Something different is happening at East Beauregard High School. For decades, the Trojans have focused on running the ball and in recent years employed a double-wing offense. But even last season they started to change things and this time they are going to the spread offense.

“We’re going to make a change on offense,” Head Coach Ronnie Simmons said. “We’re going to have a new offensive coordinator, Isaac Clark.”

Senior Bryce Marler (5- 8, 170) will run the Trojans’ spread offense. He will have plenty of targets in tight end Brent David (6-0, 225), and receivers Dakota Strother (5-8, 170), Ryder Howell (5-10, 165) and A.J. Meeks (6-0, 160).

“He’s (Marler) our fastest kid, so that’s one more person they have to worry about if he sets the ball every play,” Simmons said. “We have some athletes this year that we think we can try to get the ball to and that they’ll be able to do something with it.”

Don’t expect the Trojans to totally abandon the ground-and-pound. Caleb Johnson and Freddy Beall graduated, taking with them 1,700 yards and 20 touchdowns, but senior Zane Hildreth (5-11, 190) returns. He had a solid season last year with 846 yards and 13 touchdowns.

“I think we’re definitely going to throw the ball more than we have in the past, but we still are going to be a running football team for sure,” Simmons said.

Senior Payton Fox (5-9, 360) will anchor the offensive line at center, plus fellow returning starters Lucian Gaspard (5-8, 200) and Toby Dyer (6-2, 290). Sophomores Clayton Cooley (6-2, 270) and Evan King (5-10, 190) will take the open spots on the left side of the line.

The other big change for the Trojans will be in classification, where they will move up to Class 2A after five seasons in 1A. They will be in District 4-2A, along with DeQuincy, Vinton and Rosepine.

As much as the Trojans want to run the ball, they equally want to stuff it with their 5-3 defense that returns seven starters, including linebackers Hayden Woofter (6-2, 175), Mykle Shaulis (5-8, 175) and Jaden Rider (5-8, 190) and ends Hildreth and Shane Slaydon (5-8, 175).

“Defensively, I really like what we’ve got coming back,” Simmons said. “Most of our experience is at linebacker and a secondary. I think that’s going to allow us to keep doing the same things we were last year. We played a lot of man-to-man for the first time probably ever at East Beauregard. It was successful for us for the most part. Our mindset was a little bit different. We were a little bit more aggressive. With most of those guys coming back, I think we’ll be able to continue doing that.”

Hildreth led the Trojans with 84 tackles and five sacks last year. He earned first-team all-district and American Press All-Southwest Louisiana Small Schools honors.

EAST BEAUREGARD

Mascot: Trojans.

Home stadium: Trojan Stadium.

Playoff division: Nonselect Division IV.

Head coach: Ronnie Simmons.

Head coach career record: 52-51.

2023 record (Dist.): 6-5 (3-2).

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

Returning starters (offense/defense): 6/7

Key players lost: Caleb Johnson (RB/DB), Andy Burnaman (OL), Freddy Beall (RB/LB).

Top returners: Zane Hildreth (TB/DL), Payton Fox (OL), Toby Dyer (OL), Brent David (TE).

Schedule

Sept. 5 vs. Grand Lake (Thurs.)

Sept. 13 vs. Opelousas Catholic

Sept. 20 at Crowley

Sept. 27 at Oberlin

Oct. 4 vs. Westminster Christian-Lafayette

Oct. 11 Bye

Oct. 17 at Bolton Academy (Thurs.)

Oct. 25 vs. DeQuincy*

Oct. 31 at Vinton* (Thurs.)

Nov. 8 vs. Rosepine*

*District 4-2A game