District 1 Class 2A
By Lee Brecheen
Calvary Baptist
Head Coach: Rodney Guin (8th year)
2023 Record: 14-0 District Champs 5-0
2023 Playoffs: State Champions. 1st Round beat Menard HS, Quarter-Finals beat Franklin Parish HS, Semis-Finals beat Newman HS 35-27, and State Title game beat St. Charles Catholic HS 34-28.
2024 Playoffs: Select
Key Players Graduated: LB/Safety Hutch Grace (Ouachita Baptist), Tre Davis (Centenary), LB/DE Tre Houston (Centenary), Chris Jackson (Centenary), WR Justin Hermes (Louisiana Tech Football & Baseball), LB Cole Miller, OL Jimmy Wright, FS Landon Sylvie, MLB Heath Gross, Center Layton Terrell, CB/RB Chaz Whitaker (Centenary), WR John Simon (Louisiana Tech).
Team Outlook: “We like our team. We think we can compete for a State Title again in 2024. We need to shore up some spots on Defense. End of year be in the hunt again. Schedule is tough which is good for us too,” said coach Guin.
The Cavaliers will not see a drop off in 2024. This team will be the team to beat again in Class 2A select side with some special players coming back. The Offensive has everything you need to repeat starting QB back All State Abram Wardell (6-0,190) SR 4.62 speed leader 3 year starter, one of the best RB’s in the US back James Simon (6-0, 210) a 4 year starter All State, big time playmaker 3 year starter Kolby Thomas (5-10, 175) SR 4.4 speed 2nd team All State in 2023, playmaker Julius Moss (5-9, 180) 4 year starter leader also a RB/DB for the team, WR/CB Kaleb Tucker special player new starter (6-2, 190), WR new starter Daylen Wilson (5-10, 170) SR, WR Brent Bigelow (6-1, 170), WR Braylon Huglon and WR/CB/Safety Trey McDaniel thats more fire power than most Class 5A teams have in there best of years.The Offensive Line was going to be very good in 2024 and added Eric Harper (6-5, 290) one of the best OT’s I’ve ever seen come out of Shreveport in my 30 plus years following HS football in Louisiana. The rest of the Offensive Line is special too with OL Ethan Sands back (6-2, 270) SR, OL/OC Hayden Darner (6-0, 245) SR, OG/OC Jacob Tibbett (6-1, 205),and OT Hunter Davis(6-2, 275). The Defense though younger than the Offense also has the pieces to become a very good unit in time in 2024 lead by All District LB Cole Miller (6-2, 215) SR 95 tackles in 2023 with 17 tackles behind the line runs a 4.7 forty and scored 2 Defensive Touchdowns in 2023. The rest of the Defense you also have DE Cayden Markray (6-2, 245) SR back force on the line, DT Nate Young (6-1, 240) SR leader 2nd year starter, DE David Weeks (6-0, 230) 2nd year starter leader, DT Zamarian Baker (6-0, 270) SR sleeper, DE Jon Blount (6-0, 250) SR leader, LB Justin Reeves (6-0, 225) sat out last year, OLB Titus Stringer (6-0, 205) a 3 year starter leader and big time football player for the program, Safety Luke Miller (5-11, 170) big time hitter, and CB/Safety Trey McDaniel has special upside as a new starter. Special Teams returns Punter/Kicker Ty Knight (5-11, 160) has a strong leg.
D’Arbonne Woods Charter
Head Coach: David DeMoss (1st year)
2023 Record: 8-2
2023 Playoffs: 1st Round bye and 2nd Round lost to Notre Dame HS. 2024 Playoffs: Select
Key Players Graduated: OL Shawn Basey, Athlete/QB Weston Jones, TE/DE Hayden Gray, DE P. J Jones, OL Austin Hearn, LB Kason Hicks, OL Hayden Williams. Team Outlook: Lot of senior leadership in 2024. We had a great turn out this Summer with the players. Get better, stronger be better team shows on the field with off season commitment. We also have a new QB in 2024,” said coach DeMoss. New Head Coach David DeMoss been with the program the last 5 years as the Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers coach. The leading candidate at QB will be Athlete RB/WB/DB Wyatt Gilbert, a SR (5-9, 150). The rest of the skill spots on the team are RB/DE Colin McCann (6-0, 190) SR, WR Hayden Mejia, CB Austin Patton, WR/CB Jackson Nolan 3 year starter SR (6-0, 170), CB/Safety, RB/DB Xavier Rawls-Stromlee, and FS Daltin Albritton (5-7, 160). Key lineman in the program and Linebackers are Center/DT Brody Towns a SR leader (6-0, 230), OL/DL Nariso Valerio 2nd year starter, LB/RB Doran Sadler SR missed most of 2023 season (5-10, 190), DE/TE Choice Baker a 2nd year starter (5-10, 190) SR, OL Oscar Alvarez 2nd year starter, OL Carson Riser new starter, and leader 4 year starter LB Jamey Fisher (5-10, 180). Special Teams Choice Baker is the Kicker, and Long Snapper is Jamey Fisher a pretty good one for the program.
Green Oaks Giants
Head Coach: James Bradford (2nd year)
2023 Record: 3-8
2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Notre Dame HS
2024 Playoffs: Non-Select
Key Players Graduated: OL/DL Keven Richardson, WR/CB Delarrious Marshall (Centenary), OLB Corzavion Tucker, DB Toryun Ellis. Team Outlook: “Kids are eager working hard. We have about 80% of our team involved in Track and Powerlifting now. Young group kids are really working hard. We did lose a few lineman we will replace and figure it out during the Summer,” said coach Bradford. The program returns a QB going into there 4th year as the starter in Tovores Lee (6-3, 205) sleeper in State. The team has to replace a few starters and these are the kids coach liked going into the Summer FS/WR/CB Tony Johnson 4.45 speed, CB Cortaveus Dorsey (6-0, 175) 2nd Team All District in 2023 big time Athlete, WR Motavious Kelly 4.59 speed, RB/LB 3 year starter Stedtravious Brisker 200 pounds with power, RB Othan Robinson, OT Jamori Coleman 315 pounds, DE/LB Keyshawn Williams 2nd Team All District in 2023, LB Drayden Thomas (6-2, 215) SR, CB Raymond Johnson 4.49 speed, and Center/DT Keyan Richardson 3 year starter leader. Many positions will have kids compete once the Freshman arrive this Summer and fall.
Homer Pelicans
Head Coach: Richie Casey (10th year)
2023 Record: 9-4
2023 Playoffs: 1st Round beat Delhi HS, 2nd Round beat Oakdale HS 34-32 and Quarterfinals lost to Kentwood HS 48-20. 2024 Playoffs: Non-Select
Key Players Graduated: CB/WR Kateverick Banks (Ole Miss), QB Zyan Warren, WR/FS Jamarquese Hampton, OL/DL Jaylan Franklin, WR/CB Brandon Williams, LB Tymarron Knowles, and OL/DL Gage Shephard
Team Outlook: I Think we have a chance to still be special in 2024. Replacing a lot of players from a 4 to 5 year span, but we have a talented young group coming up,” said coach Casey. The Offense will have a new QB in Kevin Williams but Williams played in 2 games in 2023 got a lot of experience and knows the system really well. Williams has a good arm and runs a 4.65/40. One of the best players returns in the District is 4 year starter RB/LB Gregory Williams (5-10, 195) SR All District in 2023 and has speed and power. The rest of the starters are LB/RB Jaurmarion Pickins, WR/CB Spencer Dunn (5-10, 175) SR 4.5 speed talented player, FS Jatvaion Welch SR new starter, WR/Safety Demetrius Pitts (6-3, 190) SR new starter, WR Jervyion Levingston, Center Devonte Shelton leader, OG/DT Lacamerion Kimball (6-0, 295) SR new starter, and OG/DT Karson Crew 275 pounds.
Magnolia School of Excellence Mariners
Head Coach: Anthony Johnson (2nd year)
2023 Record: 2-8
2023 Playoffs: None
2024 Playoffs: Select
Key Players Graduated: “Team Outlook: We will change our Defense in 2024 from a 4-3 to a 3 man front. We have a very tough schedule in 2024. Still building this young program from the ground up,” said coach Johnson.
The program is moving up from Class 1A to Class 2A in 2024. The key starters after Spring are Travis Sanders RB/FS SR (5-10, 180) strong athletic player, FS/CB Mitchell Adams does it all WR/FS/CB for team, QB Nicholas Holmes Athletic from playing Basketball and a new starter, CB/QB De’Dondye Johnson Wildcat QB sometimes too, RB/LB Kalias Butler power and speed, LB/RB Lemont Anderson tough kid, OT/OG/DT Tom Bates a leader, OT/DT Kaleb Jones, TE/OG/OT Jayden Funchens Athlete (6-2, 245), and WR/DB Lorenzo Gardner sleeper (6-3, 180) SR with really good hands for a WR. Special Teams the program has three really good Kickers in Adrian Saloma does extra points, and K/P Hayden Mizcanck does most of the field goals. You also have Mitchell Adams who can Punt and Kick for the team too.
North Caddo Titans
Head Coach: Chase Thompson (2nd year)
2023 Record: 2-8
2023 Playoffs: None
2024 Playoffs: Select
Key Players Graduated: OL/DL Kortez Gibson, OL Cordacien Brown, SS Ricky Brown and CB Ja’Quarion Bullard.
Team Outlook: “Very bright outlook. We return most of the Offense. Also return most Defense. Did not lose many Seniors. The 2024 team will have a bigger senior class,” said coach Thompson.
Some players will start both sides of the ball in a program that does well playing most players on both sides of the line. Key players are QB Mason Jackson, a 4 year starter SR (5-10, 170) with a good arm and like having another RB at QB too. You also have 4 year starter Jamey Payton SR (5-7, 230) a big time leader for the program, RB/OLB Tray Morris another 4 year starter SR (6-0, 200) 4.55 speed, WR/OLB Antonio Nelson a SR 4 year starter leader, WR/DB Chancellor Washington a 3 year starter with 4.45 speed, OL/LB Shane Eschette 2nd year starter, TE/SS Jacolby Spearman SR team captain, OL Corey Brown Athletic, OL Gerobean Alaphard returning from a injury in 2023, Center Kedrick King (5-6, 220) SR, DE Jacob Paulette (5-11, 175) SR, DT Markeith Armstrong 240 pounds, WR/DB Darren Myles SR (5-11, 170) tough kid, and OLB Braylon Champayne (5-7, 160) big time tackler hitter SR for team. Special Teams team will count on Punter/Kicker Jordan Shephard All District Punter in 2023.
Union Parish Farmers
Head Coach: Joe Spatafora (19th year)
2023 Record: 10-4
2023 Playoffs: State Champs. 1st Round beat Port Allen HS, 2nd Round beat Bogalusa 28-22, Semis-finals beat Jena HS 24-16, and State Title game beat St. James 36-35. 2024 Playoffs: Non-Select
Key Players Graduated: QB Jordan Hill, OT AJ Foster, DT Tytravius Wallace, LB Charles Kendricks, RB/LB Jymarion Island
Team Outlook: We are young on Defense. Big senior group back starting 10 plus starters, and return 4 starters on the Offensive Line. We have some seniors with experience back in 2024,” said coach Spatafora.
The Farmers did something not a lot of people thought was possible: they won a State Title without Trey Holley RB Louisiana all time leading Rusher Freshman now at LSU and did the next man up and did not miss a beat on Offense in 2023. The 2024 team will have a new QB Braxton Patterson has an arm and can run and has experience playing QB for the program too. The run game will count on RB Derrick Dew for his 3rd year to start or play in every game. Dew is capable of rushing for over 1, 500 yards in 2024 the SR has 4.5 speed and (5-10, 190) very powerful runner. The Offensive Line is the strength of the team lead by SR Josh Moy (6-1, 280) 2 time All State player, OL Marco Knighten returning starter SR (6-3, 380), OG C. J Benson SR (5-8, 255) great feet, Center James Scivers a SR (6-3, 255), and OL Antonio Traylor SR (5-11, 260). The Defense is led by tackling machine 4 year starter Tytravius Wilson DT/DE/TE had over 200 tackles in 2023 All State 2 times with 4.6 speed. Wilson is a throwback to old school smash mouth football and a coach's dream. The rest of the leaders back to build this young unit are LB Kelen Nute SR (5-9, 200), DT 3 year starterTyreon Traylor SR (5-11, 240) glue of the Defensive Line, DT Rontarrius Ray SR (5-9, 220), and DB Ladrion Lloyd (5-10, 160) SR. Special Teams the program returns a really talented player in Ryan Reeder will handle both Punting & Kicking for the Farmers.