Avoyelles Mustangs

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: Corey Bannister (1st year)

2022 Record: 9-4

Class & District: Class 2A (District 4)

2022 Playoffs: Defeated Lakeside 60-0 in 1st Round, Defeated St. Helena 52-8 in 2nd Round, Lost to St. James 48-24 in Quarterfinals of Division III (Non-Select) Playoffs

Avoyelles RB DeCareyn Sampson (Picture taken by Rebecca Casugay)

The Avoyelles Mustangs led the state in rushing yards with a jaw-dropping 6,093 yards last season. Three football players rushed for over 1,500 yards each for Avoyelles High School in 2022 which I don’t remember that happening for a team in Louisiana before. First-year head coach Corey Bannister is a graduate of Avoyelles High School (Class of 1996) and Southern University. Coach Bannister is also the school’s track coach and athletic director. Coach Bannister was on the coaching staff in 2022 before being named the head football coach in June of this year.

“I was hired on June 21 of this year,” Bannister said. “We will keep the Double Wing-T offense but we will throw more in 2023. We are small in numbers as far as overall players coming back to the program.”

Everyone in this program will start both sides of the football and have been that way for years and it works. The Offense returns one of the best Running Backs in Louisiana high school football in senior Decareyn Sampson, who ran for 2,256 rushing yards with 29 touchdowns along with 400 yards receiving and seven receiving touchdowns last season. Sampson will need to stay healthy in 2023 so this team can continue to feed off his ability this year. The program also has more running backs who have a lot of experience Zydan Williams (5-8, 205) had over 400 yards in 2022 with 4.65 speed and power. Then there’s RB/WR Arthella Augustine with 4.55 speed and RB Kevin Jones (5-7, 160) with quickness and power for a smaller player. The Offense also returns three-year starting QB Nicholas Casugay (6-0, 170) passed for 531 yards with nine touchdowns in 2022 on only 34 attempts and knows the offense well. There’s also FB/TE Braydeon Tanner, WR/TE Preston Barnes second-year starter and senior WR Gavin Barnes (6-1, 165). The offensive line and defensive line are mostly the same kids starting both sides of the ball which are OG/DE Xavier Pryor (6-3, 250) second-year starter, three-year starter OL/DL Maddox Dufour (5-11, 235), senior OL/DL Travis Cole (5-6, 210) and OL/DL Cobe Smith (6-0, 230) who is a talented young player.

Avoyelles QB Nicholas Casugay (Photo taken by Rebecca Casugay)

The defense will return a lot of the offensive players mentioned above including FS Decaryan Sampson the team’s starting RB. LB/SS Hunter Ferguson (5-5, 155) will be back as well for the defense. WR/TE Preston Barnes is also a star LB for the defense in 2023.

The Mustangs did not kick or punt one time in 2022. After talking to Coach Bannister they will punt some in 2023 which is a big change for the program as they have never punted on fourth down every series all year the last few years.

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