A lot of things went right for the Jennings Bulldogs in their first season under Bret Fuselier. They won nine games for the first time since 2019, reached the quarterfinals and had a chance at a district title in Week 10.

“You know it was good to see first year we were fortunate enough to make it to the quarterfinals with the team that we had, with the schedule that we had and the district that we were in,” Fuselier said. “It was 7-3 and honestly we were a couple of touchdowns away from being 9-1.

“We were very fortunate last year, very fortunate we stayed away from injury.”

To keep that success rolling this season, Fuselier has moved a few players around as they try to fill 14 starting positions.

“We did have to move some people around that we feel fit us better in different areas and different positions,” Fuselier said.

One of those learning a new position will be all-state honorable mention running back ReJohn Zeno. He will move to slot back after running for 1,884 yards and 21 touchdowns. Also in the backfield will be senior Ryan Reed.

“It’s always good when you have a player of that caliber coming back for you in the season that he had, 1,900 yards and was our leader on offense,” Fuselier said. “He’s something that you can build around for this upcoming season.”

“We’re going to use him more like at the slot position this year than he was last year. Last year he was our dive-back position. We moved him over to the slot where we can move him around a little bit and get him involved in different ways.”

Another change will be at quarterback. Senior Jayden Benoit was the starter last year and threw for 709 yards and 10 touchdowns. He will switch to tight end. Sophomore Chris Ned, a slot back last year, is the new quarterback.

“You take a look at the quarterback position,” Fuselier said. “Benoit was our starter last year.

“He’s now playing some tight end. He’s still getting some reps at quarterback but we are going to Chris Ned, who was a slot for us last year as a freshman. We moved him to quarterback. We feel with his athleticism that he fits this offense a little bit better.”

Liam LeBlanc moved from offensive guard to fullback, leaving senior D’Sel Palfrey as the only returning starter on the offensive line. New starters on the line include seniors Mason Sonnier and Isaac Segura, junior Brayden Strickland and sophomore Ayden Leger. Former offensive lineman Brayden Guidry will start at linebacker.

As the only returning starters on defense, lineman Davien Edwards, strong safety Humphrey Ned and free safety Gerald Watson will have a lot of responsibilities.

“You look at Humphrey. You look at Davian. Those are the guys that are going to have a lot to say in how successful we are as a group right there,” Fuselier said. “In the back end, Gerald, he’s the one guy that’s coming back in our corner safety position.

“He’s going to have to be a leader back there, the quarterback of the defense right there, secondary-wise. I think it’s going to be a collective effort. I don’t think it’s one guy that you look at. It’s going to be a collective effort by those guys.”

Filling out the defensive front with Edwards will be senior John Myers, junior Nate Broussard and sophomore DeJohn Zeno. Linebackers will be Guidry and Brandon Hobson, while Jamell Davis, D.K. Sams and Gage Mouton will play in the secondary.

Jennings will have a four-year starter at kicker in second-team all-district senior Peyton Herpin. He has made 80 percent of his point-after-kicks, including a career-best 40 of 43 last year.

Jennings

Mascot: Bulldogs.

Home stadium: Jerry Simmons Stadium.

District: 3-3A.

Playoff division: Nonselect Division II.

Head coach: Bret Fuselier.

Head coach career record: 106-64.

2023 record (Dist.): 9-4 (4-2).

Last time in playoffs (round): 2023 (quarterfinals)

Returning starters (offense/defense): 5/3

Key players lost: Jude Duhon (OL), Liam Leblanc (OL), Walter Robertson (LB), Wyatt Fontenot (DB).

Top returners: Rejohn Zeno (RB). Peyton Herpin (K), Davien Edwards (DL), Humphrey Ned (SS), Josh Lejeune (P).

Schedule

Sept. 6 at Iowa

Sept. 13 at Eunice

Sept. 20 vs. Welsh

Sept. 27 vs. Northwest

Oct. 3 at DeRidder (Thurs.)

Oct. 11 vs. Lake Charles College Prep*

Oct. 18 at South Beauregard*

Oct. 24 vs. Notre Dame (Thurs.)

Nov. 1 vs. St. Louis Catholic*

Nov. 8 at Westlake*

*District 3-3A game