Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate
Several years have passed since the Cecilia Bulldogs went with only one quarterback. Whether it's due to injuries or strategy, the Bulldogs have found success with that method, and they're keeping opponents off balance with a one-two punch of Braylon Calais and Collin Dore, who has taken most of the snaps. "Nick Saban said it's about players, not plays," Bulldogs coach Cody Champagne said. "When you have skill position players all over the place, you just have to use them." Dore, who started at H-back for the 2024 state championship team, was a quarterback in middle school. When he was a freshman and Diesel Solari got injured, Dore alternated at QB with Germonie Davis. If Dore was in the game and Davis was split out at receiver, there was a good chance the duo was looking to connect on a pass. "Collin is a football player like Diesel," Champagne said. "They enjoy playing football and will do whatever makes their team win to the best of their ability." The Bulldogs (4-4, 3-0 District 5-4A) , who have won three games in a row after a 1-4 start, travel to Livonia (4-4, 1-1) this week with an open date in Week 10. "It's not great to lose, but those first two games helped us settle down," Dore said of losses by a combined nine points to St. Martinville and St. Amant. "I knew we lost, but it was a great game at St. Amant, We were down 21-0 (lost 60-56)." Dore ranks among the top 10 area passers with nearly 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns with a 62% completion rate. He's also averaging six yards per carry with 10 touchdowns. "Collin knows he has a big responsibility on his shoulders," Champagne said. "He wants everything to go as expected and is doing a better job of rallying the troops." Dore is coming off a 17 of 20 performance through the air with 217 yards and three touchdowns in a 53-7 rivalry win over Opelousas. He also rushed for 35 yards on six carries with two scores. "It's amazing to be able to fill so many roles and know everybody has my back," said Dore, an avid outdoorsman. "We just rotate and try to score touchdowns." Either Dore or Calais, an elite junior prospect who ran over 1,000 yards last year, is apt to take the snap with the other somewhere on the field. At punter, Dore converted on a fake in the 2024 playoffs against North DeSoto. He's on punt block, punt return and has held on extra points and field goals since his freshman year.
