Bears have high expectations

CHURCH POINT –They made school history last season as the Bears made it to the state quarterfinals.
Church Point head coach J. C. Arceneaux is expecting another successful season as his team has high expectations.
The Bears rolled through the 2013 playoffs with wins over McMain (65-44) and Donaldsonville (33-30) before a heartbreaking 27-26 loss to district rival Livonia to end the season.
“We had a great summer workout program,” the coach said. “We tried to ride the momentum and the team knows what it takes to get there.
“Hopefully this season we can build on that success.”
With 90 players on the roster, Arceneaux said his plan is use a rotation early in the season to build depth at every position.
Arceneaux has experience with six returners on offense and seven on defense.
“There is no kid who is going to start on either side of the football that didn’t who did not play significant time last year with the exception of Grant Sonnier (Notre Dame transfer),” the coach said.
“We have kids who are willing to compete everyday and they know it takes preparing Monday through Thursday to win on Friday,” Arceneaux said.
Seniors tight end John Wyatt Treme and wide receiever Jacque Wimberley return along with center Layne Matt.
Junior tackle Tyler Elliott also brings experience to the offensive line.
Seniors Deion Monroe and Christian Veronie also return in the backfield.
“We are hoping to throw the ball better than we have in the past so we can hopefully back people off the line a little bit and open it up,” the coach said.
“We will continue to attack on defense as we have guys who can run and make plays.”
The defense is led by five seniors including defensive ends Aaron Bergeron and Darren Collins along with tackle Jacob Fontenot.
Senior Jaylan Kelly anchors the linebackers while Tyler Wheeler and junior Fred Williams bring experience to the secondary.
Church Point will scrimmage Westminster Christian Academy on Aug. 21 in Opelousas.
The Acadia Parish jamboree will be held in Church Point on Aug. 29.
Iota and Crowley will start at 6 p.m., while Bears will take on Rayne at 8 p.m.
Church Point opens the regular season with road games against Beau Chene and Kaplan before entertaining Cecilia on Sept. 19.
“We are going to be challenged and tested early,” Arceneaux said of the non-district schedule that also includes Loreauville and North Vermilion.
“The game against Kaplan (13-10 loss) and Cecilia (21-20 win) last year went down to the final play before we had an absolute war in Loreauville (41-23 loss).
The Bears also rolled to a 42-3 win over Beau Chene and grabbed a 16-14 win over North Vermilion in 2013.
“We are going to get battle tested early,” the coach said.
Arceneaux said District 5-3A will be very competitive again this season.
Church Point went 4-1 in district play last year with wins over Pine Prairie (34-6), Northwest (38-7), Port Barre (31-8) and Ville Platte (35-0) before a loss to Livonia (40-9).
“Livonia will be the front runner with a lot returning from their state runner-up and they are consolidating with Pointe Coupee Central.
“We like our team this year,” Arceneaux said. “We feel they have the chance to accomplish some things that have never been done here.
“They are a hard working bunch and they are going to give themselves a chance to win every Friday night.”