Amite has all the ingredients, coach Zephaniah Powell told his team during a long, impassioned postgame huddle, but still hasn’t started cooking — at least not to the degree or consistency they aim to.
The Warriors rolled past Albany, 35-0, for their sixth straight win and first shutout of the season.
But, as Powell emphasized, the goals are bigger than a District 8-3A win in October, and work remains ahead with homecoming against Springfield, a rivalry showdown with undefeated Jewel Sumner and the playoffs on the horizon.
“Sloppy, sloppy,” the coach said. “Defense played excellent tonight. Offensively, there was just way too many penalties, and that’s something that coaching-wise we’ve got to make sure we nip that in the bud.”
A series of at least three penalties late in Amite’s first possession negated an apparent score, gradually moved the ball back outside of the red zone and fizzled the opportunity into a turnover on downs.
Sophomore running back Jamyron Dillon eventually broke through on the Warriors’ second possession, and he, senior Trez Richardson and senior quarterback Drew Palmer began taking more control behind their big offensive line in the second quarter.
“Offensively, we did pretty good moving the ball, but it’s a few things we’ve got to work on,” Dillon said. “We’ve got to work on less penalties and just moving the ball and getting it in the end zone… (Starting to find more success) felt pretty good, just trying to stay calm and collected. Thanking the O-line because they did their job. But just trying to maintain the goal and just trying to help move the ball down the field.”
And as the offense settled in, Palmer was also able to connect with junior Braylen Taylor and Zaylon Foster and senior Lajahren Cyprian for big plays in the passing game.
Palmer kept for goal-line scores in the second and third quarters and found Cyprian for a passing touchdown just before halftime as the Warriors began to stretch the lead.
“(Palmer) had some moments,” Powell said. “He’s still trying to find it. With him being a first-year starter, he’s pretty much getting his feet underneath him. He’s doing some great things, but a lot of times he may have a lapse here or there. And a lot of times we’ve gotta get him to the sideline and get him back focused and centered and explain to him, ‘Hey, look, lean on your running game. Your running game is your seat belt.’ But he’s doing fine. He’s progressing.”
Amite’s defense held its shutout strong all the way through the finish and even added to the scoring as sophomore defensive back Cedric Burise Jr. read, jumped and returned a pick-six to stretch the lead to 35-0.
Junior Jaylen Haywood was among the big bodies up front, with seniors Kaleb Campbell, Micah Johnson and Osvaldo Razo and junior Zarion Zanders among the edge rushers and linebackers flying around the box and seniors Franklin Morgan Jr. (Louisiana Tech) and Cameron Madison and junior Lionel Perkins among the defensive backs standing out with pass breakups and tackles in space.
Campbell and Dillon both said they understood Powell’s frustrations because they feel the Warriors can compete with anyone when they’re at their best.
“Poydras Street, Coach,” Dillon said of their potential. “Poydras Street.”
