"Narbonne starts reconstruction post massive departure of players and coaches"
Narbonne Gauchos Football Team Rebuilding Amidst Challenges
The Narbonne Gauchos football team, based in Hawthorne, California, is currently in a rebuilding phase following a playoff ban and an exodus of players and coaches. This situation has significantly impacted the program's depth and experience, but the team is working to recover and develop new talent for upcoming seasons.
Historically, the Gauchos have faced disruptions, including transfer issues affecting player availability. Last year saw 27 transfers, whereas at present there are none, signaling improved program stability. There was also a notable CIF-L.A. City Section Open Division game controversy involving a forfeit that later turned into a double forfeit including Narbonne.
Despite these challenges, the Gauchos are making progress. King'leon Sheard, a defensive end, is one of the four returning all-league players for Narbonne. Sheard had two sacks in last season's City Section Open Division final. Quamare Meadows, the basketball point guard, will be the starting quarterback for Narbonne this season. He was the JV quarterback two seasons ago but did not play last season.
The Narbonne Gauchos will open the season on the road against Los Osos on Aug. 22. Doug Bledsoe, who has served as head coach at North Hollywood, Dorsey, Pasadena, and University, is trying to rebuild the Narbonne program. Bledsoe has announced that his latest coaching position will be his last until his 3-year-old grandson reaches high school.
The Narbonne program is currently facing a three-year playoff ban due to rule violations. The City Section has made Narbonne vacate its City title as a result of the rule violations. However, the harsh penalty could potentially be reduced with good behavior.
The Narbonne Gauchos will play 10 games this season, an improvement from the 8 games played last season due to Marine League coaches boycotting games against them, resulting in the loss of four games. The team dropped to 2-9 during a similar transition year in 2021.
The Narbonne team will play its first league game in two seasons against runner-up San Pedro on Oct. 3. Despite the absence of playoffs, King'leon Sheard and three other all-league players have chosen to stay with the Narbonne team. Coach Doug Bledsoe and his staff are confident they can prepare the new varsity players for the upcoming season.
The new coach and the new principal at Narbonne provide an opportunity for the team to start anew. The Gauchos' schedule for the 2025-26 season includes key matches against Santa Paula, King/Drew, San Pedro, Gardena, and others through November. The team started with several losses that were marked as forfeits in their schedule through mid-September, but they have since recorded wins, including some decisive ones later in the season.
In summary, the Narbonne Gauchos are facing a challenging season, but they are determined to rebuild and regain competitiveness after the playoff ban and roster instability. Coach Doug Bledsoe's optimism is reflected in his statement, "The Narbonne Gauchos ain't dead."
- Since the Narbonne Gauchos are based in Los Angeles, California, the team mightfind support from the sports-enthusiastic crowd of Hollywood.
- In a bid to rebuild the program, Coach Doug Bledsoe, who has coached in variousCalifornia cities, sees potential in the team to play football after its playoff ban.
- As the new season approaches, the Narbonne Gauchos will face numerous opponents from across California, including San Pedro and Gardena, striving to overcome past challenges and finally secure a spot back in the state's playoffs.
