The Deep South Boys HS kicks into high gear after a couple of smaller weekends.

Already there’s a bit of an air of disappointment in the Brother Martin camp after two tough-to-swallow losses. Still there’s time to rebound, but Brother Martin is still smarting from a 22-19 loss to New Orleans Jesuit Jan 17 and then a 41-38 loss to Lake Area.

“We are inexperienced,” said Brother Martin Head Coach Gary Giepert, whose team will take a trip to Houston this weekend to play St. Thomas and St. Pius. “We have some good athletes who are still learning the game, and we will be in the mix.”

Jesuit followed up their close win over Brother Martin with a wild one of Mississippi, beating them 22-17. Miss went up early on a chilly, wet field, and then saw Jesuit overhaul them in a classic.  Jesuit now takes on Lake Area, which won that wild game over Brother Martin, which went back and forth until the very end.

“The game was a really good way to start,” said Head Coach Matt Austin. “We’re feeling pretty good about our season because even though we graduated some guys who were Louisiana or South All-Stars, we bring back some all-star players, too, as well as some who I think are at that caliber. With us transitioning to a full-time program where we practice four days a week, we’re building something.”

Corey Drew on the gallop for Lake Area

Captains Corey Dew (flyhalf) and Cartrell Sutton (prop) are excellent leaders and top players, while No. 8 Albert Miller and center Malik Bodiford form the rest of a very strong core of experienced players. 

“This is a big game for us against Jesuit,” said Austin. “We got to see their game against Brother Martin and they are good. The coaching in this area, what they do every year, is impressive.”

Also this weekend, West Jeff plays St. Paul’s. West Jeff is only in its second season and won last week over league debutants NOMMA (more on them in a moment). West Jeff faces St. Paul’s in the first league game for St. Paul’s.

Mississippi, which is expected to be very strong this season, will be the first league opponent for Niceville. 

NOMMA plays Houma. NOMMA stands for New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy, and this is their first season playing rugby. They were beaten fairly convincingly by West Jeff, but are just getting started.

And idle is the defending champion Archbishop Shaw team. They normally start late in the season, and this year is no different. Shaw won’t take the field until February 10 when they face West Jeff. They return about half of their 2014 state championship team, although they lose Brennan Falcon and Cameron Troxler. The Shaw forward pack will be experienced, big, and tough, while Head Coach Tim Falcon will need Tyler Bodden and Brock Hanley to really step up to fill in at the halfback hinge.

But that’s all for the future. Right now Shaw gets to watch a league that is quickly becoming competitive from top to bottom.

Jan 31 weekend matches, Deep South Boys HS:

West Jefferson (1-0) v St. Paul’s (0-0)

NOMMA (0-1) v Houma (0-0)

Jesuit (2-0) v Lake Area (1-0)

Mississippi (0-1) v Niceville (0-0)

Bye:

Brother Martin (on tour) (0-2)

Shaw (0-0)