By Malcolm Butler
For the first time in a while, there is some outside noise surrounding the Cedar Creek football program.
The Cougars are undefeated, and they are coming off three convincing wins.
As a result of those wins, Cedar Creek found itself ranked No. 10 in the state this week.
Creek coach Jacob Angevine appreciates what the recognition means for a program that has come a long way over the past two years. He also wants his players to forget about it.
“We don’t really want to pay attention to any of the outside noise,” Angevine said. “We just want to keep focused on what we’re doing. We talked as a unit right when we started fall camp that we know the talent that we have in the room, and we really don’t need anybody else to tell us what we already know.
“We just have to go prove it week in and week out.”
The Cougars (3-0) will get their next opportunity Friday night when they host Rayville (1-2) at 7 p.m. at Origin Bank Stadium.
Cedar Creek has opened the season with wins over Delhi Charter, St. Frederick and Beekman Charter, including last week’s 42-12 homecoming victory over Beekman.
But Angevine said the message hasn’t changed with the wins — or with the Cougars’ newfound spot in the state rankings.
“It kind of goes into the mindset that we have — just being 0-0 every single week,” Angevine said. “Whatever we did last week, it doesn’t really matter. It’s moving forward and focusing on the task at hand.
“We’ve had a really good practice this week. I hope it translates into Friday. I’m confident that it will. That’s just been kind of the mindset, and I’ve really liked how the kids have taken it, especially those seniors. They’ve really bought into it.”
Cedar Creek’s identity through the first three weeks hasn’t been difficult to identify: run the football.
The Cougars rushed for nearly 400 yards in last week’s win, using a physical offensive front and a stable of runners to wear down Beekman.
That was never more evident than on the opening possession of the second half. Leading 14-6, Cedar Creek took the kickoff at its own 19-yard line and marched 81 yards on 13 plays, 11 of them runs, for a touchdown.
Sophomore Payton Harris is one of the state’s leaders in rushing, totaling 677 yards and 10 scores through just three games.
Angevine doesn’t expect that philosophy to change. But he believes Creek’s success on the ground should eventually create more opportunities for the Cougars’ passing game.
“That’s obviously still the identity of our football team,” Angevine said. “I think everybody knows that. But the more that we can run the football, the more it’ll pack those guys into the box, and we’re really confident in the guys that we have on the outside as well.
“Once we’re able to use them a little bit more, I think it’s going to make us a little bit more dangerous to defend.”
The Cougars will also get healthier this week.
Angevine said Ed Henry is expected to return, along with Aiden Haddox, who was taking first-team snaps before suffering an injury during a preseason scrimmage.
“We’ve got some guys that are coming back healthy this week,” Angevine said. “Things are really looking up for us on both sides of the ball. But again, it’s just continuing to get better at what we do and believing in our system.”
Defensively, the Cougars have been equally impressive during their unbeaten start.
Rayville enters Friday night with a win over General Trass and losses to Bastrop and Caldwell Parish.
The 1-2 record isn’t fooling Angevine.
He believes Ravyille will present Cedar Creek with its biggest physical and athletic challenge of the young season.
“They’re fast,” Angevine said. “This is probably the most athletic team that we’ve played so far. I think it might be the biggest roster that we’ve seen thus far as well.
“They’re huge up front. It’s another big line that we’re going to have to keep our pad level low on. We’re going to have to rise up once again.”
That’s exactly the type of challenge Angevine wanted when Cedar Creek put together its schedule.
“I wanted some of these bigger schools,” he said. “It’s really going to test us and push us to our limits.”
