Two-A-Days: Oakdale Warriors

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - In just his second year at the helm, Oakdale head coach Kevin Bertrand is already seeing a major shift in energy and confidence from his Warriors. With a solid core of returning players and a revamped offensive strategy, the program is poised to take a significant step forward.

“It’s a lot more hit the ground running this year than the feeling-out part,” Bertrand said, noting the difference a year of familiarity can make.

The Warriors return 16 starters from last season, a wealth of experience that has the team believing they can win big and light up the scoreboard in 2025. Wide receiver and safety Brandon Guidry is one of several playmakers confident in the group’s potential. “I feel like it’s going to make a lot of noise and score a lot of points this year,” he said.

One of the biggest changes this fall comes on offense. Oakdale is moving away from the Wing-T and embracing a spread attack — a shift that has energized both players and coaches. With new coordinators on both sides of the ball, Bertrand sees a healthy mix of continuity and innovation. “We’re going from the Wing-T to more of the spread look. We have a new offensive coordinator and new defensive coordinator this year, so it’s a lot of similar, a lot of different,” he explained.

Quarterback CJ Waller Jr. is ready to capitalize on the new scheme. “Score. I want to score touchdowns this year,” he said. “We’ve been putting in a lot of work, and I feel like we’re going to score some touchdowns.”

While the skill players are embracing the open-field style, the guys in the trenches are just as fired up. Senior lineman Tylon Jackson believes the physicality of the Warriors will be a strength on both sides of the ball. “Our defensive line’s got some dogs on there, and our offensive line is becoming the part,” he said. “But our defensive line is backed up by some dog linebackers.”

With the team’s chemistry, depth, and hunger, Coach Bertrand believes this squad has the pieces to do serious damage on Friday nights. “It’s a team of a bunch of guys willing to lay it on the line,” he said. “So it’s not one person to look for per game, because it could be somebody different, it’s just who’s going to step up that week.”

Jackson, part of a tight-knit senior group, says that bond is what sets this team apart. “It’s phenomenal, just watching us grow together and not grow apart like other people do,” he said. “We stick together, and I feel like that’s the reason we’re going to be good this year because we have some chemistry.”

With leadership, unity, and a new offensive identity, the Oakdale Warriors are ready to make their mark in 2025.