Top Performers: Acadiana vs. Carencro

A matchup of crosstown rivals and reigning Class 5A and 4A state champions was among the immediate highlights of Louisiana’s fluid, but intriguing early-season matchups. And while Acadiana and Carencro each left with areas to clean up as they try to find their strides as potential contenders again this fall, the intrigue and physicality did not disappoint. The Wreckin’ Rams and Bears, both run-heavy and defensive-minded, traded blows back-and-forth on the wet field and took a 7-7 tie into the fourth quarter where special teams would quickly help break the deadlock and left the former, 9-7. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/boJpspEiCK0" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Here were a few of the most notable individual performers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136576" first="Walter" last="Bob"] Jr. — DL — Acadiana (2022)</strong> Even at defensive end, one of the two most well-known names in the game ended up helping add the game-deciding points to the scoreboard to start the fourth quarter. Carencro allowed Bob far too clear a lane to its punter, and the Alabama commitment swatted the kick backward, out of the end zone for a sudden 9-7 lead that he and his teammates would help protect the rest of the way. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pGZ3uezd7Nk" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138495" first="Chantz" last="Ceaser"] — QB — Carencro (2023)</strong> The Bears’ quarterback showed some good flashes in his first game succeeding state championship leader Tavion Faulk, now a walk-on at LSU, at the helm of the offense. Carencro doesn’t pass often, and Bob and the Acadiana defense were able to disrupt a few of its attempted dropbacks. But Ceaser was decisive when he needed to pull the ball down to scramble for yards and, on both designed and improvised runs, showed an ability to find seams and pick up key yards with his legs, including his team’s lone touchdown. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IBzy64SHUoY" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Tavion Chaisson — 5-11, 275 DL — Acadiana (2022)</strong> The thick, physical senior steps into a larger role this season with the graduations of Louisiana (Lafayette) signee [player_tooltip player_id="63579" first="Cameron" last="George"] and others up front. Chaisson has taken that opportunity and responsibility to anchor a group with Division-I talents Bob and [player_tooltip player_id="136594" first="Kaden" last="Anderson"] on either end and played that role well against the Bears’ offense, making yards difficult to come by in the middle of the line. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SnAGS0umsSI" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Bryson Charles — LB — Acadiana (2023)</strong> The Wreckin’ Rams have to replace playmakers at every level of their championship defense this season, including linebackers [player_tooltip player_id="63685" first="Caleb" last="Arceneaux"] and [player_tooltip player_id="63747" first="Derreck" last="Bercier"] Jr., and junior Bryson Charles was an active playmaker in his first start. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Controversial first down right off the bat…</p> But the officials confer and rule the ball-carrier lost possession before being down. And Bryson Charles has the recovery for Acadiana. <a href="https://t.co/ZtVpp3CXxp">pic.twitter.com/ZtVpp3CXxp</a> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1433975172491579399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Dontae Darjean — 5-8, 200 RB — Carencro (2022)</strong> Acadiana clamped down and made yards difficult to come by. But the most experienced back in the Bears’ backfield, with 556 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior, claimed most of what was there. He takes over as the lead weapon following the graduation of [player_tooltip player_id="63580" first="Kendrell" last="Williams"] and Traylon "Popcorn" Prejean. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dontae Darjean run for Carencro. <a href="https://t.co/bSgQT1AFd3">pic.twitter.com/bSgQT1AFd3</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1433956976262852611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Javon Miller — 6-0, 270 DL — Carencro (2023)</strong> Miller was Chaisson’s counterpart on the Bears’ defensive line, helping clog the middle and hold Acadiana to a lone score. <strong>Jermaine Warren — ATH — Carencro (2022)</strong> The senior took advantage of a rare Wreckin’ Rams passing attempt to swipe an interception in traffic and return the ball to Ceaser and company in Acadiana territory. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Acadiana’s first big miscue…. And Jermaine Warren takes advantage for the Carencro interception. <a href="https://t.co/6lAOgPiqYx">pic.twitter.com/6lAOgPiqYx</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1433956206821904391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136627" first="Laterrance" last="Welch"] — 6-1, 175 DB — Acadiana (2022)</strong> Matchups against opponents like Carencro don’t provide the LSU commitment a ton of chances to showcase his elite coverage ability. But Welch showed his willingness to get physical from start to finish on both defense and special teams. The senior was quick and effective in crashing in on the Bears’ run game or blowing up attempted screens, as well as diving toward the scrum late in the second quarter to come away with a fumble recovery. He provided a couple nice returns of both a kickoff and a punt and also laid out a ball-carrier on a fake punt by Carencro for maybe the biggest hit of the evening. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sGm6ph3xnko" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>