District 8 Class 3A

By Lee Brecheen

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Albany Hornets

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Head Coach: John Legoria (3rd year) 

2023 Record: 5-6

2023 Playoffs: 1st round lost to Plaquemine HS

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: WR/DB Zaden Tullos, QB Aiden Casteel, Rb/DB/WR Jace Alford, TE/LB Seth Hoffman, RB Walker Poe, LB Bryce Hoyt, and K/DE Austin McFadden

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Team Outlook: “2021 we where 1-8 with 25 players, 2022 we had 35 players. We had a great Summer with the senior class leaders is really good with great leadership. A lot of players are back with experience in 2024,” said coach Legoria. 

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The Offense will have a new QB in 2024. Two players did a good job in the Spring Jack Milton (5-7, 150), and QB/FB Ethan Hebert (5-11, 210) SR both can help the team win in 2024. The Lineman in the program all will be 2 way starters OL/DT Josiah Shockley (6-1, 250) SR, OG/DT Rylee Shorts (6-2, 275), OC/DE Kane Tuollis (5-9, 220), OG/DT Josiah Robinson (6-0, 280) SR, OT Jonathan Melendez (5-10, 245), and TE/LB Jonah Grubb (6-2, 190) scored 5 touchdowns in 2023. Key skill players back in 2024 are RB/CB JaMarcus Jackson (5-10, 165) SR 4.55 speed, RB/OLB Kaleb Hiley has power and speed 4.5, WR/CB Layton Ballard (6-2, 190) SR also a prospect in Baseball, WR Colton Courtney (6-2, 170) SR coming off injury in 2023, WR Antoine Taylor (6-3, 200) Sleeper with 4.6 speed, SS/FS Waylon Pounder, and younger players for depth. Special Teams you have Long Snapper Parker Westmoreland (6-4, 190) SR one of the best in Louisiana. Kicker & Punter after Spring was wide open for starting spots. 

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Amite Warriors

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Head Coach: Zephaniah Powell (9th year)

2023 Record: 7-5

2023 Playoffs: 2nd round beat Jewel Sumner HS 21-0, and Quarterfinals lost to Jena HS 30-7

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduated: Athlete Simeon Powell (Bossier JC Basketball), QB Jalen Robinson (Centenary), DT Jalen Vernon (Centenary), OL Ashlon Matthews (Southern U), Athlete Ashton Terrell (Southern U), DT Jeremy Robertson (Holmes Mississippi JC), LB Mikeem Jackson (Graceland U), DT Nikelyn Freeman (Graceland U), OLB/DE Lemar Harris (Southeastern), WR Ronneal Harold (Bossier JC Basketball), DT/OL Kyle Brumfield (Southwest Mississippi JC), Kicker/Punter Nathan Graves and WR Richard Selders (Brown College in Minnesota). 

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Team Outlook: “My thoughts results no excuses years traditional public school side but have been switched to private side. Roll up our sleeves hard road but up for the challenge in 2024,” said coach Powell. 

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Amite has two things in 2024 speed and size. Seems those 2 have been with the program for several years. The program has starting QB back in Jeremy Franklin (6-0, 178) SR 4.6 speed Dual Threat with the ability to move up fast in his SR season. There will be a few Athletic skill players back in the program again lead by TE/WR Jack Johnson (6-3, 200), WR Jimmie Hunt (6-2, 165), RB Trezman Richardson (5-6, 170) 4.45 speed, WR Brayden Taylor 2nd year starter 4.4 speed, RB Lionel Perkins, RB/Safety Malcolm Patrick (5-10, 170) SR 4.5 speed, WR/CB Franklin Morgan Jr (5-11, 195) 4.45 speed, WR/OLB Lajahren Cyprian (6-6, 200), CB Major Baker, SS Cameron Madison (6-1, 165) SR, Safety Brandon Coleman (5-8, 160) 4.45 speed, Safety Amari Jackson, and CB Tabrylon Buchanan (6-0, 165) SR 4.5 speed. The Warriors return some really talented lineman in DT Damien Sopsher (6-2, 305), OT Braylen Brumfield (6-0, 235) SR 2nd year starter, Center Cole Starkey (6-3, 303) a 4 year starter leader, OT Pierre Bryant (6-2, 245) hard worker, OG Vincent Wilson (6-3, 330) 2nd year starter, OG Jaylen Haywood (6-7) in height, DE Aaron Smith (6-0, 235) SR leader, DE Kingston Harold (6-0, 245) SR leader, DT Alijah Williams (6-2, 265), and these kids will rotate in on the Offensive Line & Defensive Lines Landon Norman (6-4, 300), Carey Davis (6-2, 260), DE Kaleb Campbell (6-3, 220), and DE Lajahren Cyprian (6-6, 200). Key Linebackers return too in OLB Cameron Madison (6-2, 175) 4.6 speed, leader 4 year starter LB Earl Tillman (6-2, 215) 4.6 speed, LB Osualdo Razo (5-10, 220) SR leader and some younger players will play adding depth. Special Teams will be Colin Adamson as the Kicker as the new starter taking over from Nathan Graves who started for 4 years at Amite. I would not be surprised if this team gets back to the Dome in 2024. 

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Bogalusa Lumberjacks

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Head Coach: Cyril Crutchfield (4th year) 

2023 Record: 7-5

2023 Playoffs: 2nd round beat Loreauville HS 28-7, and Quarterfinals lost to Union Parish HS 28-22. 2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: QB Ashton Levi (Pearl River MIssissippi JC, All State), RB/LB Michael Burton, WR Desmond Ramirez, DT Kenneth Keys Jr, SS Aydan Magee, OT Dayon Moses, RB Jalyn Williams, DT Chase Nicholas, WR Michael Edwards, 

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Team Outlook: “We have to replace a Superman QB from our program Ashton Levi 4 year starter 2, 642 yards passing with 24 Touchdown passes in 2023 and ran for 925 yards with 5 touchdowns all in 2023. We will have a RB by committee in 2024. We will have to go through a rebuilding year playing younger players both sides of the football. We have 29 new players in the program that have never played a down of varsity football,” said coach Crutchfield. 

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The Lumberjacks lost a special senior class that played for 3 years as a starters and won a lot of games. This year the team will be lead by a new starting QB Veonte Ishman a Freshman with a lot of ability but young and will be the guy in August out the gate. Key leaders back are WR/SS Dyron Jackson (5-10, 180) on Defense had 83 tackles, 4 tackles for loss with 37 of those solo and 2 interceptions. Jackson also caught 32 psses for 560 yards with 4 touchdowns in 2023 and will be a senior in 2024. Also back to lead this young team will be WR/CB Lance Jackson (6-1, 180) SR 40 tackles on Defense and on Offense 18 catches for 344 yards with 3 touchdowns in 2023. Also back leaders DT Joshua Cooley (6-0, 275) SR, and RB/OLB Jaylun Thomas 2nd year starter. New starters will be RB Danny Ellsworth (5-8, 180), OL Ayden Roberts (5-10, 230), WR Traelyn Brown, LB William Rawls (6-2, 185), LB Devyrn Johnson (6-0, 190), CB Lemaj Levi, CB Tobias King (5-9, 155), OL/DT Jakyren Brock (5-9, 220), OL/DL Ayden Taylor (5-8, 220), and TE/DE Jayden Levi. The Summer players will still win jobs going into the fall. 

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Jewel Sumner Cowboys

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Head Coach: Ross Currier (10th year) 

2023 Record: 7-5

2023 Playoffs: 1st round beat South Beauregard HS18-14, and 2nd round lost to Amite HS 21-0

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key players Graduated: RB/FS Antonio Dyson, OG/DT Cole Schwartz, RB/LB Nick Williams, RB/DE Darrion Cummings, and OG/DE Isaac Adamson. 

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Team Outlook: “Crazy year in 2023 we had to play Amite HS in week 10 and turn around in 2nd Round playoffs and play them again. We feel god about 2024. Lost only 5 seniors from a year ago, 3 of those where starters. A lot of experience back excited to see what we can do they are hungry to build off 2023 success,” said coach Currier. 

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The program has some leaders back with a ton of experience in MLB Javion Kidd (6-0, 230) All District in 2023, RB/OLB/DE Kendall Brown (6-1, 215) SR 4 year starter All District in 2023 and 2022, CB/WR Tyron Robinson (6-3, 180) 4 year starter 4.5 speed, WR/FS/CB Jaden Perry (6-1, 170) All District in 2023 with 4.5 speed, QB Ke’Maury Warren 2nd year starter 4.65 speed quick and poised, RB/FB Jeremiah Brooks (5-8, 175) ran for over 1,000 yards in 2023 All District, RB/LB Jomohn Dyson (6-0, 190) over 600 yards rushing in 2023 with 400 yards receiving  and on Defense pick 6 with 4 interceptions 4.59 speed leader. More key players back are TE Eli Neyland new starter 4.65 speed, OT Caeden Sterns (6-0, 295), OT Ashton Broussard (6-1, 245), Og Cody Alfred (5-11, 240) SR, Center Roman Abdollahi (5-8, 300) SR leader strong, DT LJ King (6-0, 280) SR 2nd year starter, DE Collin Mack 2nd year starter, FS Michael Hamilton (5-8, 180), FS Makialley Robbins, and OG Louis Moreno (5-10, 205). Special Teams will be strong lead by Kickers Louis Moreno, and Kicker Eli Neyland. QB Warren is the teams Long Snapper. 

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Pine Raiders

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Head Coach: Bradley Seal (13th year) 

2023 Record: 9-3

2023 Playoffs: 1st round beat Avoyelles HS 28-6, and 2nd round lost to Sterlington HS 33-20

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: RB/DB James Owens, WR/DB Preston Stogner, and DE Tre Magee

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Team Outlook: “I like what I saw in Spring. We are top end very talented. We just need to develop more depth across the board. Should be where we where last year,” said coach Seal. 

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The Offense will have a chance like coach said if they stay healthy to be really good lead by QB Trey Knight a talented (6-2, 180) player had a good off season. Theres also OT Jackson Jones (6-7, 298) SR with over 30 offers great tough blocker, WR/DB DJ Garrett (6-2, 170) SR sleeper good hands speed, DB/WR Thomas Bernard (6-1, 185) SR 4.6 speed playmaker, RB/MLB Christian Williams, RB Vaughn Johnson (5-9, 180) SR the teams best back with power and speed, and TE Zach Thomas (6-4, 200) 4.6 speed and good hands. More key players back are OG Caden Woodward (5-8, 195) tough player, DT Lyrain Hart (6-1, 280), OLB Caden Stogner, CB Delvonta Gardner, OL Levi Spears (5-11, 210) and really good Kicker for Special Teams CJ Cabon. 

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Springfield Bulldogs

Head Coach: Ryan Serpas (17th year) 

2023 Record: 4-7

2023 Playoffs: 1st round lost to Many HS 61-0

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduating: OT Tyler Gardner (Southwest Mississippi JC), RB Jaturis Buggage, RB Nick Fletcher, LB Maddox Fannaly, WR Caden Dykes, OL/DL Walton Lee, and DB Tavias McGee

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Team Outlook: “We have our 4 year starting QB back as our leader. We will be young up front and young in the trenches,” said coach Serpas. 

One of the best Quarterbacks in Louisiana not many know about is Luke Husser (6-7, 215) SR a 4 year starter threw for 1,335 yards with 15 touchdowns in a running Offense team leader and completed 108/147 passes. I saw this kid play 2 years ago and was impressed then with his arm and poise and hes a pretty good Athlete. Everybody is a 2 way starter in the program except the QB. WR/FS Peyton Gibbons (6-0, 170) SR is polished running routes with good hands and also a FS for the Defense. More key players back are OC/DT Seth Spears (5-10, 230) SR, OG/DT Nathan Lee (5-9, 245) SR a 2 year starter, OG/DT Logan Milton (5-10, 210), RB/LB Anthony Williams lead team in tackles in 2023 big time player and good RB, OLB Laydn May (6-1, 185) great Athlete, RB/DB Ethan Lipscomb will rotate in at RB, WR/CB Braylon Jones (5-10, 165) playmaker, Safety Tobias Price (5-10, 155) SR, Safety/LB Parker Butler new starter, and RB/MLB/DE/Safety Hunter Stagg one of the toughest kids in the program will play every where to help the team win (5-7, 145) brings it.

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