By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Rodney Guin has had plenty of success as a head coach, going 194-74 over 16 seasons at Haughton, and in the last seven years at Calvary.
Adding his years as an assistant, Guin’s coached 41 seasons, and he’s seen it all. Except this.
After Friday night’s 35-27 state semifinal victory over Newman at Jerry Barker Field, Guin will lead Calvary to the Caesars Superdome. It will be his first trip to work on the sidelines there with a state championship at stake.
A younger Guin and his family made regular trips to the LHSAA’s Prep Classic. He pictured himself and his teams on the playing surface, but has never realized that dream, until now.
Postgame, he deflected attention on his own milestone, preferring to reflect on what this undefeated Calvary team has accomplished.
“What a night, what a special group of guys. They have performed all year long,” he said. “It’s a real good football team we just beat. We made a few mistakes along the way, but it’s about winning one at a time now, and we are super excited.”
Reaching the ultimate game is “so hard, so, so hard,” said Guin. “These kids, they work hard. They haven’t let up since January, and it paid off for us.”
The north end of the field was filled with a sea of green jerseys surrounded by family, friends and fans in the aftermath of the dramatic victory. Hugs and high fives were frequent.
“I’m feeling so much emotion right now,” said star running back James Simon. “Me being a junior and being a big leader on this team, it’s just surreal. All my friends are seniors, and to be able to go with my seniors, all my friends are seniors, to the ‘Dome, playing with my best friends, I’m not going to take it for granted.”
It’s extra special because one of his friends is his head coach.
“Me and coach Guin have a great bond, too,” said Simon. “Being able to go to the ‘Dome with him, not knowing how long he has left in this coaching game, is exciting. I get to go to the ‘Dome with everyone I love.”
Newman coach Nelson Stewart was proud his team nearly spoiled Calvary’s dream.
“We threw some haymakers at them, we moved the football,” he said. “I know nobody gave us a chance. I’ve never been called an underdog that much in my life. For us to play with a team of that magnitude, that level of talent, I’m proud. We left it all on the field. Calvary made one more play than we did.”
Now they take aim at a second LHSAA crown in four seasons.
The Cavs won the Division IV Select state title in 2020, but that game was played not in New Orleans, but in Louisiana’s oldest city, Natchitoches, founded in 1714, five years before the Big Easy. The COVID pandemic prevented the 2020 Prep Classic from happening in the Crescent City and it was relocated to Turpin Stadium on the Northwestern campus.
Next weekend, Calvary will shoot for the Division III Select crown, squaring off against another unbeaten, St. Charles, which has played in five straight state finals and has won the last two.
The Comets own a 28-0 win over Newman in the regular-season finale a month ago. Their resume is extremely impressive. But Guin is supremely confident in his Cavs, who won on the road over Division IV top-seed Logansport, District 1-5A champion Captain Shreve, always strong Byrd, along with hard-fought homefield wins over playoff entries Wossman (Division II) and Westgate (Division I) in non-district games.
Those conquests have created a strong sense of impending destiny in the Calvary camp.
“It’s huge. I tell our kids we’re not going to play anybody better than who we’ve already played, not in our division,” said Guin. “They may be good, but they’re not going to be more athletic or bigger or anything like that. We’re not intimidated by anybody.”
He admitted that today won’t bring his first look at St. Charles. After the game prep for Newman was done, Guin went online to check out the Comets.
“I did a little bit, just to take a peek. We’ve been 1 and 2 all year long,” he said. “We don’t care who we play right now. We’re just happy to be getting there.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com