After a decade coaching at his alma mater Basile, Kevin Bertrand moved north to take over the Oakdale Warrior program that has made the playoffs 11 consecutive years. He will be faced with the big challenge of turning a young team into a contender.

“I’m excited,” he said. “We’re going to be a young team this year.

“We’ve only got four seniors. I think that the work they’ve put in over the course of this summer has been amazing. Just seeing how hard they work and how well they listen. They’re very coachable. They want to be pushed and they want to be able to take it to the next level.”

The Warriors graduated a stellar 2024 senior class that made a run to the regional round. Five of them, Charles Shird, Deekota Johnson, Elijah Anderson, Derrick Green and George Ruffin, combined for 48 touchdowns as the Warriors averaged 35.1 points a game.

They have four seniors to lean on this year in wide receiver/safety Tim Horne, linebacker Keane Micelle, offensive lineman Jordan Welch and Noah Hyatt, a kicker and wide receiver.

“It was just one of those cycles of classes,” Bertrand said. “They had a big senior class last year, a very talented senior class last year.

“Our junior class is a big class. We may be a little young, but I think we’ve got a lot of experience returning. It’s exciting to see.”

The Warriors will see a lot of change on the offensive side with six new starters and a new offense (Pro Twins). Besides Horne, returners include linemen Tylon Jackson and Ryan Willis and receivers Anjel Moreaux and Deverrick Winfield.

Junior C.J. Waller will start at quarterback, while Jacarvi Alsburry will take over at running back after limited touches last year (64 car., 365 yards, 5 TD).

“He’s (Waller) been doing a great job, he’s still learning to communicate with me on certain things,” Bertrand said. “It’s just going to take some time for us to be together, but he’s done a really good job of picking it up, and he’s picked it up quick.”

Bertrand has high confidence in the Warriors’ 3-4 defense that returns seven starters from a year ago. They allowed 18.2 points a game last year. They return three of four in the secondary in free safety Moreaux, safety Horne and cornerback Winfield.

“Tim and Angel have been starting off now for three years,” Bertrand said. “Those guys are kind of our leaders back there.”

Bertrand is looking for big things from a pair of underclassmen defenders in nose guard Tylon Jackson and linebacker Jacarvi Alsburry.

“I’m really looking to see him (Jackson ) create some mismatches up front, and people have to try to double-team him,” he said. “Also looking forward to Ja’Karvi Allsbury at linebacker. He is just going to be a sophomore, but I think that I’ve seen him grow leaps and bounds in just the two months that I’ve been there.”

Other returners on defense include linebackers Micelle, Brandon Guidry and defensive lineman Ryan Willis. Jacob Sumbler will take on a starting role at linebacker, Courtland Hobson will start on the line and Mason Giles will be the new guy in the secondary at cornerback.

OAKDALE

Mascot: Warriors.

Home stadium: Curtis T. Cook Memorial Stadium.

District: 5-2A.

Playoff division: Nonselect Division III.

Head coach: Kevin Bertrand.

Head coach career record: 95-46.

2023 record (Dist.): 8-4 (2-2).

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

Returning starters (offense/defense): 5/7

Key players lost: Aidan Valle (OL/DL), Ruffin George (RB), D.J. Johnson (QB), Derrick Green (LB), Elijah Anderson (WR).

Top returners: Deverrick Winfield (WR/CB), Jacarvi Alsburry (RB/LB), Anjel Moreaux (WR/DB), Tim Horn (WR/DB).

Schedule

Sept. 6 at Sacred Heart

Sept. 13 at Welsh

Sept. 19 vs. Grand Lake (Thurs.)

Sept. 26 at Lake Arthur (Thurs.)

Oct. 4 vs. Marksville

Oct. 11 vs. Holy Savior Menard*

Oct. 18 at Kinder*

Oct. 24 at Port Barre* (Thurs.)

Nov. 1 vs. Avoyelles*

Nov. 8 vs. Red River

*District 5-2A game