District 4 Class 1A

By Lee Brecheen

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Basile Bearcats

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Head Coach: Dale Guillory (1st year) 

2023 Record: 5-6

2023 Playoffs: 1st round lost to Welsh HS 42-20

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: OT/DE Emery Lejeune, OG/DE Wyatt Bertrand, WR/CB Tyler Newman P/K Ross Cortez, RB Tucker Leblanc, TE Kade Sweeney. 

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Team Outlook: “Excited rich tradition with community support. We will continue the success they've had and build on it. Have a lot of starters back here so full speed we go. These are also high effort great kids,” said coach Guillory. 

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The Bearcats return 11 seniors and 48 players for the fall. The program will have a few players start both sides of the football. QB/SS Jackson Courville (5-11, 185) SR is back for his senior season as a 2nd year starter. Courville will look to get the program back to the playoffs in 2024. More key players back are All District Safety Pierson Comeaux, All District TE/DT Scott Berzas (6-0, 220) SR, OL/DT Dashawn Randall (5-10, 215) SR, RB/DB Brian Hardy (5-7, 165) SR averaged over 106 yards game in 2024, FS/WR Austin Ashford, OL/DL Pierre Berzas (5-9, 205) SR, OL/DL Romyn Cortez, and OL/DL Elijah Hardy (6-2, 240) SR. 

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Elton Indians

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Head Coach: Marcus Lejeune (4th year) 

2023 Record: 6-4

2023 Playoffs: 1st round lost to East Feliciana HS

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: WR/DB Treylen Ceasar, TE/LB Anthony Gaspard, OL/DL Jamarques Gross, DB Sebastian Mendoza and FB/LB D.D. Actliss. 

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Team Outlook: Lost 5 key starters from 2023. We have close to 40 players for fall. Numbers are up in the program. First year we can start as a team grades 9-12 as a full team not having to rely on 8th graders for depth. There are 22 lettermen back in the program in 2024, a high number for this program. The Offense returns one of the best players in the District in RB Tristan Leblanc (5-9, 180) SR All District with 1,400 total yards in 2023 and also starter for the team on Defense as a OLB. Leblanc also has great hands to get some catches in 2024 also. There's also veterans TE/DE Jaylin Thomas (6-1, 210) 2nd year starter, QB/OLB Davin Simon 2nd year starter, WR/RB/QB/SS Derek Ross lettered QB in 2023 also, OT/DT Maverick Manuel (6-3, 280) SR 4 year starter All District as a DT in 2023, FS/WR Bryce Robinson (5-10, 155) SR All District in 2023 3 year starter, RB/SS Makeilin Lemoine All District in 2023, DE/FB Keilan Crosby 3rd year starter, LB/OG Jeremiah Fontenot 2nd year starter, and OT Braxton Williams (5-10, 250) SR missed the 2023 season and now is healthy for the 2024 season. Special Teams is open for Kicker & Punter after Spring. 

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Grand Lake Hornets

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Head Coach: Jeff Wainwright (6th year) 

2023 Record: 6-5

2023 Playoffs: 1st round lost to Franklin HS

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: RB/LB Ian Vigo, QB/LB Kaden Taylor, RB/CB Brent Hardesty, and WR Tate Wainwright. 

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Team Outlook: “We’ve been a Class 1A school size wise playing Class 2A ball but now we go down in class to IA. We have some experience back and the program is healthy. Let's play some football to see where chips will fall in 2024. We have a tough group of kids," said coach Wainwright. 

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I want to mention the school also won State in Track in 2023 a few of those football players make up most of the Track Team. The Offense will have a new QB for the first time in 2 years and that QB will be Brycen Guillory (5-9, 185) SR a 4 year starter in the program that lettered at QB in 2023 so has some experience under center. The key skill players back to help the QB are RB/LB Charles McFarland (5-7, 175) 2nd year starter, FB Jax Tingler new starter, WR Logan LeBlue (5-10, 160) SR, WR Kellan Basquez, TE Zayne Armentor (5-10, 195) SR All District OL in 2023, Safety Tony Ledoux (5-8, 160) SR lead team in tackles in 2023, andTE/WR Louis Hernandez (6-2, 235) SR really good hands missed his 2022 season was hurt late bloomer good Athlete. Key lineman back are TE/OLB Ezra Fontenot (6-0, 190) SR 4 year starter leader, OG/MLB Wyatt Wilkerson (5-8, 175) SR 4 year starter, OL/DL Tate Verzwyvelt (6-1, 190) SR, OT Marcus Brothers 2nd year starter, DT Preston Schwark, LB Luke Jessup (5-8, 170) new starter mostly a LB, DT Tyson Smith (5-8, 180) SR, OG/DT Joey Babineaux (5-11, 205) SR. Special Teams the Kicker and Punter will be Luis Hernandez. 

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Hamilton Christian Warriors

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Head Coach: Dexter Washington (3rd year) 

2023 Record: 4-7

2023 Playoffs: 1st round lost to Covenant Christian HS

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduated: WR/SS/QB Sammy Knight, RB/DE Kylan Alexander, DE/OLB/RB Messiah Simien, OC/DT Malachi Nolen, WR/FS Prince Love, WR/CB Travis Bolden and WR/CB Garrett Humphery

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Team Outlook: Lost 5 seniors from the 2023 season. We have a lot of young guys coming up. We hope for a healthy season and focus. We have a chance to return back to the top. A Lot of experience back 17 players with experience. I'm excited,” said coach Washington. 

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The Offense returns one of the most skilled Athletes in Lake Charles in QB Javon Vital going into his 3rd year as the starter. Vital runs a legit 4.45 forty. There's a lot of experience back at the skill spots WR/DB Kaleb Bigwood (6-0, 165) 4.5 speed, WR/DB Seth Ned (5-8, 170) SR, RB Darius Sion 4.5 with good burst, SS/WR Jayden Jasmin 4.6 speed, FS/QB Caleb Stewart new starter, CB/WR Justin Weston 4.59 lock down CB, CB/WR Nate Carter (5-10, 160) SR 5th year to start, WR/CB Noah Menard, RB/LB Kevin Lewis, CB/WR Jake Menard, WR/DB Jason Bland, WR/CB Kelby McMahon and TE/LB Maliky Johnson (6-3, 210). Key lineman are DE/OL Andrew Ward, DE/TE Paul Pitre new starter 4.6 speed, OL/DL Devwin Rankins (6-0, 295) 3 year starter, Center Grant Menard, OL/DL Layton Fontenot (5-5, 130), OL/DL Skylar Drain (5-10, 215), and OT/DT Treveon Savoy (6-1, 230) SR. Special Teams Noah Menard is the Kicker.

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Merryville Panthers

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Head Coach: Bart Coody (4th year) 

2023 Record: 3-7

2023 Playoffs: None

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: WR/CB/QB Brycen Coody, MLB/TE Kade Royer, RB/LB Chandler Blackmon, Center/DT Newly Shrout, and OT/DL Corbin Cooper. 

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Team Outlook: “Excited we have good kids but small in player numbers. We have 25 players total for fall. About 12-14 of those will play a lot. We take pride in conditioning for kids having to play the whole game,” said coach Coody. 

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The most aggressive player on the team comes back in SR Stellan Mirante QB/LB for the program. Stellan(5-8,190) had 3 Touchdowns rushing with 5 Touchdowns passing and on Defense had 40 tackles with 7 tackles behind the line in 2023. The Offensive MVP of the team returns in Jeremiah Robinson (5-7,195) RB ran for 565 yards with 10 Touchdowns in 2023 and passed for 211 yards and 1 Touchdown. The Offense also returns RB/WR/DB Lucas Tucker (5-9, 170) SR 35 tackles on Defense in 2023 with 10 catches for 121 yards & 2 Touchdowns as a WR in 2023.The run game also has RB Cole Mirante (5-6,180) lettered in 2023 with 21 tackles on Defense as a DE and can play some OG for the team too. The Offense also has Josh Robinson lead the team on Defense in interceptions since his Freshman year had 8 and in 2023 had 4 interceptions with 4.6 speed and also a RB/WR/DB for the program. More key players for the program are RB/DT/OLB/DE Hunter Higginbotham (5-10, 160) 4.6 high motor 20 tackles in 2023, TE/LB/DB Landon Ardoin (5-9, 165) 44 tackles in 2023 nose for the ball sure tackler, Hunter Brister (5-10, 210) 35 tackles in 2023 tough and strong kid can play OG/DE/DT for the team played for 7 weeks not 100 percent in 2023 big time leader, DB/WR Blaze Brister fast playmaker, (5-10, 175), OL/DL Curd Walker (6-1, 215) 2nd year starter strong kid better every week and OL/DL Storm Flores (6-0, 295) new starter with upside to help this team a lot on Defense.

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Oberlin Tigers

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Head Coach: Curt Ware (2nd year) 

2023 Record: 8-3

2023 Playoffs: 1st round lost to Centerville HS

2024 playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: LB/FB/K Desean Deville, RB/FB Colby MaMahon Jr, RB/FS Derrick Deville, WR/CB Kristoff Brandon, and OL//DL Aaron Carthan

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Team Outlook: “Short on lineman for 2024 season. Biggest guy is 210 pounds. Not many players over 180 pounds in the program. We do have kids who are fast and really quick to offset that,” said coach Ware. 

The Offense returns All District QB Seth Lyons (5-8, 150) Plays like he's 6-0 190, had over 2, 000 yards of total Offense in 2023 with 15 touchdowns. Lyons is the key to having another great year in 2024. More 2 way starters back are DE/TE Kadyn Dart (6-1, 210) SR All District at both DE & TE for team, Center/DL Darius Botley (5-11, 180) SR, OG/LB Garrett Marchantel (5-6, 165) SR, OT Gage Hebert (6-0, 200), FB/FS Tre Rider 2nd year starter fast tough kid, RB/DB Jayden Bokemeyer 4.5 speed, OT/DT Tristian Reed 2nd year starter, RB/Safety Caden Manuel (5-9, 150) SR new starter and OG/LB Mason Hazelton also the Catcher for the Baseball team leader.

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