District 7 Class 3A

By Lee Brecheen

Berwick Panthers

Head Coach: Mike Walker (7th year) 2023 

Record: 2-8

2023 Playoffs: None

2024 playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: WR/CB Luke Tarver, OLB/RB Namon Bennett, LB/FB Gage Toups, DE/OL Harrison Blaze and SS Luc Leleux. 

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Team Outlook: “A Lot of experience coming back but lost our best 2 players to graduation. We lost a few closes games in 2023 three games by 1 point. We will build off the success from our 2022 season and get back,” said coach Walker. 

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The Offense returns one of its best players in QB Evan Crappell who returns after missing most of last season with an injury. QB Crappell is much improved, coach told me and ready to lead this team. Most players again will start both sides of the football Center/DL Donnie Adams (5-11, 255) SR, OL/DL Trey Lique Pratt (6-0, 265) SR, RB/LB Cole Morris (5-9, 190) SR, WR/OLB Carter Whipple (6-3, 190) SR, OG/OT Dylan Armon (6-0, 255), DE/OLB Stephen Jones (6-4, 215) 4.8 speed, WR/DB Miguel Melendez 4.6 speed, RB/WR Maddox Sampey 4.6 speed, FB/OT/DE Jason Matthews (6-0, 225) SR leader, CB Austin Geisler (6-1, 160) SR tough kid also really good in track, and OG/DL Kaden Leonard (6-3, 290) 2nd year starter and future star. 

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Donaldsonville Tigers

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Head Coach: Darnell Lee (1st Year) 2023 

Record: 4-7

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Amite HS 21-6. 

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: DB Raiyen Oatis, DB/WR Jarid Richardson, and RB/DT Brian Smith

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Team Outlook: “Excited, promising program to take over. Skill spots we are strong and excited about. Going into the Summer we have 50-55 players which is good for the program,” said coach Lee. 

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I love the new head coach Darnell Lee did a great job at East Ascension HS in a brutal Class 5A District and I think in Class 3A he will do really well because Class 5A prepared him for the best competition you will see. The program returns a lot of starters and some really good linemanSome of the top lineman back are OL/OT Darrell Sterling (6-2, 270), OL/DL Ray’Shawn Dunham (5-10, 2350, OL/DL Trey’Shawn Dunham (5-10, 255), OL/DL Terrill Nicholas (6-2, 245), OL/DL Ashton Green (6-1, 285), LB/DE Jaden Allen, TE/DE Jai Green (6-2, 240) SR, and some younger players for depth. Skill talent they are led by QB Donald Brown, a 2nd year starting QB with a good arm and good runner starting in 2023. More skill key players are RB/LB Zyon Davis (5-11, 205), Safety/WR Quinnton Dabney (6-0, 180), RB/OLB Blake Turner (5-10, 188), CB/WR Nickel Trae Spurlock (5-8, 170) veteran leader, WR Michael Hebert (6-2, 160), WR Taij Williby (6-3, 180).

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Patterson 

Head Coach: Shannon Craig (2nd year) 2023 

Record: 3-6

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to North Webster HS

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

Key Players Graduated: RB Elijah Johnson, WR/DB Khylin Brooks, TE/DE Desmond Davis, RB/SS Courtney Williams, QB Cameron Davis, LB/FB Nate Jones, OL/DL Brylon Jennings, OC/DL Jayce Lenard. 

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Team Outlook: “We will have a  faster team in 2024. We are also a stronger team. When I got here only 2 players could Bench Press 200 pounds in the weight room and now we have 8 kids Benching over 200 which is a big improvement for this program and I hope to get it to 10 or 12 at the end of Summer. The kids have bought in,” said coach Craig. 

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The Offense returns QB Hayven Keller who started the first 5 games in 2023 did a really good job. Keller is a strong QB (5-11, 205) capable of running for big gains. Skill spots are talented lead by RB/FB Nate Jones (5-10, 215) SR leader, FS/SS/RB CJ Willis (5-10, 225) SR squats over 400 pounds with 4.7 speed, RB/WR Javyn Christopher 4.45 speed, RB/WR Lindzey Howard 4.6 speed, CB/WR Carlos Brooks (5-10, 165) SR best Athlete in the school, CB/SS Datravien Nash (5-11, 165) tough DB 4.59 speed, CB Willie James 4.5 speed, FS Jarrod Williams 4.6 speed, and RB Daylan Jones will rotate in with reps talented. Key lineman back are OL/DL Ty Morales (6-3, 280) SR squats over 400 pounds, OL Noah Leblanc (5-10, 265), OL Damien BIas (6-0, 275) squats 330, OL/DE Jeremy Watson (6-1, 220) Athletic big time player both sides of the ball for team, and LB Matthew Domingue (5-9, 180) SR returns leader and hard worker for team. Special Teams you have Punter/Kicker Omar Cartez (5-10, 245) has a really good leg. 

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St. James Wildcats 

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Head Coach: Lavanta Davis (3rd year) 2023 

Record: 11-3

2023 Playoffs: 2nd round beat North Webster HS, Quarterfinals beat Many HS 40-0, Semifinals beat Sterlington HS 28-17, and in the State Title game lost to Union Parish HS 36-35. 

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: RB/LB Adrian Prean (Blinn Texas JC), QB Brayden Williams (LSU), WR Kobe Brown (Southern U), OLB/RB Deandre Videau, WR/CB Rayshawn Charles, RB Niran Jackson, FS/CB Brennan Batiste (Centenary), SS Za’quan Acklin, CB/WR Trenton Ester, DE/TE Nicholas Chopin (Pearl River Mississippi JC), OLB Chaney Nailor, DT Tre Williams, OT Deuce Williams, OT Jarmaine Mitchell, and DT Leo Duplessis

Team Outlook: It will be hard to replace QB Brayden Williams over 3, 000 yards in total Offense and 49 total Touchdowns in 2023. The program also lost several big time 3 year starters special SR class just graduated. Here are some big time leaders back to lead a young team: DB Jarrell Williams (6-1, 180) 4.5 speed, DB Garry White (6-0, 175) SR 4.5 speed, RB Cameron Leblanc (5-9, 200) SR, LB Chaidyn Parker (6-0, 235), WR Jakias Villanueva, RB Jani King-Young, and Jye Blain (5-10, 160). Here are more great players back that will need to step up in DB Christian Turley (5-10, 160) SR, OL Andre Mahler (5-10, 220) SR, OL Kaleb Charles (5-10, 215), DE Caleb Williams (6-3, 185), WR Kanye Zenon (6-1, 160), WR Landon Gravois, LB Nolan Zenon, RB Kendrick Joseph, and DB Malik Harry (5-8, 155). Again there's a lot to replace but the talent is there to become a really good team again in 2024.

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