It has been a long eight months, but the wait is almost over. Football season is just around the corner and high school teams in Southwest Louisiana are hitting the field for official practices starting this morning.

Last season brought the Lake Area a wealth of story lines from Kinder’s state championship run and Grand Lake’s return to the field, to Barbe wide out Trey Quinn breaking the national receiving record and Elton running back Marcus Lemoine leading the state in rushing.

This year should be no different, with many skilled athletes and teams returning to the gridiron for another year. So here are five things to keep an eye on as practices get under way.

Can Kinder repeat?

The Yellow Jackets went on a dream run last season winning 14 games while on their way to capturing the Class 2A state championship. It was the first title for SW La. in 14 years and the first for the town of Kinder in nearly 40.

The defending state champs return a wealth of talent, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

The senior linebacking corps consisting of Don Charles Arceneaux, Zach Rider and All-state selection Bryce Baker is possibly one of the best in the entire state and will bring some much needed experience to a team hoping to repeat as state champions.

Offensively, the Yellow Jackets lose American Press All-SWLA small schools quarterback Austin Pickle, but return running back Jordan Vickers, who won the Outstanding Player award in the state championship game, and All-State offensive lineman Casey Edwards.

The team, school and town will be looking to second-year head coach and reigning Class 2A Coach of the Year Bret Fuselier for guidance if they hope to bring home another trophy.

Without Quinn, Fontenot how will Barbe do?

Losing the best quarterback and wide receiver in school history is never an easy task for any program, but for the Barbe Bucs the departure of Kennon Fontenot and Trey Quinn means an end to the most explosive offense in school history.

Fontenot, a three year starter at quarterback, left the school as the all-time leader in almost every passing category including touchdowns thrown where he struck for gold more than 100 times. He now plays baseball at Louisiana-Lafayette.

Quinn, a four year starter, is now at LSU where he is competing for playing time as a true freshman. The prep All-American broke the national record last season for most receiving yards in a career with 6,566. He also holds the state records for most receptions and receiving touchdowns in a career.

Junior Garret Williams is expected to replace Fontenot under center after playing a big role at receiver last season while senior Austin Broussard will meet the task of filling Quinn’s cleats. Both Williams and Broussard saw ample playing time last season, but now become the faces of the Buc offense.

Will DeRidder build on its school best 2013?

Head coach Eric Parmley and the DeRidder Dragons were one of the pleasant surprises in Class 4A last season when they reached the state quarterfinals for just the second time, capping off their best season in school history.

After opening the season with a 7-0 loss to Westlake the Dragons went on a tear, winning 11 straight games including shutout victories in the first two rounds of the playoffs before falling the perennial power Neville in the quarterfinals.

Leading the way for the Dragons was their “black shirt defense” which finished with a SW La. low in points allowed per game. Neville was one of only four teams in the 13 games DeRidder played to scored in double digits against the Dragons who shutout four opponents on the season.

Returning from that defense is junior end Daniel Crosley who earned All-State honors after accumulating a mind-boggling 30 sacks in his sophomore campaign. He will be joined by twin brother David who was a first-team all-district selection and an honorable mention all-stater.

Offensively the Dragons will return All-State running back D’Angelo Reder who rushed for more than 1,700 yards last season.

Can Cryer turn things around at St. Louis?

The Lake Area said goodbye to one of its longest tenured coaches last fall when St. Louis’ Mike Johns called it a career and hung up his headset.

The departure left a void that would eventually be filled by ex-St. Mary’s head coach Charlie Cryer. Cryer, who had previously won a Class 1A state championship with Vermilion Catholic. Cryer not only steps into some pretty big shoes, but also a program that has taken a bit of a tumble in the past couple of years.

The new skipper of the Saints faces a tall task trying to compete in a district that also houses Iowa, South Beauregard, Westlake and 2013 state semifinalist Jennings.

Can Basile get over the quarterfinal hump?

When it comes to the Class 1A state quarterfinals Basile is becoming the proverbial always the bridesmaid, never the bride.

The Bearcats have enjoyed multiple successful seasons with now senior running back Kendrick Ceaser, but have failed to get over the hump in the final eight each year. The past two years they have been eliminated by state power Kentwood, but they hope that this is the year things finally go their way.

Ceaser, an all-state selection last season, has been a fixture in the backfield in Basile since his eighth grade season, but is also tasked with leading the team defensively as it’s star cornerback.

There is still the question of what will be this fall’s biggest surprise. For that we will all just have to wait and see.(Rick Hickman/American Press)

Rick Hickman