By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
The 2023 St. Mary’s football team showed it could measure up against much bigger schools with a victory over Class 3A Abbeville, and a second straight
state quarterfinal playoff berth.
Wednesday, that status was reflected again as three Tiger seniors accepted
offers to play college football on National Signing Day, in a morning ceremony at the school’s gymnasium.
Ben Bienvenu accepted a preferred walk on opportunity at UL Lafayette, where his big sister Maria became a two-time All-America javelin star (she has since transferred to TCU for her final two seasons). Bienvenu will play linebacker for the Ragin’ Cajuns and be coached by family friend Scott Stoker, a former NSU great quarterback who became the Demons’ head coach from 2002-08 and has just joined the ULL staff as an assistant coach.
Drake Griffin earned a scholarship from Southern Arkansas, where he will reunite with former Tiger quarterback Adam Parker, and former NSU offensive coordinator Brad Smiley – the Muleriders’ second-year head coach. Smiley’s children recently graduated from SMS. Griffin will get trials in several
different roles, offensively as an H-back/tight end, defensively at linebacker, and on special teams, including as a deep snapper.
Payne Williams is headed to beautiful Fort Collins, Col., to be a kicker after not only shining in that job for St. Mary’s, but being a standout on both sides of the ball.
All three Tigers are multi-sport standouts and high-achieving students.
Griffin was a first-team LSWA All-State linebacker, made the Louisiana Football Coaches’ Association All-State first team, and was a two-way first-team All-District player at fullback and linebacker.
Bienvenu, who came back from substantial injuries from an auto accident near the end of his junior football season, made the All-Geaux Preps Small School Football Team at tight end. He was honorable mention LSWA All-State as a linebacker and a first-team All-District selection on both sides of the
ball.
Williams made the All-Geaux Preps Small School Football Team and was a first team LSWA All-State pick as a punter. The left-footer was on the LFCA All-State team as a kicker. He has been a first-team All-District kicker and punter, and earned second-team All-District as a receiver and defensive back.
While all three strongly considered staying home to play at Northwestern, ultimately each decided to branch out in college.
Bienvenu’s familiarity with Lafayette through his sister and his mother, Amy, opened that door and he loved what he found in the Cajuns’ football program.
“I really liked the coaching staff. It does seem like a family there, even though it’s a bigger program. The atmosphere there is insane. I went there for a couple of game-day visits, and I loved it,” he said. “The culture is the biggest thing. It reminds me of the small town we have here and the support we have behind our football team. The facilities are amazing, and Lafayette’s a great place with great food. That’s why I wanted to go there.”
Williams expects to focus on placekicking for the Rams.
“They have great facilities and a great coaching staff, and they have a great history of kickers. I want to be the next one for them,” he said.
After considering offers from NSU and Southern Arkansas, and a possible opportunity at Louisiana Tech, he chose CSU.
“Colorado State is where I wanted to go. It’s the nicest place of all of them,” said Williams.
One added benefit: the Rocky Mountains, and the mile-high altitude, allowing a little better ball flight on his kicks. “It’s about five more yards,” he said, “which is nice.”
The Rams have a senior kicker for 2024, so Williams will probably redshirt this fall, but will compete for the starting job in 2025.
Griffin also wrestled with his college choice but getting away felt like being at home, he said.
“The whole atmosphere felt different when I went up there. I felt like family already. They already knew everything about me and it felt like a nice fit,” he explained. “It seems like they’re going to take good care of me, and I think I’ll have a lot of fun playing for them.”
Teaming up with Parker again has great appeal, said Griffin.
“Adam is one of my best friends. We grew up together. I’m excited to get to play with him again. Our connection is really good on the field, and it’s going to be fun to do that again. I’ll be able to make some friends through his friends.”
