At the end of the 2022 football season, Delcambre coaches and players all knew they would be facing a rebuilding season following the departure of most of the Panthers’ starters.

With a small roster and several players getting varsity minutes for the first time, nobody would blame the team for not performing up to their high standards in 2023.

For head coach Artie Liuzza, the struggles on the field haven’t soured his love for the game, or his team.

“It’s been one of the most successful seasons that I’ve experienced as a coach,” Liuzza said of this year’s performances. “We have continued to improve and it shows up mostly in practice because we are usually outmanned on Friday nights. Our JV games have gone well, the kids are improving every day, their attitudes have been great and they’re picking up the things that we’re telling them to work on. There’s been a lot of progression this season and it’s been a real joy to work with these guys.”

The Panthers are currently 0-7 after falling to Catholic High in a 49-0 shutout on Friday. Last season, the Panthers went 5-5 in the regular season before losing to White Castle in the opening round of the LHSAA Non-Select Division IV playoffs.

For Liuzza, the measure of success this season won’t be about how many wins or losses the team finishes with.

Wins never measure success, it’s about doing the best that you can in the moment,” he explained. “We’ve had one game this year where we weren’t at our best, every other game we’ve done the best that we could have in that moment and that’s what it’s about.”

Liuzza isn’t a stranger to building programs. Moving to Delcambre in 2016 after an eight-year stint as head coach and athletic director at Highland Baptist, Liuzza knows that on-field success can’t be rushed.

That honest approach has resonated with the Delcambre fans and players, who despite being unhappy with the team’s lack of wins this year remain completely supportive of Liuzza’s project.

“We’ve been honest with them all along,” Liuzza said about the community. “In the past, we’ve had big moments like beating Catholic High, but this year we’re going to have moments but they might be smaller like our opening touchdown against Westminster or a long run or stop here and there. It’s those little moments during the game that are going to show that we’re improving.”

One way that the team is improving is at quarterback. Freshman Rix Robin took over for Parker LeBlanc this season and has done well in both learning the offensive schemes and growing into a leadership role.

“He’s doing a great job (of learning the offense),” Liuzza said of Robin. “We’re doing some things in practice that we’re not showing on the field now, but he takes control of it and he puts those guys into place. For a young guy, he’s showing a lot of poise and the physical attributes will come.”

While the team is mostly made up of underclassmen, Liuzza does have a few seniors that have stepped up to the plate to lead the team this season.

Liuzza specifically highlighted the efforts of linebacker Eli LeBlanc and cornerback Tallon Guilberteau on defense, citing the pair’s ability to put in a hard hit or crucial pass breakup when the team needs it the most. Senior running back Kadyn Bourgeois also drew praise from Liuzza for his ability to smash through the line and pick up important yards against tough defenses.

Having those senior leaders has allowed the Panthers to retain a positive attitude in the face of a potentially winless season. Liuzza said that his team knows that they are working towards a bigger goal in the long term.

“It’s one of the best teams that I’ve been around in that regard,” he said. “These guys understand the situation and they’re just working hard every day to improve. We talk about delayed gratification and they understand that it’s going to pay off eventually.”

Delcambre will continue their regular season run with a home district contest against West St. Mary on Friday. The Wolfpack also enters the contest without a win, giving each team an opportunity to save itself from a dreaded 0-10 season.

Delcambre will close out the regular season with home games against Ascension Episcopal and Loreauville. All kickoffs are scheduled for 7 p.m.