Tors and Cougars ready to grind it out

Coming off a last minute win over Sam Houston in the Lake Area Jamboree, the Sulphur Tors will now open the 2010 season at home at 7 p.m. against the St. Thomas More Cougars.

The two teams have duked it out over the years with the Tors holding a slight edge at 4-3 in the last seven years.

The last three contests have been decided by 10 points or less so neither team is taking the other lightly.

"I expect this one to be a close game," Sulphur head coach Harold Fusilier said. "We match up real well.

"The type of athletes they have are similar to the type we have. Last year they moved the ball real well on us. We were real fortunate that they turned it over a lot."

After going 7-4 and reaching the first round of the playoffs last year, the Cougars return just a handful of starters (6) but they are ready for Friday's game.

"It is always a tough chore (against Sulphur) but it is one that we look forward to," St. Thomas More head coach Jim Hightower said. "They are well coached and a top quality opponent. We would like to win there is no doubt about it."

For St. Thomas More, Friday's game is just the beginning of a grueling schedule that a laundry list of who's who when it comes to top programs in the state in Zachary, Catholic-Baton Rouge, Evangel and Acadiana.

St. Thomas More is coming off a 24-0 win over Breaux Bridge in their jamboree game last week. They were slowed some by turnovers but hope to correct that problem this week.

"We turned it over twice in the jamboree and would like to improve on that," Hightower said. "We would like to be a little more secure with the ball."

The Cougars are still trying to find a quarterback heading into the season opener. Senior Matt Flores has some experience from last year but is battling against sophomore Brandon Bergeron and junior Richard Hensarling.

The Tors defense struggled in the first half last week but finished strong. Fusilier hopes that the improvement will continue on defense this week.

"Our biggest concern is our defense and getting those guys to play," Fusilier said. "The effort was there in the second half. Hopefully we get it all corrected this week."

Sulphur racked up over 150 yards on the ground last week with senior fullback Keith Jasmine leading the way with 78 yards on four carries. Despite missing two starters on the offensive line in Jack Bergstedt and Dillon Lafleur Fusilier confidence in the offensive line is growing.

"We were concerned about the o-line and I though that they played extremely well," Fusilier said. "We are missing two guys that we thought would be starters.

"We do get a chance to get our backups playing time and we are developing some depth at the same time."

Sulphur hopes to be able to find a way to exploit the Cougars defense but that will be easier said than done. STM has four starters returning on defense including 2009 District 5-4A MVP in safety Sam Scofield (6'2", 200lbs, Sr.) and their leading tackler from last year in linebacker Brandon Schmidt.

"They are very aggressive on defense," Fusilier said. "The thing we like about it is that we basically know where they lineup but they play it so well we are not sure what we are going to be able to do.

"We are hoping there are a few holes in the secondary and then run the ball as they try to plug those holes."