Fontainebleau football 2025 at a glance: Health key as young Bulldogs gain experience

FONTAINEBLEAU BULLDOGS 2025 VITALS

COACH: John Kavanaugh (third season, 6-14; eighth season overall with five at North Caddo, 39-35)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Rowland Skinner 

OFFENSE RUN: Spread/Multiple

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: David Dragg

DEFENSE RUN: Multiple

PROJECTED STARTERS

* indicates returning starter

OFFENSE (3 RETURNING STARTERS): QB Logan Astugue, Jr., or Connor Tyson, Sr.; RB Sheldon Asmore, Soph; RB Landon Suhre, Soph.; HB Sawyer Shane, Soph.; WR Sean Childress, Jr.; WR Semaj Whittine, Sr.; WR Carlin Cagnolatti, Sr.; TE Gabe Soliman, Sr., or Carter Matherne, Jr.; OL *Joseph May, Soph.; OL *Tony Berg, Jr.; OL *Cody Leibfrtiz, Sr.; OL Hayden Cotton, Sr.; OL Kenny Primus, Jr., or Keontae Esteen, Jr., or Eli Geerstner, Soph.

DEFENSE (3 RETURNING STARTERS): DL George Prekas, Sr.; DL Danny Dalrymple, Jr.; DL Jamarcus Warren, Soph.; LB *Gabe Soliman, Sr.; LB Devon Dibenedict, Sr.; LB Brandon Buckner, Sr.; LB Travis Green, Sr.; DB Kyron Clark, Jr.; DB Jacob Salzer, Jr.; DB Ja'vian Foley, Sr.; S *Conner Tyson, Sr.; S *Semaj Whittine, Sr.; S Graydon Palazzo, Jr.

SPECIAL TEAMS: PK/P Jack Hearn, Soph.; LS George Prekas, Sr.; RET *Semaj Whittine, Sr., or *Conner Tyson, Sr.

SCHEDULE

All games on a Friday at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. All District 7-5A games notated with an asterisk.

SEPT. 5, Lakeshore (A); SEPT. 12, Madison High (H); SEPT. 19, Peabody (H); SEPT. 25 (THU.), Franklinton (H); OCT. 2 (THU.), Covington (H); OCT. 10, *Slidell (A); OCT. 17, *Salmen (H); OCT. 24, *Chalmette (A); OCT. 31, *Northshore (H); NOV. 7, Mandeville (A).

TOUGHEST GAMES: vs. Covington (Week 5); at Chalmette (Week 8); at Mandeville (Week 10).

2024 FLASHBACK

2024 RECORD: 3-7, 1-3 District 7-5A (tied for third). No playoffs.

2024 REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS: 1, Lakeshore, L 34-14 (0-1); 2, Madison High, W 31-0 (1-1); 3, Peabody, W 16-13 (2-1); 4, Franklinton, L 61-13 (2-2); 5, Covington, L 48-0 (2-3); 6, Slidell, W 28-21 (3-3); 7, Salmen, L 42-14 (3-4); 8, Chalmette, L 16-6 (3-5); 9, Northshore, L 21-14 (3-6); 10, Mandeville, L 48-7 (3-7). 

LOOK AHEAD TO 2025

Last season, the Bulldogs were a .500 team through the first six weeks, but the offense struggled down the stretch as they dropped their final four games. It was a familiar script as the Bulldogs faded down the stretch after a solid start for the second straight season. The team has focused on its summer conditioning to hopefully help remedy those issues.

On offense, the Bulldogs will lean on the offensive line early. Junior Logan Astugue will take the majority of the snaps at quarterback this season. Conner Tyson, who will also start at safety, will also see some time under center. That is a familiar theme this year as several of the Bulldogs' most experienced players will play both ways. The good news is that the line is relatively experienced, so that unit should give their skill positions a chance to mature.

The defense should be improved as Tyson and Semaj Whittine will anchor the secondary. The linebacking corp is all seniors, most of whom have been in the program for four years. That's good experience, even if it didn't come on the field. The defensive line should also be improved, but once again, several underclassmen will need to grow up fast if this unit is going to excel.

The Bulldogs have to stay healthy if they want to return to the postseason, and they have trained all summer with that in mind. Fontainebleau brought in Jon Childress as an assistant strength and conditioning coach to bring his naval training expertise to help on the football field. Kavanaugh said he has seen a difference in the team's fitness level. If the Bulldogs can stay healthy, they can surprise some teams in district play.

PROJECTED FINISH: 4-6 overall, 1-3 in District 7-5A. 25-28 seed in the Division I nonselect playoffs, lose on the road in the first round.