District 10 Class 1A

By Lee Brecheen

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Riverside Academy Raiders

Head Coach: Lee Roussel (2nd year) 

2023 Record: 12-2 Won District 4-0

2023 Playoffs: 2nd round beat Catholic Pointe Coupee HS 14-12, Quarterfinals beat St. Martins HS 26-14, Semisfinals beat Vermilllion Catholic HS 34-7, and State Title game lost to Southern Lab HS 42-35. 

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduated: DB Jared Campbell, WR/DB Jaedon Butler, SS/FS Dayton Gibson, LB Wayne Hymel, LB/WR Mason Smith, FB Brennan Maus, OL/DL Amiree Alexander (Southeastern), OC Noah Trepagnier (Centenary), OT Cooper Emmons, OL/K Matt Craig and OL Taye Drake

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Team Outlook: The Raiders had a great year and came close to a title in 2023. The program will be built again to go deep in the playoffs in 2024. The skill talent is still there and just need to replace most of the Offensive Line from a year ago. The Offense will return QB Brock Bourgeois (5-11, 180) did a great job in 2023. The program might have another QB in 2024 if cleared in St. Augustine HS Transfer Jakoby Farria (6-3, 185) and again if cleared could play some WR for the team too or QB. The Offense already returns talent in WR Kenric Johnson 2nd year starter 4.5 speed started as a 8th grader in 2023 special player, RB Dedric Lastie (5-5, 145) SR has great quickness and tough for size, DT Martrell Henry will line up as a RB at times at (6-2, 265) might be the biggest RB in Louisiana with feet. Henry also can line up at TE for the team too. Theres also RB Cameron Matt (5-7, 165) lettered in 2023 and new starter WR Nehiamah Phillips (6-2, 190) SR transfer from ST. Augustine HS in New Orleans has a ton of talent with 4.5 speed or better in the forty. The Offensive Line though young will build around OL Ayden Bullock (6-2, 280), OL/DL Ahmad Cage (5-10, 265), and Center Jordan Cramer (5-9, 205). “2023 was a incredible season for the Raiders. I am proud of the team. Won some big close games in the playoffs and beat number #1 ranked Vermillion Catholic HS holding there great QB Jonathan Dartez to 18 yards on 12 carries in the playoffs,” said coach Roussel. The Defense will return lots of speed and the heart of the Defense is back in DT Martrell Henry (6-2, 265) who was hurt most of the 2023 season and back healthy now. The rest of the Defense back to lead will be SR Chance Tyler (5-11, 195) LB tough leader, LB Kaleb Brumfield (6-0, 215) SR sleeper 3 year starter 4.65 speed, LB Brody Vicknair (5-11, 220) 2nd year starter leader, CB Kaden Brumfield (6-0, 180) SR 3rd year starter 4.5 speed, Safety Jace Trosclair (5-10, 170) 2nd year starter, Safety Chris Becknel started as a Freshman in 2023 great player was a WR in 2023, DT Jakobe King (6-0, 250), DE Justin Hall (5-11, 200) and some young players giving the program depth. 

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St. Martin’s Saints

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Head Coach: Kevin Dizer (2nd year) 

2023 Record: 9-2

2023 Playoffs: 1st round lost to Riverside HS 26-14

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduated: OL/DL Manny Bejaran, OL/DL Dominic Hogan, WR Daken Baker, and OL Dylan Raines. 

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Team Outlook: “We will have a tough schedule in 2024. We start off with Pearl River HS at there place and week 5 rematch with Riverside HS. We do return the State’s most gifted RB I've ever seen is Harlem Berry. We have a small roster but talented players. We do have also a experienced group back of 2 way starters both sides of the football,” said coach Dizer. 

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The program will go only as far as RB Harlem Berry takes them. I feel like hes the most gifted player outside of Peyton Manning. I've seen play at a small high school in Louisiana in my 31 years covering HS football. Berry has the feet and movement with hips ive seen with players like Marcus Allen, Reggie Bush and Gale Sayers when you see him in person you figure out really fast right away hes special and another level smooth with the ball in his hands 2023 had 2, 080 yards rushing with 37 touchdowns only 158 carries, and caught 20 passes for 401 yards with 7 touchdowns in 2023. The Offense has another big time player in QB Ashton Oliver (5-9, 155) SR can also run a 4.5 forty ran for 462 yards with 5 touchdowns in 2023 and passed for 782 yards with 8 touchdowns to only 3 interceptions and completed 37-56 passes, and tough for his size a 4 year starter veteran player and leader for this team. To take the pressure off Berry running the ball too much the program has a really good WR group in WR Cooper Helmke (6-3, 185) SR, WR/DB Tyler Penny (5-8, 145) 10 catches 279 yards with 3 touchdowns in 2023 and Defense 21 tackles, and WR/DB Kain Oddo (5-8, 140) 18 tackles in 2023 with 3 interceptions, all players with starting experience prior to the 2024 season. The Offensive Line will be young lead by OL/DL Daniel Fink (6-3, 325) SR, OL/DL Zach Kelly (6-1, 270) SR and young players battling this Summer for the other spots. The Defense will be lead by LB/TE Thompson Becnel (6-2, 185) SR, DL Cole LaCoste (5-9, 185) SR leader 19 tackles in 2023 with 7 for losses and LB/FB Gabe Saverese (5-8, 185) 50 tackles in 2023. Special Teams the team returns one of the better Kickers in Louisiana in Kicker/Punter Cooper Helmke 97% touchback rate in 2023 on Kickoffs and made 98% extra points. 

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Varnado Wildcats

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Head Coach: Adam Brumfield (4th year) 

2023 Record: 3-7 

2023 Playoffs: 1st round lost to White Castle HS 

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: 

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Team Outlook: The program will return 4 really good Seniors leaders in DB/WR Tillas Hall (6-3, 205) a big time Athlete in the District, TE/DE Tydarrius Brooks (5-11, 235) SR leader, OT/DT Gerald Williams (5-11, 275) SR leader and SR leader Devin Cotton (5-11, 265) a OT/DT for the team.The QB position you have 2 players competing and both will play in Joshua Fox (6-0, 195), and QB Will Hardge (6-2, 180). When one is not playing QB the other will start for the team somewhere to help this team win games. Joshua Fox is also a starting LB for the team and will be a starting LB again in 2024. Will Hardge will start also in the Secondary for the team. Will was a WR in 2023 for the team and when not at QB will still get time at WR too. The run game will be lead by Chad Ladner and Jaden Bell. Both RB’s are tough with quickness and some power for the Offense. Jaden Bell will also play OLB for the team at (5-8, 165). More key players back are Kylon Roberts LB, DE Jhyrin Piggot, DB/WR Travion Benne, OT Rodney Holmes, and WR Demarion Newkirk. New starters in the program are LB Elijah Lewis, Center Kenyen Keyes, WR Barry Thomas, and OL Tyler Stogner. The program returns both Coordinaters great coaches in 2024 both Jackson State Hall Of Famers in Offensive Coordianter James Harvey & Defensive Coordinater Chris Gale.

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West St. John Rams

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Head Coach: Derron Thomas (2nd year) 

2023 Record: 2-9

2023 Playoffs: None

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: WR Michael Molton, WR/CB Kylin Smith (McNeese State), WR DJ Jarrow, and OL/DL Brandon Jones 

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Team Outlook: “Most starters are back for the program. Only lost 4 seniors graduated. We are a bigger team in 2024. We have 20 new players also for depth in 2024,” said coach Thomas. 

The skill talent will be there this year with speed and some experience lead by WR/RB Jakari Milton, QB Jayce Farenell, CB Keimyren Weber (5-10, 165) SR, SS/CB Jordae Grows (6-0, 175) SR 2 fumble recoveries in 2023, WR Matthew Borne (5-10, 160) SR 4.45 speed, WR/RB/CB De’avoni Bartholthmew 2nd year starter, FS/WR Chance Boskie, CB Ramone Lathers, WR J’Kyren Morris, RB Kalon Gardner 4.5 speed, and CB Terry Fontenberry (5-10, 155). Key lineman and Linebackers back are OL/DL Ke’Juan Fobb (6-3, 290), OL/DL Tim Coleman (5-11, 250) 2 caused fumbles in 2023, DE/OLB Xavier Poche (5-11, 200) SR 4.6 speed, OLB/DE Darrious Patterson (6-1, 180) SR 4.6 speed, OL/DL Aubrey White (6-2, 285), LB/SS Zakyrin Howard All District in 2023, OL/DL Cylar Narcisse (6-2, 275) sat out 2023 season new starter, and OL/DL Ivan Miller (6-2, 265) SR sat out the 2023 and also a new starter. I would not be shocked if this team made a run in the playoffs in 2024.

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