Already with high hopes, Northwest adds potent running back weapon to elevate expectations

What we know

An team that returns its leading rushers, a pair of strong offensive line starters, the core of a strong defensive unit and adds a near 2,000-yard ball carrier has made the Raiders a trendy pick to make noise in Acadiana this season.

“Everybody’s back, so we’re not teaching that much,” Northwest coach Chris Edwards said. “We’re not putting in as much offense and defense because we’re teaching things like technique and hand placement. Those are the types of things that make you a championship team that we missed out on last year.”

That big addition is junior running back Ke’Von Johnson. After running for nearly 2,000 yards in his first two seasons at St. Edmund, he made the move to Northwest in the middle of last school year.

For a team that has plenty of thunder, Edwards loves the speed he brings to the table.

What we don't know

Northwest has been through the song-and-dance of having to replace most of its offensive line. It did so last season in replacing three starters on the way to the semifinals.

Still, that doesn’t make the job of doing so any easier.

“We’re going to start off slow,” Edwards said. “We’re not expecting to go out and start off blazing. But, by the time we get to week six or seven you’ll see the identity of this team as we’re getting into the playoffs.”

How we see it

Edwards doesn’t like to talk about expectations.

The last time the hype around Northwest football was this high, it was the 2019 season. That was a year that didn’t go to plan. The Raiders battled injuries all season and ended the year with a 5-5 mark.

So a team that is coming off of a Cinderella-like Division II non-select playoff semifinal run, brings the majority of its starters back and added Acadiana’s leading rusher from last season via transfer surely means things will absolutely go differently this season, right?

Don’t tell Edwards that. His goal, despite the early impressions of a strong fall camp, is to keep this team grounded and working towards taking the next step.

“I learned to not have expectations because I’ve never forgotten 2019,” Edwards said. “That team was just as good as this one. But injuries hit us. Things didn’t fall into place then so we’re going to do out best to prevent injuries and not get complacent.”

Still, it’s hard not to get excited about Northwest’s 2024 prospects. They’re expected to be a strong competitor in District 4-3A where they will likely battle with Iota and Church Point for the title.

They still have to navigate an out-of-district slate that includes local rival Eunice, Rayne and its strong offense, Class 5A Barbe and Jennings.

It’ll likely serve as a proving ground to see just how far the Raiders can go in 2024.

Ignore the humility. Northwest has enough firepower at the skill positions to weather the early season schedule. If this team gels along the offensive front, it should have enough to be a contender to make another deep playoff run.

Five Players to Watch

Ke’Von Johnson

RB, 5-9 160, Jr.

One of the state’s leading rushers last season, Johnson gives Northwest a big play element it was probably missing. With the depth of Northwest’s backfield, he’ll have an opportunity to be a real difference maker for Northwest down the stretch.

Davon Thibodeaux

LB, 6-2, 212, Sr.

 The All-Metro defensive MVP, the District 4-3A defensive MVP and an all-state player, Thibodeaux is a four-year starter that is the heart and soul of the Raider defense. He’s a player that Edwards describes as just being able to do everything right.

Brayden Batiste

DB, 5-7, 163, Sr.

Edwards love the brains Batiste plays with. On a strong defense, he’s another guy Edwards believes he can count on to not make many mistakes.

Deveron Rubin

OL, 6-4, 290, Sr.

 At the interior of the offensive line, Rubin helps make up a massive side of the offensive line that the Raiders should be able to run behind all season.

Kylen Seria

RB-LB, 5-9, 195, Sr.

A two-year starter at running back and a second-year starter at linebacker, Seria bring some speed to Northwest’s defensive unit. After struggling with the adjustment early on, Edwards is hopeful that Seria will add some physicality to his defensive game this season.

Projected starters

Offense

WR Markez Davis (6-3, 170, Soph.)*

WR Reginald Lavergne (6-1, 180, Jr.)*

TE Dillion Guilbeaux (6-1, 195, Sr.)*

OT Kendrick Lorden (5-11, 200, Jr.)

OG Justin Manuel (5-11, 220, Soph.)

C Hayden Valmont (6-2, 295, Jr.)

OG Deveron Rubin (6-4, 300, Sr.)*

OT Curtis Harrison (6-3, 305, Sr.)

QB Jayden Chavis (5-8, 170, Sr.)*

RB Ke’von Johnson (5-9, 165, Jr.)

RB Craig Malveaux (5-9, 155, Sr.)*

Defense

DE Davon Thibodeaux (6-2, 220, Sr.)*

DT Curtis Harrison (6-3, 305, Sr.)

DT Brycen Comeaux (6-1, 200, Jr.)

DE Jei’Vionne (Owens (6-1, 204, Jr.)*

LB Kylen Seria (5-9, 195, Sr.)*

LB Frederick Nimer (5-10, 170, Soph.)

CB Hayden Brown (5-8, 150, Sr.)*

CB J’keithian Young (5-8, 145, Sr.)

SS Ty Sam (5-8, 160, Sr.)*

FS Brayden Batiste (5-8, 170, Sr.)*

* - Returning starter

Coaches

Head coach: Chris Edwards (71-43).

Assistant coaches: Scottie Williams (DC/OLB/OL), Malcolm Sam (WR), Kevin Manuel (OL), Mark Cassimere (DL), John Johnson (K/P), Chad Sam (ILB), Daniel Francis (DB).

2024 Schedule

Sept. 6 EUNICE

Sept. 13 RAYNE

Sept. 20 Barbe

Sept. 27 Jennings

Oct. 3 Pine Prairie

Oct. 11 VILLE PLATTE

Oct. 17 Church Point

Oct. 25 MAMOU

Oct. 31 Crowley

Nov. 8 IOTA

2023 Results

Lost Northside 20-6

Beat Crowley 61-20

Beat Beau Chene 29-3

Lost Eunice 19-8

Beat Port Barre 56-12

Beat Iota 37-35

Lost Church Point 22-20

Beat Pine Prairie 42-6

Beat Ville Platte 42-8

Beat Mamou 49-0

Playoffs

Beat Franklin Parish 42-20

Beat Wossman 24-14

Beat Assumption 46-44

Lost Cecilia 56-18

Past 5 years

2023: 10-4

2022: 6-5

2021: 5-5

2020: 2-5

2019: 5-6