This year's Sulphur Tor defensive front will start out with four brand new starters. The good thing for the Tors is that three are seniors with some game experience.

J.C. Wall, Daniel Menard, and Josh Sonnier will anchor the line for coach Jean Paul Duhon.

“They are all seniors, and so far they are doing a good job,” said Coach Duhon. “I think our biggest downfall is that they don't have a significant amount of playing time.

“Two years ago, we went to the dome and (Brett) Koonce and them guys got a lot of playing time. Unfortunately, last year, Westgate end up beating us in the first round and the guys this year did not get a lot of extra playing time.”

Despite not having the game experience as groups in the past, Duhon feels that his current group of defensive linemen can keep the tradition of the Sulphur defenses of the past.

“As always I want us to be the best defense in the district,” said Duhon. “In the past couple of years, we have been doing that, and I don't see any change this year. They are going to be out there on Friday nights, and they know that.”

Wall and Menard will get the start at the defensive end positions

“J.C. 's strength would be his speed and technique coming off the edge and being real fast,' said Duhon. “Kind of like Casey Broussard was when he played here. Not really big and weighs a lot, uses his technique and his speed to help out.”

Menard is new to the defensive end position moving from defensive back.

“He is really young even thought he's a senior at the position, and he is coming around,” Duhon said on Menard's progression. “He has improved tremendously between the spring and now. He worked hard over the summer and went to a couple of camps.”

Sonnier will start at one of the defensive tackle positions where his technique will make up for where his size lacks at five foot nine inches.

“He's really good at his technique and that is what helps him out being a starting defensive tackle,” said Duhon. “He is a bigger body inside. He is not really that tall but he is strong.”

The other tackle position is up for grabs. Charlie LeBoeuf was listed at the position but because of a medical condition he is out for the year, though he will still be part of the team.

“It was a hard decision for him to make,” said Duhon on losing LeBoeuf. “But it was one that he felt and his family felt was best for him. He is still on the team, and still part of the team which we are thankful for that.”

Sophomores Corris Grant and Jonathan Toten are in the hunt for the vacant tackle position.

“I would say that Grant has the leverage on Toten right now,” Duhon said. “If we had to start tomorrow, it would be Corris Grant and Josh Sonnier in the middle.

“But Toten is coming around. He is a big kid. He just has to get past that maturity level to play on the 5A level on Friday nights.”

In the new defensive scheme for the Tors, it would be Wall, Menard and Sonnier who would rush the passer in that particular situation. Coach Duhon says that even though they will be down a lineman, the defensive line will not be affected on production.

“It helps us out in the long run,” said Duhon. “Which if we get a team that passes a lot and we need to put one more guy in the secondary, then we have to do that.

“Hopefully with just three guys in there, we still get a good pass rush. We feel like we have the three better linemen in there at the time and we are going to use their ability and what they have to get to the quarterback.”

Also to see playing time this year on the line will be Blake Sanner, Jonathan Berry, and Casey Brown.

All the Sulphur defensive linemen know what is expected of them, and know that those expectations are high.

“We set high goals and high expectations, and they know that,” said Duhon. “We push them hard at practice and we talk to them everyday about the little things that we can correct. The aggression, your attitude, and commitment to the team, that's up to them. But the technique, knowing what to do, and game planning, that is up to us (the coaching staff).”

Playing in front of the Friday night crowd is going to be the biggest challenge for the Tors' defensive line according to Duhon.

“Everybody's been to a Sulphur game away or home, we are bringing the crowd. On Friday nights, anybody that rolls into the stadium or wherever we go they are a quality team. They have to know that and bring their “A” game every Friday night.”