Coach Lyle Fitte Looks to Build on Last Year's Record and Get South Plaquemines Back to the Dome

by Jace LeJeune

After Hurricane Katrina, South Plaquemines High School was opened to be the new home to many students who were displaced because their previous schools were destroyed by the storm. In its second year of its existence, 2007, the South Plaquemines Hurricanes won the 1A State Championship. They won it again in 2008 and they were runners up at the end of the 2009 season. The Hurricanes have not been back to the Dome in recent years, but this 2018 team looks to change that.

This year's roster knows the rich tradition South Plaquemines has in having won back-to-back championships in the late 2000's. Having such a rich tradition brings high expectations each year, and this team is not shying away from them.

“Playing for a high school with such a rich tradition of winning is definitely a challenge,” returning center Cody Everage said. “The expectations are high and we strive to excel past those expectations every year.”

South Plaquemine senior LB Hector Zapata will look to be the leader on the defensive side of the football for the Hurricanes. (Photo provided by Hector Zapata)

Senior linebacker Hector Zapata believes it is up to him and the seniors to keep the tradition going. “It is an honor and a privilege to be playing for such an amazing program,” Zapata said. “As a senior, I must carry on the rich tradition.”

Coach Fitte has the players to continue the tradition as well as excel with the high expectations. The offense returns six starters including QB Isaac Williams, RB Micah Ancar, WR Truce Williams, and C Cody Everage. Each of these players will need to come together and lead the offense to a successful season.

Isaac Williams will be leading the offense for the Hurricanes. Louisiana Football Magazine's own recruiting specialist Lee Brecheen believes that Williams is a phenomenal quarterback.

“Williams accounted for 19 touchdowns last season,” Brecheen said. “He is just a phenomenal player for his team. I can see him being a slot receiver or a running back at the next level.”

Williams sees the potential for this offense with great skill position players returning.

“The strengths that I fear for the opposing defense is the versatility of our skilled positions,” Williams said. “Everyone of them can throw, run, and catch.”

That can be a nightmare for the opposing coach to have to game plan against. Micah Ancar is one of those athletes in which Williams is talking about and Brecheen also speaks highly of him.

“He is just a great athlete,” Brecheen said. “He can play a number of positions and is just a great high school player.” “He runs a legit 4.5 in the 40 and play at the D-II level.”

The last skill player is WR Truce Williams. He has the measurables to be a great receiver and can be a major weapon for the Hurricane offense.

“Truce Williams has the most upside of any of these players,” Brecheen said. “I think he has the “it” factor and can be 200 pounds in time. Williams is at 190 pounds currently. He can be a great sleeper for a smaller D-I school because of his great hands”

Anchoring down the offensive line will be Cody Everage at center. He is one of the six returning starters on the offensive side of the ball. Everage believes the strength of the offense will be the running game.

“The strength of our offense is our running game,” Everage said. “We have several running backs that can punch it in the end zone.”

Everage has the talent to go to any school he wants, but his 5-9 frame is hindering him.

“He has great feet, can run really well, and is a great student,” Brecheen said. “He can run a 5.3/40, which is great for a 260 pound center.”

The defensive side of the ball is led by senior linebacker Hector Zapata. He comes from a family that is rich in football tradition. He has two cousins play football in and one of them played for two professional teams. Zapata’s cousin Bradley Sylve was a defensive back at Alabama. He went on to play for the Buffalo Bills and the new-orleans Saints.

Zapata likes where the defense is going this year.

“Our strengths as a defense are our ability to stop the run game and our ability to rely on one another to make a play.”

To help him work on his vision and footwork, Zapata watches film on Odell Beckham Jr. (Newman/LSU/New York Giants) and Jamal Adams (LSU/New York Jets). He leads by example and that is why the defense will come up with big plays for the Hurricanes this season.

“He is just a leader,” Brecheen said of Zapata. “Every high school team needs a Hector to lead the defense and he can be a heck of a linebacker at the D-II level.”

This is an extremely talented South Plaquemines team and if they come together and play to their potential, they can make a deep run in the playoffs.

Cameron is from baton-rouge, LA. He graduated from Woodlawn High School in 2014. Cameron is now attending LSU where he is seeking a degree in Sport Administration with a concentration in commerce. Cameron joined the Louisiana Football Magazine staff in the summer of 2018 for his school internship. During the his days off, Cameron enjoys spending time with family and friends. Outside of being a football fan, Cameron also enjoys watching baseball and playing music.

Hey football fans. Like our recruiting interviews, stories, and other content on our website? Click on our website daily to view articles on recruits, coaches, and so much more at our website: http://www.lafootballmagazine.com/. Also, we have exciting news that for the second straight year, we will have our North and South LA issues and both are now out! Both issues will continue to cover all the Louisiana s as well as all the high schools in state, but there will be 16 pages that will focus on North Louisiana as well as South Louisiana. For more information, please check the following link to where you can find the magazine in a store near you. Also, below are the two covers as well as where you can order both magazines on our website.

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