Central Wildcats

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: David Simoneaux (1st year)

2022 Record: 4-6

Class & District: Class 5A (District 4)

Central DE Dekarius Mays (Photo taken by Samuel Becker Rodriguez)

New Central High School head coach David Simoneaux is a graduate of Parkview Baptist School. This is not Coach Simoneaux's first time coaching at Central as he was an assistant coach under then head coach Doug Dotson at Central for a few years. Simoneaux won a state title at Catholic High School in 2021 and took Catholic (Pointe Coupee) to a state title game appearance in 2019 when he was the head coach. Simoneaux will try to do the same with the Wildcats.

“The guys are buying into what we're doing,” Simoneaux said. “We also are big on nutrition, and changing the bodies of some of these kids to get them ready for Class 5A ball. I have seen kids gain 15 to 20 pounds of good muscle weight and they will get stronger this Summer as a team. The culture we are trying to teach will pay off and the kids are responding to it.

Central DE/OLB Kadarius Mays (Photo taken by Alexander Diaz)

The Wildcats have a chance to be improved in 2023 with an offense that is returning some pretty talented players. This team in Class 5A will only be as good as their offensive line takes them as it has a chance to be one of the better units in quite some time. They are led by three-year starter Andrew Richard (6-3, 295) who is a leader on this team and is a D1 sleeper prospect. For the rest of the offensive line you will see senior OT Waylon Bennett (5-10, 255), OT Graham Harris (6-3, 280), senior OG Kasey Smith (5-8, 230), senior OG Braden Ringe (5-11, 285), TE/FB Ty Williams (6-0, 220) and senior OG Griffin Heil (6-2, 270).

The offense also returns QB Jackson Firmin (6-1, 185), who started later in the season in 2022 and did a good job. The program also has QB Dalton Ruffini (6-2, 180) who battled in the summer and spring and could get reps too. The run game has a few options in former quarterback turned running back senior Damion Blocker (6-0, 190, 4.55 speed), RB Manny Williams (5-9, 175) and RB/CB Kyle Veal (6-0, 190, 4.5 speed). Those three kids give Central a really strong run game.

Central DT Brandon Baker (Photo provided by Brandon Baker

The wide receiver room has a ton of upside led by second-year starter TE/WR/HB Aidan Wilkinson (6-3, 225, 4.65 speed) who has good hands, WR Evan Jones (6-0, 175), WR James Hugsey (5-10, 170) and WR Keithan Womack (6-1, 170).

The defense for Central has some size and speed in the front seven and has the potential to be a good defense in Class 5A. The front starts with Braylon George (6-3, 225, 4.7 speed), talented DE Dekarius Mays (6-3, 245), DT Brandon Baker (5-11, 300), DE/OLB Kadarius Mays (6-0, 200, 4.6 speed), senior LB B. J Collins (6-1, 195) and LB Keith Williams (6-0, 220). Kyle Veal will give them reps at linebacker as well. The secondary has a few talented players led by senior SS/FS Cam Patterson (6-1, 185) who will be a talented player, safety Tyler Fourtney (6-1, 170), CB Steven Ranel (6-2, 185, 4.5 speed), CB Blayson Stokan (5-11, 160), two-way starter Manny Williams (5-9, 175) and safety Kaedon Loupe (5-11, 175).

On special teams, the Wildcats return kicker Nathan Zimmer who has a really good leg and on kickoffs he hits the end zone at least 50 percent of the time.

The football staff at Central High School has a few Central alumni in linebackers coach Kevin Henry (who played linebacker for Tulane and Oklahoma State), wide receiver coaches Greg Morris and Trenton Gaye, offensive coordinator Zach Morris, offensive line coach Hunter Edgens and defensive line coach Joey Jarreau.

Central’s only state title in football came in 1966 and the last time the program made it to at least the semifinals was in 2007.

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