OPELOUSAS — Coaching 101, stress to your players that you grow each week and reap those rewards later. In his second year as Opelousas's head coach that's exactly what Doug Guillory and his team did making the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
"Last year it was good. We made the playoffs, the first round. We hadn't been there in a long time," said senior Quintravious Leday. "But we're going to have more threats on offense, more threats on defense."
Opelousas returns the bulk of its starters this fall, many for starting for the third season, bringing high optimism to the program that it will build off its success.
"This team has more experience. We know what to do and how to do it in certain situations," senior running back Marvion Young.
The Tigers ended a 14-year playoff drought in 2018, this year ending a 15-year playoff win drought is next on the punch sheet.
"We're going to start off the fall scrimmage against Rayne and I'm sure we're going to make 20-25 mistakes, mental mistakes or errors," said Guillory. "Hopefully by the jamboree we'll cut that down to 12. Hopefully by the first week it'll be 5 or 6. As long as we continue to improve and never be satisfied, strive to the best we can be, that is always our goal."
2018 Record: 5-6
District: 6-4A
Head Coach: Doug Guillory
Returning Starters: 7 on offense, 8 on defense
Notes: Ended 14-year playoff drought in 2018. Haven't won a playoff game since 2004.