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The Louisiana College football team opens play Saturday night in Pineville against Wayland Baptist University, a team that they have never before faced on the gridiron. The game will serve as not only the home and season opener for the Wildcats, and the return of the fabled blue uniforms, but also the beginning of a new era in LC football as Justin Charles coaches for the first time on the LC sideline as a head coach.

Charles was name head coach in late March of this year after serving as the Wildcats defensive coordinator for the past five years, and maintained the bulk of the staff from the 2016 season to coach along side him. Ben McLaughlin returns for his second season as offensive coordinator and the defensive duties will be managed by Drew Maddox and Nate Janzen together. The biggest question Charles had to answer upon taking over wasn't who would be on his staff, but who would have the unenviable task of taking over for four-year starter Easton Melancon at quarterback and all-conference running back Aurren Cooksey.

 It seems as if the running back position has been solidified thanks to a pair of transfers, Le'Vonte Owens and D'Angelo Moore, along with returners Donyell Young, Aaron Woods, and Nick Sumrall. Replacing a first team all-conference back like Cooksey isn't easy but according to McLaughlin and running back coach Brandon Allen, the position is in good hands with the group of players that will see action at that position.

The quarterback spot finds itself in a similar position with both D'Ondre Joseph, the junior backup to Melancon last year, and incoming freshman Wayne Griffin competing throughout fall camp and leading up to the first week of preparation for the season. With both quarterbacks performing on equal footing throughout the past month, the Wildcats, at least for the first week of the season will let both players have a go on Saturday.

"Both guys have performed at the level I expected them to throughout the preseason," McLauglin said. "We legitimately have two quarterbacks that I feel comfortable with running our offense so it's who can keep the offense clicking the most through the season. Our style won't change depending on who is in the game. Both guys are very athletic, Dre is a little more of a runner and Wayne has great pocket presence but both have the arm talent we need."

Whoever takes the snaps for the Wildcats during Saturday's game will have the benefit of a talented and uber experienced receiving corps lead by all-conference player Shed Davis and fellow seniors Zac Barrient, D.J. Latino, Lawrence Williams, and Riley DiMaggio. The defense also stands to be a strong point for the Wildcats this season with nine returning starters and a strong, fast, and relentless front seven fueled by the likes of Cade Maxwell, Deondre Cotton, Jesse Provost, Ryan DeMattie and Orel Ledet, Jr. The addition of the Wildcats hybrid linebacker position with Brandon Zimmer and Caydan Maloney provides more athleticism on the defensive side of the ball the LC lacked at times last year.


Wayland Baptist is a relatively young program, in only their sixth season of competition after a more than 70 year hiatus of the football program. Over the last three season their win total has grown with their best year coming just last year finishing at 7-3 overall. The Pioneers return a talented offensive unit that ranked third in the Cental State Football League in points per game (32.1) and total offense per game (461.1). They were also the top ranked passing offense in their league, throwing for over 290 yards per game last year. Quarterback Mitchell Parsley along with receiver Woodard Preston will look to match their season totals from last year of over 2,000 passing yards and 600 receiving yards.

The Wildcats open the 2017 season on Saturday where fans are encouraged to wear their blue shirts in support of the team as they try and go for the first win of the season and the first win for head coach Justin Charles. LC will play three of its first four games this season at Wildcat Stadium, including back-to-back home games at the end of September against ASC newcomer Southwestern University and finish with Sul Ross State University on the 30th. Follow LC football on social media for the latest news and updates on the program, @LC_ftball or @LC_Wildcats on Twitter or LC Athletics on Facebook.