By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Last week’s 45-35 victory over Class 5A Huntington moved Class 2A Calvary to 7-1, with the only loss to 5A power Neville, and confirmed what veteran coach Rodney Guin thought about the 2025 Cavaliers.
“We’re actually probably a little ahead of schedule, past where I thought we might be,” he said. “We’re doing a lot of stuff right defensively, for sure, and offensively we’re getting better by the week. We’ve improved every week since Week 1, so it’s been very good.”
There’s still improvement to be made with two District 1-2A games left before Calvary enters the Select Division III postseason, but it’s obvious the Cavs have successfully handled graduation of an extremely talented and accomplished senior class last year.
This squad may actually be better in one key aspect. That’s something that Union Parish coach Joey Spatafora noted two weeks ago in the wake of Calvary’s 48-0 domination of his Farmers.
“They lost a lot of very good players,” he said while the teams were shaking hands, “but this team, watching film and then from what I saw tonight, I think they play together better than other (Calvary) teams I’ve seen.”
Their coach considered the notion and concurred.
“It’s very valid. I don’t think it’s the most talented team we’ve had, but these guys work very, very hard and they’re super coachable,” said Guin. ”They’ve learned their roles, even if it’s small, and they take care of business. I do agree with that. They are playing compatible football, doing their jobs.”
The opportunity to play a non-district game against Huntington in Week 8 provided the late-season test Guin craves. They passed it with flying colors, earning the Cavaliers the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Team of the Week honor.
“We love having that 5A game toward the end of the schedule, to get a good look at where we’re at and what we need to change going into the playoffs,” said Guin.
For all of the stars who departed with diplomas, perhaps the toughest to replace was record-shattering quarterback Abram Wardell, who ended his career as the most accurate passer in national high school history. Sophomore Hudson Price won the chance to step in and has not disappointed.
“He’s progressing well, doing exactly what we ask him to do, throwing the ball well with a high completion percentage, and starting to run the football a little for us,” said Guin. “We’re pleased where he’s at.”
The Cavaliers’ offense has prospered thanks to the development of an offensive line group that has rotated personnel all season due to a series of injuries.
“They’re doing well. We’ve been banged up there a bunch, have had to play 8-9 guys in and out. We ran the ball 40 times the other night, which is a ton for us,” Guin said. “They have been a bright spot, no doubt.”
The tone-setters are senior Hunter Davis and junior Jacob Tibbett. Davis is battling a bum ankle and will rest up in the final two weeks of the regular season as the Cavs are expected to stretch their 13-year district winning streak to 70.
“We need those two guys playing well for us going into the playoffs,” said Guin.
Tibbett, a guard, is also an anchor defensively at middle linebacker.
“He may be the only guy who plays both ways a lot for us. The O-line’s developed so we’ve been able to rest him a lot and only use him offensively at certain times, because he’s very important to us defensively.”
That defense has also earned superior marks from Guin.
“We’ve tackled very well, all year long, been very, very sound. Pass coverage, we still have to get a little better there, but if you can stop people from running the ball, you always have a chance,” he said. “That’s why I am so excited. We’ve played the run very, very well all year long.”
The Cavs have also sparkled in the kicking game. Junior Braylun Huglon, whether at receiver or return specialist, is a threat to make a house call from anywhere.
The contributions of senior kicker Ty Knight had added a new dimension that lights up the scoreboard and helps keep opponents from doing the same thing.
“Ty has been a game changer for us,” said Guin. “He’s making field goals, he’s kicking off to the goalline, something we haven’t had very often in the past. I have no problem saying, ‘we’re kicking a field goal here, let’s go get it,’ because he has done extremely well all year long.”
Calvary, standing fourth both in the LSWA’s Class 2A poll and the more important LHSAA Select D-III power rankings, is right on track at the right time, said Guin.
“We’ve got a chance to do well in the playoffs. We thought that from Day 1, if we progressed, and we have,” he said. “Playoffs are the luck of the draw, but when they start, we’ll be in the top group, top 4-5, and there you’ve got a shot.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com