District 2 Class 3A

By Lee Brecheen

Bolton Academy Bears

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Head Coach: Cody Corley (1st year) 2023 Record: 0-10 

2023 Playoffs: None

2024 Playoffs: No Honors for District

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Key Players Graduated: OL/DL Devontey Williams, RB/WR/TE Darrian Nelson, QB/K Connor Mclain, RB/SS Khris Paul, and OL/DL Eric Boyd. 

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Team Outlook: “I was hired in May of 2024. Bolton HS closed down and opened back up as Bolton Academy HS. We started with 15 kids working out this Summer and expect another 30 kids once August comes. We might have 45 players by fall. We did have a few players transfer after the school changed to the Academy. A total of 30 boys stayed in the school after the name change. Currently 140 kids in the high school. We are going to compete with what we have in 2024 and get better every day,” said coach Corley.

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Coach Corley comes from the Alexandria area coaching Brane middle school football there almost 4 years a feeder school for Alexandria HS. Here are some of the players who have been working out since Summer for the team with coach QB Royce Roberts (5-10, 165), LB/RB Jezay McNeal (5-7, 165), RB/SS/LB Tyler Morgan, WR/CB Bryce Tabemy new starter, OL/DL Chris Sands (5-9, 245), RB/DB Zaryan Brown, CB/Safety/WR Tyler Sands (5-9, 145), and WR/DB Kenneth Bowie (6-2, 160). 

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Buckeye Panthers

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Head Coach: Aaron York (1st year) 2023 

Record: 5-6

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to De La Salle HS. 

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduated: OT/DT Gage Vercher, LB/FB Jacob Young, OG/DT Jathen Lachney. 

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Team Outlook: “Kids are working hard. Some pieces we have give us a chance to be really good. Players this Summer we have 50-55 kids plus 18-19 Freshman so pleased with turnout off season,” said coach York. 

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One of the best players in the program to return is WR/Safety Haidyn Boone, a 4 year starter and leader. Other leaders back with experience are LB/RB Jim Burlew (5-10, 190) SR, WR/DB Bryce Warthen, LB/RB Colt Vercher, and new QB Kadin Grimmett started at Safety for the program in 2023. Other players competing with experience are DT/OC Mason Deville, DE/FB Kingston Oliver, CB/WR Connor Gagnard, CB/RB Ashton Hawthorne, CB/WR Brayden Paulk and a few others will compete for the skill and trenches positions through the Summer. 

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Bunkie Panthers

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Head Coach: Jimmie Hillman (2nd Year) 2023 

Record: 9-2 

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Episcopal HS. 

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Team Outlook: The program returns one of the best players in the District in CB/WR Kyle Johnson, a 4 year starter with 4.45 speed and big playmaker for this program on both sides of the football. Starting QB Dillon Compton (6-0, 190) SR also returns in 2024 leader with a good arm. Several more players come back as starters JD Smith (5-10, 255) SR OL/DL a 3 year starter with a 465 Squat or better, JJ Johnson WR/CB a 3 year starter (5-8, 160) SR, 3 year starter OL/DL Julian Eves (5-8, 225) SR tough kid, LB/RB Zion Lee a 2 year starter leader team in tackles in 2022 and 2023, WR/DB Cain Milligan a 2 year starter, and RB/SS Jateren Gaines a 2 year starter strong for size. More players who will start in 2024 are Johnkiest Lavalais OL/DL (5-10, 195) SR, SS/WR Lucas Mose, LB/RB  Luke Normand, DB/WR Ron Patterson, QB/LB Brady Wright, OL/DL Dominic Palermo, WR/DB AJ Perry, and OLB/RB Kent Franks. 

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Caldwell Parish Spartans

Head Coach: Cleo Head (2nd year) 

2023 Record: 6-6

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round beat Richwood HS 13-6, and 2nd Round lost to Jena HS 46-7. 

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: QB Jon Paul Shaw, DT/OL Donnie Brooks, OT Eli Head, RB/LB Greg Jones, CB/LB Jeremiah Swim, TE Will Springer, LB/FS Blaise Dunn. 

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Team Outlook: “I am excited about this team and the work they have put in during the summer. We are only returning 4 on the Defensive side of the ball and 5 on the Offensive side. We will be young. Offensively we will have to depend on the experience of the Offensive Line of BJ, Bernard, and Rhett. We have to find and develop a QB but have two guys in Joe and Blayden with strong work ethic and a desire to be successful. I feel we have two big play WR’s of Zae and Kyran who will help open up the running game. Defensively we will depend on our Linebackers and Secondary to control that side of the game for us,” said coach Head. 

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Some of the players coach mentioned to lead are WR/DB Kyran Williams, WR Zae Brown a SR, QB/RB Blayden Dunn, QB Joe Sutherlin (6-0, 185), and those big time SR Offensive Lineman OG Rhett Jarrett (6-0, 230), OG Bernard Morgan (6-0, 240) and OT BJ Alston (6-3, 280). More key players back are AJ Maxwell FS (5-10, 175) SR leader, RB Andrew McKee, LB leader Cooper Williams (5-10, 215) SR, RB/Safety Case Abrams, LB/TE Briar Thompson (6-2, 195) SR and a few young players will develop over the Summer and early fall to give the team depth and decide on all starters both sides of the football. 

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Jena Giants

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Head Coach: Jay Roark (13th year) 2023 

Record: 12-1 and won District 5-0

2023 Playoffs: 1st round beat Amite HS, and 2nd Round lost to Union Parish 24-16. 

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: RB/P/DB Zerrick Jones (Texas College), CB Demariyon Hamnock, DT JaQuarius Green, QB Zach Barker, OT Hunter Jackson, OT Aiden Palmer, WR Zy Hunter

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Team Outlook: “We have had a great off season. We do have a young Offensive Line in 2024. The success in 2023 taught the kids how to play in big games to get that experience and we got over the hump I felt as a program. Things will have to fall in place to stay healthy to have a great year in 2024,” said coach Roark. 

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The key will be choosing a new QB for the program. Right now the battle for the QB spot is between Jacob Belcher SR a star LB for the Defense and young QB Deuce McPherson who has a good arm. If McPherson can take the QB job it will allow Jacob Belcher to stay on Defense to help the program at (6-1, 212) SR with 4.6 speed. Skill players will need to step up inRB Cedrick Wilson, RB Cameron Koch, RB Daniel Hatcher, WR Braden Oaks, WR Zadrian Cooper and others for this Offense in 2024. The Offensive Line will be led by center 2nd year starter Cale Parker (6-0, 225), OT Zachary Scales (6-0, 270) 2nd year starter and the rest of the OL will be new starters. The Defense will be lead by LB Jacob Belcher (6-1, 212) SR teams best player, DT Colten Sharp (6-1, 255) another sleeper great player in program 3 year starter, LB Tristian McClendon a 3 year starter leader (5-11, 195), CB Amare Jackson, Safety spots are open going into the Summer, you have  DT/NG Bubba Stevens (5-10, 270). Special Teams you have Braden Oaks at Punter and Kicker is Xavier Brown. 

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Marksville Tigers

Head Coach: Josh Harper (2nd year) 2023 

Record: 5-6 

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Mansfield HS 34-28. 

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: DT/OL Demarion Dupas (Henderson State), TE/LB Chauncey Curtis, DT/OT Shayne Sampson, and RB/OLB Chris Bryant

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Team Outlook: “Excited had a good Spring & Summer. We return 8 Starters on both sides of the football. Players understand our expectations now and players have responded really well,” said coach Harper. 

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A lot of Offensive & Defensive production is back starting with RB/WR/Safety Elidrick Murray a (5-7, 160) big time football player had 952 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns in 2023, 92 tackles on Defense with 7 TFL, and threw for 268 yards & 3 touchdowns. Also back is WR/CB Jaden Price 508 yards receiving with 3 Touchdowns and on Defense 29 tackles, RB/Safety Kyreon Prier (5-10, 180) SR 125 tackles in 2023 and ran for 1,306 yards & 19 touchdowns. More key players back WR/Safety/CB Noah Bryant (5-10, 170) SR 28 tackles in 2023, and 18 catches for 192 yards with 1 touchdown, LB/HB/FB Kaiden Pierite (5-9, 170) 55 tackles in 2023, QB/FS Devin Lavalais talented player 2nd year at QB, DE/TE Travis Palmer (6-1, 205) 4.65 speed, OG/DT Christian Herrin (6-1, 285) teams best lineman, OG/DT Keyshawn Piertie (5-11, 260) SR, DE Jayce Warren 4.65 speed, and DE/TE/LSP Caden Flores (6-3, 185) SR. Special Teams is wide open at Kicker & Punter after Spring and part of the Summer. 

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Vidalia Vikings

Head Coach: Josh West (2nd year) 2023 

Record: 4-6 

2023 Playoffs: None

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: RB/LB Kabari Davis, OG/DT Matthew Long, RB/LB/DE/K Tristan Briggs, WR/CB Louis Jordan, and P/K Ephran Clark. 

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Team Outlook: “We have high character kids in the program. A lot of good stuff. I got the job in April of 2023 on the 28th. Working hard we are changing the mentality with a great off season. Workouts in the weight room have improved a lot now that I've been here full year,” said coach West. 

The Offense has a lot of experience back and the ability to score points with a lot of team speed. QB/FS Elmari Lewis returns and also is a All District FS for the program. More key skill players are WR/CB Marc Perkins (6-3, 170) SR, WR/RB/CB Kaden Trahan 4.5 SR, RB/WR/LB Tyson Davis (6-1, 180) SR, WR Jacob Lott new starter 4.6 speed, WR/RB Michael Randall, WR/RB Dre Franklin lettered in 2023 4.5 speed, RB/LB Tyler Brixey leader, CB Keilen Washington 4.6 speed, CB/WR Joseph Jordan 4.59 speed, and CB/WR Jayden Gaines 4.59 speed 2nd year starter. Key lineman that will start OC/DT Briasen McCrane (6-0, 280) SR, OG Brayden Duplichin, OL/DL Jarrett Wooten 305 pounds, DE/TE Darrius Lyle and others will compete in Summer.

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