New LaGrange head coach Idaibi Ogbanga knows firsthand the history behind the Gators program. And he believes he can get the team back to its winning ways.

“My brother graduated with the Class of 2000,” said Ogbanga, a 2005 LaGrange grad. “1999 was the last time we beat Barbe.

“That was my brother’s senior year. I remember sitting in the stands and they stopped the two-point conversion. We want to bring it back to the old tradition. LaGrange had so much tradition. A lot of alumni and fans want to see the team be successful. I am trying to bring back the pride in LaGrange.”

The Gators went to the playoffs eight times from 2008 to 2016, but just once since 2017.

Even though the Gators have one win in the last two seasons, Ogbanga sees talent throughout the roster.

“We have a potential to compete and win some games,” Ogbanga said. “We have talent here.

“The kids work hard and the buy-in has been good since day one. I think we will definitely be able to compete with everyone on the schedule. I think there will be a lot of colleges that will come through and offer some of our kids scholarships. We have kids that can play college ball. I think it is just exposure and winning some games.”

Running back Keshaun Doucet is looking for a breakout season in his final run as a Gator behind a young offensive line Ogbanga expects will exceed expectations. Royale Stewart and Francis Turner return up front.

“He (Doucet) told me he wants 2,000 yards,” Ogbanga said. “He has been working very hard this summer. The guy can flat out play. He probably makes the best cuts that I have ever seen as a running back.

“Remember the kid Kelan Tanner? He is like 6-4 right now and already 290 pounds and can move. I don’t know how he wasn’t starting last year. He is going to be a big Division I player before he leaves LaGrange. It is not like he is just a big 6-4 kid that can’t move. He has size and it is not sloppy. The offensive line is young but they are a lot better than what people are going to expect. Our linemen have been the best group all summer.”

Senior transfer Saint McKenzie (Lamar, Houston, Texas) will start at quarterback. McKenzie is originally from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

“He is a leader and vocal,” Ogbanga said. “He came in Day 1 and wanted to learn the playbook and the concepts.

“He has a canon for an arm and makes good, accurate passes. He is Canadian, that is what is crazy. He moved to Houston and his dad works at the plants. Then his dad got a job around here. He is a phenomenal kid with a 3.75 GPA.”

Seniors Jordan Lewis and David Martin will be McKenzie’s top targets.

“(Against) anybody one-on-one, I am going to give it to them (Lewis, Martin) 100 percent. Those kids can flat out play. They are fast. I think (Martin) is going to have a breakout year. Lewis is going to be a defensive back and can play anything.”

The Gators return two on the defensive line in Braylon Hardy and Braylon Williams, and a pair of linebackers in Isiah Lewis and Larry Bellard, plus cornerback Patrick Bertrand.

“They are working on being more aggressive with attention to detail,” Ogbanga said. “We are keeping it very basic and just lining up correctly.

“I feel like 90 percent of defense is about lining up correctly. The other 10 percent is heart. Nine times out of 10, if you line up incorrectly, you are going to give up yards. We are working on the little things, understanding reads and keys. I feel like at times we overthink ourselves instead of just going back to the basics and make kids play as fast as possible.”