Fontainebleau’s Bulldogs took on the Jesuit Blue Jays Friday in a scrimmage held at Lakeshore High.

Jesuit scored three times in the scrimmage, while the Bulldogs were unable to put the ball in the end zone.

FHS head coach Mike Materne said physical conditioning wasn’t an issue. “We weren’t consistent pursuing the football on defense. Our D-line ended up getting too much penetration, which opened up their running game,” Materne said.

PAT WHITE

“Defensively, we allowed Jesuit to get too open in the flat, which resulted in a number of first downs. Whenever they needed a first down they were able to hit their back and tight ends, who had worked free in the flats,” Materne added.

Materne said senior nose guard Pat White did a good job in the middle of the Bulldogs’ 50-defense.

Bulldogs’ junior QB Conner Smith took a hard hit during the scrimmage and didn’t return. Senior back up Brandon Black, a starter in the secondary, took over for Smith.

“Brandon made some nice runs and he was able to connect on some good passing plays. For the most part he did a good job taking over for Conner,” Materne said.

Materne said junior receiver Jordan Bourgeois made a couple nice catches.

The Bulldogs return to action tonight in the Rusty Brauner Jamboree named in honor of the Lady Dawgs’ successful former head soccer coach and American History teacher, who retired. The jamboree format will feature two 15-minutes halves. The game action gets underway at 6:30 p.m. with the St. Paul’s Wolves taking on the Archbishop Rummel Raiders. That match up will be followed by the host Bulldogs squaring off with the Brother Martin Crusaders

Coach Materne said naming this year’s jamboree in honor of Brauner was a way of thanking him for all of his support to the school since it’s inception in 1994.

“Rusty’s been here since day one. He is retired now, but he worked with us as a freshman football coach and of course he was a very successful girls’ soccer coach,” Materne said.

“Every year we want to try and honor a different person. A perfect person to honor the first time around was Rusty. He’s extremely loyal and was a very dedicated coach and teacher. He was always there to help out in any way that he could,” Materne added.

The injury bug hit the Bulldogs in last week’s scrimmage with Jesuit.

Junior offensive guard/ LB Jessie Black (high ankle sprain) and junior tight end/LB Dominic Pizzitolo (sprained ankle) are both out this week. Brandon Black, the Dawgs’ starting corner and backup QB, injured a knee in practice this week and may not be able to go.

Junior tight end Jacob Simpson is questionable with a separated shoulder,

“We are looking possibly at four starters not playing, which is not how you want to start the season even if it’s only a jamboree,” Materne said.

Materne on a positive note did say his starting QB Smith has had a good week of practice after getting his bell rung in last week’s scrimmage.

Materne said if Brandon Black can’t go Smith’s backup would be sophomore Brandon Kent, while junior Bobby Tyson will back up Brandon Black at cornerback.

Junior Justin Walker will start in place of Jessie Black at offensive guard, while junior Vincent Williams will start for Pizzitolo at linebacker and will also play some tight end.

“We will probably see more guys play on both sides of the ball this year than we have ever had at this school. We want to put the best 11 on the field whenever we can,” Materne said.

Materne said senior defensive lineman Pat White had a good scrimmage.

“Pat is one who could start on both sides. He’s our best center and is definitely our best defensive lineman, but I don’t want to take a chance of playing him 70 or 80 plays in a game. He will come in on certain situations on offense,” Materne added.

The coach said unfortunately his team doesn’t have a lot of depth.

“Being a jamboree, we will still be experimenting some with our players in hopes of getting better.”

Materne spent 17 years as a member of the Brother Martin staff (1970-1987)

serving as the Crusaders’ defensive line coach.

“Some of the guys I have coached are there on the staff, but there aren’t any coaches left from when I was there,” Materne said.

Brother Martin finished 5-5 last season falling to West Monroe (eventual Class 5A state champ) 27-17 in the bi-district round. The Crusaders are coached by Mark Bonis, a Slidell resident, who is entering his second season as head coach and fifth season overall with the Crusaders. Brother Martin has 29 seniors on this year’s club.

The Crusaders run a multiple spread offense, which returns seven offensive starters including senior QB Ronnie Arant (5-11, 165). Arant completed 62-of-108 passes for 723 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions last year. He also gained 495 yards on the ground with two rushing TDs.

Senior tailback Dante Butler (5-10, 205), an all-state four-year starter rushed for 1,597 yards on 192 carries. He averaged 8 yards per carry and tallied 22 TDs so he is someone the Bulldogs’ defense will have to account for.

Junior RB/wide receiver John West, a three-year starter, is expected to have a breakout season.

Starting senior LB/RB Chris Sutton is a key two-way performer for the Crusaders. Brother Martin has three college prospects along its O-line including seniors Jordan Greene (6-4, 279) at left tackle a Southern Miss commitment, right guard Elbert Fulgham (6-1, 285) and tight end Patrick Regan (6-2, 220).

Defensively, the Crusaders run a 4-3 scheme and are returning seven starters.

Coach Bonis likes the players he has along his defensive front and their experience level.

Bonis said junior defensive end Julien Obioha, junior defensive tackle Chris Williams and senior DE Zack Bell have stood out this summer and in the scrimmage.

“We are expecting our defensive front to be our strong point. They have experience and I like their ability. We have some depth,” Bonis said.

Senior linebackers Chris Ponthieux and senior free safety Brian Joseph are both returning starters and will also help bolster the Raiders’ defense.

Bonis described FHS as a physical team.

“They are well coached. They lost a lot of close games last year so I don’t feel their record was indicative of what type of team they were,” Bonis said.