Christian Academy (CAL) Centurions

Class 2A District 4

 

Coach: Stefan Lefors

• Former University of Louisville (2000-2004) and Carolina Panthers (2005) (and CFL 2007-2009) quarterback

• Going into 4th season as Christian Academy of Louisville’s head football coach

• Record: 26-11 (including 10-2 season last year)

 

Key Players Graduated/Lost : Matthew Arnold (OL/DL), Nathan Christmas (QB), Cody Davis (WR/LB), Mason Dunston (OL/LB), Peyton Griffee (OL/DL), Chad Lewellyn (WR/LB), Zach Page (OL/DL), Zac Passafiume (TE/LB), Nate Smith (WR/DB), Rider Sparrow (WR/DB)

 

Key Players Returning: (SR) Nathan Bader (K), (SR) Jedidiah Clay (OL/DL), (SO) Michael Lagestee (OL/DL), (JR) Cal Lewellyn (WR/DB), (JR) Tanner Lopez (RB/LB), (SO) Jake Paulson (TE/DL), (SR) Nick Payne (RB/DB), (SR) Dylan Shouse (WR/LB), (SR) Chuck Williams (RB/LB), (SR) Tanner Young (QB)

 

2013 Results: 10-2, 2013 2A State Quarterfinalist (lost to DeSales 34-0, whom they beat earlier in the season)

 

Rebuilding Mode?

 

The best season in CAL football history came to a premature end with the Centurions falling to DeSales in the state tournament after losing star QB Nathan Christmas due to injury on the last play of the regular season. Looking to rebuild. Head Coach Stefan Lefors will look for some younger players to take place of the 13 seniors who graduated. Although the season did not end favorably for the Centurions, there were many bright spots including a win against 6A Eastern, beating the eventual 2A State Champions DeSales, and losing to 6A powerhouse Male by a score of 6-0.

 

Coach Lefors will look for senior QB Tanner Young and bulldozing senior RB Nick Payne (no pun intended) to lead the offense this year. Young, who started in the playoffs last year against Bardstown and DeSales when Christmas was injured, already has experience in pressure situations, which will help him prepare for this year. Coach Lefors will also look for his younger wide receivers and tight ends to step up after four receivers and two tight ends graduated. He will especially look for junior Cal Lewellyn (brother of Chad Lewellyn, who signed with Navy) to strengthen the receiving corps like he did very well last year.

 

New Coaches

 

Coach Lefors will get some help in the backfield this year after hiring St. Xavier and Louisville graduate Victor Anderson as his new running backs coach. Anderson was the leading rusher at St. X with 4008 yards and 75 touchdowns in three years. At Louisville, his career was injury-plagued causing him to miss parts of two seasons. As a fifth year senior, he emerged as one of the top kick returners in the country. He will greatly improve the already well-established running backs Nick Payne and Tanner Lopez.

 

 

Lefors Back to his Alma Mater?

 

Will Head Coach Stefan Lefors go back and help coach the school he graduated from? When Charlie Strong took the Texas job in January, and Bobby Petrino took Strong’s spot, it was reported by Kent Taylor of WAVE3 News that Lefors had interviewed and was trying to earn the quarterbacks coach at the University of Louisville. It was rumored that Lefors would be awarded the job until Petrino brought along Garrick McGee as the offensive coordinator, and also made him the quarterbacks coach. Is it still possible that Lefors will look for the job to be open in the upcoming years, or might he go for a head coaching job at the D2/D3 level?

 

2014 Game Schedule

 

Aug 22, 14 Lexington Christian away 7:30 PM

Aug 29, 14 Eastern away 7:30 PM

Sep 5, 14 North Oldham home 7:30 PM

Sep 12, 14 Thomas Nelson home 7:30 PM

Sep 19, 14 Washington County away 7:30 PM

Sep 26, 14 Shawnee home 7:30 PM

Oct 3, 14 Bardstown home 7:30 PM

Oct 10, 14 Fort Knox away 7:30 PM

Oct 17, 14 DeSales away 7:30 PM

Oct 31, 14 Male home 7:30 PM

 

Key Games

 

There are three games that really stand out on the Centurions’ schedule. The first one is the game at Eastern, mostly because the Eagles will be hungry for revenge after CAL destroyed them 36-19. The second key matchup is the game at DeSales which may well decide the 2A District 4 winner for the second consecutive year. The Centurions split games against DeSales last year with the Colts beating them in the State Tournament. The last marquee game is against Male. As stated earlier, the Centurions lost to the Bulldogs, 6-0. It was the last regular season game for both teams heading into their state tournaments and the game was intense. It will be interesting to see if CAL returns with the same intensity as shown last year.

My predictions:

Lexington Christian Academy- Win

Eastern- Loss

North Oldham- Win

Thomas Nelson- Win

Washington County- Win

Shawnee- Win

Bardstown- Win

Fort Knox- Win

Desales- Loss

Male- Loss

 

I think the Centurions will go 7-3 but very well could be 6-4 (North Oldham game is a toss up).

Nice read, looking forward to how the season progresses with the new QB under center.