The Sulphur High Tors season ended on Friday after a 21-0 loss in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.

Even with a 5-5 record, Sulphur High head coach Paul Bourgeois felt like the Tors played strong despite several obstacles that they had to overcome.

It started with the Tors being with out their head coach during the preseason while he recovered from surgery to remove a brain tumor followed by two hurricanes to start the season that resulted in the cancellation of their season opener at home against Scotlandville.

“At times, I felt like we could beat anybody and at times I realized that we were young and inexperienced,” Bourgeois said. “I hate the way we started off with the hurricanes added to the youth and to miss a game with Scotlandville that would have been a good test for our kids to get more experience.”

“I think that could have set us up different for the Lafayette game. Hopefully we will never have to experience again what I went through physically. We would have liked to have been more successful than what it turned out to be. They are a good group of kids and you always want more for them.”

The Tors started off the season with a midweek loss to Lafayette because of Hurricane Ike and followed it up with three straight wins over Carroll, Carencro and Westgate before the injuries started to take hold in their 10-7 loss to St. Thomas More.

Despite the injuries, the Tors were still able to put it together and take then fourth-ranked Barbe Bucs to the wire in a 14-7 loss.

“I think that in some of the big games that we played that we were an exciting team to watch,” Bourgeois said. “Another highlight was the three big wins in a row with Carroll, Carencro and Westgate.

“At that point there we felt like we were maturing and growing and I think that it would have carried over to St. Thomas More if we were not faced with the injury situation.”

Friday marked the end of the road for seniors Greg Conner, Coby Ceasar, Kadeem Jacob, Evan Harris, Tahj Jones, Nick Tramonte, Dylan Stitzlein, Jeremy Crochet, Logan Nezat, Brandin Harper, D’Anthony Grant, Keith Lemelle, Trey Fontenot, Justin Dowers, Zack Owens, William Buck, Cory Kowarsch, Tyler Burleson, Daniel Menard, Josh Ellender, Kade Guillory, Thad Ellender, Antonio Hernandez, Jake Anthony, Scotty Richard, Josh Romero, Drew Verret, Tyler Casteel, Manny Busch, Tyler Butler, Matt Harrell, Josh Sonnier, JC Wall and Charlie LeBoeuf.

For some there will be the possibility of moving on to the college ranks.

Linebacker Tahj Jones who has been heavily recruited in the Division I ranks now has his grades in order and is waiting for an ACT score.

Also wide receivers Dylan Stitzlein and Kadeem Jacob, tight end Manny Busch and cornerback Nick Tramonte have strong chances to play at the next level.

“It is still all open for him (Jones) because his grades have been made and we are waiting for his ACT score,” Bourgeois said. “Dylan Stitzlein and Kadeem Jacob had great season and hopefully they are continuing to be looked at along with Manny Busch and Nick Tramonte.

“Maybe these guys have an opportunity to play somewhere. A winning season would have helped them out. People don’t understand that when you take this role as head coach, you think of those things all season. It hurts longer than a couple of days for us because you worry about the future of your players and the future of your team next year."

The 2009 season looks promising for the Tors as they will return quarterback Garrett McCain, fullback Allen Joseph, tailback Will Hassien and offensive linemen Alex Onxley and Josh Dore on offense.

“The years that we went further in the playoffs were seasons that we had returning starters at the positions that we have coming back next year,” Bourgeois said. “Hopefully the offense can hold us early until those guys grow up defensively.

“I feel like we have a good opportunity next year. I really feel like the next couple of years will be our stronger years. The junior varsity went 7-1 again with mostly sophomores.”

On defense, the Tors will have to replace seven seniors including their entire linebacker crew.

Sulphur will return Blake Sanner and Corris Grant on the offensive line. Ryan Perez will also return after see considerable time at linebacker this year and the Tors will also return one player in the secondary in Phillip Boyette.

“Defensively, we are going to see more inexperience at those positions than others,” Bourgeois said. “We are returning two linemen in Blake Sanner and Corris Grant.

“We have a linebacker that has seen a lot of time in Ryan Perez and a secondary guy with Phillip Boyette. So we are not going blind but we will not have a lot of experience on defense.”

On thing is for sure for next year, the Tors schedule will not be the same.

The Tors game against St. Pius X was just a one time deal this year and Bourgeois is looking at possibly of changing the whole non-district schedule.

Sulphur district schedule could also change but nothing will be known until the LHSAA reclassification meeting in February.