Basile Bearcats

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: Kevin Bertrand (12th year)

2022 Record: 10-2 (District Champions, State Quarterfinalists)

Class & District: Class 1A (District 5)

2022 Playoffs: 1st Round Bye, Defeated Oberlin 19-8 in 2nd Round, Lost to Haynesville 31-7 in Quarterfinals of Division IV (Non-Select) Playoffs

Basile Linemen #55 Wyatt Bertrand and #65 Emery Lejeune (Photo courtesy of Emery Lejeune)

Basile High School head coach Kevin Bertrand has led his alma mater to back-to-back quarterfinal appearances the last two seasons. Basile runs a split-back offense and a 3-4 base defense. The Bearcats are hoping to advance past the quarterfinals for the first time since 1996 when they made it to the semifinals.

“We had the best attendance of workouts since I’ve been at Basile HS,” Bertrand said. “We will have over 40 players for the upcoming season.

A lot of kids will start both sides of the football but some will start one position, which is good for Class 1A football. The quarterback spot will have a new starter in Jackson Courville (5-9, 180) who has great athleticism and the ability to run and throw it. You also have starting senior WR/DB Gage Craton, who can also play some QB at 6-0, 165 pounds. The top running backs for the Bearcats are Brian Hardy (5-7, 160) who has quickness and is tough and All-District RB Tucker Leblanc (5-7, 170) who is a second-year starter and will run through a brick wall for the team. Three-year starter All-District WR/CB Tyler Newsome (6-0, 175) and TE Kade Sweeney (6-0, 180) are back for their senior seasons. On this team, the key linemen who will start both sides of the football are three-year starting All-District OG/DE Wyatt Bertrand (5-10, 200), three-year starter senior OT/DE Emery Lejeune (5-10, 225) and OL/LB Pierre Berzas (5-9, 200). There will be other young linemen who will need to step up.

Basile Kicker/Punter Ross Cortez (Photo taken by Tonya Ortego Photography)

The special teams unit will be led by a three-year starter kicker/punter Ross Cortez (6-1, 180) who was an All-District player last season and has a strong leg.

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