Crochet is Kaplan's new starting center

KAPLAN - How does one become the starting center on a high school football team?
The answer is simple.
“The coaches asked, and I thought I would try out my freshman year,” said KHS senior C.J Crochet.
It was not until his junior year when he saw varsity playing time at center. He platooned as center and linebacker last year.
This year, the 5-feet-8 inch, 175-pound Crochet now has the center position locked. He is penciled in by KHS head coach Stephen Lotief as the starting center.
For those of you who are not exactly sure what a center does on offense, here is an explanation:
“The center is the person in the middle of the offensive line. The center’s first and primary role is to pass the football to the quarterback. This exchange is called a snap. Most offensive schemes make adjustments based on how the defensive line and linebackers align itself to the offensive line, and what gaps they line up in. Then after he snaps the football, he has to block the person in front of him within a split-second after snapping the ball. ”
Crochet said the hardest part about playing center is snapping the football and then having to block right after.
“Trying to get off the ball before the defensive lineman does, and at the same time, snapping the ball is the hardest part (about playing center),” explained Crochet.
Staring at Crochet face to face on the defensive side is the nose guard, who is normally a few pounds heavier than Crochet. The nose guard is less than a foot from Crochet’s helmet. The nose-guard’s job is to hit the center hard and knock him down.
He said it was a tough position to learn because many times he got off balance right after a snap. Today, he got his balance in check.
Kaplan head coach Stephen Lotief said he expects Crochet to play a lot on defense, as well as,on offense.
“He is a good athlete who needs to stay on the field,” Lotief said.
Crochet has no problem playing both ways because, “I love the game of football. This is my senior year and I want to give it all I got.”
Crochet will be surrounded with offensive linemen with playing experience. They helped create holes for two returning 1,000 yard rushers and a 700-yard passer last year.
The projected starting offensive tackle is Gabe Briolo (5-11, 206, Sr.), and offensive guards are Gage Morvant (5-8, 171, Sr.) and Jarrick Romero (5-9, 236, Jr.). At offensive tackle is newcomer Hunter Vincent (6-1, 303, Jr).
John Broussard (5-10, 167, Sr.) will play tight end.
On Friday, the Pirates will be scrimmaging Eunice, starting at 5:30 p.m. The junior varsity and freshmen, will scrimmage Gueydan at 4:30 p.m. in Kaplan.