Freddie Harrison won’t be suiting up at quarterback for the Louisiana Swashbucklers tonight. Instead, the Washington-Marion High head coach will have his headset on for a game spotlighting high school all-stars from throughout the state. Harrison will be the Louisiana quarterbacks coach in the 10th Bayou Bowl, which pits 40 Louisiana and Texas seniors against each other in the annual non-profit game at 7 p.m. in Baytown, Texas. American Press)
Harrison skips indoor game to coach in Bayou Bowl
Last Modified: Friday, June 15, 2012 8:30 PM
By Rachel Whittaker / American Press
Freddie Harrison won’t be suiting up at quarterback for the Louisiana Swashbucklers tonight.
Instead, the Washington-Marion High head coach will have his headset on for a game spotlighting high school all-stars from throughout the state.
Harrison will be the Louisiana quarterbacks coach in the 10th Bayou Bowl, which pits 40 Louisiana and Texas seniors against each other in the annual non-profit game at 7 p.m. in Baytown, Texas.
Texas has won three of the past four Bayou Bowl games and leads the series 5-4, but Louisiana won last year’s contest, 30-23. Harrison said he’s eager to coach in the game for the first time.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come out here and coach 40 of the best kids from Louisiana,” Harrison said. “This was in the works way before I came to play for the Swashbucklers. Darnell (Lee, Swashbucklers head coach) and I agreed this was one game I was going to have to miss.”
Harrison said he’s very pleased with the talent Louisiana is fielding at quarterback.
The squad features two all-state honorable mentions set to lead the offense in Ouachita Parish’s Quentin Wheeler (6 feet, 200 pounds) and O.P. Walker’s Devin Powell (6-5, 210). Powell has committed to Tulane.
“I’ve got some great kids,” Harrison said. “You can’t ask for better quarterbacks to represent the state of Louisiana.”
Harrison said he thinks Louisiana has a valid chance to beat Texas and even the series.
“The guys are working hard. I think we’ve got a real good shot,” Harrison said. “The chemistry is coming together and I think the offensive game plan is going to be real good.”
One player from the Lake Area joins Harrison — former Barbe linebacker D.J. Prudhomme, the District 3-5A Defensive MVP. Harrison said Prudhomme is “representing Lake Charles in the right way” this week after a season in which he racked up 79 tackles, three sacks and an interception.
Harrison said he hopes to make a positive impact on the Louisiana players.
“(I want to) just build relationships and make sure these kids have fun, make sure they understand that it’s gonna be their last high school game,” Harrison said. “You try to get kids to go to college and just try to relay some life lessons to them that’s going to happen in college.”
Donaldsonville head coach Terence Williams will man the Louisiana squad.
Get Social With Us!
+Share