The Eagle Times

The St. John Eagles are preparing for another football season.  Last year, the Eagle football team made it all the way to the New Orleans Superdome, but lost their only game of the season to powerhouse Evangel, who went on to win the District I championship.

After ending the football season on a high note, some unexpected changes came for the Eagles.  The biggest change of all was that the coaching staff of the St. John football team was replaced with a whole new staff.  For weeks the Eagles were without a coach, until Coach Bruce Hoffman showed up.

The Eagles started two-a-days about three weeks before school began.  I asked Coach Hoffman how he felt about his team in practice.  “Two-a-days are hard and hot,” Coach Hoffman said, “and I was afraid that some of the players might quit, but they ended up staying.”  He felt good about the summer workouts because his players are now stronger and in good shape, but he believes that they can continue to improve by the end of the summer.

I asked Coach Hoffman about his decision to come to St. John, and he said, “I wanted to get back into the private school system and [St. John principal] Mr. LeGrange gave me a good chance to do that.” 

The Eagle football team is playing its first 5A team in school history.  Coach Hoffman is very nervous because they have bigger players and noboby plays on both sides of the ball.  But he says he is looking forward to playing some teams.  “I am looking forward to playing Riverside, because they are 2A and we are 2A and they are a powerful 2A team.”  Does he feel like the team has a chance at the Dome again this year?  “It’s too soon to tell,”  Hoffman said, “but they have to work harder if they want to go back this year.”  

Coach Hoffman was also pumped about playing Plaquemine High in their jamboree.  “The game will be great for the town.”  I asked him which of his players have really stepped up this summer, and he named sophomore Josh Johnson, juniors Stephen Orcino and Phillip Fernandez, and senior Mark Cooper.  “We are good, but we need to continue to improve,” Coach Hoffman added.

The Eagles are ready to show the state what they have.  Be on the lookout for new and improved Eagle football team.  There’s a new coach in Eagle Country. 

By Jacobi Poche