The 2023 season fizzled, but there is plenty of reason for optimism this year for the Westlake Rams. They return 17 starters, including several explosive players on offense.

Westlake started 2023 3-0 then lost eight consecutive games.

“We knew last year was gonna be a rough year of just the youth on the team and the inexperience,” Westlake Head Coach John Richardson. “They’re a year older, a year stronger and they have that year of experience under their belt, so we’re feeling really optimistic about the upcoming season.”

Senior Nicholls State commitment Kevin Rideau is a big downfield threat and was one of the best receivers in Southwest Louisiana last year with 48 receptions for 869 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“I expect him to have a really big year this year,” Richardson said. “He’s really matured, gotten stronger, has a much better understanding.

“We really worked on him on a couple of things we thought he needed to get better at. I really think he’s gonna have a really good season.”

The receiving corps is deep with three other returners in seniors Brody Boudreaux and Ryan Allen and junior Peyton Kile. Allen had 635 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns in four games before an injury ended his season.

“We lost Ryan Allen last year at the fourth game of the season,” Richardson said. “Going into that point, he was probably, no doubt, our most explosive player.

“Peyton Kiles is a year older, and man, he’s probably the fastest guy of all of them out there. I think those three guys together are going to make some trouble for defenses.”

Sophomore quarterback Brody Anderson will look to improve on his 1,477 yards and 17 touchdowns.

“He’s throwing the ball great right now, starting to have a better understanding of the offense,” Richardson said. “I’m looking for big things from him.”

In the backfield, the Rams return junior Braylon Garrick who ran for 869 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore.

Four linemen return in Jayce O’Hara, Brady Roy, Dallas Taylor and Hadley Hardesty — a second-team all-district player last year — while sophomore Luke Lemaire and Dax Anderson will battle for the spot vacated by graduated first-team all-district lineman Aydin LeFrere.

“They’re all a year older, bigger, and stronger,” Richardson said. “We still got to fill in that one spot there, and it takes them a while to gel.

“We’ve shuffled some people around up there, but I really think they’re gonna be a good group.”

Richardson expects big improvements on the defensive side with seven returning starters after giving up 30.5 points a game last year.

“I think those guys are gonna be much improved,” Richardson said. “We should shuffle some people around, and I think they’re gonna show a lot of improvement on that side of the ball.”

The entire defensive front is back, giving the Rams plenty of run-stopping power. Up front, senior Jace Hayes is back along with juniors Cooper Williams and Cooper Cryer (50 tackles, 4.5 TFL), while Avan Breaux has flipped to the defensive line after starting at h-back last year. Juniors Brady Duplechin (45 tackles, 4 TFL) and Brayden Elzey return at linebacker.

Richardson said they are still working on the secondary to find three new starters to join returners senior Josh Twiggs and junior Phil Clophus (57 tackles).

“The secondary is kind of a work in progress right now,” Richardson said. “We’ve got some guys, a lot of guys who are playing back there right now and getting experience.

“Athletically, we feel like the receivers will probably have to help some on that side of the football, as well as the receivers and Mike Mitchell. We got some of them that we think will probably help us on that side of the football, but we do have some guys that got a lot of experience back there last year. You know, we’re just still not quite sure who’s gonna be where.”

WESTLAKE

Mascot: Rams.

Home stadium: Max Caldarera Stadium.

District: 3-3A.

Playoff division: Nonselect Division III.

Head coach: John Richardson.

Head coach career record: 97-59.

2023 record (Dist.): 3-8 (0-6).

Last time in playoffs (round): 2023 (bi-district)

Returning starters (offense/defense): 10/8

Key players lost: Josh Parr (LB), Aydin LaFrere (OL).

Top returners: Hadley Hardesty (OL), Kevin Rideau (WR), Brody Anderson (QB), Ryan Allen (RB), Phil Clophus (S), Cooper Cryer (DL).

Schedule

Sept. 5 vs. Rosepine (Thurs.)

Sept. 13 at LaGrange

Sept. 20 at Washington-Marion

Sept. 27 vs. DeRidder

Oct. 4 vs. Erath

Oct. 11 at St. Louis Catholic*

Oct. 17 at Iota (Thurs.)

Oct. 25 vs. Lake Charles College Prep*

Nov. 1 at South Beauregard*

Nov. 8 vs. Jennings*

*District 3-3A game