2022 Southwest Louisiana High School Football Preview

C2 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

2021 district standings DISTRICT 3-5A District Overall Acadiana 7-0 8-2 Southside 6-1 7-3 Sulphur 5-2 6-4 Barbe 3-4 4-6 Comeaux 3-4 4-6 Lafayette 3-4 5-5 Sam Houston 1-6 2-7 New Iberia 0-7 0-10 DISTRICT 3-4A District Overall Leesville 4-0 7-2 DeRidder 3-1 7-3 Tioga 2-2 3-7 Bolton 1-3 2-7 Peabody 0-4 0-10 DISTRICT 4-4A District Overall Rayne 4-0 6-4 Eunice 3-1 6-4 North Vermilion 2-2 2-8 Washington-Marion 1-3 5-4 LaGrange 0-4 0-10 DISTRICT 4-3A District Overall LC College Prep 5-0 8-2 Iowa 4-1 9-1 Jennings 3-2 4-6 Westlake 2-3 7-3 St. Louis 1-4 4-6 South Beauregard 0-5 1-9

DISTRICT 5-3A District Overall Church Point 5-0 10-0 Iota 4-1 7-3 Northwest 3-2 5-5 Mamou 2-3 4-6 Pine Prairie 1-4 5-5 Ville Platte 0-5 0-10 DISTRICT 5-2A District Overall Rosepine 5-0 9-1 DeQuincy 3-2 5-5 Kinder 3-2 4-6 Oakdale 3-2 6-4 Vinton 1-4 2-8 Pickering 0-5 0-10 DISTRICT 6-2A District Overall Lafayette Christian 4-0 8-1 Notre Dame 3-1 8-2 Welsh 2-2 6-4 Lake Arthur 1-3 3-7 Port Barre 0-4 0-10 DISTRICT 4-1A District Overall Basile 6-1 6-4 Grand Lake 6-1 9-1 Hamilton Christian 6-1 7-2 East Beauregard 3-4 4-6 Oberlin 3-4 4-6 Merryville 2-5 2-8 Gueydan 2-5 3-7 Elton 0-7 0-10

Rodrick Anderson / American Press

Tight end Luke Guillory (87) and offensive lineman Lucious Guillory (74) return for the Iowa Yellow Jackets this season.

Barbe Basile DeQuincy DeRidder East Beauregard Elton Grand Lake Hamilton Christian Iota Iowa Jennings Kinder LaGrange LakeArthur Lake Charles College Prep Leesville McNeese State University Merryville Oakdale Oberlin Pickering Rosepine St. Louis Catholic Sam Houston South Beauregard Sulphur Vinton Washington/Marion Welsh Westlake

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Southwest Louisiana prep football week-by-week schedule WEEK 1 Thursday, Sept. 1 Nondistrict: Washington-Marion at Sulphur, Grand Lake at Hamilton Christian Friday, Sept. 2 Nondistrict: LaGrange at Barbe, Sam Houston at Many, DeRidder at South Beauregard, Jennings at Leesville, Iota at Iowa, Kinder at Welsh, Lake Charles College Prep at Magnolia School of Excellence, St. Louis Catholic at Crowley, Westlake at DeQuincy, Lake Arthur at Basile, Vinton at Oakdale, Elton at Pickering, East Beauregard at Rosepine, Merryville at North Central, Pine Prairie at Oberlin.

WEEK 2 Thursday, Sept. 8 Nondistrict: Northside at Washington-Marion, Church Point at Kinder, Westminster Christian at Grand Lake, Vinton at Merryville.

Friday, Sept. 9 District 3-5A: Carencro at Barbe, Sam Houston at New Iberia, Sulphur at Acadiana.

Nondistrict: Many at DeRidder, LaGrange at Haughton, Leesville at Jena, St. Louis Catholic at Iota, Rayne at Iowa, Eunice at Jennings, Lake Charles College Prep at Westgate, South Beauregard at Rosepine, Welsh at Westlake, DeQuincy at Loreauville, Lake Arthur at Mamou, Oakdale at Oberlin, Pickering at East Beauregard, Basile at Ville Platte, Northwood-Lena at Elton, Highland Baptist at Hamilton Christian.

WEEK 3 Thursday, Sept. 15 Nondistrict: Iota at Crowley, Hamilton Christian at Welsh.

Friday, Sept. 16 District 3-5A: Barbe at Sam Houston, Sulphur at Lafayette.

Nondistrict: Jennings at DeRidder, Kaplan at LaGrange, Iowa at Leesville, Washington-Marion at Cecilia, Rosepine at Kinder, Lake Charles College Prep at Opelousas, South Beauregard at DeQuincy, St. Louis Catholic at Vidor, Tx., Westlake at Vinton, Grand Lake at Pickering, Jeanerette at Lake Arthur, Ville Platte at Oakdale, Sacred Heart at Basile, East Beauregard at Mamou, Elton at Montgomery, Merryville at LaSalle, Sicily Island at Oberlin.

WEEK 4 Thursday, Sept. 22 District 3-3A: Kinder at St. Louis Catholic.

Nondistrict: Oakdale at Grand Lake, Rosepine at Vinton.

Friday, Sept. 23 District 3-5A: Comeaux at Sam Houston, Carencro at Sulphur.

District 3-3A: Jennings at Iowa, South Beauregard at Lake Charles College Prep District 5-1A: Basile at Elton, East Beauregard at Gueydan, Merryville at Oberlin Nondistrict: Barbe at Pineville, DeRidder at Westlake, LaGrange at St. Edmund, Catholic-New Iberia at Leesville, Lakeshore at Washington-Marion, Iota at Ville Platte, St. Mary’s at DeQuincy, Delcambre at Lake Arthur, Pickering at Welsh, Hamilton Christian at Westminster Christian.

WEEK 5 Thursday, Sept. 29 District 5-1A: Oberlin at Hamilton Christian.

Nondistrict: Grand Lake at East Beauregard.

Friday, Sept. 30 District 3-5A: Barbe at Southside, Sam Houston at Sulphur.

District 3-3A: Iowa at Kinder, Lake Charles College Prep at Westlake, St. Louis Catholic at South Beauregard.

District 5-1A: Gueydan at Basile, Elton at Merryville.

Nondistrict: Marksville at DeRidder, LaGrange at North Vermilion, Leesville at Opelousas, Jennings at Iota, DeQuincy at Rosepine, Lake Arthur at Pickering, St. Edmund at Oakdale, Erath at Vinton, Welsh at Loreauville.

Bye: Washington-Marion.

WEEK 6 Thursday, Oct. 6 District 3-4A: DeRidder at LaGrange, Leesville at Washington-Marion.

District 5-2A: Welsh at Grand Lake.

District 5-1A: Basile at Hamilton Christian, Gueydan at Elton.

Friday, Oct. 7 District 3-5A: Sulphur at Barbe, Acadiana at Sam Houston.

District 4-3A: Iota at Northwest.

District 3-3A: South Beauregard at Iowa, Kinder at Jennings, Westlake at St.

Louis Catholic.

District 4-2A: Avoyelles at Oakdale, Pickering at Holy Savior Menard.

District 5-2A: Vinton at DeQuincy, Notre Dame at Lake Arthur.

District 5-1A: East Beauregard at Oberlin.

Nondistrict: St. James at Lake Charles College Prep, Rosepine at Logansport, Merryville at Highland Baptist.

WEEK 7 Thursday, Oct. 13 District 5-1A: Hamilton Christian at Merryville.

Friday, Oct. 14 District 3-5A: Barbe at New Iberia, Lafayette at Sam Houston, Sulphur at Southside.

District 3-4A: DeRidder at Leesville, LaGrange at Rayne, Washington-Marion at Eunice.

District 3-3A: Iowa at Westlake, Jennings at South Beauregard, St. Louis Catholic at Lake Charles College Prep.

District 4-3A: Pine Prairie at Iota.

District 4-2A: Pickering at Rosepine.

District 5-2A: DeQuincy at Welsh, Lake Arthur at Grand Lake, Vinton at Notre Dame District 5-1A: Oberlin at Basile, Elton at East Beauregard.

Nondistrict: Kinder at Breaux Bridge, Oakdale at Mamou.

WEEK 8 Thursday, Oct. 20 District 3-5A: Barbe at Lafayette.

District 3-4A: Rayne at Washington-Marion.

District 3-3A: South Beauregard at Kinder.

District 5-1A: East Beauregard at Merryville.

Nondistrict: South Lafourche at St. Louis Catholic.

Friday, Oct. 21 District 3-5A: Sam Houston at Carencro.

District 3-4A: Eunice at DeRidder, Leesville at LaGrange.

District 3-3A: Lake Charles College Prep at Iowa, Westlake at Jennings District 4-3A: Mamou at Iota.

District 4-2A: Oakdale at Pickering, Rosepine at Holy Savior Menard.

District 5-2A: Notre Dame at DeQuincy, Grand Lake at Vinton, Welsh at Lake Arthur.

District 5-1A: Elton at Oberlin, Gueydan at Hamilton Christian.

Nondistrict: Destrehan at Sulphur, Basile at Port Barre.

WEEK 9 Thursday, Oct. 27 District 3-5A: Comeaux at Barbe.

District 3-4A: LaGrange at Washington-Marion.

District 3-3A: Iowa at St. Louis Catholic, Kinder at Westlake.

Friday, Oct. 28 District 3-5A: New Iberia at Sulphur.

District 3-4A: DeRidder at Rayne, Leesville at Eunice.

District 3-3A: Jennings at Lake Charles College Prep.

District 4-3A: Iota at Port Barre.

District 4-2A: Holy Savior Menard at Oakdale, Rosepine at Avoyelles.

District 5-2A: DeQuincy at Lake Arthur, Notre Dame at Grand Lake, Vinton at Welsh.

District 5-1A: Merryville at Basile, Hamilton Christian at East Beauregard, Oberlin at Gueydan.

Nondistrict: E.D. White at Sam Houston, Pickering at South Beauregard.

Bye: Elton WEEK 10 Thursday, Nov. 3 District 3-5A: Sam Houston at Southside.

District 3-3A: St. Louis Catholic at Jennings, Lake Charles College Prep at Kinder.

District 5-1A: Hamilton Christian at Elton.

Nondistrict: Cecilia at Iowa.

Friday, Nov. 4 District 3-5A: Acadiana at Barbe, Comeaux at Sulphur.

District 3-4A: Washington-Marion at DeRidder, Eunice at LaGrange, Rayne at Leesville.

District 3-3A: Westlake at South Beauregard.

District 4-3A: Church Point at Iota.

District 4-2A: Avoyelles at Pickering, Oakdale at Rosepine.

District 5-2A: Grand Lake at DeQuincy, Lake Arthur at Vinton, Welsh at Notre Dame.

District 5-1A: Basile at East Beauregard, Merryville at Gueydan.

Nondistrict: Oberlin at Ville Platte.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C3

Rodrick Anderson / American Press

LEFT: Sulphur senior wide receiver Jonathan Hopkins will play a big role in the Tors’ passing game this season. CENTER: Senior safety Tyler Massey tackles South Beauregard quarterback Jesse Shuff during a scrimmage on Aug. 12. RIGHT: Sulphur quarterback Gage Trahan looks downfield for an open receiver.

Sulphur: Tors are ready to compete at higher level

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

The Tors tripled their win total in their second season under head coach Chris Towery and exceeded expectations. Now they want to keep the ball rolling.

“It is just to continue to follow the process and doing what we need to do to step this program forward,” Tower said. “We got a lot of kids back this year.

“We only had eight seniors last year. We have 20-something seniors this year, so it is just moving forward. Our kids will compete. We are focusing on working on the details and trying to get better at what we do. We know for us to have success, we have to execute.

We definitely want to compete on a higher level

‘I think you will see us throw it around the yard a little bit this year.

We threw it a lot at times last year, but we will probably throw it even more this year.’

Chris Towery Sulphur High football coach

than we did last year.”

Tor quarterback Gage Trahan returns after throwing for 1,625 yards and 12 touchdowns. Also back is three of his top targets from last season in Kaden Blalock (644 yards, 5 TD), Jonathan Hopkins (216 yards, 2 TD), Ashton Alton (194 yards) and 6-6 tight end John David LaFleur.

“We have a good core

wide receiver-quarterback group back on offense,” Towery said.

“I expect big things out of those guys. I think you will see us throw it around the yard a little bit this year. We threw it a lot at times last year, but we will probably throw it even more this year.

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Sam Houston sophomore linebacker Keaton Sonnier tackles DeRidder running back Darian Castille during a scrimmage on Aug. 12 at Matt Walker Memorial Stadium.

Rodrick Anderson American Press

Sam Houston: Broncos looking to rebound this season

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

After not playing in 2020 due to hurricane damage, the 2021 season was not kind to Sam Houston. But the Broncos have responded and look to rebound this season.

“Every now and then we may have to mention it to just kind of light a spark again,” head coach Chad Davis said. “But they forgot about it on their own, and it shows.

“They are not worried about what it was last year. They are worried about what they are going to do this year.

They are very self-motivated. We are coming off a tough season last year. The kids know that.

We expect a lot out of them. They took on a big leadership role internally over the summer.”

Sam Houston returns four on the defensive side in linebacker Jamarion Jackson, lineman Josh Lemonier and safeties Leighton Hickman and Mason Faulk and have an overall more experienced group with 10 seniors and juniors in starting roles.

“The defense is probably going to be the oldest part of the team,” Davis said. “My front four on the defense line are

SULPHUR Continued from C3

“At the wide receiver position, you have Johnathan Hopkins, who is steady and a good route runner, Ashton Alston, who started last year and a good little slot receiver for us, and

‘We are coming off a tough season last year.

The kids know that. We expect a lot out of them.’

Chad Davis Sam Houston football coach

pretty much all seniors, and I do have a senior at linebacker.

“The rest are going to be juniors and sophomores. We switched

what we do. We used to be a 3-4, now we have switched to a 4-3. There is a lot of good size on the defensive side of the ball. These guys have

worked extremely hard all summer in the weight room and it definitely shows. What we look for with them is how nasty can they play on that side

of the ball. What intensity level do they play with? Because that sets the tone for the whole team.”

The Broncos will be young on the offensive side with six sophomores expected in the starting mix. One of them is returning quarterback Gavin Stout. Senior returners Dennis Gardere at running back, wide receiver Jackson Landreneau and lineman Elijah Morris will provide leadership to the young group.

“It is nice because you have a senior guy at each position out there, one on the line, one at receiver and one at tailback,” Davis said. “We have senior leadership there in each group.

“Offensive skill guys

you have Kaden Blalock, who runs a legit 4.4. That is our speed guy. If we can protect, not hold the ball very long, I think we will be able to throw it around the yard.”

The Tors return three offensive linemen in Dawson Lebrun, Layne Ackel and Noah Mouton, and will look to Garrison

Burgess, Kaden Sedano and Demarcus Williams to replace running back Tag Stelly, who now plays for McNeese State.

Defensively, the Tors return eight, including four in the secondary in Grayson Stelly, Kohl Navarre, Tyler Massey and Alijah Coleman. Under new defensive coordi-

nator Mason Martin, the Tors are switching to the 3-4.

“We switched schemewise defensively,” Towery said. “We are a 3-4 team.

“We made a change there with a new defensive coordinator, Mason Martin. I think this 3-4 fits our kids. They are doing a really good job

of implementing it over there getting it in. I like what we are seeing over there so far.

Also back are linebackers Corey Hyatt and Peyton Lemaire and linemen Keegan Trim and Blayden Laidlaw.

“Keegan and Blayden are great high school defensive lineman,”

Rodrick Anderson / American Press

Sam Houston sophomore wide receiver Ty Stout makes a catch during a scrimmage against DeRidder on Aug. 12.

have really surprised me.

They have really bonded.

They will get finished with workouts and take it on their own to go out and do extras or come inside and hold meetings on their own. They don’t even ask for a coach to come in there and talk to them, they do it themselves.”

Stout threw for 1,541 yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman in 2021.

“Last year, he was really kind of thrown into it,” Davis said. “It was one of those things that you hoped it wasn’t a bad thing. It has really done good for him.

“He didn’t get big headed about it or anything. He has worked extremely hard. He holds his guys accountable. He is not making it more than it is. He is definitely putting in the work.”

Sam Houston won’t have much time to settle into the 2022 season.

With the addition of Carencro to District 3-5A, the district season will start in Week 2.

“It is a quick turn now having nine teams in the district and only having two nondistrict games,” Davis said. “You don’t have a whole lot of time to get prepared for district.”

Towery said. “Keegan and Blayden are hard as hell to block in practice. Tyler Massey is a football player. You look at him and he is kind of skinny, but he is a football player. We need them to step up a little bit more and drag everybody along with them. But we have a good nucleus back over there.”

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C5

Barbe: Team has something to prove this year, coach says

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

With more experience on both sides of the ball, Barbe looks to make last season’s playoff absence an aberration.

2021 was the first time the Bucs missed out on the postseason since 1991. Barbe did not play varsity football in 2020 because of damage from Hurricanes Laura and Delta.

“They are excited about the season, and we are looking forward to it,” Barbe head coach Mike Cutrera said. “I think those kids feel they have something to prove and hopefully they will.

“All these kids started or played a lot last year.

Hopefully, the game has slowed down for some of those guys. Last year, they were all wide-eyed and things were happening real fast because they weren’t used to the speed of the game. Hopefully it will slow down for them a bit and they will be able to see more and react better.”

With a trio of receivers returning in Jamaal Levi 1,538 yards, 19 TD), Landon Victorian and Kenny Golla, plus quarterback Will McClain

‘We need to get more consistent and play better and stay injury free. Last year, we got devastated by injuries.’

Mike Cutrera Barbe High head coach

Kirk Meche / American Press Archives

Barbe’s Jamaal Levi, right, was the area’s leading receiver last year with 1,538 yards and 19 touchdowns.

(2,443 yards, 24 TD), the Bucs will air it out a lot this season.

“We are glad those two guys (Levi, McClain) are on our team,” Cutrera said. “Will does a good job of running our offense, and he is very mature. With that year under his belt, hopefully the game slows down for him and he can see a lot

better.

“Jamaal is going to open up some things for other guys, as well. We will have those other guys that can step up and do some good things.”

Sophomore Eric Jones will replace three-year starter Tylan Ceasar at running back.

Barbe returns six on defense in linemen Jason

Legre and Kaden Broussard, linebacker Corey Sonnier and defensive backs Jules Pradia, Kandyn Cordova and Sam Cappel.

“We have seen improvements,” Cutrera said. “We are a little bigger and we run better, so it should be an improvement.”

Cutrera is looking for

senior linebacker John Henry Richard to make an impact after an ACL injury ended his junior season.

“We do have some seniors that are starting for the first time,” Cutrera said. “John Henry Richard was going to start for us last year, but he got hurt about the third or fourth play of

the scrimmage we had last year with Jennings.

He had an ACL injury, so we lost him for the year.

We were looking for good things from him last year, so hopefully it just carries over and he will be injury free.”

Cutrera said consistency will be key for the Bucs.

“We need to get more consistent and play better and stay injury free,” Cutrera said. “Last year, we got devastated by injuries.

“You hate to see that happen, but you have kids that are playing this year that got playing experience (last year) because of that.”

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C6 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

Leesville: Team ‘looking forward, not backward’

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

The graduation of star running back Caleb Gallashaw and 24 other seniors isn’t getting Leesville head coach Robert Causey down.

Instead, Causey is focused on building a plan around his current group of players.

“You find the strengths of the kids that you have coming back, accentuate those strengths,” he said. “You look forward, not backwards. Caleb was a great athlete, we wish him well at Belhaven. We have young kids at the skill positions this year and we are trying to accentuate their strengths.”

Causey said he has a set of skill players to build around.

“Daniel Ford is a young kid, a sophomore, with a chance to be a running back,” he said. “We have a couple of capable quarterbacks, including the starter from last year, Parker Maks. Izaiah Farley and Marshawn Graham are at receiver.

“Parker came in and had to compete for the position, got in there and got better as the year went along. He was able to manage the offense.

We had a lot of veteran skill position guys, so his job was to be a game

manager and he did a good job of that.”

The offensive line will have a new look with two returnees.

“Terry Evans and Jacob Smith are back as starters on the offensive line,” Causey said. “Daniel Cheatem is moving from the defensive line, where he was a starter. Whatever we ask, that kid does.”

Causey said the Wampus Cats could be a big-play offense.

“I think we are going to be pretty quick on offense, we have speed at the skill positions,” he said.

“A short pass can turn into a long pass. I want to get the ball to our playmakers. I don’t care how it’s done. Coaches over-complicate the game. The key is to get the ball to your playmakers. That’s what I want to see.”

Experience is short on defense.

“Stefan James, Derek Beebe Jr. and Tyshaun Avery are back on defense,” Causey said. “A few other kids have some game experience. The kids are coachable and believe in the system.

They are going to be aggressive, that is what I like about them now.

I think we are going

See LEESVILLE, C8

American Press Archives

DeRidder sophomore offensive lineman Nicholas Rochelle blocks Sam Houston’s Keaton Sonnier to make room for running back Darien Castille during a scrimmage on Aug. 12.

Dragons look to ride ground game

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

A trio of running backs that combined to run for more than 3,400 yards last season return to power the DeRidder Dragons.

Leading the way will be Ronnie Crosby, who ran for 1,805 yards and 18 touchdowns.

“He has good balance, speed and power,” head coach Brad Parmley said. “He’s a balanced back. He can get the tough yards when you need to get a first down and he can also make a house call from sixty.”

Alex Archield (528 yards, 10 TDs) and Darien Castille (1,183 yards, 9 TDs) will rotate with Crosby in the backfield.

“Alex is our power

back, he has gotten faster over the summer so we are excited about seeing that,” Parmley said. “He does a great job getting the tough yardage. All three are a little bit different.

Being able to rotate those guys makes a big difference.”

Sophomore Uriah Wade is slated to take over at quarterback.

“He’s just a sophomore, but played as a freshman at wide receiver,” Parmley said.

“He’s a good athlete and a smart kid.

“He’s done a great job all summer running the offense.”

Three starters must be replaced on the offensive line.

“Jesse Williams, our big left tackle and an all district player, is return-

HEDULE

SC

ing,” Parmley said. “Our left guard, Brandon Lewing, is not real big, but he is super quick.

We have some new faces with them, but they are doing a good job of coming along and gelling right now.”

Defensively, the Dragons have plenty of experience up front and new faces in the secondary.

“We have six guys returning on the defensive front,” Parmley said.

“We were pretty young on that side last year so a lot of guys got good experience last year. Kenias St. Romain, Braylon Bailey, Kevian Williams and Jaden Aswell all started as sophomores.

We feel like we’ve gotten faster there over the offseason and hopefully that will pay off for

them this year.

“Bryant Hammond is a returning safety who did a good job for us last year. We are expecting good things from him.

Aaron Dupas moved from receiver to corner for his senior season, he is doing a great job for us.”

Parmley said the roster is underclassmen-heavy, but that isn’t lowering expectations.

“We only have 10 seniors, it’s not a big class but it is a quality group,” he said. “We are looking forward to seeing this team grow and gel together, see how far they can go.

“They have a willingness to work. The seniors do a great job and they are fun to be around.”

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C7

C8 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

2021 Southwest La. stat leaders Big Schools Rushing

Player, School Trevor Etienne, Jennings Ronnie Crosby, DeRidder Caleb Gallashaw, Leesville Jamaal Guillory, Westlake Daylan Lunson, Iota Trevonte Citizen, LCCP Devonte Guidroz, LCCP Darian Castille, DeRidder James Phillips, St. Louis Keshaun Doucet, LG Player, School Will McClain, Barbe Gavin Stout, SHHS James Reina, St. Louis Gage Trahan, Sulphur Parker Maks, Leesville Jason Wilson, LaGrange Josiah Bushnell, LCCP Koltin LeBleu, Iowa Dawson Wallace, Iota Justin Thomas, W-M

G CAR YDS TD YPG 11 173 1,913 31 173.9 11 212 1,805 18 164.0 11 192 1,717 18 156.0 12 179 1,836 26 153.0 8 124 990 13 123.7 6 66 726 11 121.0 10 91 1,128 12 112.8 11 125 1,183 9 107.5 7 129 737 6 105.2 9 167 876 8 97.3

Passing G 10 8 11 10 10 9 10 12 11 9

C-A-I 136-237-8 121-223-5 116-219-12 123-234-4 95-179-6 97-191-9 72-122-6 72-109-5 82-177-3 79-120-8

TD 24 14 21 12 14 11 16 19 16 10

YDS 2,443 1,541 1,982 1,625 1,596 1,154 1,275 1,467 1,184 948

YPG 244.3 192.6 180.1 162.5 159.6 128.2 127.5 122.2 107.6 105.3

Receiving

Rick Hickman / American Press Archives

Defensive back Stefan James, shown here making an interception against Jennings last season, returns to lead the Wampus Cat defense.

LEESVILLE Continued from C7

to make mistakes early, like everybody else, and just hope we can recover from them. They are going to fly to the football.

The biggest thing is getting game experience. We need it because of how tough our schedule is.”

Causey said progress has been steady in the preseason.

“We’re coming along pretty good on both sides of the ball,” he said.

“We are putting in new schemes on both sides of the ball and are right where we need to be heading into the scrimmage.”

Causey said the young team has the intangibles to succeed.

“They are good kids, they come to work every day, they are dependable,” he said.

“They are going to give you what they got. We never talk about winning or losing, we talk about doing things the Wampus Cat way. To me that is a huge thing that I believe in. The kids do it, they serve one another, they coach one another, they improve every day and shake off bad days. That epitomizes our whole team. We lost 25 seniors and only return seven kids that played. The kids are excited and they are learning. They do what we ask of them and try to get better every day.”

Player, School Jamaal Levi, Barbe Quinton Simon, SHHS Marcus Duhon, St. Louis Keshlon Jackson, LCCP Curtis Deville, Iowa Kaden Blalock, Sulphur Grant Evans, St. Louis Daveion Grubb, Leesville Kemhari Pruitt, Leesville Tristan Goodly, Westlake

Player, School Spencer Bailey, St. Louis Caden Catron, Leesville Matthew Vest, Iowa Ethan Paiz, Sulphur Collin Medlin, Barbe Allen Espinosa, Westlake Dallas Conner, SHHS Jose Mijares, DeRidder Eli Ardoin, Iota Peyton Herpon, Jennings

G REC YDS TD YPG 10 66 1,538 19 153.8 9 56 803 10 89.2 11 51 876 10 79.6 10 27 715 9 71.5 12 36 778 8 64.8 10 30 644 5 64.4 11 29 637 8 57.9 11 27 630 8 57.3 11 31 628 8 57.1 12 37 633 7 52.8

Kicking

PAT 34-38 48-53 47-55 31-32 35-37 40-55 25-26 29-37 31-34 30-42

FG 8 1 0 5 3 1 6 2 1 0

LG 40 28 0 39 37 29 36 45 30 0

Jadon Ross, Elton 5 Connor Guillotte, Grand Lake7 Remington Coody, Merryville10

17-46-3 21-38-2 41-84-7

Receiving

Player, School Logan Beard, Vinton Isiah Stinson, Rosepine Cole Donahue, Rosepine Noah Carter, Oberlin DeMarcus Jack, Elton Taije Ceasar, DeQuincy Elijah Belton, Hamilton Jared Thomas, Basile Gavin Gary, DeQuincy Kaleb Lewis, Merryville

G REC 10 42 13 61 13 29 12 27 10 12 12 21 8 20 12 19 12 19 11 23

Kicking

Player, School Aden Cline, Rosepine Ross Cortez, Basile Kohen Cormier, DeQuincy Gentry Pousson, Welsh Jose Morales, Grand Lake Hector Ortega, Vinton Dutton Dieterich, Oakdale Noah Menard, Hamilton Aidan Duhon, Lake Arthur Deshaun Deville, Oberlin

1 6 8

64.4 64.0 55.7

YDS 765 716 587 470 355 416 270 352 347 285

TD 10 11 7 3 3 4 3 2 3 5

YPG 76.5 55.1 45.2 39.2 35.5 34.7 33.8 29.3 28.9 25.9

FG 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

LG 0 0 0 31 0 0 0 0 0 0

PTS 48 40 35 31 18 17 13 11 10 10

PAT 48-61 40-45 35-40 28-31 18-23 17-29 13-29 11-18 10-16 10-17

PTS 58 51 47 46 44 43 43 35 34 30

Small Schools Rushing

Player, School Cohen Fontenot, Welsh Cedric Allison, Oakdale Kane Atkinson, E. Beau Grant Ducote, Rosepine Cam’ron Williams, Merryville Ethan Bazinet, Basile Taije Ceasar, DeQuincy Sherman Bellow, Elton Dominque Eaves, Oberlin Zebeian Doffoney, Hamilton

G CAR YDS TD YPG 11 251 1,783 23 162.1 9 154 1,439 14 159.8 12 241 1,863 26 155.2 13 198 1,998 35 153.7 11 283 1,536 15 139.6 12 216 1,340 22 111.6 12 160 1,119 16 109.0 10 164 1,064 7 106.4 10 132 1,064 11 106.4 7 96 743 15 106.1

Passing

Player, School Ethan Frey, Rosepine Lukas Bunting, Vinton Maddox Pierrotti, Elton Marlon Freeney, Pickering Neiman Sullen, Hamilton Reese Ashworth, DeQuincy Ridge Savoie, Lake Arthur

G C-A-I TD YDS YPG 12 121-178-6 24 1,867 155.6 10 88-171-5 15 1,257 125.7 6 28-73-3 6 541 90.2 9 70-150-9 6 787 87.4 8 53-85-2 8 653 81.6 12 48-97-7 9 927 77.3 8 44-97-4 9 593 74.1

Rodrick Anderson / American Press

Rosepine senior running back Grant Ducote rushed for 1,998 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2021.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C9

LaGrange: Gators looking to make big comeback

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

LaGrange is hoping size, both individually and in terms of the number of kids in the program, will matter this season as the Gators attempt to rebound from a winless season last year and sitting out the 2020 season.

Head coach Marrico Wilson said an offseason workout program helped the players improve and there are more players in the program than last year.

“I think we made tremendous progress from last year at this time,” he said. “We had to get back in the weight room, get stronger, and I have seen that. Our numbers have gone way up as far as the number of kids in the program. We’ve made a big change for the better, in my opinion.”

Wilson is excited about his offensive group, which only lost three starters from last season.

“On offense, the big thing is I think we will be well-rounded,” he said. “We have our running back from last year back. The quarterback is back, all of our skill people are back. We have to replace a few on the offensive line, but we have some young guys that have stepped up to replace those that graduated. We’re going to run the ball and throw the ball.”

Keshaun Doucet will handle most of the running load. Last year he gained 876 yards and scored 8 touchdowns in nine games.

“He is more of an inside runner,” Wilson said. “He is not going to outrun anybody but he is going to get those tough yards that we need on third and short or fourth and short. He has good hands out of

‘I think we made tremendous progress from last year at this time. We had to get back in the weight room, get stronger, and I have seen that.’

Marrico Wilson LaGrange High football coach

Rick Hickman /American Press Archives

Running back Keshaun Doucet returns to lead the Gators offense. Last season, Doucet averaged more than 90 yards per game, finishing with 876 yards and 8 touchdowns. the backfield and is a well-rounded back.”

Quarterback Jason Wilson returns after completing 97 of 191 passes for 1,154 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

“He controlled the

tempo of the game,” Marrico Wilson said.

“Now having a year under his belt is going to help him tremendously as far as controlling the game, knowing downand-distance, doing the small things that are go-

ing to help us win close games.”

The receiving corps features depth and experience.

“Omarion Randolph is going to be a receiver. We have Kameran Darmond, Calyb Mitchell, those

three are all seniors,” Wilson said. “We also have some young kids that will help us. David Martin is one. Devarius Carrier was our tight end and is back. We have five or six guys that we can throw the ball to. Omar-

ion is about 6-2 and he can run. We will put him in the backfield some, do a lot of different things with him.

“Mitchell and Darmond are both short and shifty and they are both track guys. We are going to try to get the ball to those guys quickly and let them make plays.”

Anthony Bellamy, Braylon Holloway and Francis Turner are returning starters on the offensive line.

Wilson said the defense has plenty of veteran leadership. “(Defensive back) Kevin Stevens started last year,” he said.

“Larry Bellard is going to call the defense for us at middle linebacker.

Damen Martin played a strong safety spot for us last year, Dedric LaSalle played the other one. So many guys are going to be seniors and lead us on the defensive side.”

Wilson is confident the program has grown and improved enough to start producing better results.

“Defensively, we have to stop people,” he said.

“Offensively, we are going to have to be able to run the ball and convert first

C10 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

Washington-Marion: Pair will share quarterback

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

After falling just short of a share of the district title and a playoff berth last season, Washington-Marion is hoping offseason work pays off on the field.

“One of the big things we did this year was to make sure we hit the weight room more,” head coach Jules Sullen said.

‘I have never seen a team that wants to show they are better than the last game they played so much.’

Jules Sullen Washington-Marion football coach “Last year we didn’t have experience and were not strong enough.

I thought we made progress in the later part of the season. That last game proved a lot to me.

We were missing three starters, but we were right there. We had a chance to win the district and be in the playoffs.”

Sullen said he has plenty of talent to work with on offense.

“I think we are pretty good skill-wise,” he said. “Jordan Condol has done well, he will play both sides of the ball. He will run the ball along with Derrick Paul.

Joshua Smith, DeKoury Flagg and Chris Brown will also get carries.

“At receiver, Elijah Netty has done really well and is understanding how to run routes better, how to read coverages. Markel Senegal will do a good job for us.

Moe Clark is a transfer from Ruston who is really fast. He can stretch the field vertically.

Grayson Boullard can run intermediate routes and we have two guys that are cat quick. Flagg can play receiver.”

Landen Braxton and Flagg will both see time at quarterback.

“We think using multiple guys will make it hard on the defense,” Sullen said. ‘They both run well.”

Four linemen have playing experience.

“Kade Rogers will play offense this season, he will play guard,” Sullen said. “Gabe Citizen has done well for us. Isaiah Adams played a lot last year and will be a starter this year. Labronderick Lovely will return from an ACL injury in Septem-

Above: Defensive lineman Rayketihen Thomas returns on the WashingtonMarion defensive line.

Left: WashingtonMarion defensive back Jordan Condol returns to lead the Charging Indian secondary.

Rick HIckman American Press Archives

ber.”

Returning starters are back at each level of defense.

“Safety Kishaun Stevens is back and is a big plus for us,” Sullen said.

“Linemen Raykeithen Thomas and Rogers are back. Linebacker Chris Brown is back.”

Sullen is excited by a pair of newcomers in the secondary.

“Safety John Chavis is a newcomer that has been impressive,” he said. “Norvell Harris is a safety that is really good.”

Sullen said he doesn’t

have to spend time motivating his team.

“They work hard, they are committed,” he said.

“I have never seen a team that wants to show they are better than the

last game they played so much. They play multiple sports. They are determined. The seniors have never made the playoffs.

That is the immediate goal.”

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C11

Iota’s Jacob Cormier eludes the tackle attempt

by St. Louis’ Marcus Duhon while on his way to the end zone on a long touchdown run at Matt Walker Stadium in Sulphur.

Kirk Meche American Press Archives

Iota: Bulldogs have 17 returning starters

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

The Iota Bulldogs have a new head coach this year, but they haven’t missed a beat.

Long-time defensive coordinator Ray Aucoin inherits a team with 17 returning starters.

‘We had a real exciting spring, and we are putting together a pretty good worth ethic .’

Ray Aucoin Iota High football coach

“We had a real exciting spring, and we are putting together a pretty good worth ethic,” Aucoin said. “It was probably the best summer that I have seen, and I don’t know why.

“I am not trying to take any credit for that.

This summer our participation was phenomenal.

I haven’t seen that at any level as an assistant, coordinator or head coach.

This team reminds me a little bit of the 2018 season team. It is hard to say that, but it does.

They just believe. They have bought in.”

The Bulldogs strength will be on the defensive side where they return 10 starters, including all-state line-

Kirk Meche /American Press Archives

Left: Iota’s Dawson Wallace hands the ball off to Jacob Cormier against St. Louis at Matt Walker Stadium in Sulphur. Right: St. Louis’ Grant Evans completes the catch as Iota’s Ethan Myers tries to get the ball. backer Dayton Boone.

“He is more athlete that what meets the eye with him,” Aucoin said.

“He is smart. He can read things and expect things. He communicates really well, not only on the field with them but with us on the sidelines.

“It doesn’t mean that we are big. It just means we have them back, and yes, I feel good about them. We have the entire secondary and we have two of the three

linebackers back. We have the entire starting defensive line back and we have a couple we can push and punch in there on that defensive line.”

The entire defensive line returns in Jackson Aton, Brock Keltner, Wyatt Gobert and Trevor Ruffner.

“We have a fast guy, a tough guy, a small guy that gives you trouble and a big guy that takes up people,” Aucoin said.

“That is pretty much what it is. We try to

teach them as much technique as we can.

We want to be fast and attacking, and they have worked really hard.”

Other returners include linebacker Jackson Scott, plus Luke Duhon and Peyton Daigle in the secondary.

The big question for the Bulldogs will be on offense after losing quarterback Dawson Wallace and backs Tyler Charlot and Daylan Lunson.

Running back Dylan Cormier and wide re-

ceiver Dylan Callahan are the most experienced skill players back.

Aucoin is looking at three options at quarterback in Payton Renfro, Carson Zaunbrecher and Ezekiel Wall who will be protected by an experienced line of Hanz Lacasse, Connor Zinn, Seth Leckelt, Layne Turner and Collin Simar.

“We hope to do what ever we like,” Aucoin said. “But we are going to do what ever it takes

to win.

“You are going to see some two-back sets and you are going to see some spread.

“We think we have people that can run with the ball. At the wide receiver spots, Callahan can come out and get the ball on the speedsweep. We can run counters, veer and dive and stuff like that. We have some smart wide receivers and tight ends.

We can spread people out.”

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C12 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

Jennings: Competition underway for quarterback

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

Familiar faces are in short supply in Jennings, where the Bulldogs approach the season with a youthful roster.

One area that will look familiar is the backfield, where Rejohn Zeno and Jarmaric McZeal return.

“The experience they gained is invaluable,” head coach Rusty Phelps said. “We are counting on them heavily. They have each gained about 10 pounds. I think we have good depth, we have two freshmen that are coming along. We have good upperclassmen leadership that will allow us to bring the two young kids along.”

A competition is underway for the quarterback job. Austin Ewing started the first four games of last season before suffering an injury.

“We have a freshman, JJ Benoit, that is coming along strong, that will allow us to move Austin around if he does not become the starter,” Phelps said. “We’ll name a starter after the jamboree. Benoit is 6-1, 185

‘Our front four is back intact from last year. We have a new set of linebackers — a couple of guys that played strong safety last year that have bulked up in the offseason.’

Rusty Phelps Jennings High football coach

Rick Hickman / American Press Archives

Laith Kratzer, left, and Owen Dugas, right, return to lead a revamped Jennings secondary this season. and can really throw it.”

Ewing will be on the field regardless of how

the QB derby shakes out.

“Last year when Austin got hurt he moved out

to receiver and caught some balls,” Phelps said.

“We could use him at

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tight end, line him up in the backfield or go play defense. There are lots of places he can play and help the football team.

“At receiver we have a couple of guys, Jayren Etienne, Josh Lejeune and Jeremy Blanchard that have been working hard. They are seniors and give us some experience.”

Youth will be served on the offensive line, which has just one returning starter.

“We have one lineman back, sophomore Brody Estes,” Phelps said. “We are a work in progress there. We’ve had to move a couple defensive linemen over to help us. It is going to be a group of

sophomores and maybe juniors there.”

The defensive line is the area with most experience.

“Our front four is back intact from last year,” Phelps said. “We have a new set of linebackers — a couple of guys that played strong safety last year that have bulked up in the offseason. Our secondary will be revamped with Wyatt Fontenot at free safety, Owen Dugas will move from linebacker to safety. Laith Kratzer will move from free safety to corner. Dewayne Moore started a couple of games at strong safety and will be back.”

Phelps said depth and injuries are his big concerns entering the season.

“We have 13 seniors and the majority of the team is young guys,” he said. “If we have an older guy go down, it is likely going to be a freshman or sophomore going in. We may have to play three or four freshmen.”

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Jamaric McZeal returns after running for 826 yards and 5 touchdowns last season.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C13

Iowa: Running back returns to lead new-look offense

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

There are holes to fill in Iowa, which is coming off a 10-win season, but the Yellow Jackets have a few building blocks in place with an experienced defensive line and running back Ronald Young, who burst onto the scene with a 1,000yard season in his first year of football.

The Jackets must replace every other skill position starter on offense, as well as most of the secondary and both linebackers.

Young, a senior, is attracting college interest after a strong debut season in which he ran for 1,063 yards and scored 18 touchdowns in 11 games.

Young scored in every game he played in.

Head coach Tommy Johns said he should be even better.

“He has exceeded all our expectations,” Johns said. “He has had a phenomenal spring and offseason. His attitude is phenomenal, he is fun to be around and is a heck of a player. He has a year under his belt now. We’ve watched film in the offseason so he is starting to understand the intricacies of football.

He is going to be a load.”

Cole Corbello, who played H-back with the

‘We lost 21 seniors. We are going to have to try to win in different ways.’

Tommy Johns Iowa High football coach

Kirk Meche / American Press Archives

Ronald Young, in his first year of football, ran for 1,063 yards and 18 touchdowns. He is back to lead the Yellow Jacket offense this season. varsity last season, will take over at quarterback.

“Last year he played quarterback with the JV team,” Johns said. “He can run and throw. He is a big body. He is coming along and learning the offense more. He played a lot for us last year. In the spring, Cole was in baseball so Ronald played quarterback for us. He can throw it, too.”

Receivers are light on experience after the graduation of star Curtis Deville and McQuin-

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ton Montgomery, who combined for 62 catches and 12 touchdowns last season.

“Donovan Winey played a little bit last year, but sparingly behind the two starters,” Johns said. “Jonathan Walker, Jr. and Kyndon Brass are going to play some as well.”

The offensive line has size and some experience.

“Lucious Guillory is back at tackle, he has a couple of college offers,”

Johns said. “Adam Hardy is a returning starter who did a good job for us. Luke Guillory is back at tight end. We moved Damien Reed from defensive line to offensive line. I think it is a natural fit for him. He is getting better at it every day and has come a long way. The strong side of our line is pretty big with Lucious, Damien and Luke. It’s been a long time since we’ve had this kind of size up front.”

The line will lead the

defense. A trio of twoyear starters — Connor Roy, Kyle Arsement and Kyron Labove — will lead a small but athletic group. Kolton Keyes will be the fourth starter.

Behind them, experience is limited.

“We’ve got two back in the secondary that played some last year, Joe Natali and Kendrick Jasmine,” Johns said.

“We are still moving guys around. Makel Montgomery started at strong safety last year

and we are moving him to high safety. There’s a learning curve there. Joe is going to play some free safety, so will Kendrick.

We will be moving some guys around until we get everyone in the right place. Hayden Lebleu and Austen Latour are set to start at linebacker with Kain Fulton rotating in.”

Johns said a difficult schedule will make matching last year’s win total a tough challenge, but he is confident the team will get the most out of its ability.

“I love them,”Johns said. “They understand that last year is over. We lost 21 seniors. We are going to have to try to win in different ways.

Last year Curtis could do something special to get us out of a jam. This group is fun, they worked their tails off. They deserve an opportunity.”

C14 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

St. Louis: Program built on energy, effort Six starters to return on defense, coach says

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

A year after setting the standard on the amount of energy and enthusiasm he wants to define the program, secondyear head coach Brock Matherne is determined to write a better finish to the season this time around.

‘Energy and effort are the things we always talk about.

We are a program build off of effort, That is the No. 1 core value in the program.’

Brock Matherne St. Louis football coach The Saints lost five of their last six games last season, finishing 4-7. Matherne hopes to have the Saints better prepared for this year.

“I think toward the end we started to wear out a little bit, so we revamped our offseason program and are on track to be in shape longterm,” he said.

“Energy and effort are the things we always talk about. We are a program built off of effort. That is the No. 1 core value in the program. We want to empty the tank, go hard all the time. We are high energy all the time. We are going to get after it, praise you when it’s right, correct it when it’s wrong.”

Offensively, the Saints return a strong set of skill players, led by quarterback James Reina (1,982 yards, 21 TDs passing; 279 yards, 7 TDs rushing).

“I really like his decision making,” Matherne said. “He has gotten so much better running the ball. He is shifty. He looks older and has matured.

He understands what we are doing offensively and is more disciplined. He’s better at understanding his options when pressure comes.”

Grant Evans, Trey Tate

Kirk Meche / Special to the American Press

Senior Grant Evans returns to lead a deep group of St. Louis receivers. Evans led the team last year with 22 yards per reception. and Brooks Habetz return at receiver. Evans led the group with 29 catches for 637 yards and 8 TDs. “If we can keep all three healthy it is going to be hard for people to cover us,” Matherne said.

“I think that’s three college players. Evans already has an offer from Grambling. He’s 6-3 and showed what he could do last year. He really learned the position in the offseason and I am excited for people to see his growth. He has been dominating all preseason.

“Trey is explosive,

a guy that can catch a screen and take it to the house. Brooks is a savvy football player, does all of the little things right. He has sure hands.”

Leading rusher James Phillips graduated but Matherne is confident in his replacements.

“Hank Milligan was injured in our scrimmage last year,” Mathrene said. “He will split time with Kyle Turner, both will play both sides of the ball. Hank is going to wear our No. 1 jersey (given annually to the player who best represents the program). He

has a spark to him. He is a violent guy.”

The offensive line is one area the Saints are short on experience.

“We only bring back two, center Evan Rodericks and guard Jordan Davis,” Matherne said.

“We have about nine guys with an opportunity to play. It’s a bigger group than we’ve had in the past, but they just don’t have experience.”

It’s an opposite story on defense, with plenty of experience in the front seven.

“We bring back six of seven on defense,”

Matherne said. “They all started as sophomores last year. Linebacker Graham Montet had 127 tackles last year and is a state champion wrestler.

He’s up from 175 to 205 and has been able to keep his speed. Weak linebacker Luke Mere did a great job for us.

“On the line we bring back starters Kade Nugent and Ethan Goss.

Gavin Phillips is moving from linebacker to end.

Nathan Gray is a new starter who has a ton of ability. We will depend on some offensive lineman and Milligan to spell

us on the defensive line.”

The secondary has plenty of options.

“The group we have is a savvy one,” Matherne said. “Silas Deville will be a first-year starter who has consistently gotten better at corner. John Noah Foret is a senior who was injured last year.

We will depend on him and senior Colton Wood to give us depth. Luke Pierson will play nickel for us and be the leader of the secondary for us.

When his energy is high and he’s running around having fun, the whole defense is having fun.”

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C15

South Beau: Golden Knights will ‘keep fighting’ Team using last year’s hard lessons to come back better

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

There are not many sliver linings to a 1-9 season, but the South Beauregard Golden Knights are taking the experience they gained and plan to use it to turn around the program.

“It is just one of the things you get thrown into,” head coach Dwight Hudler said. “You can either tuck tail and give up, or you can stand up and fight.

“It was always our motto — pick yourself up and get back to work and keep fighting. There is no quit. We are not going to lay down. I think they are ready to say they are not the 1-9 team that we were last year. They are starting to build on that and get a little confidence. It was definitely some good lessons last year, and hopefully we build on them.

“Really, we got almost everybody back. That is one thing about being 1-9 and playing a bunch of babies. We didn’t lose a whole lot in terms of starters.”

Hudler hopes his team can make a return to the playoffs for the first time since a run to the regional round in 2020.

“I think we have a chance to kind of shock some people,” he said. “I am not sure how it is going to go wins and losses, but I know we will be a lot more competitive.

“The kids are picking it up pretty well. We have to control what we can control. We know our schedule is pretty tough with the district we have adding Kinder. You make one of the hardest ones even harder. We will try to stay healthy and focus on being the best we can be every week. They know what it takes. It is going to take great effort, energy, and focus on details. I really think we are making a lot of good steps.”

He missed the last four games of the 2021 season with an rib injury, but senior Jesse Shuff is ready to quarterback South Beauregard’s offense again.

“Jesse will be the anchor on offense for sure,” Hudler said. “He is just steady.

Top: South Beauregard running back Cooper Cole looks for some running room in a scrimmage against Sulphur on Aug. 12.

Left: South Beauregard safety Bryce Deason tackles Sulphur running back Garrison Burgess.

Rodrick Anderson American Press

“He has put on about 10 pounds of good weight. He is the guy everybody looks to. He is a physical and very competitive kid. He makes very good decisions. We are going to see how he does.

“We had to, I felt like, go to more of a shotgun style double-wing. So we are back to what I like to do which is we will have a tight end quite a bit and shotgun zone-read, play-action, stuff like that. It is kind of what we have done in the past. We will be back doing that.

Not a whole lot of changes, just some new faces.”

Other returners on of-

fense include junior wide receiver Bryce Deason, linemen Kellen Vincent (Jr.), Jason Trahan (Sr.) and Tristien McKinney (So.) and sophomore tight end Levi Morrow.

Junior Cooper Cole got some starts in at tailback last season and will split time with Clayton Folks.

Other starters include wide receiver Noah Fontenot, slot receiver Kade Jackson, and linemen Luke Gisclair and Mike Stanley with Drey Reeves as the sixth-man in the offensive line rotation.

On defense, the Knights will stick with the 3-4 defense led by a three-year starter at line-

backer in senior Mason Derouen.

“Defensively, we have our starting linebacker,” Hudler said. “It is going to be his third year, Mason Derouen.

“He is a good player.

He started all nine games as a freshman on our last playoff team. He was the only freshman that played then. You can tell the game is starting to slow down for him. He is moving faster and making reads better. I really expect a lot of big things this year. He is 5-11, 6-0, right around there, and about 215 pounds. We need him to have a really good year.”

Other returning starters include senior nose guard Clay Stebbins, safeties Clayton Folks and Bryce Deason and cornerback Gabe Waggoner. Other starters include defensive tackles Bryson Mears and Hagen Smith, linebackers Drew Benoit, Carter Folks and Josh Smith, and Noah Fontenot and Xavier Fontenot will compete for playing time in the secondary.

“We have a senior nose guard in Clay Stebbins,” Hudler said. “He is one of our starters from last year, so we have a little experience with him.

“Clayton Folks moved

from cornerback to safety, he started last year for us as a freshman. He moved from corner to safety and put on about 15 pounds.

“Bryce Deason, the starting safety, is back again. He has put on about 15 pounds. Gabe Waggoner, he started at safety last year. He is in a competition thing with two of our younger guys. There is a just a lot more competition this year. Competition is what breeds success. We are mixing it up a little bit.

We practice our best on best as much as we can just to get them used to contact.”

C16 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

Confidence high at LC College Prep Returning quarterback threw for 1,275 yards, 16 touchdowns last year

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

Experience and momentum from an undefeated run through District 4-3A has confidence high at Lake Charles College Prep.

‘I told them in January that if they play well, we will have a good season. They have stepped up to the challenge.’

Erick Franklin Lake Charles College Prep head football coach “We have a lot of kids back, we have hard workers,” head coach Erick Franklin said. “When you have as much talent as we have back, we should have a good year.”

Leading the offense will be junior quarterback Josiah Bushnell, who threw for 1,275 yards and 16 touchdowns last year.

Ten of the touchdowns came over the last five weeks, when Bushnell threw just one interception.

“He had a solid season last year and I think he’ll be really good this season,” Franklin said. “He’s put in a lot of work since last season. He’s a team captain. He has taken the steps for us to have a real good season and for him to have an all state season, in my opinion.”

Jarell Joseph, who ran for 601 yards and 7 TDs last year behind Trevonte Citizen and Davonte Guidroz, will take over as featured running back this year.

“He has speed, power and is a kid that has waited his turn,” Franklin said. “He has waited three years to have a chance to be the man. He had a great summer running track and came back in shape and ready to roll. I expect big things.”

At receiver, the Blazers return Elijah Garrick and Eric Beloney.

“Elijah can do just

Kirk Meche / American Press Archives

Senior running back Jarell Joseph, above, will be the featured back this season after running for 601 yards and 7 touchdowns last year.

Junior quarterback Josiah Bushnell, left, returns to lead the College Prep offense. Bushnell threw 16 touchdown passes last season about everything, I told him the other day he is as good as all the guys that came through here before him,” Franklin said. “Eric is a slasher, a jet sweep guy, a guy that is a matchup problem in the slot. Both are dynamic players.”

Experience is short on the offensive line, where Kanye Ceaser is the lone returning starter.

“Jeremiah Freeman played some for us last year,” Franklin said. “The group has worked hard. I told them in January that if they play well, we will

have a good season. They have stepped up to the challenge.

“I think the secondary is our best group, we have at least three college guys back there, but I could say the same thing for linebacker,” Franklin said.

University of Washington commitment Curley Reed will man one corner.

“He’s a guy that can lock down one side of the field, that really helps a coordinator out,” Franklin said. “He defends at a high level, is not afraid to

come up and tackle. He has the will to win. E. J. Franklin, a junior, knows the ins and outs of the program and is poised to have a big season.

He got stronger and we expect him to be a leader.

Beloney had three interception return touchdowns last year but may not play much corner this year. We’ll get him in some dime packages where he can cover.”

Daylon Sibley, an all state selection and district MVP last year, returns at linebacker, along with Kevon Freeman.

“Those guys are really good,” Franklin said.

“They have played so much that they understand what we want to accomplish. They are both so gifted. In 12 years of coaching I have never seen a kid with the instincts that Sibley has.

Freeman is a mauler, a 240-pound kid that can run, is not afraid to take on linemen and can rush the passer. He can drop into zones and may be faster than Sibley.”

Jaylon Landry and Carson Graham return to lead the line. Bryce Rich-

ard will be a new starter.

“Richard is up to 220 pounds and had a great offseason, I expect him to step in and roll with it,” Franklin said. “Landry and Graham did a good job for us last year.”

Franklin said the Blazers are ready to compete in the playoffs after being barred from the postseason last year.

“They are ready to get after it and compete against anybody,” he said.

“I think we’re a top 10 team no matter which side (select or non-select) they put us on.”

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C17

Westlake: Rams have 16 returning starters

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

After years of struggle, Westlake had a breakout 8-4 season in 2021. The Rams hope to continue that with 16 returning starters this season.

It was the Rams first winning season since 2012.

‘I think we have a chance to have a really good season and hopefully make a deep playoff run.’

John Richardson Westlake High coach

P M I .

GY

Rick Hickman / American Press

Westlake running back Brandon Jupiter returns after running for 1,078 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. play.

“We are going to have to play physical football,” Richardson said. “Our special teams is going to have to improve.

“We have to keep improving as the season goes on and stay healthy and grow in maturity.

We have some really good players, 1-22, after that like a lot of schools our size there is a big drop off. We want to be playing our best football at the end of district and the start of playoffs. I don’t want to be playing

ING ROV

our best football in September.”

Westlake returns nine on the defensive side led by a strong defensive line of seniors Ja’Qualon Pettieway and Gavyen Carlin, junior Keelan Ozane, as well as a trio of senior linebackers in Ethan Koonce, Nick Cline and Treylon Brown.

Safeties Kristian Ozane and Josh Parr as well as cornerback John Young return in the secondary.

“Some of them have been shifted around, but we have nine guys

back,” Richardson said.

“Ethan Koonce was one of the leading tacklers in the state.

“We have a very experienced secondary and the defensive line between Ja’Qualon Pettieway, Gavyen Carlin and Keelan Ozane, who was our H-back last year and moved to defensive end. The defensive line, by far, will be the best we have had since I have been here. All three starting linebackers are back from last year.

The defensive side of

LIVES.

PROVID ING

EN ER

“I think the expectations are really high,” head coach John Richardson said. “When we came in here, our goal was to compete for a state championship.

“Everybody says that at the beginning of the year. I have never said that since I have been here, and this is the first time that we can really have that conversation since I have been here.

A lot of things have to go right: players have to stay healthy and improve and get better. But I think we have a chance to have a really good season and hopefully make a deep playoff run.”

The Rams are working on creating depth behind the starting lineup, but Richardson still wants to see a physical style of

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the football will be our strength this year.”

Offensively, the Rams have to replace dual threat quarterback Jamaal Guillory, who accounted for 36 touchdowns and nearly 3,000 yards. The Rams will look to running back Brandon Jupiter (1,078 yards, 18 TD) and wide receivers Tristan Goodly (633 yards, 7 TD) and Gavin Robertson (242 yards, 2 TD) with three linemen returning in Jackson Hardesty, Aiden Lafrere and Jacob Barton.

Sophomore Kevin Rideau will take over under center.

“Obviously, we lost Jamaal Guillory, who was a big producer on the offensive side,” Richardson said. “Rideau is going to be a super player for us down the road. We just have to get him some experience. But with those starters back around him, they can carry the load until he gets more comfortable playing on Friday nights. He is 6-1, 165 as a sophomore. He is super smart.”

C18 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

Kinder: Yellow Jackets move up to Class 3A ‘It’s going to be a test every Friday night,’ coach says

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

Over the last decade, Kinder enjoyed great success in Class 2A, winning a pair of state championship, finishing as the runner-up twice and winning 26 playoff games.

Now the Yellow Jackets will embark on a new mission as they move up to Class 3A; but it is nothing new as they usually play several teams from 3A or above each season.

“Numbers wise, it puts us into 3A, but we have always faced bigger schools in our nondistrict schedule,” Kinder head coach Bret Fuselier said. “The difference now is we are going to be playing them week in and week out. It is going to be a test every Friday night.”

Kinder is coming off a rare losing season after going 5-7. While they finished 2021 strong, they want to avoid another 1-6 start.

“Really, it turned around at the end of last year,” Fuselier said. “We carried that momentum into the offseason.

“It will be motivation to not have the same win-loss record at the end of the year. When you look at last year as a whole, we felt good on how we ended the season and felt that we were playing just as good of ball as anybody in 2A when we ended the season.”

“We can’t start a season like we did last year.

We had some attitude problems at the beginning of last year, and it cost us. Once we fixed those, it seemed like our kids did a good job of gelling and coming together and we were able

Rodrick Anderson / American Press

Graham Fawcett returns for a third season as starting quarterback at Kinder. Last season Fawcett accounted for 19 touchdowns rushing and passing. to finish the year like we did.”

Kinder has experience at the offensive skill positions, including a three-year starter at quarterback in Graham Fawcett. Davion Matthews returns at slot back and the trio of James Roberts, Noah Romero and Donte Botley finished last season as

starters in the backfield.

“I like the experience that we have,” Fuselier said. “We have a threeyear starter at quarterback in Graham Fawcett and playmakers at slot and receiver.

“We have a lot of experience there, so that is what we feel good about.”

Fuselier is looking at Logan LeBeouf, Jaron

Johnson and Jordan Peloquin at the dive back position to replace Luke LeBeouf.

Defensively, Kinder returns seven and will build around linebackers Ben Fontenot and Johnson.

“We have quite a few coming back. The two linebackers, that is where it starts,” Fuselier said. “It is kind of like

the quarterback of the defense, so both of those guys are back.

“They are going to be a little bit more knowledgeable than they were last year. They are going to have a pretty good grasp of what we expect out of them. They have a good grasp of the defense.”

Kinder is ready to face

more spread offenses this season with three returning defensive backs in Landon Schmitz, Davion Matthews and Botley.

The question for the Yellow Jackets will be on both sides of the line where they return just three in defensive lineman Pelican and offensive linemen Ty Sonnier and Guy Hayes.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C19

Welsh: Greyhounds have experience on their side

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

Experience under the bright lights and a strong culture have the Welsh Greyhounds thinking big heading into the football season.

‘Some of our new starters were able to get playing time last year because of injuries or circumstances through the season. We have that and we have depth.’

Cody Gueringer Welsh football coach “Every guy except two had varsity reps last year, so experience on both sides of the ball is great,” head coach Cody Gueringer said. “Some of our new starters were able to get playing time last year because of injuries or circumstances through the season. We have that and we have depth.”

The Greyhounds get a boost with the return of quarterback Gabe Gillett, who led the team to a 3-1 start before suffering a knee injury last season.

“He’s back, throwing the ball well and looks calm,” Gueringer said.

“He has a good understanding of the offense.

Gabe with the ball in his hands is a big deal. He can make something out of nothing and he can make something out of great blocking.”

Kennon Legros will join him in the backfield.

“Kennon brings major experience and knowledge of the offense. With the schemes we run, knowing what is happening up front is 95 percent of the battle. If you don’t understand, it is difficult to know where to go or how to set the blocks up. He is calm and collected. He doesn’t put the ball on the ground. We could have a few more guys getting touches.”

Gillett has plenty of targets to throw to, including J.J. Artis, Jonavon Begnaud and H-back Grant Daigle.

A veteran offensive line will provide room for the playmakers to operate.

“Every guy outside of the right tackle has

Rick Hickman / American Press Archives

Quarterback Gabe Gillet, left, and running back Kennon LeGros, right, return to lead the Welsh offense. The Greyhounds ran for more than 2,700 yards last season. had a varsity start and at least four will be seniors,” Gueringer said. “That’s a big deal, having seniors that have played. As the year goes on, the defenses get more exotic. If the offensive linemen have seen those things, then it allows them to not be rattled.”

The defensive line is led by a pair of stalwarts in Troy Pattum and Cole Labove. Gueringer said the duo sets the tone for the rest of the team.

Pattum brings everything to the table from leadership to accountability.

“He brings attitude and swag,” Gueringer said. “His attitude is infectious. He’s not an arrogant kid. He is going to do the right thing and practice hard all the time. The other kids see him with the energy and confidence and they want to be like that.”

The accountability factor is also great, Gueringer said.

Pattum “holds everyone accountable at all positions. He brings

a lot to the culture. He puts in the work to have success.”

Labove is a 0-700 miles per hour guy. You have to hold him back sometimes. (Linebacker) Daigle is a huge leader for us, a coach on the field. He wants to win and understands the

game. He’s a leader, guy that others gravitate towards. Kids see the way Troy, Grant and he gel together and love each other and it all builds from there.”

Gueringer said the Greyhounds were off to a good start in the early stages of practice.

HEDULE SC

“We have tackled in space well so far,” he said. “One-on-one in space tackling in high school is something people take for granted.

We’ve been big on that, making plays a 6-yard run instead of 60-yard run. We have experience everywhere.

“The mental side of the game has already been taught. They understand what we are trying to do situationally. When you have that understanding you can just react and play faster instead of having to think.”

C20 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

DeQuincy: Tigers look to keep momentum going

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

The first full year of the Matt Dufresne era at DeQuincy was a good one, with the Tigers winning six games and advancing to the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.

The Tigers will look to keep the momentum going this year. Reese Ashworth (461 yards, 10 TDs rushing; 927 yards, 9 TDs passing) returns to run the split-back veer offense.

“He’s a smart kid. He has running ability and obviously throws the ball.

He is a real strong part.”

Running backs Taije Ceasar and Hudson Snyder graduated after combining for more than 2,000 yards last season.

In line to replace them are a pair of underclassmen in sophomore Wyatt Lavergne and junior Ronnie Courville.

“We lost two guys who gave us more than 2,000 yards, but we have a lot of quality guys who are looking good,” he said.

“Courville is our fullback, we’ll use Quinton Pharris who started on defense for us last year and Ethan Guidry, who has been a starter at linebacker. Lavergne will get some snaps and another linebacker, Shiloh Cotlong, is our backup fullback.”

Dufresne said some players are inexperienced at running back, but have experience playing.

“Courville and Cotlong run hard, are big-bodied bruisers. Pharris is more of a quick, shifty guy.

Guidry ran an 11.3 in the 100 and Mikah Kerlegan also has good speed. It’ll be running back by committee.”

DaCorious Griffin returns at receiver, while Hayz Hext will take over at tight end.

On the offensive line, tackles Hunter Kelly

‘I want to play tough competition that gets us ready for district and hopefully a playoff run. You can get better by playing good teams, regardless of whether you came out with a win or loss.’

Matt Dufresne DeQuincy High football coach

Kirk Meche / American Press Archives

Two-way star Reese Ashworth returns to lead DeQuincy. Ashworth accounted for 19 touchdowns as quarterback and also starts in the Tiger secondary. and Sammy Maddox are returning starters, as is center Jase Puryear.

A pair of seniors, Cyrus Suchanek and Blake Langley, are set to start at guard.

“We have three fulltime starters back and the other two started a few games, as well,” Dufrense said. “So we have five starters that

have started some. Both tight ends started some.

Everyone is familiar with each other and they all play hard for each other.

They’ll be a strength.”

Defensively, the Tigers are switching from a four-man front to a 3-4 scheme. Griffin and Hext will return as starters at end.

“We look fast, our

front seven look fast and that is where we have most of our experience returning,” Dufresne said. “Between the linebackers and linemen, 6 of 7 are back. We’re not very big, but we are quick and we have been pursuing the ball relentlessly.”

Guidry, Kaleb Hooker and Cotlong are returning starters at linebacker

while Hext and Griffin return at end.

“Deonte Thomas is our noseguard, a 6-2, 230 pounds kid,” Dufrense said. “Our two tight ends are our defensive ends.

Guidry is having a great camp with Cotlong.

Puryear will play inside linebacker for us.”

Pharris and Ashworth return to lead the sec-

ondary.

“Keegan Leday is a new starter who looks good at corner,” Dufrense said. “Ashworth is moving from safety to corner.

Pharris is a returnee at safety and Rainwater is a newcomer there. They are a smart group, they are lining up correctly and their run fits are good. They run well and make the right adjustments to formations.”

The Tigers open the season with a rugged nondistrict schedule that includes games against 3A schools Westlake and South Beauregard and a pair of games against state powers in Loreauville and St. Mary’s.

“I don’t believe in playing weak opponents just to get wins, that doesn’t make you better,” he said. “I want to play tough competition that gets us ready for district and hopefully a playoff run. You can get better by playing good teams, regardless of whether you came out with a win or loss.”

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C21

Vinton: Small roster this year, but a lot of heart

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

Staying healthy is imperative for the Vinton Lions this season.

The Lions face a tough schedule with two Class 3A teams and seven teams that reached at least the regional round, including Division III semifinalist Notre Dame.

‘They are a good group. They want to be here. They do what we ask, and they try hard.’

Lark Hebert Vinton High football coach Although the Lions roster sits at 25, head coach Lark Hebert has confidence in his team.

“They are a good group,” Hebert said.

“They want to be here.

They do what we ask, and they try hard.

“Nobody wants to come to Vinton. I guess they think we are in Texas or something. We had a hard time making a schedule. We have to play Westlake and Erath.

Those were the only games we could schedule on those dates. It is a tough schedule. The district is going to be all good teams; Notre Dame, Welsh, DeQuincy and now Grand Lake is in our district. If we stay healthy we will have a chance. If we have multiple injuries, we will be a lot like Pickering was last year.”

The Lions have six seniors in the starting lineup of their spread offense, but have only three returning starters and must replace 1,000yard quarterback Lukas Bunting and the loss of

Kirk Meche / Special to the American Press

Left: In addition to returning to his role as a starting defensive back, Jacob Rogers is expected to start at quarterback for Vinton. Above: Senior wide receiver Logan Beard was among the area’s top receiver’s last season with 42 catches for 765 yards and 10 touchdowns.

junior running back C.J. Jack, who suffered a knee injury in Week 10 last season. Returners are senior wide receiver Logan Beard and junior offensive linemen Jeramiah Holts and Jordan Rogers.

Senior Jacob Rogers will start at quarterback while senior Damioin Briggs slides into the running back spot.

“Jordan is returning and Jacob played a lot on defense. They are good players and leaders by example. Jeramiah Holts leads by example.

“We lost CJ Jack, he was our tailback. He ran for 1,000 yards, but the problem is he blew out his knee in the last game.

So we lost him, but I think that our o-line is

going to be ok. Of course, the better Jacob gets as time goes, the better we will be on offense. Losing Lukas hurt, but we do have a good player in Logan.”

Beard, who caught 42 passes for 765 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021, will be everywhere for the Lions.

“Logan is our best

player, and he is a little more vocal. Logan will do everything for us. He is our wideout, play some safety when we need him, punt return, he is our kicker and punter. He has to do a lot for us.”

On defense, the Lions have experience in the box with returning defensive linemen Dallas Reeves and Casey Laird and linebacker Jordan Rogers. Jacob Rogers

returns at safety. Hebert said the Lions will need to tackle better.

“We have some guys with experience on each level,” Hebert said. “Obviously, we have to tackle better and just be more sound.

“Last year, we were in the right places, we just couldn’t make the play.

We need some guys that can make some plays and make some tackles.”

C22 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

Pickering: Better future on horizon

Lake Arthur: Dual threat quarterback on their side

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

With a year under their belt that has allowed them to be more comfortable in the spread offense, the Lake Arthur Tigers are looking to be more explosive in 2022.

“We are excited about going into the year,” head coach Tarius Davis said.

“We think we were able to gain a little bit of experience last year, especially the offense.

“We changed our offense in the spring and didn’t have a long time

Rick Hickman / American Press Archives

Defensive back Warner Levy, bottom, returns to lead the Lake Arthur secondary. to implement it. Towards the end of the year, the kids started to understand what we are trying to get accomplished on that side of the ball.

Bringing those guys

back, especially at the skill position and those four guys upfront, we are excited about that.”

To help the offense expand its abilities, Davis has moved all-district

wide receiver Ray Levi to quarterback.

“Moving Ray to quarterback, I think we will have a more explosive

See LAKE ARTHUR, C23

Pickering trudged through a winless season last year, but head coach Jared Underwood sees a better future for the Red Devils, who return several starters and have doubled their numbers from last season.

“We have some numbers this year,” Underwood said. “We have 43 that came out compared to 21 last year.

“Everything is on the up-and-up. We are really excited about this season.

They have really locked in this summer. They have come together. The strength of this team is themselves. They have

come together as a unit.

We had kids that missed summer vacations because they didn’t want to miss summer workouts.

That was not the case last year. Their strength is their mindset. They are hungry, know what they are capable of and were not happy with last year.”

Underwood has made some changes this year, moving the offense to a pistol-power formation, and taking over the defense.

“We have been working diligently on the offensive line. That was a big factor for us last year,” Underwood said.

“If you watch film, we See PICKERING, C23

LAKE ARTHUR

09/02 at Basile

10/07 vs.

Notre Dame*

09/09 at Mamou

10/14 at Grand Lake*

09/16 vs.

Jeanerette

10/21 vs.

Welsh*

09/23 vs.

Delcambre

10/28 vs.

DeQuincy*

11/04 09/30 at at Vinton* Pickering *District 5-2A game

Tresa Timpa/Special to American Press

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C23

Oakdale: Standout running back returns

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

Back to lead the Oakdale offense is standout running back Cedric Allison, who ran for 1,439 yards and 14 touchdowns in nine games last season.

Allison ran for at least 107 yards and scored at least one touchdown in every game.

“He’s a great kid, first and foremost, and he’s a horse that we are going to ride this year,” head coach Destin Dietrich said. “We are going to have to do some different things. When he’s the tailback in the I formation, all eyes are on him. We are going to try to mix things up, get a few other weapons back there with him, to help him become even more explosive.”

Dietrich said there are plenty of candidates to join Allison in the backfield.

“Charles Shird got hurt last year and didn’t

play,” he said. “We’re hoping he can do some good things. We are hoping Ruffin George can help. Derrick Green is an up-and-coming junior who is light on his feet with good quickness. Christian Jones has moved from receiver; hopefully he can help us as, well.”

Quarterback is up for grabs.

“We have two kids who were middle school quarterbacks who have decided to play, Kade Dauzat, a senior; and D.J. Johnson, a junior,” Dietrich said. “If either one wins the job, we’ll be in good shape. Each has a lot to learn, but they have each had a good summer. They need to be thrown to the wolves since we haven’t seen it on the high school level. Whoever doesn’t get the job will be able to help us elsewhere.”

Depth along the line is a concern. Leading

LAKE ARTHUR Continued from C22

offense,” Davis said. “It is going to give us that true dual threat. He has a big arm, but he is also going to make some plays with his legs.

“We think that is going to open up our running game. We expect Warner (Levy) to have a good year. I think bringing that true dual threat quarterback is going to make us harder to defend. You have to defend the tailback run, the quarterback run and he has a big strong arm.

He can push the ball down field, and we have some guys that can run.

I expect the offense to make some explosive plays this year.”

Levi saw limited

action at quarterback last year, completing 50 percent of his passes.

He ran for 195 yards and three touchdowns and caught nine passes for 125 yards and four scores.

“He was forced into action last year,” Davis said. “For somebody that hadn’t really played the position, he did a serviceable job.

“Later in the season at Kaplan, he played some and had a big run for a touchdown.

We went ahead in the offseason and made that switch. We have some young freshmen quarterback, but we just don’t think they are ready yet. We think this

PICKERING Continued from C22

Rick Hickman / American Press Archives

Oakdale running back/defensive back Cedric Allison, number 10, is one of the area’s top two-way players. He rushed for 1,439 yards last season. the line will be a pair of juniors, 255-pounder Aidan Valle and 235-pounder Wyatt Johnson. Justin Alburry is back at tight end.

“We have always had a hard time getting linemen,” Dietrich said.

“Valle is going to be a presence. William Deville was injured early last year. He can play many positions and we will lean on him. Ashton Hayden is back and we expect big things from him. We need to build more depth.”

Defensively, the

secondary should be a strength with the return of Allison, Gavin Jack, Christian Jones and Khamell Jack. Alburry, Valle and Johnson will all play on the defensive line.

Replacing standout linebackers Jamal Warnell and Dallas Daniels will be key.

“We are going to be similar to last year,” Dietrich said. “We have a lot of kids coming back and can plug and play a lot of kids. We started slow last year, but now those kids have expe-

rience. We should be deep in the secondary.

There will be a learning curve at the inside linebacker position. Up front it will depend on health and depth.”

Dietrich said there are many candidates to play linebacker.

“Jones is moving from the secondary to linebacker,” he said.

“Connor Vincent is a sophomore who is going to be a good one.

Ruffin George will help us and we have a few freshmen that we can plug in if we have to.”

is going to give us the best opportunity right now.

“There are going to be some growing pains there, but think the goods things that he is going to bring to our offense will outweigh the growing pains.”

Two senior wide receivers in Trinidon Robinson and Ashton Davis are back along with senior tailback Warner Levy plus four linemen in Baylor Monceaux, Cason Conner, Tate Abshire and Carson Meyers.

Defensively, the Tigers will be led by linebacker Kayden Palfrey.

He is one of six returning starters including Abshire at defensive end and Robinson, Davis, Ethan Onelion and Levy in the secondary.

“Defensively, we have size and most of the people back,” Davis said. “We are going to be a little more physical because they better understand what we are trying to do.

“It looks like the defense will be a lot stronger than we were last year. He (Palfrey) is the leader there at linebacker. He sets up all up for us. He is a returning all-district player. We have some seniors over there. You throw in Tate, Trinidon, Ashton and Ethan. We have some seniors that are going to lead us.

“We have some young guys up front, but we are excited that we have some size. We are not as deep as I would like to be, but we are deep enough where

we can rotate in a few bodies and maybe spell some of those guys that played two ways all the time last year.”

Davis said the key for the Tigers will be their run game and stopping the run.

“I think that it comes to running the football and stopping the run, especially at this level because most of the teams you are going to play are going to predominantly run,” Davis said. “Last year, we had trouble in both of those areas.

“I don’t think offensively we were very effective at running the football which led to not opening up other things. Defensively, I don’t think we stopped the run as well as we need to be successful.”

couldn’t block a sole. I think with the way we have approached it this year with our new offense, pistol-power, we have tailored it to our abilities and I think it is going to work for us. I have taken over the defense this year and one of my big focuses is attacking the ball. I want the fastest defense on that field, because I want to swarm to the ball, attack gaps and create turnovers.”

Returning on offense is wide receivers Anthony Berry and Ladarius Privitera, tight end Moses Carpenter, who was an offensive lineman last season, and lineman Logan Sneed. After playing quarterback in 2021, senior Marlon Freeney will move to running back after bulking up over the summer. Sean Glover, who missed last season with an injury will take over under center.

“We are moving Freeney to running back this year,” Underwood said. “That was one of those decisions that we made before summer even started.

“He put on some weight and he accepted the challenge. We feel like he is more of a runner. We figured he would help us more in the backfield. We are going to be a predominant run-first team.

He was nursing a toe injury this summer, so he is probably not going to start right out of the gate, but he is going to tote the rock a lot this year. “(Glover) is adjusting really well. He is one of our team captains. He has accepted it and he has led. In our group messages, he is an inspiration to them all. He is a true leader.”

The Red Devils return three on the defensive side in Berry and Privitera at defensive back and Freeney at linebacker.

Senior cornerback Zachariah Rhoads is the heart of the defense.

“He is tiny, but I would call him dynamite in a small package,” Underwood said. “He is going to get picked up, but they are going to learn early that you don’t want to pick on him. He will light you up, he can cover and he is fast.”

C24 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

Rosepine: Eagles ‘hungry for more’ Team looking to build off last season’s quarterfinal run

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

Rosepine is looking to build off its best season in program history when they take the field this fall.

The Eagles went 11-2 in 2021 and reached the quarterfinals for the first time in program history.

‘These kids are hungry for more.

They are a talented bunch.

We will see if we can build off of it this year.’

Brad Ducote Rosepine football coach “It really got the community and kids excited,” head coach Brad Ducote said. “It was just extra motivation to get them here and work hard all summer in the offseason between the weight room and the conditioning part of our workouts.

Ducote said it was the best summer the team has ever had.

“A lot of that is due to the success that we had last year,” he said. “These kids are hungry for more.

They are a talented bunch. We will see if we can build off of it this year.”

Ducote said one of the big upgrades for the Eagles this season will be up front where they return offensive linemen Collin Gil, Keyton Jackson and Blaine Savoie and defensive linemen Haydn Runge, Cross Thomason and Peyton Jeans.

“Last year, I thought we were undersized offensively and defensively upfront,” Ducote said.

“Here at Rosepine, that has never been a factor.

We have always had big, physical, strong kids. We had strong kids but they were not real big last year.

“This year we are going to get that aver-

Rodrick Anderson / American Press

Tackling machine Michael Woods returns to lead Rosepine’s defense. Woods, a junior linebacker, led the Eagles with 139 tackles made last season. age back up to Rosepine standards. That is on both sides. Going back to the Many game, I thought things went downhill fast. We kind of leveled out after that.

I thought that was were the game was really determined, was in the fronts. They were more physical up front. We knew in the offseason we had to make some moves and get stronger. So far in practice, I like what I am seeing out of both

fronts.”

The Eagles return several key offensive weapons from last year in running back Grant Ducote, who is nearing the school career rushing yards mark after nearly breaking 2,000 yards last season, and receivers Isiah Stinson and Aden Cline, but will change quarterbacks. Ethan Frey is playing baseball at LSU now, so senior Jake Smith, who played wide receiver last year, will

take over under center.

“Obviously, Ethan (Frey) is some big shoes to fill at the quarterback spot, but Jake Smith has stepped in,” Ducote said.

“Jake throws the ball well, and he runs the ball well enough to keep defenses honest. We are going to go as Jake goes.

I think he can handle the pressure.

“He (Ducote) has gained a step, and he has gotten stronger in the weight room. We look for

him to continue to build off of what he did last year. We expect more out of him this year.”

Ducote looks for junior linebacker Michael Woods to lead the defense again after racking up 139 tackles as a sophomore.

“One look at the kid and he catches your eye,” Ducote said. “He makes us go defensively.

“He is a hardworking, smart kid. He has a physical presence. His

shear speed and lateral speed, we don’t have nothing close to him as far as that goes on defense. We ask a lot out of him. I think he had a 139 tackles last year, and I look for him to have 150 this year.

“He just flies to the football.”

Other returners on defense include linebacker Lane Willis and defensive backs Bryant Merriwether, Smith, Cline and Bryson Meeks.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C25

Grand Lake: New season, new challenges for Hornets

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

The Grand Lake Hornets have faced many challenges in recent years.

They had three different head coaches from 2017 to 2019, then endured destruction wrought by a pair of hurricanes in 2020. Now coming off the best twoyear span in program history, the Hornets newest challenge will be a move up to Class 2A. “This is a new season and a new challenge with new changes,” Grand Lake head coach Jeff Wainwright said.

“The kids are adapting well.

“At this point in time at the beginning of the season, it is about how good do you know yourself. Can you run your plays without flaw?

That is what we are really focused on, to get this new group of players to flawlessly play their position.”

Wainwright feels the Hornets are ready for the move. They started the 2021 season with three consecutive wins against 2A opponents.

“You play good opponents no matter what league you are in,” Wainwright said. “We played up a little last year, so our kids will be up for the challenge. At this point, it is truly learning about us and learning who we are and the things we can do to be successful this year with this particular team.”

The Hornets return several starters on both sides of the ball with the strength in the offensive

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Defensive lineman Keaton Fontenot, left, and defensive back Brycen Guillory, right, return to lead a staunch Grand Lake defense. back field and defensive secondary.

There are five backs who saw action last year in Ian Vigo, Nathaniel Murrell, Brycen Guillory, Brent Hardesty and Kealan Bell who combined for more than 2,600 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Connor Guillotte and Kaden Taylor split time at quarterback.

“That is where we feel like we have the most experience coming back,” Wainwright said. “We just have a lot of different kids that can help carry the load.

“Both of the quarterbacks have played. We are kind of juggling them back and fourth to see how that is going to work out. Both of them have quality experience at the quarterback position. We do have a lot of depth.

I think you will see all those back in the backfield throughout the year,

but not to say we are going to weigh heavily on one person.”

Murrell, Guillotte,

Guillory and Hardesty along with Kent Zaunbrecher, who also plays wide receiver, will lead

the secondary.

“They are the most experienced (group) and that will help us because

we play a lot of spread teams this year,” Wainwright said. “Moving up in the 2A, it just seems like a lot more of those guys live in the spread world.”

The challenge for the Hornets will be rebuilding the line on both sides of the ball. Senior Keaton Fontenot and sophomore Wyatt Wilkerson will lead the young linemen corps.

“The new guys tend to be in the area of the o-line and d-line,” Wainwright said. “We lost a lot from last year, guys that had been two-year starters for us and in some cases three-year starters.

That is where our big holes are.

“We have some talented young men that are going to step in their places, but they are new and they have to go through those battles to earn their position.”

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C26 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

East Beau: Trojans aiming to get into district title chase

Hamilton: Team taken to Air Raid offense

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

Hamilton Christian has a new look, with Ragan McDaniel taking over as head coach and installing the Air Raid offense.

McDaniel said the team has quickly taken to the scheme.

“They love it; it is exciting,” he said. “There are a lot of misconceptions about the Air Raid.

We run the ball a lot, we spread the ball around.

The kids have picked things up, we have a lot of fun in our practices.”

McDaniel said the fit between personnel and scheme is perfect.

“You could not set up a better group of skill

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Sammy Knight, left, will be a two-way starter for the Warriors, leading Hamilton’s secondary and receiving corps. players for what we want to do,” he said. “We have speed on the outside, size on the inside, a quarterback that can throw the

ball and make correct decisions, a handful of running backs that can run and catch.”

Tanner Hoover will

start at quarterback “He is great at reading coverages and knowing where to put the ball See HAMILTON, C32

There’s little secret to what’s coming when the East Beauregard Trojans have the ball — they’re lining up in the double-wing and running the ball.

Stopping it still posed a problem for opposing defenses last season, as the Trojans ran for nearly 4,000 yards and averaged 36 points per game en route to a 5-7 season that included a first round playoff win over district rival Merryville.

With most of the offense back this year, the Trojans are aiming to get into the District 5-1A tite chase.

All state running back Kain Atkinson (1,863

yards, 26 TDs) graduated, but most other pieces are in place.

“The big thing for us is that it all starts up front,” said head coach Ronnie Simmons.

“We have four linemen (Coltin Brister, Andy Burnamen, Jayden Meadows and Jacob Carlson) back from last year. The fifth guy (Jake Cooley) got a lot of playing time last year.

It allows us to do a little more stuff this year because of their experience. They play well together.”

Caleb Johnson returns as the big-play threat for the offense.

Last season he had 760 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns and 14 See EAST BEAU, C32

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C27

Basile: Momentum expected to continue

Noah Carter, right, leads the Oberlin defense from his linebacker position and doubles as the team’s leading receiver.

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

American Press Archives

Oberlin: Tigers want another playoff run

By Warren Arceneaux American Press

After a rebuilding year that still produced five wins and a trip to the second round of the playoffs, the Oberlin Tigers enter this season with a veteran team looking to make another long playoff run.

The Tigers return seven starters on each side of the ball and expect 20 of 22 starters to be juniors or seniors.

“We are more experienced than we were last year at this time, we have seven returning on offense and seven returning on defense and our kicker and punter back,” head coach Durrell Peloquin said.

“Offensively, our skill players should be our strength. We have a quarterback battle going on and made some adjust-

ments to our backfield.”

On offense, three senior starters (Ben Thomas, Josh Pitre and Toby Menier) return along the offensive line.

“We moved Menier from guard to tackle and are moving Thomas from center to left guard,” Peloquin said. “They are starting to show more leadership. We are trying to grow and gel together, the line is the one area where we don’t have a lot of experience.”

In the backfield, Coby McMahon and Seth Lyons are candidates to play quarterback. McMahon started there most of last year, running for 492 yards and six touchdowns and throwing for 421 yards with 5 touchdowns. Lyons ran 13 times for 133 yards and 1 touchdown. He caught 6 passes for 157 yards and

a touchdown.

“Lyons is a sophomore who played in the secondary and at running back last year. We started working him at quarterback in the spring and he is coming along. McMahon took most of the snaps last year and has continued to improve.

Whichever doesn’t end up as the starter will play running back.”

Halfback Dominique Eaves (1,064 yards, 11 TDs) and Derrick Deville (144 yards, 2 TDs) are back at running back and wingback with DeSean Deville (262 yards, 3 TDs) set to move in at fullback.

Noah Carter (27 catches, 470 yards, 3 TDs) returns at receiver with Demarucs Williams set to play tight end.

“Carter is being recruited as a tight end, strong safety or outside

linebacker,” Peloquin said. “He is our spark plug and team leader.

He brings four years of experience to the table.

Everyone looks to him for leadership and he leads by example.”

Defensively, McMahon and Keondre Lavan return on the line.

“Our linemen are working hard, trying to get better on a daily basis,” Peloquin said.

“The more you compete, the better the outcome will be on Friday night.

We have a lot of competition on the defensive line in our daily practice session.”

Carter and DeSean Deville form an outstanding set of linebackers.

“DeSean started with no experience last year and has a year of experience under his belt now,” Peloquin said.

With 15 consecutive playoff appearances and eight trips to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs since 2012, Basile has established itself as one of the most consistent programs in the area.

With a veteran cast returning this season, there does not appear to be a dip coming this season. The Bearcats return 13 starters this season, including a trio of seniors who form the backbone of the offensive and defensive units.

Luc Johnson, Horace Edwards and Ashton Deaville form the starting backfield on offense, and will all start both on defense, with Deaville a returnee at linebacker and Edwards and Johnson starting in the secondary.

Edwards ran for 643 yards and 7 touchdowns in nine games last season. Deaville added 400 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Johnson threw for 548 yards and 6 touchdowns while running for 90 yards and two more scores.

“Ashton and Horace have been playing for two years, getting a lot of carries,” head coach Keven Bertrand said.

“This will be the first time they get the bulk of the carries. It is great they have that experience because they know how to hit the hole and

where they need to be. It is a positive for us going in.

“Luc has grown up a lot. Last year, as a first-year starter he had growing pains. Towards the end of the year, you could tell the maturity level and confidence in himself. This year, it is a nice feeling knowing that he has got it down and we can throw new challenges at him because he has that experience.”

Wyatt Bertrand, Christian Bergeron and Emery Lejeune return on the offensive line.

“We never are going to be the biggest line, but we have a bunch of guys that are working hard,” Bertrand said.

“The number of starters we have coming back will help and hopefully we will be able to move some guys around.”

Bertrand is pleased with the progress the defense has made since spring.

“We were worried in a couple of areas going into the spring because we had a couple of new kids in the secondary and did not know how they would respond,” he said. “Again, we’re not the biggest and fastest, but right now we are being in the right spots and getting to where we need to be. We’ve run this defense for so many years that the kids have grown up in it and See BASILE, C28

C28 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

Elton: Indians working through growing pains

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

Elton struggled to its second winless season in three years in 2021, but is starting to make progress since Hurricanes Laura and Delta wiped out their 2020 season.

‘All of our starters that are out there right now are returning players that played some last year on both sides.’

Marcus Lejeune Elton High football coach “They got a year under their belt but we had some growing pains,” head coach Marcus Lejeune said. “Throughout last year, we fought in the early games and we had a couple of close ones that we couldn’t pull out.

Then the injuries kind of snowballed into how we finished the year at 0-10. We were in some games early, but we got caught with the conditioning and depth and the inexperience. Since then, we have had a good offseason.”

Elton was able to convert a large shed into an austere weight room to improve training in the offseason.

“We converted a 30by-40 shed into a weight room, no air conditioning,” Lejeune said. “We have seven (weight) racks

BASILE

Continued from C27

understand it.”

Deaville leads the defense from his safety spot.

“Ashton is a returning all-district player, one of those guys who does what he is supposed to do and does it right,” Bertrand said.

“Horace is a guy that we can move around a lot, use his quickness to give opponents a lot of trouble. Luke Fontenot played about four different positions for us last

Kirk Meche / Special to the American Press

Demarcus Jack returns as a two-way starter for Elton, which is looking to make strides this year with an older, bigger roster. in there and made a good offseason program that those guys hadn’t been accustomed to.

“They bought into that and progressed on their own and continued to pursue the weights. We had a good spring football season that culminated with an intra-squad scrimmage and varsity scrimmage.

They have showed great improvement. In the summer with 7-on-7, we had a great turnout with just to get some interest in football and the passing schemes and pass defense part of it.”

Elton is looking to its seniors Jadon Ross, Damarcus Jack, Sherman Bellow, Cameron McKay, Ryan Trahan, Brice Colligan, Cayl Doise, Christian Moreno, Elijah Poullard and Josh Woods

to help the Indians end a 21-game losing streak that dates back to the first-round of the 2018 playoffs and its first winning season since 2017.

“As a senior class,” Lejeune said. “We are leaning on those guys to bring this program back. Those are the guys we are playing for and leaning on.”

The majority of the Indians’ starting lineup saw varsity action last season.

“All of our starters that are out there right now are returning players that played some last year on both sides of the ball,” Lejeune said.

“We lost six seniors, but with the injuries and way things fell out toward the end of the year, everyone rotated in.

“We did move up a

year, but is settling into a linebacker spot. His maturity level and knowledge of the game will help us. We’ve moved Parker Fontenot to rover to give us an older guy there. He is learning and we are looking for big things from him.”

Bertrand said having an older team does not guarantee success, but makes it easier to add to the team’s offensive and defensive schemes.

“Every year is different, the younger guys that started last year are grown up and we have

experience coming back,” he said. “It helps you install things because they have seen everything.”

Bertrand said he does not expect to make any more overhauls on offense after switching to the veer scheme two years ago.

“It’s definitely going to be a permanent change,” he said. “It is an offense that fits our kids.

We can run it whether we have a fullback or tailback. Your personnel changes from year-toyear doesn’t affect the offense too much.”

couple of eighth-graders, those are the only exceptions. The rest of them got on the field at some point. It was a rough year, we played everybody. It wasn’t always a pleasant experience, but it was a football experience. It is definitely an upswing from last year.

We are at least two-deep in all of those positions.

We have backups that are young and we have some eight graders that will see some time.”

Ross will move from wide receiver to quarterback, while 1,000-yard running back Sherman Bellow and will split time with Jack, who caught 12 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns last season.

Tristan Leblanc returns at the x-receiver spot. On the line will

be Doise, Jack, Hayden Courville, Poullard, Maverick Manuel and tight end Anthony Gaspard. Danerian Actlis will start at fullback.

“He is the leader of our football team. They follow him,” Lejeune said. “He is the guy we are leaning on. His throwing has really improved over the past couple of months. Of course, we want to establish a good running game, but we have to throw the football. At some point you need to throw, and we want to be able to throw. He has really grown from the 7-on-7. All he can do is go up.

“He has four games last year and really didn’t get a lot of work.

He got thrown to the wolves. He has a little

bit of speed, so when he wants to use his legs, he can get himself out of some trouble and make something happen for us on offense.”

Doise at linebacker and Jack at free safety will lead the defense.

“Demarcus Jack is also emerging as a great senior leader,” Lejeune said. “They don’t come off the field.

“They are upbeat. Kale Doise doesn’t say too much but has consistent hustle plus the positive attitude and dedication.

He leads by example, and Demarcus as well.”

The defensive line will include Manuel, Poullard, Actlis and Trahan with Gaspard at linebacker and Bellow, Leblanc, Bryce Robinson and Derek Ross in the secondary.

Basile’s Horace Edwards ran for 643 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

Rodrick Anderson American Press

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C29

Merryville: Panthers have continuity on offense

By Rodrick Anderson American Press

A year older and stronger, Merryville head coach Bart Coody sees the Panthers rising above last year’s two-win season.

The key will be maintaining health. The Panthers return players in 14 of 22 positions but not a lot of depth.

‘We don’t have a lot, but what we do have I feel is really good.’

Bart Coody Merryville football coach “I feel really good if we can stay healthy,” Coody said. “We don’t have a lot, but what we do have I feel is really good.

“If we are able to not have any significant injuries, I feel like we will have a much better season than the two-win season we had last year.”

Coody is preparing the Panthers for 2022 with tough practices.

“We practice our kids hard, and when you do that you sometimes lose some because not everybody wants to pay that price,” Coody said. “But in order to do what we do and play a lot of kids both ways, we have to practice extremely hard.

We have to condition and lift and do it all year.

You can’t play the style of football we play with our numbers and not be strong and conditioned well.”

There will be two big changes for the Panthers this season — no Cam’ron Williams at running back and the defense is switching to the 4-2-5.

Williams ran for

Rodrick Anderson / American Press

Merryville’s Dakota Thompson is the Panthers’ leading returning rusher with 362 yards and two touchdowns. nearly 5,000 yards in his career and will be replaced by Dakota Thompson (396 yards, 2 TD), plus Dylan Brown, who missed last season with an ACL injury.

“Cam’ron is a huge loss from a leadership standpoint and go-to every down back,” Coody said. “That is a hard replace. He is arguably the leading rusher in school

history. I don’t have any stats from 20, 30, 40 years ago, but the kid rushed for right at 5,000 yards for us.”

Also back is quarterback Remington Coody, receiver Kaleb Lewis and tight end Kade Royer plus four linemen in Andrew Matthews, Jace Corbit, Chandler Blackmon and Jackson Hobbs.

“This is the best I have

felt about an offensive line in the last five to six years,” Coody said.

“There is only one new face on it. Everybody started where they are at this year.

“That continuity is good. I feel like they are experienced, stronger and moving a lot better than last year because they are more sure of themselves.”

The Panthers’ new defense will be led by Thompson and Kade Royer at linebacker.

“It is a complete overhaul from what we did last year,” Coody said.

“Last year, we were in a 50-front.

“This year we are going to switch to a 4-25, and hopefully create a little more pressure in the backfield and on

quarterbacks.

“Hopefully, we will create a little chaos for our opponents. We are changing a lot about what we did on that side of the ball last year.”

Other returners on the defensive side include Brown at free safety, Lewis at linebacker and linemen Jeremiah Robinson and Bradley McMillan.

C30 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

MCNEESE STATE

From rock bottom to something new Goff’s big changes breathe new life into Cowboys

By Jim Gazzolo Special to the American Press

The McNeese State football program hit rock bottom at exactly 3:15 p.m. on the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.

That’s when the Cowboys finished off a lackluster season with an embarrassingly, uninteresting loss at home to hapless Northwestern State, 24-20.

‘It is as different as night and day. It was really bad. Now we are continuing to come together more and more each and every day.’

Gary Goff McNeese football coach

That was the same Demon team McNeese had beaten by 18 points on the road a month earlier. A few boos were heard as the Pokes lumbered off the field by those fans who actually decided to stay and watch all of the final debacle.

They finished the fall 4-7, suffering back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since a decade before any of the current players were even born.

In the strange two 2021 seasons McNeese finished just 2-6 inside Cowboy Stadium and 7-11 overall. Making matters worse, the Pokes lost at home to Division II West Florida, Lamar and

the previously mentioned Demons.

Something had to change. Instead, everything changed.

Gary Goff took over as head coach and quickly changed the culture, bringing in 58 new players, 15 from the transfer portal.

It’s football’s version of an extreme makeover.

“It is a lot different,” said preseason all-Southland Conference selection Kordell Williams. “We have a scheme.”

The linebacker’s point was made with saying very little, McNeese was a McMess and Goff is here to clean things up.

The more you talk to players the more you find out just how bad things were a year ago and just how much better they are now.

After that Northwestern loss All-American defensive end Isaiah Chambers admitted, “It seemed like we didn’t even want to even be here”.

Well, they played like it. Now, there is a different kick in the Cowboys step.

“Everybody wants to be here,” junior Brayden Adams said. “We are excited. It feels different.”

Goff admitted his first job was to change the culture. A strange malaise had descended on the once elite program, an acceptance that those days may be gone forever.

Fans had been drifting away after 22 years of no playoff victories. It wasn’t something that happened over night or in one season but rather over time.

See MCNEESE, C32

Rick Hickman / American Press

New head coach Gary Goff has changed nearly everything in the McNeese State football program since taking it over.

Taking a look across the Southland Conference

By Jim Gazzolo Special to the American Press

With a giant sigh of relief, the Southland Conference opens its 60th season with a fresh kick in its step.

Alive and growing after the near-death experience the league went through over the last two years has led to a rebranding and new start.

Add all the new players coming to the league through the transfer portal leads us to the most unknown season ever in SLC history.

Any and all predictions are nothing more than best guesses at this point as each school will likely have a new starting quarterback and plenty of other first-time starters on their depth charts.

Late changes in the league’s makeup also led to some strange scheduling that only will add to a championship race that will have twists and turns like never before.

With defending champ Incarnate Word deciding to stay at the last minute and Lamar coming back a year early, the league is up for grabs.

Can the league get three teams into the FCS playoffs may be a reach, but that is the hope.

Here’s a glance at every Southland team in our predicted order of finish: Nicholls: Kohen Granier finally gets his shot to start at QB after taking over the job last season. Colin Guggenheim is back for his second season after rushing for 813 yards and nine touchdowns over the final six games.

With a favorable schedule — at home against UIW, Southeastern and McNeese — the Colonels are our pick to claim the championship.

The UIW game isn’t even a conference battle, set-

1

ting things up nicely for Nicholls.

Southeastern Louisiana: Picked to win the league, the Lions will have to replace Walter Payton Award winner Cole Kelley at quarterback.

That job will fall to Cephus Johnson III, who will count heavily on C.J. Turner, who has 185 career receptions.

Southland Freshman of the Year Gage Larvadain will lead a bevy of preseason All-Conference selections for the nationally-ranked Lions.

McNeese: With 58 newcomers, a new head coach and quarterback, the Cowboys are the biggest unknown heading into the season.

New weapons and a new culture under Gary Goff lead to fresh hope.

Still, there are questions after the two 2021 seasons led to a 7-11 record and a very disappointing and unacceptable 2-6 inside Cowboy Stadium.

Ohio State transfer kicker Garrison Smith might be the most talked about of new Pokes after last year’s kicking debacle.

UIW: Back to defend their first league title, the 14th-ranked Cardinals left the WAC at the alter. But starting QB Cameron Ward, the Jerry Rice Award winner as top offensive freshman in FCS, has left for Washington State with his head coach.

G.J. Kinne takes over the helm and has Nicholls transfer Lindsey Scott Jr. as the new quarterback. Linebacker Kelechi Aqnyalebechi and his 130 tackles lead the UIW defense.

Texas A&M-Commerce: The Lions join the conference in their first year transitioning from Division II. Just one of three new FCS programs, TAMC

2

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5

has a rich tradition that includes national titles in 1972 and 2017.

Coach David Bailiff has plenty of experience in the Southland to fall back on and will welcome Ohio State transfer Jagger LaRoe into a quarterback battle for the starting job with returnees Jaiave Magalei and Eric Rodriguez.

Northwestern State: If the Demons are to finish .500 or better for the first time since 2014 then their defense will lead the way.

Pass rushing terror Isaiah Longino and his 15.5 career sacks leads the NSU attack that pulled off a season-ending upset at McNeese last fall. The two rivals won’t play this year, but the Demons hope to make a move up the standings anyway.

Lamar: After leaving the SLC for one season in the WAC the Cardinals return having beaten both NSU and McNeese in the spring season of 2021.

Jalen Dummett’s move from QB to wide receiver is key to Lamar’s hopes. The offensive line returns four starters and will need to lead the Cardinals if they are to improve on last season’s 2-9 record.

Houston Baptist: Linebacker is the best position at HBU and few are better than Rodney Dansby, who led the conference last fall in tackles as a freshman with 131. Albeit, Husky defense still allowed 41.7 points a game and gave up nearly 500 yards an outing.

The offense returns nine starters but QB Orion Olives is expected to be pushed for the job.

Coming off a winless season there is a lot of improvement needed for the Huskies to make any noise in the conference race.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 AMERICAN PRESS C31

2022 Southland Conference football schedule Thurs., Sept. 1 Lamar at Abilene Christian, 7 p.m. (ESPN+) Lincoln (Cali.) at Texas A&M-Commerce, 2 p.m.

(ESPN+) Sat., Sept. 3 Houston Baptist at Northern Colorado, 3 p.m.

Southern Illinois at Incarnate Word, 6 p.m.

McNeese State at Montana State, 7 p.m.

Nicholls State at South Alabama, 4 p.m.

Northwestern State at Montana, 2 p.m. (ESPN+) Southeastern Louisiana at UL-Lafayette, 6 p.m. (ESPN+) Sat., Sept. 10 Lindenwood at Houston Baptist, 6 p.m.

Incarnate Word at Nevada, 4:30 p.m.

Lamar at Southern Methodist, 6 p.m. (EPSN+) McNeese State at Rice, 6:30

p.m. (ESPN3) Nicholls State at UL-Monroe, 7 p.m.

Northwestern State vs.

Grambling State at Independence Stadium, 6 p.m.

Southeastern Louisiana at Florida Atlantic, 5 p.m. (ESPN+) Texas A&M-Commerce at Tennessee Tech, 6 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 17 Houston Batist, bye Incarnate Word at Prairie View A&M, 6 p.m.

Northern Colorado at Lamar, 6 p.m. (ESPN+) Alcorn at McNeese State, 7 p.m.

Nicholls State at Southeastern Missouri, 2 p.m.

Northwestern State at Southern Mississippi, 6 p.m.

Central Connecticut State at Southeastern Louisiana, 6 p.m.

Texas A&M-Commerce at Sam Houston State, 6 p.m.

(ESPN+)

Sat., Sept. 24 Houston Baptist at Texas State, 6 p.m.

Incarnate Word at Southeastern La.*, 6 p.m.

Lamar at Northwestern State*, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+) Mississippi College at McNeese State, 7 p.m.

Jacksonville State at Nicholls State, 3 p.m.

North American at Texas A&M-Commerce, 6 p.m.

(ESPN+) Sat., Oct. 1 Houston Baptist at Lamar*, 3 p.m. (ESPN+) McNeese State at Incarnate Word*, 6 p.m.

Nicholls State at Northwestern State*, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+) Murray State at Southeastern Louisiana, 6 p.m.

Texas A&M-Commerce, bye Sat., Oct. 8 Nicholls State at Houston

Baptist*, 6 p.m.

Lamar at Incarnate Word*, 4 p.m.

McNeese, bye Norhtwestern State at Eastern Illinois, 2 p.m.

Texas A&M-Commerce at Southeastern Louisiana*, 4 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 15 Northwestern State at Houston Baptist*, 6 p.m.

(ESPN+) Incarnate Word at Nicholls State, 3 p.m.

Lamar, bye Texas A&M Commerce at McNeese State*, 7 p.m.

Southeastern Louisiana, bye Sat., Oct. 22 Houston Baptist at Texas A&M-Commerce*, 2 p.m.

(ESPN+) Faulkner University at Incarnate Word, 2 p.m.

Prairie View A&M at Lamar,

4 p.m. (ESPN+) McNeese State at Nicholls State*, 3 p.m.

Southeast Missouri at Northwestern State, 1 p.m.

(ESPN+) Southeastern Louisiana at Jacksonville State, 1 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 29 UT-Martin at Houston Baptist, 2 p.m.

Incarnate Word at Texas A&M-Commerce*, 2 p.m.

(ESPN+) Nicholls State at Lamar*, 3 p.m. (ESPN+) Southeastern Louisiana at McNeese State*, 7 p.m.

Northwestern State, bye Sat., Nov. 5 Houston Baptist at Incarnate Word*, 2 p.m.

Southeastern Louisiana at Lamar*, 3 p.m. (ESPN+) Eastern Illinois at McNeese State, 7 p.m.

Nicholls State, bye

Northwestern State at Texas A&M-Commerce*, 2 p.m.

(ESPN+) Sat., Nov. 12 McNeese State at Houston Baptist*, 2 p.m.

Incarnate Word, bye Lamar at New Mexico State, 3 p.m.

Texas A&M-Commerce at Nicholls State*, 3 p.m.

Northwestern State at Southeastern Louisiana*, 6 p.m.

Thurs., Nov. 17 Southeastern Louisiana at Nicholls State*, 6 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 19 Houston Baptist at Tarleton State, 2 p.m.

Incarnate Word at Northwestern State*, 1 p.m. (ESPN+) Lamar at McNeese State*, 7 p.m.

Tennessee State at Texas A&M-Commerce, 2 p.m.

(ESPN+)

Fresh Foods.

Local Flavors.

C32 AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022

MCNEESE Continued from C30

Perhaps it was the double hurricanes which devastated the area in 2020 that acted like the slap in the face needed.

Or perhaps it was when that final gun sounded back against Northwestern State that turned uncaring into anger.

“It is as different as night and day,” Goff said of the change of attitude since his arrival. “It was really bad. Now we are continuing to come

together more and more each and every day.

“It is something we had to address right away. We wanted guys here who wanted to be here and represent McNeese in the right way. We want to make this fan base proud.”

Whatever the cause a chain of strange events began after that defeat that led to Goff’s hiring.

He quickly began by letting those know that no matter how good you were, or how long you had been here, he was cleaning things up his way. If you didn’t want to be a part of it, there was the door.

Several left, but those that have stayed welcomed the new beginning.

“This is great,” said receiver Mason Pierce. “We have a completely different attitude and he has brought in a lot of fresh talent.”

Goff didn’t just cover up the mess with a fresh coat of paint, he tore the program down and is building it up piece by piece.

The changes haven’t won a game, but they have won back some fans.

Rick Hickman / American Press Of course, it’s a lot easier to look up when given hope after Wide receiver Mason Pierce escapes from defensive back Richard you have hit rock bottom.

Akers during a scrimmage at Cowboy Stadium on Aug. 13.

EAST BEAU

HAMILTON

Continued from C26

catches for 300 yards and 5 touchdowns.

“He can do so many things on the field – running back, receiver, tight end,” Simmons said. “He gives us a lot of options and is a smart kid. He picks up everything really fast. He is a teamfirst guy, he doesn’t mind picking up all these roles to help the team.

We’re going to move him around quite a bit and try to find different ways to get the ball to him.”

Gage Hildreth ran for 618 yards and 7 touchdowns. Freddie Beall added 296 yards and 3 touchdowns.

“Gage is important to our offense,” Simmons said. “He is always between-the-tackles.

He is 230 pounds, a hard-nosed kid who runs hard and is hard to tackle. Freddy is more of a speed guy. He played really well in the second half of the season.

Skylar Beebe (181 yards, 2 TDs) has gotten a good amount of carries the past few years.”

Issac Humphreys returns under center.

“He is a leader, he has all the qualities you look for in a quarterback,” Simmons said. “He takes

command of the huddle, he knows what everyone else is supposed to do. He does a great job with the mental part of the game and also has the physical tools to go along with it. He’s got a good arm and moves well. He allows us to open things up more than we have in the past.”

Simmons said he is not opposed to throwing more if need be.

“Our bread and butter is going to be double-wing, that is not going to change,” he said. “But, we might have some wrinkles if it gives us an advantage.”

Simmons is hoping a year of experience and maturity produces better results on the defensive side of the ball.

“We have some experience coming back,” he said. “We are going to try to simplify things a little bit more and try to allow our guys to play fast and not think too much. We have two linebackers back in Caleb Johnson and Zane Hildreth. They started the entire season last year and have a lot of experience. They are a year older and a year better.

Continued from C26

Rodrick Anderson / American Press

East Beauregard quarterback Issac Humphreys threw 10 touchdown passes last season.

“At end, we have Gage Hildreth and Sean Guillory. They started for us last year and will be two-way starters. They are going to set the tone for us at defensive end. In the secondary, Beall will be a third-year starter.

Ryland Reeves is another starter coming back. They are smart football players.

Last year a lot of kids were thrown in there with no football experience and had to learn on the fly.

This year, hopefully that experience will be in our favor.”

Simmons said he is

hoping to see improvement throughout the season.

“I want to get better every week,” he said. “If we do that, we will be where we need to be at the end of the season.

We would like to compete with the top teams in the district. We know to be up there, it will take some improvement on our part. Our district is tough, but we want to be in a position to compete for the title yearafter-year. Hopefully we take a few steps closer to getting there this year.”

before the play starts,” McDaniel said. “That is the key thing in my offense. He loves to watch film and learn. His arm strength has doubled in the past six months.”

As many as five players will rotate at running back.

“Kylan Alexander will be our starter,” McDaniel said. “Jamell Davis and Javon Vital will be back there as well as Sammy Knight and Davion Hall.

They have to be multiskilled, be able to catch the ball. You have to be able to call out the blocking assignments and tell the linemen where the blitzes are coming from.”

There is also depth at receiver.

“Knight is our leader at receiver now,” McDaniel said. “T.J. Bolden has blazing speed, as does another wideout in Justis Rideaux. Vital will play some in the slot. We’re young there, but from a skill standpoint we are fast and those guys have excellent hands.”

The line has new faces but has made strides.

“We have two back in Dillian Harmon and Milyn Lewis,” McDaniel said. “We have some spots to fill but have kids

that are stepping up. I think the line will be a strength. We have guys with size that can move.

We have focused on footwork. Our steps are different. We have some complex things these guys are picking up well.”

McDaniel said Hamilton will attack on defense as well.

“We are going to be all over the ball,” he said. “You’ll see 11 guys going to the ball. It’s the same approach as the offense — we are going to be moving fast and we are going to be all over the place. We are going to send guys from areas where guys normally don’t come from. It’s going to be hard for offenses to pick up. We want to keep the offensive lines guessing.”

McDaniel said there is plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball.

“Harmon and Lewis will be our leaders on the defensive line,” he said.

“Defensive back Noah Larue is drawing some college interest with his size, speed and coverage ability. Alexander will be a monster for us at middle linebacker. Knight and Vital will hawk the ball in the backfield.”