Bertrand returns to Basile roots

BASILE – Most of the time when a new coach takes over a football team, it is help turn around a struggling program.
That is far from the case for Kevin Bertrand, who is beginning his first season as the Bearcat head coach.
“I am extremely excited,” Bertrand said. “It is a great opportunity to be coach at a program that has done so well over the last two decades.”
Bertrand inherits a team with 16 returning starters from a team who went 11-1 last season, won the District 4-1A title and advanced to the state quarterfinals where they fell to Kentwood.
In 2013, the Bearcats went 11-2 overall, were district runners-up and made it to the third round to fall to the Kanagroos.
“I am so excited to have so many starters back and that all the assistant coaches stayed,” the coach said. “It has made the transition so much easier and we expect to keep it rolling.”
The Bertrand name is familiar to the Bearcat nation, as brother Tony became prinicipal after eight seasons as head coach and 20 years in the Basile program.
Kevin, a 1990 graduate of Basile, has been coaching for 19 years, including two seasons (2010-11) at Elton where he compiled an 18-6 record.
“Basile has always had a special place in my heart as it is where I was raised.”
The Bearcats enter the season with an experienced offense led by quarterback Mark Ivory along with running backs Kendrick Ceaser and Gabe Fontenot.
Last year, Ceaser earned Class 1-A All-State honors as a return specialist with four returns for touchdowns.
Ceaser finished with 1,878 yards rushing last season with 21 touchdowns.
He also had 467 yards catching with seven scores.
Ceaser rushed for over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Ivory threw for 842 yards last season with 12 touchdowns.
Thee Bearcats have quality receivers with Caleb Marcantel and Raymond Bushnell.
Heath Aucoin, Hunter Aucoin, Ty LaFleur, Darren Fontenot and Jude Johnson lead the way as the offensive line.
The Bearcat defense returns eight starters, including defensive lineman Ty Walker and Lane Joubert along with linebackers Roger Spell and Blaise Hebert.
The defensive secondary is led by Ceaser and Marcantel along with Kyle Francis and Fontenot.
Bertrand said the last two seasons of advancing to the quarterfinals has built the foundation for success.
“It is our goal not to just compete with the big four (Kentwood, Haynesville, West St. John and Mangham), but we want to be able to beat them.
“We know what we are facing and we know what we have to do to play on the same level as those guys.”
Bertrand said the district title goes through Oberlin each year.
“You have to beat Oberlin and East Beauregard is much improved as they won eight games last season,” Bertrand said. “We can’t just walk in and be handed the district title.”
The coach said he is looking forward to playing local rivals Sacred Heart of Ville Platte, Ville Platte and St. Edmund.
“The Blue Jays have been an historic rival with Basile and I would love to keep that schedule of good local teams playing each other.”
Basile will scrimmage DeQuincy on Aug. 21.
The Bearcats will take on Pine Prairie in the Evangeline Parish jamboree on Aug. 29 at Ville Platte High.
Basile opens the regular season at Sacred Heart of Ville Platte on Sept. 5.