Westgate sports talented roster hoping enough for another rugged schedule

What We Know

The Tigers' offense will be unpredictable and unconventional.

Coordinator Randall Antoine will have at least four players taking direct snaps from center in sophomores Noah Antoine, Brock Mitchell and Cayden Lancelin and senior Trandin Benjamin.

"We don't have set positions," said head coach Ryan Antoine, who won the 2021 Class 4A state title using a similar offensive method. "We don't put a label of 'quarterback' on it. We have a lot of guys who will touch the ball first."

Noah Antoine and Mitchell are quarterbacks in the traditional sense. Lancelin (6-0, 185) is ranked as the No. 1 sophomore in Louisiana, the No. 2 athlete and No. 63 player nationally by 247Sports. Benjamin, a Lamar commitment as an athlete, has a running back's elusiveness.

"Mitchell is the X-factor," Antoine said of the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder. "He makes us good by doing so many things well. His attitude and energy make us go. We can put him so many places. He's selfless."

The Tigers are young with more than 30 sophomores and freshman and a single-digit senior class. Sophomore running back Caemon Crockem is one of several Tigers who were ranked in Prep Redzone Louisiana's top 50 players in his class.

A large receiving corps is made up of all underclassmen. Lancelin and Joshua John are projected starters along with junior Jackilon Roberson. The group also includes Rahim Alem (son of LSU great), LJ Vallot. Jaxon Malvo. Armani Davis made the previously mentioned Top 50 list.

What We Don't Know

Are the Tigers a year away from a potential multi-year stretch of greatness?

With so much young talent, there seems to be little question that Westgate will be in the mix for a state title the next two years. The Class 4A Tigers, who move down to Division II next season after battling the Class 5A behemoths in Division I for a stretch, have two of the nation's top 101 sophomores in Lancelin and 6-foot-4 defensive end Chance Archangel. Starting strong safety Shadon Lee is another highly regarded sophomore.

"The biggest question mark is that we're young on the line," said Antoine, whose team was decimated by injuries the last two years with its top two quarterbacks getting injured early last season.

"The biggest thing is that if we're healthy, we'll have a great chance. The young kids have been playing together a long time. We have a real good camp and a real good summer. We're putting the pieces together."

How We See It

The Tigers' first five games are rugged with non-district contests against Lake Charles College Prep, Southside and Lafayette Christian and league clashes against Teurlings Catholic and St. Thomas More.

Southside (No. 19) is projected to have possibly its best squad ever. LCA (No. 20), Teurlings (No. 21) and STM (No. 9) are also ranked in the state's preseason Top 25 by Rivals.

Antoine has a tremendous coaching staff that includes former players Tyrunn Walker, Jerald Hawkins and Randall, his younger brother who played running back at Houston. Walker and Hawkins spent years in the NFL.

A lot will depend on the Tigers' health, its young players' maturity and finding consistency at the quarterback position, which took a nosedive last year when starter Jaboree Antoine (an elite DB now at Miami), backup Bryant Leon (also a top receiver) and Noah Antoine all went down with injuries.

5 Players to Watch

Makai Wells

LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.

The three-year starter is listed on Westgate's official roster as an athlete. Antoine predicts the two-time all-district selection to have a breakout season at linebacker, noting that the senior still has a great deal of untapped potential.

Trandin Benjamin

LB, 5-11, 195, Sr.

Last year, the jack-of-all-trades scored eight touchdowns while racking up four interceptions, seven sacks, nine tackles for loss and a forced fumble. His junior rushing total of nearly 200 yards could explode as the Tigers lost workhorse Tavias Gordon.

Jackilon Roberson

WR, 5-11, 170 Jr.

Among the leading returning receivers, Roberson should be targeted often in the downfield passing game. His skills helped the Tigers win St. Thomas More's Air It Out 7-on-7 tourney over the summer. QB Noah Antoine and the junior have good chemistry.

John Dauterive

DB 5-10, 160, Jr.

The free safety qualified for the Class 4A state track meet in the 800 meters. He's well-regarded by Antoine and will spearhead a speedy secondary also includes state javelin qualifier Aryo Fleming.

Lenord Howard

DT 6-2, 265, Sr.

The McNeese State commitment is a respected team leader who is ranked among the top 10 defensive tackles in the state. He'll anchor a four-man front where each player is at least 6-foot and 250 pounds.

Projected Starters

Offense

WR Cayden Lancelin (6-0, 185, So.)

WR Joshua John (5-8, 160, Jr.)

WR Jackilon Robertson (5-11, 170, Jr.)

OT Lloyd Vital (6-2, 225, So.)*

OG Jimmy Huynh (6-0, 280, So.)

C Ashton Mitchell (6-1, 300, Fr.)

OG Keiyon Reno (6-3, 290, Jr.)

OT Cayson Strokes (5-10, 235, So.)

QB Noah Antoine (5-10, 165, So.)

RB Caemon Crockem (5-10, 175, So.)

RB Lewald Vallot (5-10, 165, Jr.)

Defense

DE Chance Archangel (6-4, 145, So.)

DT Daylan Doucet (6-0, 255, Sr.)

DT Lenord Howard (6-1, 265, Jr.)*

DE Jason Domingue (6-0, 250, Jr.)

LB Bam Curl (6-0, 255, So.)

LB Trandin Benjamin (5-11, 195, Jr.)*

LB Makai Wells (6-0, 190, Jr.)*

CB Caleb Clement (6-0, 175, Jr.)

CB Jayden Dwyer (5-11, 170, Jr.)*

FS John Dautrieve (5-10, 160, Jr.)*

SS Shadon Lee (6-1, 165, So.)

* - Returning starter

Coaches

Head coach: Ryan Antoine (90-78).

Assistant coaches: Randall Antoine (OC), Tyrunn Walker (DC), Josh Edison (QB), Deon Wiliams (RB), Edwin Pierre (OL), Marcel Winston (OL), James Wallace (DL), Tommy Balom (TE), Donald Lewis (LB), Damian Francis (DB).

2024 Schedule

Sept. 5 Lake Charles Prep

Sept. 12 SOUTHSIDE

Sept. 19 Lafayette Christain

Sept. 26 Teurlings

Oct. 3 ST. THOMAS MORE

Oct. 10 ST. MARTINVILLE

Oct. 16 RAYNE

Oct. 24 North Vermilion

Oct. 31 Northside

Nov. 7 COMEAUX

2024 Results

Beat Lake Charles Prep 31-20

Beat Lafayette Christian 39-28

Lost Teurlings 42-20

Lost St. Thomas More 48-6

Beat St. Martinville 22-6

Beat Rayne 59-14

Beat North Vermilion 56-7

Beat Northside 42-28

Beat Comeaux 52-16

Playoffs

Beat St. Amant 28-20

Lost Airline 42-16

Past 5 years

2024: 9-3

2023: 6-4

2022: 10-4

2021: 13-2 (state champions)

2020: 6-4