What makes undefeated Calvary Baptist's high-octane offense tick?
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA - Perhaps the only thing that could slow down Calvary Baptist’s high-powered offense Thursday was the scoreboard clock.
In fact, the clock began running continuously late in the first half with the Cavaliers out to a commanding lead in their latest win. They had 49 points by halftime en route to a 58-6 win against Green Oaks to move to 7-0 on the season.
Through those seven wins, the Cavs are averaging 47.3 points per game with one of the state’s top offenses.
Manning the controls is junior quarterback Abram Wardell, who leads the state in passing. He continued to produce lofty totals in Thursday’s win, completing 20-of-23 passes for 285 yards and a season-high six TDs, which he achieved before intermission.
Wardell has now thrown for 2,074 yards and 24 TDs while being picked off only once.
“He’s been our starting quarterback for two years now, and every day, we know he’s going to put the ball on the money, so (the receivers) have got to run and go get it, catch the ball and score,” Cavalier senior receiver John Simon IV said. “Get the YAC, the yards after catch.”
But Wardell has a vast array of receivers at his disposal. In fact, four different receivers caught Wardell’s TD throws.
“It’s awesome,” Wardell said. “I don’t have just one receiver, I can throw to anyone on the field at any time and they’re going to catch it, get YAC and score.”
THREE-AND-IN
It took the Cavaliers just three plays and 44 seconds to find the end zone for the first time Thursday.
From their 40-yard line, Wardell found senior receiver Aubrey Hermes for an 18-yard gain into Green Oaks territory. Then, the two hooked up for a deep route for 36 yards down to the Giants’ 6.
On the very next play, Wardell flipped it out to Simon for the game’s first TD.
Calvary ended up scoring three TDs by the end of the first quarter, with Wardell throwing his second scoring strike for that third six-pointer, a 15-yarder to junior receiver Kolby Thomas.
“We just sling the ball deep,” Thomas said. “I mean, we just call pass plays. … We just pass the ball. We’re all fine-tuned, we all know our job, we just go after it.”
MORE TO COME
Wardell was far from done.
Just 45 seconds into the next quarter, the Cavs made it 28-0 when Wardell found senior receiver Taylor Guerrero from 13 yards out.
Simon and Thomas then had their second TD catches of the night, with Simon catching a 5-yarder while Thomas got behind the Giants’ secondary for a 19-yard catch in the end zone, making it 42-0 midway through the second quarter.
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And for good measure, one play after Green Oaks finally got on the scoreboard, Wardell launched a deep ball, with Hermes catching it on the run for a 68-yard score. That was Wardell’s sixth TD strike of the night as the clock continued to run before halftime and Calvary Baptist up 49-6.
“He has a good deep ball, he puts good touch on it and then he (finds) us open,” Hermes said of Wardell. “We take that for granted sometimes, but he does a really good job.”
Calvary Baptist QB Abram Wardell
‘GO OUT THERE AND GET IT’
The Cavalier receivers have a simple philosophy passed down from their offensive coordinator, Marvin Williams Jr., who spent this spring as an assistant for the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks.
“Our offensive coordinator just calls the plays for us and (Wardell) just throws the ball and we go out there and get it. … (Williams) coaches in the XFL and he coaches here, too, so we’re happy to have him,” Thomas said.
“He puts us to work every day in practice.”
It also helps Wardell and several of his receivers have experience from last season, in which Calvary reached the Division III select quarterfinals before falling to Dunham, the eventual state runner-up.
“I would say the difference between this year and last year is just the connection we have; not really on the field but off the field,” Simon said. “Just knowing each other, playing with each other, getting (experience) under our belt has helped us out.”
GROUND TRANSPORTATION
Calvary may be perceived as a pass-happy offense but nothing could be farther from the truth.
The Cavaliers came into Thursday’s game averaging 137 yards on the ground. They are also bolstered by the presence of junior tailback James Simon, who scored Calvary’s second TD on a 9-yard jaunt.
Simon, the younger brother of John Simon IV, is a four-star recruit at running back and already getting offers from several prominent Division I schools. Last weekend, James Simon was at Texas A&M for the Aggies’ game against Alabama, and this weekend, he’s on his way to Notre Dame, where he will see the Fighting Irish take on USC, another school that has offered Simon.
LSU and Texas are also among those that have sent offers.
And without a doubt, Wardell is quick to mention the offensive line for helping them go, whether it’s via the air or the ground.
“It’s been tremendous,” Wardell said. “The o-line have given me at least four seconds each play, and they’ve gone up against one of the best d-lines in the state and they’ve (done their part).”
Calvary’s defense has been equally stellar, holding opponents to 13.4 points per game through Thursday. The Cavs also forced several turnovers in Thursday’s win, including senior lineman Lavorziesa Houston recovering a pair of fumbles.
‘ALWAYS THE GUY’
Though Wardell was the returning starter at QB, he was locked in a preseason battle for the spot by incoming freshman Peyton Houston, who has already received college offers.
But Wardell was tabbed the starter and one day after the Cavs’ second game, a win against Captain Shreve, Houston left the team. Several days later, he transferred across town to Evangel Christian, though due to state transfer rules, he won’t be eligible to play until next season.
All along, though, Wardell thought he was going to be the one behind center when the 2023 season commenced.
“It was a competition but I feel like I was always the guy,” Wardell said. “I was the starter last year, and I felt like I was (the starter) the whole offseason, also.”
His teammates also knew what Wardell was capable of, especially having started last season.
“At the end of the day, he was battling and all he really showed us as a team was that when we need him in games like Westgate and Shreve and Byrd and Wossman, he was going to come out and win; he’s not going to be scared of competition,” John Simon IV said. “That’s what he showed us as a team, so he won the job and we’re glad and we’re winning.”
HANGING TOUGH
The Cavaliers - the top-ranked team in Class 2A - have also played a rigorous schedule, which has helped them to this point.
They beat District 5A-1 leader Captain Shreve, 61-27, and beat another 5A team in Byrd as well as a highly regarded 4A squad in Westgate. Wardell remarked Westgate was by far the team’s best offensive showing.
“I would say Westgate, just because I feel like no one really expected us to win that game,” he said. “There were a bunch of media there and we rose to the occasion and won.
“(The challenging schedule) helped us because it’s getting us ready for the playoffs, playing these big games that are high-pressure games. It really gets us ready for November.”
Calvary has another high-stakes game next Friday, a home affair with D’Arbonne Woods, which is 5-0 prior to this Friday’s game against Loyola Prep.
SEEKING ATTENTION
John Simon IV already has secured a college commitment, as he plans to attend Louisiana Tech next season.
“I just like the coaching staff more than anything right now,” he said. “They’re just a family and show love.”
But other receivers and even Wardell haven’t gotten significant interest from college recruiters. They hope they can change that with more strong showings this season and into the 2024 campaign.
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“I’m not getting too much interest either (along with Wardell); I’ve still got time, though,” Thomas said. “I’m a junior like he is, so anything can happen between this year and next year.
“Offseason is going to be a big part of that.”
Photo (from left) of Calvary Baptist WR John Simon IV, QB Abram Wardell and WR Kolby Thomas
-- Buck Ringgold | buck@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveLA
