District 3 Class 3A

By Lee Brecheen

Jennings Bulldogs

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Head Coach: Bret Fuselier (2nd year) 2023 

Record: 9-4

2023 Playoffs: 1st round beat Kaplan HS, 2nd Round beat St. Martinville HS 25-23, and 3rd Round lost to Cecilia HS 38-14

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players graduating: WR/FS Wyatt Fontenot, CB/WR Zanarionne Douglas, DE Jude Duhon, OL/DL Kaleb Touchet, OLB Walter Robinson, LB Darien Edwards, CB Azire Simon, and OL Brylun Fontenot

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Team Outlook: “We lost a lot from our Defense in 2023. We like what we have there but think where Athletic on Defense. We are also phyisical i thought in the Spring game with Iota HS. I was happy with our team. Offense we are young and need to grow there small there, but athletic with a few really athletic SO’s mixed in,” said coach Fuselier. 

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The Jennings Defense in 2023 forced 35 turnovers which is amazing from a Defense unit. The Offense will return a lot of speed at the skill spots and experience with players like QB/DB Chris Ned new starting QB but started at DB in 2023 has 4.5 speed, RB Ryan Reed (5-8, 150) 2nd year starter 4.5 speed, RB Liam Leblanc a (5-7, 200) bowling ball with quickness, stud RB Rejohn Zeno (5-9, 180) has power and 4.4 speed, RB Humphery Ned (5-10, 195) 4.45 speed and All District Safety for the team, WR Chevy Lejeune (5-10, 160) SR, and TE JJ Benoit (6-1, 220) with 4.65 speed former QB for team. The Offensive Line not overly big but experienced tough and quick lead by OT D’sel Palfrey (5-8, 190) SR, OT Ayden Leger (5-11, 195), Center Isaac Segura (5-11, 220) SR, and OG Brayden Strictland (5-11, 195. The Defense will be younger but does return some leaders in DE Davien Edwards (5-8, 215) SR all out tough kid leader, CB Chris Ned 4.45 speed, DE D’aJohn Zeno, DT Nate Broussard (6-1, 260), LB Brayden Guidry (5-7, 185) tackling machine, CB Gage Mouton, FS Jerald Watson (5-11, 155), DT John Meyers, LB Brandon Hobson a SR (5-9, 165) 4.6 lettered in 2023, SS Humphery Ned, and SS Jamell Davis (6-0, 195) SR. Special Teams Kicker Peyton Herpin a SR (5-10, 155) will be a returning starter and a good player. 

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Lake Charles College Prep Trailblazers

Head Coach: Erick Franklin (10th year) 

2023 Record: 5-7

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round beat Catholic of New Iberia HS 7-3 and 2nd Round lost to University High 45-13

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduated: Athlete Michael Ned (Beloit College), CB Erick Franklin Jr (Iowa Western), WR/DB Elijah Garrick (Iowa Western), Myrtis Dightman (Feather River JC in California) 

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Team Outlook: “We are young but talented. We have alot players coming back with experience. Strong in the trenches, and the plan is to run the football a lot in 2024,” said coach Franklin. 

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This will also be a fast team both sides of the ball with size. I think this team could surprise some people and challenge for a State Title in the end. The Offense returns QB Dylan Vital really improved coach said since 2023 season looks for him to have a great year in 2024, new starter WR Alijah Pete (6-0, 180) SR has the chance to have a breakout year with 4.5 speed good hands, RB/WR/Athlete Ayden Carter 2nd year starter can run a 10.7 100 meters in track, RB Allen Botley (5-9, 210) SR will get the ball alot in 2024 looks to show what we can do, WR Caiden Jones 2nd year starter gifted with speed, and once the Offense gets back Malik Mitchell RB/TE recovering from a injury in 2023 should be back by mid year or sooner in 2024 the run game will really be deep. The Offensive Line will be one of the best in the Lake Charles area lead by OT Myles Joseph big time player, OG Caron Henderson (6-0, 280) 2nd year starter, OT Jeremiah Freeman (6-4, 285) SR 4 year starter, OT Gary Durriseau (6-0, 265) SR 4 year starter TE/RB Jesse Blanchard (5-10, 190) new starter, and Leader Center Micah Louis (5-9, 245) SR 3 year starter for the program. The Defense front will be very Athletic and has a chance to be a great unit lead by MLB Elijah Frank (6-0, 210) 34 tackles, LB Brendan Malveaux (6-1, 205) 38 tackles in 2023, LB Lamarion Armstead (5-9, 220) SR 42 tackles strong kid, DE/OLB Kellen Ford 4.59 speed, DT Ian Pete (5-7, 200) tough quick, DT Karson Graham (6-4, 415) big time player in the middle of the Defense, and more younger players competing for playing time. The Secondary will also be very talented lead by Safety Cameron Brazzle (6-1, 200) SR 4.5 speed leader, Safety/CB Braylon White (6-0, 180) SR 4 year starter 36 tackles in 2023, Safety Benjamin Williams (6-0, 160), FS Careion Franklin (5-9, 170) SR with 4.45 speed, CB Kai Fontenot (5-8, 150), and CB Khel Arvie (6-0, 170) SR also really fast in the Secondary. Special Teams you have Jonathan Martin (5-9, 260) SR as the starting Kicker for the program. 

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South Beauregard Knights

Head Coach: Brad Kellogg

2023 Record: 4-7
2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Jewel Sumner HS 18-14

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Team Outlook: Was not able to get in touch with the coach for the players names. However, the program will bring back a lot of tough kids and will win some games in 2024.

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St. Louis Catholic Saints

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Head Coach: Dustin Nothnagle (1st year)

2023 Record: 8-3

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to McDonogh 35 HS 53-23

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduated: DE/OLB Kade Nugent, CB/WR Christian Guillory (Arkansas Monticello), Kicker Landon Daughdril (McNeese State), SS Hank Hebert, QB Luke Pierson, OLB/TE Luke Mere, WR Trey Tate (McNeese State), RB Kyle Turner, MLB Graham Montet, DE Nathan Gray (Massachusetts Maritime), OG/DE Ethan Goss, OG/DT Jordan Davis (Arkansas Monticello), and OL Jacob Fruge

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Team Outlook: “Impressed with kids hard workers these kids are not afraid to work. The administration here, parents, community is very supportive of this program and school. I think a smooth transition so far me being the new head coach. We will have a strong So group for our program in 2024,” said coach Nothnagel. 

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A ton of starters have graduated off last year's 2023 team made up of players that started 3 or 4 years each. The good news is there's a big number of young players coming up to compete and the future looks bright for the Saints for many years to come. The program will have a new QB. The battle between Konner Boudreaux and Owen Schwem went through Spring practice and Konner was out for Baseball for Spring. Both kids have great futures at the school Owen is a SR and Boudreaux is a Jr. The run game will have new starters also lead by Tri Do (5-7, 168) SR 4.6 speed, and RB/WR McKylin Carrier, a talented strong player. Also at WR you have a late bloomer with talent in Clay Williams (6-4, 185) SR who started in 2023 and could have a big time season in 2024. There’s also WR BJ Willis talented and new and will make an impact. The Offensive Line returns leader SR Colton Guillory (6-6, 265), and two young players to build around in OT/OG Dayton Roland (6-2, 240), and OG/OL Lane Cryer (6-1, 215) competing with younger players for starting spots. The Offense also has a TE who looks DI and it's his year to show everyone he is in SR Nathan Ughovwa (6-3, 230) with 4.8 speed and will have a chance to get on everyone's radar by week 1 in 2024. The Offense also can go Double TE/FB with talented SR Charlie Trappey (6-1, 195) who is a team Captain. The Defense has a few kids to build around in DE/DE 3 year starter Devin Kee (5-11, 225) SR, DT Kyle Lebato 2nd year starter, LB Kaleb Lanthier (5-10, 182) 2nd year starter, LB Josh Carrier new starter, CB Phillip Abshire, Safety Ty Willis, Safety Anderson Oieyoub (6-0, 165) SR, and many young players battling for spots and playing time. Special Teams will be strong again it seems for the last 15 years with another DI Kicker Zachry Sugandi (5-10, 180) SR. This kid has the leg to go beyond 50 yards with no problem in 2024. Shared time in 2023 with another DI Kicker, it's his time to shine. 

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Westlake Rams

Head Coach: John Richardson (6th year) 2023 

Record: 3-8

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Bogalusa HS

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: OLB Josh Parr, OG/DL Aydin LeFrere

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Team Outlook: “We should be a lot better with 10 starters back on Offense. We still only have 3 senior lineman in the program. Numbers of players are better in 2024 and Defense returns 7 starters,” said coach Richardson. 

The Offense returns one of the best young QB’s in Louisiana in Brody Anderson. I saw this kid in person play and he's got some stuff to him for the next level passing for 1,450 yards & 13 touchdowns in a more run geared Offense in 2023 but balanced and getting bigger and better every year. Brody is (6-2, 185) and has 2 more years to play after 2024. The WR group has a special player back in WR Kevin Rideau Jr (6-2, 175) with 4.5 legit speed, long and has a ton of talent and close to 6-3 in height as a SR caught 49 passes for 861 yards & 10 touchdowns in 2023. The run game will return RB Ryan Allen a SR (6-0, 185) 4.5 speed run for 407 yards & 5 touchdowns in 3 games before getting hurt and now he's recovered. Also back is RB Braylon Garrick ran for 581 yards & 6 touchdowns in 2023 with 4.6 speed. WR Peyton Kile adds to the group with his 4.5 speed and makes this Offense one of the more underrated ones in the State. The Offensive Line returns some experience in Center Brady Roy (5-8, 220) SR 2nd year starter, OT 2nd year starter Hadley Hardesty (6-6, 275) talented, new starter Luke Lemoine, and OL Dallas Taylor (5-9, 230) 2nd year starter. The Defense has more depth in 2024 and is led by leader LB Brody Boudreau who also will play some FB on Offense had 65 tackles with 4 TFL in 2023. The rest of the Defense you have LB Brady Duplechin 45 tackles in 2023, DE Jace Hayes (5-10, 195) SR 2 Sacks in Spring game, DE Cooper Cryer 50 tackles in 2023, DT Cooper Williams 29 tackles in 2023, LB Brayden Elzey strong kid, Safety Phillip Clophus Jr 57 tackles in 2023, Safety Quinton Guillory (5-8, 150) SR 30 tackles in 2023 big time leader, CB Josh Twiggs (6-3, 170) SR 32 tackles in 2023, Safety RJ Lavan 44 tackles in half season in 2023, LB Sam Fontenot new player, Safety Trey Lede will rotate in, DE Jack Gaynard will rotate in, Safety/WR Kaden Hasty is recovering in a injury should be back at some point in the fall, DE Avan Breaux (6-1, 215) SR rotate, CB Kameron Hasty big time Athlete recovering from a injury in Spring, and there's CB/Safety Keilan St.Ann tough kid with 4.5 speed.

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