Last chance to go out a winner
WESTLAKE — One more game.
Whether it is to finish out a career with a win or to get more exposure and hopefully a college scholarship, many players and coaches long to play just one more game.
For three dozen of Southwest Louisiana’s top senior football players, and a nearly dozen coaches, the third annual Louisiana High School Coaches Association I-10 Bowl represents that opportunity.
The game will be played at St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette at 12:30 p.m. Saturday and will feature the Lake Charles All-Stars taking on the host Lafayette All-Stars.
For Lake Charles All-Star head coach Parry LaLande, the game represents an opportunity he has waited for since his retirement in March of 2010.
“I am enjoying it this week,” LaLande said. “I told the kids at practice that I have been waiting eight years to win that last football game.
“Unless you win a state championship, you lose your last game. I am looking forward to it. Hopefully we can have a good showing Saturday. We are going to go over there and give it what we got and have no regrets.”
LaLande went 215-101-1 at South Cameron, taking his teams to the state championship game in the Superdome twice, 11 quarterfinal appearances and 10 district championships. But like many in the football profession, he lost his final game, a 30-6 loss to St. Frederick in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs in 2009.
Lafayette won the first two I-10 Bowl games, both at Sulphur High’s Matt Walker Memorial Stadium. Lafayette scored 28 points in the first quarter in 2016 and won 35-27, then won a 17-12 defensive battle last year.
While the game has changed a lot since he retired, LaLande still enjoys coaching.
“It is more wide open than when I was coaching, but I enjoy being out there with the other coaches and the kids,” LaLande said. “I have always enjoyed that. That is what always kept me going.”
Some players on the Lake Charles team area have made their college choices, including Leesville offensive lineman Montae Lynch (Stephen F. Austin), Sulphur linebacker Jake Lafleur (McNeese State), Washington-Marion running back/defensive back Carrington McClinton (Southeastern Louisiana) and Washington-Marion linebacker Christian Guillory, who recently decommitted from McNeese.
“I am looking forward to getting a ‘W’ and getting a few more hits in,” Guillory said. “I want to build a brotherhood, meet some new friends.”
Lake Charles College Prep defensive lineman Jacalon Pitre is one of several players hoping to catch the eye of a college scout.
“It feels good to be selected amongst the best players in the Lake Charles area,” Pitre said. “It is good that we can have one more game before we go off the college or wherever we are going.
“I think it will showcase my talents and what I can do against people from other districts and different classes.”
Lake Charles at Lafayette, 12:30 PM Saturday
Former South Cameron head coach Parry Lalande speaks to the Lake Charles All-Stars after a practice on Wednesday. Lake Charles will take on the Lafayette All-Star in the I-10 Bowl on Saturday.
Former South Cameron head coach Parry Lalande speaks to the Lake Charles All-Stars after a practice on Wednesday. Lake Charles will take on the Lafayette All-Star in the I-10 Bowl on Saturday.