Haynesville Golden Tornado

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: David Franklin (22nd year)

2022 Record: 11-3 (State Semifinalists)

Class & District: Class 1A (District 1)

2022 Playoffs: Defeated East Iberville 44-6 in 1st Round, Defeated Oakdale 36-16 in 2nd Round, Defeated Basile 31-7 in Quarterfianls, Lost to Oak Grove 48-7 in Semifinals of Division IV (Non-Select) Playoffs

The Haynesville High School football program is the winningest in Louisiana high school football history with a record of 854-310-34. Haynesville is also the 11th-winningest high school football program in the country. The Golden Tornado have also won an amazing 17 state championships, which is second behind John Curtis Christian who has 28.

Haynesville RB/MLB Alonzo Jackson (photo taken by Lyn nParnell/ Epitome Visuals, LLC)

Current head coach David Franklin has won three state titles in 2009,2013 and 2014. The Haynesville program is one of the few in the country and maybe the only school in Louisiana with just 2 Head Coaches in the last 58 years at the same school. Coach Franklin’s dad, Hall of Famer Alton “Red” Franklin, was the head coach from 1967 to 2001 before David took over. Red Franklin won 11 State Championships at Haynesville High School. Red would later win three more state titles in 2009,2013 & 2014 when he was an assistant to his son. To put this in perspective the father-son duo are responsible for 14 of the 17 state titles at Haynesville High School.

“We are working hard to be ready for the 2023 season,” Coach Franklin said. “We hope to stay healthy and compete after an improved 2022 season.”

Haynesville OL/DL Kentavious Watts (Photo courtesy of Kentavious Watts)

The offense does return its starting quarterback from last season Isaiah Washington who is a smart kid and has come a long way as he is improving every day after helping his team win 11 wins in 2022. The offense will have two-way starters as the program returns three-year starter RB/MLB Alonzo Jackson (6-1, 215, 4.55 speed). There’s also playmaking RB/CB Jayden Green (5-8, 160) who is a three-year starter and LB/FB Byruss Burns (5-9, 150) who lettered in 2022 and will help the team on both sides of the football. Another key part of the offense is HB/TE/LB Kezavion Woods (6-1, 215) who is great at being a blocker, pass catcher and linebacker for the program that rarely leaves the field. A few linemen will help this program toward another great season three-year starter senior OT/OG Germetrius Speech (6-0, 335), senior OT/DE Kamarion Peneger (6-0, 200, 4.55 speed), OL/DL Kentavious Watts (6-1, 265), second-year starter C/DT Germerican Williams (5-10, 225) and three-year starter OT Jake Acklin (6-6, 320). The defense also returns second-year starter SS/FS Zykerius Fieding (6-1, 165, 4.5 speed) who is a great athlete in the secondary.

One player from the 2023 signing class from Haynesville High School is playing at the next level as OL/DL Kemmarion Ivory will walk on at Northwestern State.

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen, and click on the bell to be notified whenever we release a new episode. If you want to listen on the go, follow us wherever you get your podcasts! We have a show three times a week where we interview coaches and recruits statewide in both football and baseball. If you click/press on the logo below, it will take you directly to our YouTube channel!