Louisiana Football: 2017 Season Preview of the Green Oaks Giants
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
The 2016 season did not go the way that Green Oaks Giants had envisioned. Green Oaks High School, located in Shreveport, were coming off a playoff appearance in 2015 with high hopes for the new season. Unfortunately, in their first two games of 2016 Green Oaks was outscored 81-8 with their losses coming against Benton and Airline. In Week 3 of the season, on September 16 the Giants won their only game, 14-6, over a young Fair Park squad. In their final seven games, Green Oaks let every opponent score 23 or more points and the only game where they lost by less than 10 points was against Red River where the final score was 24-21. With losses covering their final seven weeks of the season, the Giants finished the season with a frustrating 1-9 record.
After the season the administration made several changes to the coaching staff by letting go of head coach Curtis Evans and hiring Terrence Isaac Sr., former head coach of A Plus Academy of Dallas (TX) to lead the program. Coach Isaac also brought along Coach Richard Embry, who was his defensive coordinator in Dallas, to lead Green Oaks’ defense in 2017. Coach Isaac will not only be the head coach but will also perform the duties of offensive coordinator. These two coaches have worked with their new team to get the Giants ready for the 2017 schedule with the focus of getting the Giants back on the winning track
Offense
In 2016, Green Oaks averaged less than 10 points a game. Luckily, Coach Isaac is implementing his version of the Spread offense which helped his former school in Dallas average over 600 yards of total offense and 40 points a game. One of the leaders of the offensive unit will be junior quarterback JC McIlwain. The 5’11”, 200 pound, pro-style quarterback sat out last year due to transfer rules but has worked hard to learn his new offense.
One of McIlwain’s big targets will be senior wide receiver Kenric Jackson. Jackson caught 38 passes for 321 yards earning second team All-District in 2016. Another wide out who will come up big in their spread offense will be 6’2”, 180 pound, senior Lexington Simon. The Giants offensive line will be anchored by 6’3”, 255 pound, junior tackle Rovell Carter and 5’9”, 260 pound, junior center Aubry Thompson.
Defense
The Giants defense gave up just under 30 points a game on average last season, however, the defensive unit have shown great strides of improvement after working with new defensive coordinator Richard Embry all spring and summer. The leader of the Green Oaks’ defense is senior cornerback Damien Crawford. The 6’3”, 188 pound, senior had 24 total tackles in 2016 and broke up eight passes. Crawford also only let 3-of-15 passes thrown in his direction get completed and has never given up a receiving touchdown in his high school career.
The linebackers to keep an eye on include 6’1”, 220 pound, sophomore D’ante Johns and 5’11”, 200 pound, junior Chaz Crawford. Sophomore Chris Larry who is 5’9”, 255 pounds, will be one to watch on the Giants’ defensive line.
2017 Schedule
9/1/2017 at Captain Shreve
9/8/2017 at Natchitoches Central
9/15/2017 Booker T. Washington
9/21/2017 Mansfield
9/29/2017 at Plain Dealing
10/5/2017 Haynesville
10/13/2017 at Franklin Parish
10/20/2017 Loyola College Prep
10/27/2017 at North Webster
11/3/2017 Jonesboro-Hodge
Schedule Breakdown
The Giants have two rough road games to open the season traveling to south Shreveport to play Captain Shreve and then heading down I-49 to take on Natchitoches Central in Week 2. Green Oaks first home game of the season will be their annual Soul Bowl game against archrival Booker T. Washington. Coach Issac commented on his first Soul Bowl by saying, “A lot of alumni will be there and I’m excited to be part of it. I know both sides will be ready for it.”
In Week 4 Green Oaks will host the Mansfield Wolverines. Their final game in September will be on the road at Plain Dealing. On Oct. 5, the Giants will face a tough Haynesville squad who finished 14-1 last year with their lone loss coming in the 1A state championship game against Logansport (34-28). The following week on Oct. 13, Green Oaks will travel to Franklin Parish.
The annual homecoming game for the Giants will be on Oct. 20 when they host Loyola College Prep. The final road test of 2017 will be on Oct. 27 at North Webster. On Nov. 3, Green Oaks will close out the regular season against Jonesboro-Hodge.
It will be exciting to watch this Green Oaks team get back on winning track and contend for a playoff spot in 2017.
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Photo credit: Terrence Isaac Sr.; Green Oaks QB JC McIlwain throwing a pass in practice