
Photo courtesy of Stephen Broussard
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Louis Catholic Honors 50th Anniversary Football Team Thursday, Oct. 24 at Halftime
St. Louis Catholic High School continued its 50th anniversary celebration by honoring all the legendary members of its 50th anniversary football team at halftime of the Saints’ varsity game against South Beauregard Thursday, October 24, at Cougar Stadium.
St. Louis Catholic’s 50th anniversary football team is rooted in the school’s traditions that extend back to its formation in 1970 from the parent institutions St. Charles Academy and Landry Memorial and sister school Sacred Heart. The athletic department selected the team this summer, weighing factors such as postseason honors and statistical leaders.
The anniversary team features athletes who embodied what it means to be a Saint both on and off the gridiron – honoring and praising God…in all ways. Several players were student-athletes for the 1978 Saints that advanced all the way to the state finals, and 18 played (or currently play) football at the collegiate level. Two team members – the late LB Derrick Batiste and DB Bryan Hicks – also played professionally (Batiste in the USFL and Hicks with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, even reaching Super Bowl XVI).
“We are pleased to honor some of the greatest players ever to wear blue and orange,” said St. Louis Catholic Athletic Director Pat Neck. “We are thankful for their contributions to our rich football history and are excited to welcome them back to help us cheer on our current Saints on Thursday night.”
All 50 players are listed below by position. Three former coaches are also part of the anniversary team – Tom Couste’, Mike Johns and the late Charles Vicknair.
Quarterbacks
Bailey Hardy 2018 Holds Saints career records for total offense, TD responsible for (46), passing yards (4,203) and TD passes (36). Holds single-season records for total offense (2,384 yards) and passing yards (2,131). Holds single-game records for passing yards (390) and TD passes (5).
Keith Jones 1979 Led Saints to 1978 state finals. Holds school single-season record for yards per attempt (8.665). 2nd all-time in yards per completion, 4th in yards per attempt, 8th in passing yards, 9th in TD passes. Played collegiately at Tulane.
Scott Jones 1971 District Offensive MVP 1970. First-ever Saints QB. Holds school single-game record for 2-point conversions (2). Led 1970 squad in scoring (76), total offense (1,231) and passing (744). One of only two Saint QBs to earn district MVP honors.
Mike Mahony 1982 District Offensive MVP 1981. Led Saints to 1978 state quarterfinals. Holds school career record for rushing yards by a QB (892). Led team in passing in 1980 and 1981, scoring in 1981 (70 points) and total offense in 1981 (1,305 yards).
Running Backs
Dillon Berlin 2011 SW Louisiana Offensive MVP 2010. All-SW Louisiana 2010. District Offensive MVP 2010. Holds Saints career records for total touchdowns (42), rushing attempts (596), rushing yards (3,379) and rushing TDs (42). Holds school single-season records for points (180), total TDs (30), total offensive plays (359), total yards (2,249), TDs responsible for (30), rushing attempts (359), rushing yards (2,249), yards per carry (6.26) and rushing TDs (30). Holds single-game records for points (30), total TDs (5), rushing attempts (42), rushing yards (335) and rushing TDs (5). Played collegiately at McNeese State.
Wendell Christian 1977 1st Team All-State 1976. District Offensive MVP 1976. Led 1976 team in scoring (130 points) and rushing yards (1,332). Ranks 4th all-time in career scoring (206), 5th in rushing touchdowns (26) and 8th in rushing yards (2,112). One of only six players in school history to earn district MVP honors. Played collegiately at Louisiana-Lafayette.
Paul Debetaz 1981 District Offensive MVP 1979. Holds school single-game record for yards-per-carry (13.67). Led 1979 team in scoring (96) and rushing (1,274). Third in school history in total touchdowns (33), rushing attempts (514), rushing yards (2,969) and rushing touchdowns (32). Played collegiately at McNeese State.
David Foret 1979 District Offensive MVP 1977. Only player in school history to score 100+ points in two different seasons. Ranks 2nd in school history in rushing attempts (550), 3rd in scoring (246) and rushing touchdowns (32) and 4th in total TDs (32) and rushing yards (2,954). Played collegiately at Louisiana-Lafayette.
Thad Minaldi 1975 1st Team All-State 1973. First all-state player in St. Louis Catholic High School history. Led 1973 squad to state finals. Led 1973 team in scoring (98), total offense (1,393), rushing (1,393) and punting (31.53). Ranks 6th all-time in career rushing with 2,269 yards. Played collegiately at LSU.
Colby Rodriguez 2016 Holds Saints career records for scoring (254) and touchdowns (42). Holds single-game records for total TDs (5) and rushing TDs (5). Led 2014 and 2015 teams in scoring, total offense and rushing. Ranks 2nd in school history in rushing yards (3,019).
Wide Receivers
Carl Ambrose 1980 1st Team All-State 1979. Holds Saints career record for yards per reception (20.59). Holds single-game records for receiving yards (192) and yards per reception (32.00). One of only two players in school history to lead team in receiving for three consecutive seasons. Played collegiately at Tulane.
Doug Boudreaux 1997 1st Team All-State & All-SW Louisiana 1995, 1996. One of only seven players in school history to earn 1st Team All-State honors in multiple seasons. Led team in receiving in 1995 (60 catches-699 yards) and 1996 (52 for 638 yards).
Kenny Brown 2010 All-SW Louisiana 2009. Holds Saints career records for receptions (144), receiving yards (2,175) and receiving touchdowns (21). One of only two players in school history to gain 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
Justin Moreaux 2008 All-SW Louisiana 2007. Holds Saints single-season records for receptions (68) and receiving yards (1,233). Ranks 4th in school history with 18.13 yards per catch for his career. Played only one season of varsity football.
Louis Walker 2007 All-SW Louisiana 2005, 2006. Holds Saints single-season records for yards per reception (19.61) and touchdown receptions (13). Holds school single-game record for TD receptions (3). Ranks 2nd all-time in TD receptions (19) and 3rd in receiving yards (1,522) and yards per reception (19.27).
Offensive Linemen
John Clement 1984 One of only four offensive linemen in school history to earn Honorable Mention All-State honors. Played collegiately at Louisiana-Monroe and was a member of the school’s 1987 Division I-AA national championship team.
Cade Courville 2011 All-SW Louisiana 2010. Led 2010 district championship team to 9-1 regular season and 10-2 overall record. Anchored offensive line for team that scored school record 359 points.
Matt Devall 1998 All-SW Louisiana 1997. One of only three offensive linemen in school history to earn 1st Team All-State honors. Anchored offensive line for 1997 squad that advanced to regional round of state playoffs.
John DiGiglia 1977 Led offensive line on 1975 district championship team and 1976 regional playoff squad. Was a key blocker on 1976 team that accumulated 3,518 total yards (293.2 per game) and 2,613 rushing yards.
Bill Hathaway 1979 One of only three offensive linemen in school history to earn 1st Team All-State honors (1978). Anchored offensive line for 1978 team that advanced to state finals. Played collegiately at McNeese State.
Matt Saunders 2008 One of only six offensive linemen in school history to earn 1st Team All-District honors twice (2006-07). Anchored offensive line on 2007 team that advanced to state quarterfinals and set school records for passing yards (2,174) and pass completions (149).
Tim Theriot 1978 One of only three offensive linemen in school history to earn 1st Team All-State honors (1977). Led offensive line for team that advanced to 1977 state quarterfinals.
Defensive Linemen
Marcus Abel 1997 . All-SW Louisiana 1996. Only player in school history to earn SW Louisiana Defensive MVP honors (1996). One of only two defensive linemen in school history to earn district MVP honors, also in 1996.
Bob Boudreau 1979 Led defensive line for team that advanced to 1978 state finals. Also was standout for 1977 state quarterfinal squad.
Sam Bruchhaus 2017 1st Team All-State 2015. 1st Team All-SW Louisiana 2014, 2015. District Defensive MVP 2015. One of only two defensive linemen in school history to earn district defensive MVP honors. Only defensive lineman in school history to earn 1st Team All-District honors in consecutive seasons. Plays collegiately at Tulane.
Dan Elliott 1976 Led defensive line on 1975 district championship team that advanced to regional round of state playoffs.
Andrew Gary 2011 All-SW Louisiana 2010. Anchored defensive line on 2010 squad that won district championship with 9-1 regular season and 10-2 overall record.
Michael Miller 2006 Led defensive line on 2004 district championship squad. 2005 team set school records for fewest passing yards allowed (406) and points allowed (75).
Nick Ordoyne 1996 One of only nine players in school history to earn 1st Team All-District honors on both offense and defense. Led defensive line on 1995 team that made school’s first playoff appearance in five years.
Pat Theriot 1980 Standout player on only back-to-back undefeated district championship teams in school history. Played in 1978 state championship game at Kinder. Team combined record in junior and senior seasons was 23-3 and allowed only 11.6 points per game.
Linebackers
Hade Ange 2006 All-SW Louisiana 2004, 2005. District Defensive MVP 2005. One of only 14 players in school history to earn multiple All-SW Louisiana honors. Led defense on 2004 district championship team.
Derrick Batiste 1980 1st Team All-State 1979. District Defensive MVP 1979. Led defense on 1978 district champion and state runner-up team and had 151 tackles and a pair of interceptions on 1979 district title squad. Played collegiately at McNeese State and professionally in the United States Football League. Passed away on Dec. 16, 2013, at age 51.
Jerome Blanchette 1992 1st Team All-State 1990. District Defensive MVP 1990. Amassed 100 tackles, nine tackles for loss, six sacks and two fumble recoveries in 1990. Passed away on April 21, 1993, at age 19.
Tony Bourgeois 1983 District Defensive MVP 1982. One of just 12 players and eight linebackers in school history to earn district defensive MVP honors. Anchored 1982 defensive unit that allowed just 17.7 points per game.
Randy Dial 1977 District Defensive MVP 1976. Anchored defense for 1976 squad that allowed only 10.1 points per game and advanced to regional round of playoffs for 2nd consecutive year. Deceased.
Jonathan Foret 1999 All-SW Louisiana 1997, 1998. One of only three players in school history to earn Honorable Mention All-State honors in consecutive seasons (1997-98). One of only 14 players in school history to earn multiple All-SW Louisiana honors.
Mark Johnston 2017 All-SW Louisiana 2015, 2016. One of only 14 players in school history to earn All-SW Louisiana honors in consecutive seasons. Led defense for team that won undefeated district title. Plays collegiate baseball at McNeese State.
Collin Todd 2011 All-SW Louisiana 2010. District Defensive MVP 2010. Led defense for undefeated district championship team in 2010 that had a 9-1 regular season and 10-2 overall record.
Paul Young 1974 District Defensive MVP 1973. First district defensive MVP in St. Louis Catholic High School history. One of only 11 players in school history to earn all-district honors at multiple positions in the same season (also as TE in 1973).
Defensive Backs
Jerry Bonvillain 1977 Four-year letterman. School record 26 receptions as a freshman. Ranks 6th in school history in yards per reception and 10th in touchdown receptions. Led team in receiving in 1973 (26-456).
Brent Flavin 2004 All-SW Louisiana 2003. District defensive MVP 2003. School record 27 receptions as a running back. Led team in scoring in 2003 with 26 points.
Bryan Hicks 1975 District Defensive MVP 1974. Also led 1974 team in rushing and total offense with 800 yards. Played collegiately at McNeese State. Played three seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and played in Super Bowl XVI. Is the only Saint alumnus to ever play in the Super Bowl.
Michael Mack 2016 1st Team All-State 2015 (K). All-SW Louisiana 2014, 2015 (P). One of only two players in school history to make 1st Team All-District six times. Holds school record with 7 kickoff touchbacks in a game. Played collegiately at McNeese State.
Kickers/Punters
Kris Albarado 2011 All-SW Louisiana 2008, 2009, 2010. Holds school career records for punts (141) and punting yards (5,732), freshman punting average (36.6) and sophomore punting average (40.7). Third all-time in career punting (40.7). Played collegiately at Southern California.
James Bice 2010 All-SW Louisiana 2007, 2008, 2009. Holds school career records for kicking points (158), PATs made (98), PATs attempted (100), PAT percentage (98.0), and consecutive PATs (52). Made two field goals of 50+ yards. Played collegiately at McNeese State.
Harrison Flynt 2012 All-SW Louisiana 2010, 2011. Holds school career record with 22 field goals. Holds school single-season records for kicking points (74), field goals (11) and PATs made (41). Made two field goals of 50+ yards.
Adam Ieyoub 2018 All-SW Louisiana 2016, 2017. Holds school records for career punting average (42.2), kickoff touchbacks in a game (7), kickoff touchbacks in a season (49), kickoff touchbacks in a career (80) and career touchback percentage (81.6).
Alex Kjellsten 2013 All-SW Louisiana 2011, 2012. One of only two players in school history to earn all-state honors at two positions (P in 2011, K in 2012). Holds school records for single-season PAT percentage (100) and single-season kickoff touchback percentage (93.8). Ranks second in career punting average (41.2). Made two field goals of 50+ yards. Played collegiately at McNeese State.
Ross Thevenot 2006 All-SW Louisiana 2003, 2004 (K & P), 2005 (K & P). Only player in school history to earn 1st Team All-State honors three times. Only player in school history to earn All-SW Louisiana honors five times. Holds school record for single-season punting average (46.96), longest punt (77), field goals in a game (4), kicking points in a game (16) and kickoff touchbacks in a game (7). Played collegiately at Tulane.
Joel Thibodeaux 2001 All-SW Louisiana 2000. Holds school record for longest field goal (57) and most field goals of 50+ yards (4). One of only seven players in school history to earn multiple all-state honors. Also has second-longest field goal in school history (55).
Coaches
Tom Couste’ 1973-80 District Coach of the Year 1978, 1979. Led Saints to three district championships (1975, 1978, 1979). First all-time with 12 playoff victories. Second all-time with 64 wins and a 67.7 winning percentage. Led team to six playoff appearances in eight seasons. Saints were state runners-up in 1973 and 1978, quarterfinalists in 1977 and reached the regional round in 1975, 1976 and 1979.
Mike Johns 2001-13 District Coach of the Year 2004, 2009, 2010. Only coach to lead Saints to four district championships (2004, 2009, 2010, 2011). Second all-time with five playoff victories. All-time leader with 72 wins and ranks third with a 51.8 winning percentage. Led team to 10 playoff appearances in 13 seasons. Team reached state quarterfinals in 2007 and regional round in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013.
Charles Vicknair 1995-2000 District Coach of the Year 1998. Led Saints to 1998 district championship. Third all-time with two playoff victories. Third all-time with 34 wins and ranks fourth in winning percentage at 50.7. Led team to five playoff appearances in six seasons, reaching the regional round in 1996 and 1997. Passed away on Sept. 20, 2008.
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