Bogalusa Lumberjacks

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: Cyril Crutchfield (3rd year)

2022 Record: 9-2 (District Champions)

Class & District: Class 3A (District 7)

2022 Playoffs: Lost to Berwick 33-30 in 2nd Round of Division III (Non-Select) Playoffs

Bogalusa QB Ashton Levi (Photo taken by Kevin Magee)

“We lost 15 seniors from the 2022 team, including three really experienced wide receivers that we have to replace with younger players,” Bogalusa head coach Cyril Crutchfield said. “I think my QB, Ashton Levi, is one of the best I’ve ever coached and I had Randall Mackey at South Plaquemines.”

The Lumberjack offense will revolve around four-year starting QB Ashton Levi (6-1, 200), who threw for 2,127 yards with 23 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 2022. Levi not only has a cannon but he is a dangerous runner as well as he ran for 318 yards with eight touchdowns. He moves around the pocket well and has been an escape artist his whole career.

The skill talent around him will be younger than in 2022 but the talent is still there to do very well. Two-way starter RB/LB Michael Burton (5-10, 185) is back with power and speed, and look out for sleeper recruit WR Desmond Ramirez (5-10, 170, 4.5 speed) to have a big year. RB Talyn Williams (5-10, 200) moved from linebacker to running back in the Spring and did well. The WR room has two new players with ability in WR Michael Edwards (6-2, 185) and WR Jayden Levi who are both very talented players but they need reps at the spot. The offensive line is another strength of the team returning some great players in second-year starter OT Dayon Moses (5-10, 280), three-year starter OT Jayden Brice (5-10, 280) and second-year OG Jakyrn Brock (5-8, 225) and a few younger players combine to make this a strong point for the Lumberjacks.

Bogalusa RB/LB Michael Burton (Photo courtesy of Michael Burton)

The defense will return six starters and some new players will get their chance to start as well in 2023. The captain of the defense comes back in senior SS/DB Aydan Magee (5-9, 165) who had 45 tackles in 2022 and is a big-time player on the field. There’s also DT Kenneth Ealy Jr (6-1, 305), SS/FS Lance Jackson (6-2, 180), senior DT Chase Nichols (6-0, 220), All-District DB Dyron Jackson, new starter DE Damion Tillman (6-0, 215), senior DE Jakeem Smith (6-0, 220), LB Jaylin Keys (5-9, 190), second-year starter DB Leander Lester and second-year starter CB Aquinton Roberts (6-0, 170) who had 46 tackles in 2022.

Coach Crutchfield won state titles in 2002, 2007 and 2008 with South Plaquemines High School. Coach Crutchfield has also been to five state championship games as a head coach. Crutchfield also coached former LSU All-American RB Leonard Fournette at St. Augustine High School in new-orleans as his head coach. Crutchfield was also a second-team All American free safety in for Northeast Louisiana (now known as ULM) where he was a part of its 1987 national championship team.

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