is against St. Thomas Aquinas on the road on Oct. 6.
“It’s a very difficult schedule,” Pigott said.
Pigott said they play some elite athletes in non-district, and they play in a very tough district.
“There are no easy weeks in district,” Pigott said.
Three of the Jaguars’ non-district opponents reached the playoffs last season, including St. Martin’s Episcopal, who went to the Division IV select semifinals. They were defeated by top-seeded and state runner-up Vermillion Catholic, 41-7.
The game against St. Martin’s Episcopal is Sept. 9 at home with kickoff set for 11 a.m.
Three of Pope John Paul II’s league opponents reached the postseason last year, including Northlake Christian School and St. Helena College and Career Academy, who both won playoff games. Both teams reached the regionals.
Northlake Christian School was defeated by fifth-seeded and quarterfinalist Calvary Baptist, 52-0, in the Division III select postseason, while St. Helena College and Career Academy was defeated by Avoyelles, 52-8, in the Division III non-select bracket.