History will be in the making tonight when the Archbishop Hannan High School football squad plays in the Livonia Jamboree as the Hawks square off against the Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School Cougars.

If the school sounds unfamiliar, it might be due to the fact it is from Ajax, Ontario located in Canada. The Hawks and Cougars open tonight’s jamboree at 6. Each of the three games on the card will be a 15-minute quarter.

Hannan second-year coach George Templet said after watching game film he’s learned his Canadian opponent runs a spread offense.

Archbishop Hannan Hawks' senior running back Ethan Lopinto gets away from a Pine Raider defender during last week's scrimmage held at William Pitcher Junior High. (File Photo by Mike McCall)

“They like to chuck it all over the place. They have some outstanding athletes with good overall team speed,” Templet said.

He said they are a very talented offensive club that is well coached. “They have made the necessary adjustments to the American game,” he said.

Defensively, the team plays a 3-4 but also sets up in a 4-3, depending on the opponent.

“We’ll be polite with our neighbors from the north until the ball is teed up. It’s all about playing to win and getting better,” Templet said.

Templet said his club wants to continue to establish the running game.

“We feel it’s important to get the running game on track. We want to find out how our junior quarterback Andrew Arceneaux manages the game. How he controls the huddle and manages the 25-second clock,” he said.

Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School, a school with 1,600 boys, is located east of Toronto. As part of the school’s mission, Notre Dame desires to instill in students values that lead them to become a “person of others.” This service ideal is bringing students from Notre Dame back to the New Orleans area for the second time.

Cougars’ head football coach and retired principal Brian Hughes led a recovery excursion of students in March 2006 to assist in the rebuilding efforts of New Orleans. During that visit, they had the opportunity to meet with Archbishop Hannan and visit the temporary site of the school, which bears his name. Students and chaperones were so moved by the experience they decided to make a return trip.

This time, coach Hughes is bringing with him his squad of 35 football players. The team played a high school game last Thursday, losing to Liberty-Benton of Ohio 59-13, before traveling to New Orleans. Prior to tonight’s jamboree game, the Canadian team, ambassadors of good will, helped work on rebuilding projects in the New Orleans area.

Hannan principal John Cavell said tonight’s jamboree game

came about through the efforts of coach Hughes. In June 2007, he contacted Cavell to offer his idea of a football game between the two schools. Excited by the opportunity, Cavell offered his appreciation and worked to get permission from the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. In addition to tonight’s game, the schools are arranging another jamboree contest for next year occurring between the two schools in Toronto.

In March 2008, LHSAA Commissioner Kenny Henderson granted permission for the game to occur.

Acknowledging the difficult recovery that Archbishop Hannan High School and the New Orleans region has experienced, Henderson wrote, “I know that this is an excellent opportunity for both schools, and I am excited that Archbishop Hannan High School has been given the chance to not only represent the state of Louisiana, but the entire country.” While excited about the opportunity to have his students be a part of this experience, Cavell and Templet acknowledge that Hughes deserves all the credit for coordinating this international event.

Livonia, located west of Baton Rouge, lost their opportunity to play Acadiana Prep in Jamboree action, when Acadiana Prep dropped out of the LHSAA earlier this summer. “We really are fortunate to have the pieces of the puzzle just fit together, Cavell said.”

Coach Templet said the city of Livonia has really taken this to heart.

“The whole city is excited. They are ready to put on a good show for our international guests,” Templet said.

Following the football action, all three teams will be participating in post-game meals being supplied by supporters of Livonia High School. The wildcats will provide the visiting teams with traditional south Louisiana faire of jambalaya and gumbo.