District 5 Class 2A

By Lee Brecheen

‍

Avoyelles Mustangs

‍

Head Coach: Corey Bannister (2nd year) 

2023 Record: 4-8

2023 Playoffs: 2nd round lost to Pine HS 28-6

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

‍

Key Players Graduated: RB/FS Decaryan Sampson (ran for over 2, 000 yards in 2023), QB/P Nicholas Casugay, OL/DL Maddox Dufour, and OL/DL Travis Cole. 

‍

Team Outlook: We will run the Double Wing-T Offense with a 2 Tight End set. Also pistol on Offense sometimes 2 WR’s. We have more depth in 2024. We only had 24 players in 2023, and now we have over 40 players. We lost a lot of Offensive production from the 2023 season,” said coach Bannister. 

‍

The Offense has 3 Quarterbacks competing for the starting position in Wyatt Bordelon also a WR, QB Terrance Valant a WR/DB, and QB/FS Kaise Gautheir all Athletes that will be on the field when not at QB. The Offense still has depth at RB in RB/LB Zydan Williams with over 50 tackles in 2023 as a LB 2nd Team All District in 2023 averaged 90 yards rushing a game, RB/CB Kevin Jones All District CB in 2023 and also averaged over 90 yards game rushing, RB Kelvie Jones 2nd year starter, and FB/RB Owen Rusk (5-7, 160). The WR positions also has Arthella Augustine back as a WR/QB/CB for the team super quick at (5-6, 150) and playmaker for team. Key lineman and Linebackers back are TE/LB Preston Barnes (5-11, 185) had 100 tackles in 2023 big time Defensive leader for the team and TE, OG Xavier Pryor (6-3, 300) SR, OT/DT/DE Kobe Smith All District DL in 2023, Center/DE Josh Casugay 2nd year starter, TE/LB Brayden Turner (6-0, 195) SR stronger in 2023, and all the Running Backs and QB’s Mentioned above will play some Defensive Back for the team 2 way starters. 

‍

Holy Savior Menard Eagles

‍

Head Coach: David Perkins (2nd year) 

2023 Record: 8-4

2023 Playoffs: 1st round beat Houma Christian HS  23-8, 2nd round lost to Calvary Baptist HS

2024 Playoffs: Select

‍

Key Players Graduated: LB/RB Cooper Scott (LSU-Eunice Baseball), DE/TE/FB Drake Aldredge (Louisiana Christian Baseball), OL/DL Braylon Dusang, CB Cody Lyons, OL Gage Oser, RB/FS Jayden Williams (Wiley College Baseball), CB/WR Gavin Hilton, WR Matt Kirk, K/WR Ryan Hicks, Athlete/QB Mike Henry, and OG/DT Cooper Brown. 

‍

Team Outlook: “First time won District in Football in 13 years at Menard HS in 2023. We are a running team Offense. We have a lot of older players starting for the first time in 2024,” said coach Perkins. 

‍

The Offense lead by QB Jake Vaughan started in week 4 in 2023 and did a great job for the team. Vaughan has 4.61 speed, and also played some LB in 2023. The skill spots are RB Aidyn Moran lettered in 2023, WR/SS Jordan Reich (5-11, 190) SR good blocker too, WR Zac Dauzat new starter good hands, WR/RB Matthew Hicks 4.6 speed great Athlete, RB/LB Sam Brocato (5-8, 180), RB/LB Brandon Buller (5-7, 150) a LB in 2023, RB/OLB Austin Terra (5-8, 180), CB Carson Harrison also WR good hands, and Safety Hunter Branch (5-8, 150) SR tough new starter for team. Key lineman back are leader OL/DL Jake Roy (6-2, 250) SR, OT Hunter Vaughn (6-0, 220) SR, OG/OC Lane Evans (5-10, 210), OT Hollis Chatman, DE/TE Peyton Procell (6-1, 210), DE Ben Good (6-0, 240) All District in 2023, DT Asher Davis (5-7, 210) All District in 2023, and LB Wyatt Heyward (5-8, 170) strong tough kid in the front seven also a Safety for the team. Special Teams Kicker and Punter was not decided after Spring Pratice. 

‍

Kinder Yellow Jackets

‍

Head Coach: Justin Reed (2nd year) 

2023 Record: 5-5

2023 Playoffs: 1st round lost to Avoyelles HS

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

‍

Key Players Graduated: DE Erick Lavan, MLB Ben Fontenot, OT/DE Ty Sonnier, RB/FS Donte Botley, Punter/Kicker Landon Langley, OL/DL Cam Bellow. 

‍

Team Outlook: “Coming into this year a lot of experience back and a few players back with 3 year starting. Also some Freshman back that got experience in 2023 and more Athletic for 2024. We have depth overall. We also have size and have versatile players,” said coach Reed. 

‍

There is a QB battle from the Spring might go into the Summer between QB Landen Rice (5-11, 185) SR leader has experience from 2023, and QB/Athlete Isiah Thomas (6-1, 185) talented also. Whoever doesnt win the job will start at another position to help the team win in 2024. The Running Back position has depth with RB Logan LeBeouf back (6-1, 196) SR bell cow of the offense run game along with RB John Roberts, and RB Noah Romero (6-0, 183) SR best player on team all over the field for the program. The WR position also has some depth with WR/DB Brandon Perkins back (5-9, 165), WR Braxtyn Manielle returning (6-0, 170) SR, and WR Connor LaFargue (6-2, 165) SR. The Offensive Line has leaders back in OL/OC Guy Hayes (6-0, 298) SR a 3 year starter leader, OL/OG Hunter Sonnier (5-9, 225) SR, TE Hudson Guidry (6-3, 185) SR, OL/OG Riley Edwards (6-1, 200), and OT 5th spot was open after Spring. The Defense returns some really good players too in LB Brayson Bowring (6-0, 195) SR, CB Joey Lovejoy (6-2, 175) SR, CB Mason LaForgue (5-9, 165), SS Cooper Lemons, MLB Paxton Pierrotti (6-0, 195), and DE Eli Self (6-0, 205). Special Teams still open after Spring after losing a 3 time All District Punter & Kicker to graduation. 

‍

Oakdale Warriors

‍

Head Coach: Kevin Bertrand (1st year) 

2023 Record: 8-4

2023 Playoffs: 1st round beat East Beauregard HS 53-21. 2nd round lost to Homer HS 34-32. 

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

‍

Key Players Graduated: RB/LB Derrick Green (Centenary), QB/RB Deekota Johnson 18 touchdowns in 2023 (Junior College Baseball in Arkansas), RB/LB Ruffin George IV (ULM), WR/DB Elijah Anderson, CB/WR Jordan Ledet, OL/DL Aidan Valle and RB/FS Charles Shird III. 

‍

Team Outlook: “The Offense lost a lot of key playmakers from the 2023 season. The Warriors ran for over 3, 000 yards in 2023. The program also graduated the starting QB,” said coach Bertrand. 

‍

The program will have more numbers in 2024 with 40 to 45 players and in 2023 had only 30 players overall. There is a QB battle over the Summer with SR leader Athlete Tim Horne (5-5, 165) SR started some QB in 2023 and WR for team. You also have CJ Waller, and QB Maddox Thompson all great Athlete’s in the program. All 3 players will start for the team somewhere. Key players back to build are RB/LB Brandon Baker-Guidry a 2nd year starter, RB/LB Jacarvi Alseburry lettered in 2023, WR/FS Angjel Moreaux 2nd year starter 4.6 speed, WR/CB Keane Micelle (5-7, 165) SR 2nd year starter, WR/CB Deverrick Winfield 4.5 speed 2nd year starter, OL/DL Ryan Willis 2nd year starter, OL/DL Tylon Jackson (5-8, 250) good athlete, DE Cortland Hobson, CB Masyn Giles 4.6 speed, WR Noah Hyatt (6-0, 165) SR 4.6 speed 2nd year starter, and other young players with over 20 Freshman coming up to add depth. Special Teams returns Punter/Kicker Noah Hyatt also WR for team has a very good leg. 

‍

Port Barre Red Devils

‍

Head Coach: Brian Angelle (2nd year) 

2023 Record: 5-5

2023 Playoffs: 1st round lost to 

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

‍

Key Players Graduated: RB/DB Markell Mallett, Center Greyson Davis, OG/DE Taylon Polotzola, OT/DT Colton Simmons, DB Cade Metrejean, RB/SS/LSP Maddox Fontenot. 

‍

Team Outlook: “We lost 6 key seniors from the 2023 team which to our program means 12 starters because our kids start both sides of the football. We can replace starters but lost a lot of leadership for the program. We have as much talent in 2024 lead by our Linebackers and all 4 are back,” said coach Angelle. 

The 4 Linebackers coach was talking about are MLB/DE Julian Armand (6-0, 180) SR 2nd year starter leader of the Defense, MLB Billy Reed (5-10, 165) SR 3rd year starter leader, OLB Omar Ware (5-11, 180) SR leader and LB/RB Jackson Fontenot (5-8, 175) tough leader lettered in 2023. More key players back for the program are WR/DB Adam Barron (5-10, 160) SR 3rd year starter playmaker with also 4 interceptions in 2023 as a DB, TE Bailey Rideaux (6-0, 190) 4.7 speed good hands, OT/DE Carson Dupree leader 2nd year starter (6-4, 280), QB Tylus Metrejean 2nd year starting QB leader, OG/DL Brett Menard (5-6, 165), WR/SS Colin Deshotels (6-4, 195) SR leader also LB, and CB Keidrin Stelly (6-1, 155) SR 3 year starter and tough leader. Special Teams will be the starting QB Tylus Metrejean also the teams Kicker and Punter.

‍

‍