Mandeville’s Skippers, who opened the season with a hard-fought, 14-13, victory over West Jefferson Sept. 10, host the Walker Wildcats at 7 tonight in Skipper Stadium.

Walker (0-1) fell to Ponchatoula, 39-8, in its road opener.

Mandeville struggled with its offensive execution in its one-point victory over West Jeff at home.

MHS returns to action tonight, hosting Walker

The Skippers had numerous penalties and dropped passes in the victory, which kept the game close. MHS head coach Guy LeCompte said his club needs to find a way to stop making those types of mistakes.

Skippers’ junior running back Darrell Adams led the MHS ground game with 74 yards on 14 carries last week with a 2-yard TD run in the third quarter.

Senior quarterback Andy Bertoniere completed 10-of-22 passes for 90 yards in the victory over West Jeff. Senior back Will Bunns hauled in four passes for 44 yards. He also rushed for 38 yards on six carries.

Skippers’ junior place kicker/starting offensive tackle Matt Dombrowski booted two field goals from 36 and 27 yards out to support the MHS offense.

Senior defensive back Austin Storms picked off two West Jefferson passes in the season opener to spark the Skippers’ secondary. Storms made six individual tackles and had six assists. Senior Kody Keowen deflected a two-point conversion pass attempt to secure the Skippers’ victory over the Buccaneers.

Keowen recorded five individual tackles with one assist, including two tackles for losses.

Senior linebacker Jeff Rebouche was in on seven tackles, including four solo stops.

Michael Crain made three stops with four assists, while forcing a fumble that was recovered by Chad Alfaro.

Mandeville defensive coordinator Craig Jones said the Skippers are doing their best to get back to a normal routine after having their first game scheduled for Sept. 1 in Texas Stadium cancelled along with opening the season on a Wednesday night against West Jefferson.

“We are finally back into our regular routine, getting ready for Walker,” Jones said. “On film, it looks like they play hard. We will have to bring our best game. We have to continue to work on fundamentals, shaking off the rust from the long break, having last played on Sept. 10.”

Walker, 0-10 last season, is under the direction of first-year head coach Mike Todd.

Before taking over the Walker coaching job, he coached Tara High School in Baton Rouge to a 9-2 record with a district championship.

Todd described Mandeville as a very good football team.

“They are a very solid football team. They have good size, good speed and appear to be a disciplined ball club,” he said.

“Their quarterback (Bertoniere) does a good job in the pocket. He is poised and throws a good ball. Their offensive line does a nice job protecting him.”

He said Mandeville has a quick, aggressive defense that comes after you.

Todd said he has an inexperienced club with only nine seniors.

He returns only three players on offense and three players on defense with experience from last year.

“It will be an uphill battle for us, going against a very solid Mandeville squad,” he said. “We need to execute and find some positives. We’re looking for some identity for our team, something to hang our hat on.”

Walker runs a multiple offense out of the I-formation. Senior David Zachary (5-10, 170) is the Wildcats’ starting quarterback, replacing senior Blake Martin, who was injured in this year’s jamboree. Sophomore Tyler Daniel (5-8, 160) is the Wildcats’ starting tailback along with senior Beau Dunn (6-1, 180).

“Due to our injury at quarterback, we have revamped our play book. We are currently a struggling football team, trying to get some consistency in our play. We are a vulnerable team,” Todd said.

Walker plays out of a multiple 4-3 defense led by junior linebacker Dakoda Cifrea (6-0, 210) and junior outside linebacker Daniel Truxillo (5-11, 170).