District 6 Class 1A

By Lee Brecheen

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Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators

Head Coach: Stephen Hearen (3rd year) 

2023 Record: 7-5

2023 Playoffs: 1st round beat Loyola Prep HS, and 2nd round lost to ST. Charles Catholic HS. 

2024 Playoffs: Select

Key Players Graduating: QB Connor Edmond, RB/LB Hayden Pearson, OG Peyton Peebles, Center Stacy Singelton, K/P Alex Mahfouz, and LSP/DT Beau Leonard

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Team Outlook: “No Spring many players out for Track & Baseball good part of our team. Some young guys step up to maximize our full potential. Feel good about what we have. We have 39 to 40 players and that will help us a lot moving forward,” said coach Hearen. 

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There was a QB battle in the Spring between Brandon Mitchell, and D.J Kelley both talented players. Both of these kids will start at a skill spot if not QB to help the team win in 2024. The Offensive Line will be OT Joseph Rizzuto (6-4, 230) 3 year starter, OG Charlie Milam, OL/DL Merrit Hawkins (5-10, 185), and OL/DL Hayes Beaullieu a 2nd year starter. Skill talent back for the program are RB/CB Garrett Yeates a 3 year starter (5-10, 178) SR, CB/WR Hayes Trotter, CB/WR Hudson Campbell, WR Christian Singelton (5-10, 180) SR coming off injury in 2023, WR Andrew McCormick, CB Noah Babineaux (5-11, 168) SR was hurt much of 2023 back, RB/SS Andre Abshire All District in 2023 as a SS, FS Sport Gros, WR Jake Boudreaux, and Safety/LB Owen Leblanc. Key Defensive lineman and Linebackers back are LB/TE Preston Peebles 2nd year starter, DE Joe Falgout, LB Luke Curry (5-9, 180) SR 3 year starter big time leader, DE/OLB David Kennedyand OLB Beau Domengeaux (6-0, 180) SR All District LB in 2023 and had a pick 6 for a TD in 2023. Special Teams strong spot as of late will still be strong with Kicker/Punter Cole Pesson back, and K Andrew McCormick both big time players and college prospects. 

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Gueydan Bears

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Head Coach: Kevin Kern (1st year) 

2023 Record: 0-10

2023 Playoffs: None

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

Key Players Graduating: Program lost only one senior who played in 2023. 

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Team Outlook: “Had a very young team last year. This year’s team will have more experienced players.We actually have all starters coming back just in different positions. We will have to be disciplined and more consistent this year and keep injuries down. We will have a spread Offense and run an aggressive odd front Defense this year,” said  coach Kevin Kern.

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The program will return some really experienced starters like coach said and lets mention those starters back WR Layne Porter (6-0, 175), OG Joshua Mayer (5-10, 195), Center Blaise Hebert (5-5, 190), OG Ricky Montes (5-10, 190), OT Charlie Thibodaeux, QB Slade Broussard (5-9, 160) SR, RB Sydney Breaux (5-9, 165) SR, DE Jarriel Palfrey SR, DT Draeven Edwards, and LB Asa Guidry (6-1, 200). New starters for this year on Offense are WR Tate Guidry, WR/Athlete Devon Vidrine, OT Tripp Hebert, RB/HB Markelle Deville SR, DE Tytan Ladfleur, LB Dawson Lafleur, CB Chris Beniot, CB Mason Smith, FS Tylan Leopold, DS Hunter Laseter, and DS Terry Leopold a Freshman. The schedule will feature some really good games against Ascension Episcopal Oct 11th away, Central Private Sept 20th away, Elton Sept 27th away, home against Centerville date will be either Oct 4th or Oct 3 still to be decided, Oct 24th Westminster away, and home Nov 1st against power house Vermillion Catholic HS.

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Highland Baptist Christian Bears

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Head Coach: Colin McAfee (1st year) interim coach

2023 Record: 0-10

2023 Playoffs: None

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduating: QB Parker Perry, DB/WR Blayde White, FB/LB Charles Dartez, CB Garrett Barras, and OL/DL Logan Savoie

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Team Outlook: The QB position is undecided after Spring and going into the Summer. Program had 34 players in the program in 2023. Should be about 30 players in the program in 2024. Players back that you can build around are Center/LB Logan Savoy (5-10, 170) SR, OL/DL Peyton Ogea (6-1, 250), RB Austin Stafford, TE/WR Quentin Martin, DB Rowan Charpentier, K/WR/RB Andrew Perry, OLB/OL Landon Derouen, OG/DE Taigan Landry, and OT/DL Cooper Martin (6-2, 255). 

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Vermillion Catholic Screaming Eagles

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Head Coach: Broc Prejean (5th year) 

2023 Record: 12-1  

Won District 6-0

2023 Playoffs: 2nd round beat Delhi Charter 48-12, Quarterfinals beat Ascension Catholic HS 39-35, and Semifinals lost to Riverside HS 34-7. 

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduated: RB Tygh Williams, WR/Safety Ethan Landry, Center Connor Golden, CB Phillip Summers, and FS/WR Ty Williams

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Team Outlook: “We will rely on a strong senior class that has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success throughout their first 3 years 33-5 record. We do have a tough early schedule non District with Catholic New Iberia HS, and a rematch with Riverside HS. We also have on the schedule Ascension Catholic HS and Opelousas Catholic HS,” said coach Prejean. 

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One of the best players in the history of the progeast fram returns in QB Jonathan Dartez (5-9, 175) SR. Dartez is a 2 time 7-1A Offensive MVP, 2 Time All State performer, 2 Time All Parish, and has 111 touchdowns in 3 years. In 2023 Dartez ran for 1,907 yards with 28 touchdowns, and passed for 1,602 yards with 19 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. He was also 88/141 attempts passing. The Defense will be led by All District LB Allen McLain III (6-0, 190) SR 75.5 tackles, 5.5 Sacks, and 8.5 TFL in 2023. More key players back are MLB/RB Joe Langlinais (5-8, 180) SR, OT Jackson Trahan (6-1, 230), OL/DE Gabe Boudreaux (5-9, 205), CB/WR Jyrin Bessard (5-7, 150), WR/FS Ross Dartez (5-7, 160) SR, LB William Simon (5-11, 185), WR Hudson Hebert (6-0, 175) SR, OL Jackson Dubois (5-8, 180) SR and RB Luke McLain (5-10, 170) 

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Jeanerette Tigers

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Head Coach: Clifford Paul (6th year) 

2023 Record: 10-3

2023 Playoffs: 1st round beat West St. John HS, 2nd round beat East Feliciana HS, and 3rd round lost to Haynesville HS 36-6. 

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduating: TE Traville Frederick (Houston), OL/DT Jerion Serael, MLB/OG Andre Matthews, OLB Jamouri Walters, and RB/WR Steven Lively. 

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Team Outlook: “Our team has been working extremely hard to continue the success we had last season. The weight room has been a big contributor to the team staying on track to continue reaching our team goals. The returning players are determined to continue pushing for the team to be better than last year with hard work in the weight room and numerous hours in the classroom improving their knowledge of the game. We truly believe in our team motto (The J Way or No Way),” said coach Paul. 

The team has a few Athletic players again to make another run with good lineman. Skill players are FS/WR Dominick Lewis (6-1, 170) SR, CB/WR Zyre Colar (5-11, 165) SR, Athlete Zyon Colar (5-10, 190) SR, SS/RB Andre Sonnier (5-9, 175), RB/MLB Desean Tolbert (5-9, 205) SR, SS/WR Jaiden Ward (5-11, 170) SR, Athlete Kobe Gage, Athlete Morris Walters, Athlete Nysir Jackson (5-11, 180), Athlete Devine Duhon, and Athlete Devone Duhon. Lineman and Linebackers back are OL/DL Shamar Loston (6-1, 280) 3 year starter, OL/DL Tyrae Lively (5-11, 210), OL/OLB Javonte Williams a 3 year starter, DL/OL Gregory Green (6-1, 270), OL/DL Dylan Walters (6-1, 225), and LB/TE Braylon Lewis (5-11, 190) returning starter.

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