Delhi Charter School Head Coach Jeremy Foote knew before the season started it could be deep into the year’s schedule before his team was able to begin showing its full potential.
The Gators first six games featured four on the road, including an away game versus the District’s number-one-ranked team.
“We were pretty front-loaded on the schedule,” Foote said. “The front half of our schedule was very tough, but I told them not to give up.”
And his team listened. After losing five of its first six matchups, the Gators finished the season with four consecutive wins and a berth in the 2021 Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) playoffs.
Led by rising senior quarterback Chad Clark, the Gators notched consecutive victories over Beekman Charter, Vidalia, Ferriday and Madison High School in its end-of-year rivalry game to finish the regular season 5-5.
Offensively, Clark’s dual-threat capabilities were aided by the rushing attacks of Keidron Thomas, Dede Young and Reid Arledge.
A stout defense added to the Gators' arsenal deep into the 2021 season and its ability to grind it out on the ground, wearing down both the opposing defense and the clock, allowed DCS to plow through four consecutive teams, including surviving the 40-30 Class 2A, District 2 shootout with Madison High School to end the regular season.
“I told them not to give up. And we ended up winning four games in a row and I'm very proud of them,” Foote said of his team following the win over Madison. “I mean, if they fight, they can upset a team in the playoffs. We can make a run for it.”
While making the playoffs was a big goal to achieve in and of itself, the Gators will be looking to take the postseason showing deeper into November in 2022, after falling in the first round in 2021.
DCS will lose a total of six seniors to graduation, but will begin next season with a squad led by Clark returning under center.
