E.D White Cardinals

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: Kyle Lasseigne (5th year)

2022 Record: 11-2

Class & District: Class 3A (District 8

2022 Playoffs: 1st Round Bye, Defeated Evangel Christian 32-29 in 2nd Round, Defeated John F. Kennedy 42-20 in Quarterfinals, Lost to St. Thomas More 38-7 in the Semifinals of Division II (Select) Playoffs

E.D. White FB/RB Jeffrey Diedrich

E.D. White head coach Kyle Lasseigne is in his second tenure as Head Football coach at E.D. White HS. He has coached at E. D. White for a total of 15 years total as Head Coach for the program in 2023, with this season being the fifth of his second tenure.

The last three years have been great for our program as we went to the semifinals in 2020, advanced to the state title game where we lost to University High in 2021 and to the semifinals again in 2022,” Lasseigne said. “We have plenty of experience back on offense. We had three players sign scholarships from the offensive line. The defense will be rebuilding after we lost 8 starters from last year’s team so we have some holes to fill there. I do like our team speed again and young players coming up are getting better every day.”

The team will return its Offensive MVP from the 2022 season in FB/RB Jeffrey Diedrich (6-0, 210) who has 4.65 speed and tough power coming at you. The Cardinals also return senior QB Jake Sternfels (5-10, 180), who is a three-year starter who is coming off an injury from last year. Senior WR Paxton Lafont (6-4, 200) returns as a starter and has 4.59 speed and soft hands. Lafont should have a breakout year in 2023 and also came off an injury from last season.

E.D. White WR Paxton Lafont

The Offense also has senior RB Andrew Duet (5-8, 170) who is a second-year starter with 4.6 speed and second-year starter senior TE/HB Phillip Hillman (5-11, 200) who was All-District in 2022. The offensive line lost some great players but did return leaders in C/OG Zach Guin (6-0, 250), second-year senior OT Jacob Oncale (6-0, 240) and OT Tommy Bower (6-4, 260).

The defense returns 3 starters total from the 2022 season. It all starts with FS/DB Nate Thompson (5-11, 170, 4.45 speed) who is the leader of the defense. The Cardinals also have second-year starter LB Taylor Thibodeaux (5-11, 210), second-year starter FS/SS Matthew Escher (6-0, 180), second-year starter CB Luke Zeringue and senior DE Noah Benoit (6-2, 220) coming off an injury in 2022 is back to lead the front. A few young players at press time are still competing going into the fall for a few spots in the lineup on defense after talking to Coach Lasseigne.

E.D. White LB Nate Thompson

The special teams unit will be really strong with kicker Ty Powell back for his second year starting. Powell is one of the best kickers in the US already with a range easily over 50 yards.

Several players signed scholarships from the Class of 2023 which include OG/OC Zach Gunn (Rhodes), OT Matthew Broussard (UL Lafayette), LB Nathan Johnson (Millsaps), OL Ethan Reynolds (Nich State), ATH Matthew Melancon (Nicholls State) for both baseball & football and DE/LB Aidan Clements(Nicholls State).

E.D. White’s football program won state titles in 1968 & 1969. The football program will be getting new turf this summer for the fall season.

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