The St. Paul’s School football team is preparing for the upcoming football season, which begins Friday, Aug. 30, when the Wolves face defending state champions Archbishop Rummel Red Raiders in the St. Paul’s Jamboree at Hunter Stadium.

St. Paul’s and Rummel traditionally play in the Fountainbleau High School Football Jamboree, but both teams have withdrawn from Fountainbleau’s Jamboree as a result of the new select/non-select playoff system.

“The presence of both of our schools has been financially beneficial to Fontainebleau, so they are not happy with us,” wrote Bro. Ray Buillard, FSC, President/Principal of SPS in a school newsletter that was emailed in March of 2013.  “But frankly, we couldn’t see them earning money off of us when they really don’t want to play us.  Rummel and SPS will have our own jamboree.”

Under the new playoff system, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) will crown nine state champions in football. The Wolves will be classified as Select Division I. There are only ten teams in the division, so every team will make the playoffs.

“I don’t think anybody likes it, but it is what’s been handed to us,” said Head Football Coach Ken Sears. “We’ll do the best and make the best of it. And more importantly, we’ll focus on dealing with what’s before us and try to make the best of it for our seniors.”

Another major change for the Wolves this season will be their move to a no-huddle spread offense, which they switched to this past off-season. “We feel like this offense fits our personnel better,” said Sears.

However, Sears said he feels like the defense is the strength of the team at this point, despite having lost many key players to graduation in the spring.

“There’s always someone who steps in and does a good job,” said Sears before also adding, “I think the guys that are stepping into starting roles are guys that certainly have seen the field and have experience because we do rotate a lot of guys on defense.”

“Certainly, I have high expectations for our club defensively,” said Sears.

The Wolves’ schedule is particularly tough this year; in addition to Rummel, the Wolves also face Edna Karr (the number four team in the nation according to Rivals), Jesuit (in the Mercedes Benz Superdome,) and McDonogh 35, as well as their usual district schedule.

“In order to get better, you have to play quality teams. We feel like win or lose, those games, at least, will make us better as a team,” said Sears.

The Wolves enter this season having won 29 consecutive district games, but Sears said that although most teams focus on winning district and state championships, “our goals are more about getting better and focusing on the process of getting better.”

Sears also mentioned goals that the seniors made before spring practice, which were “to develop character by keeping their minds, hearts, and bodies clean; to compete in everything they do whether in the classroom, practice field, or weight room; to persevere through adversity and trust in the abilities of oneself and the abilities of others; to start strong and finish stronger throughout the season by taking care of the little things; having not only the will to win, but also, the will to prepare to win; to carry out our role with maximum effort; each teammate contributes to the team’s betterment; and to be a leader by doing all the right things when others are watching, as well as when no one is watching.”

“If we take care of all those goals, then all the other things will fall in place,” said Sears.