District 1 Class 4A

By Lee Brecheen

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Booker T. Washington Lions

Head Coach: Gary Cooper (2nd year)

2023 Record: 3-7

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Livingston Academy HS

2024 Playoffs: Select

Key Players Graduated: OLB/WR Cardell Marston, DT/OG Jamarion Edwards,OL Savion Bell, WR L.D Frierson, OL Deitrick Beck, LB Andrew Houston, DB Jaylen O‘Neal

Team Outlook: “We are much better, kids are learning, working hard in my 2nd year. We lost most of our 2023 starters,” said coach Cooper.

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The Offense has 3 players who can get under center QB in Damien O’Neal, QB Bryant French, and D.K. Mitchell all have experience either at QB or playing other spots in 2023.The program will need several players to start both sides players like DB/RB/WR Tray Moore 4.6 speed,RB/SS Aaron Dillard (5-11,185) missed the 2023 season from a injury, RB/LB/LSP Xarvea Frazier, FB/LB/SS Brandon Haggerty (5-9,175) SR tough kid, and CB/FS/WR Trey Lewis All District in 2023. More key players coming back to make impact are LB Cedric Dennis (5-10,240), Center Seven Smith, OL Jacoby Fitzpatrick, OL Justin McClain(6-4,300), OL Carlos Draper, DT/NG Mookie Chapman, DE Jecoryen Richard (6-0,190) SR, Jaylen O ‘Neal (6-1,170) SR 2nd year starter and several young players will have to play both sides of ball to develop depth.

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Loyola Prep Flyers

Head Coach: John Sella(1st year)

2023 Record: 4-6

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Ascension Episcopal HS 

2024 Playoffs: Select

Key Players Graduated: RB/FS Reagan Coyle, WR/SS Rowan Gotakanda, WR/CB Casey Wall, LB Jude Gaitan, QB Bryce Carpenter, OG Jack Coyle

Team Outlook: “Return 4 starters on the Offensive Line which will be the strength of our team in 2024. We must replace 10 seniors that were starters. We are young in spots. A few players will have to start both sides of the football,” said coach Sella. The QB on Offense will be 2nd year starter Bryce Restovich who played in 8 games in 2023 and did a good job.The skill players most will start both sides of the football are RB/LB Patrick Gosslee (6-1,220) leading rusher for team in 2023 with 4.6 speed should be recovered from a injury by fall, WR/TE Colby Hamilton (6-5,205), WR Jack Black, WR/RB/SS Grayson Nunn, SS/OLB Alex Mitchell, and DB/RB Mason Drake lettered in 2023 with 4.6 speed. More key players back are OL/DL Jack Budziszewski (5-10,220) SR 3 year starter, OL/DL James Scottwojtkiewicz (6-1,220) SR 2nd year starter, LB Hayden Horton, OG/DT Wyatt Lofton, CB Carter Ward (5-11,165) SR 4.5 speed, MLB Carter Doyal (5-9,185) 3 year starter and OL Jack Ebarb (5-10,230) SR 4 year starter. Special Teams returns 2nd Team All District Kicker Evan Lirette (5-8,150) who has a really good leg for both Kickoffs and Field Goals.

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Minden Crimson Tide

(photos taken by the school)

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Head Coach: Spencer Heard (11th year)

2023 Record: 4-6

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to West Feliciana HS

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

Key Players Graduating: WR Cameron Mitchell (North American U in TX), WR/DB Jakobe Jackson (Grambling State), CB Brian Turner (North American U in TX) SS Keithric Kimbel (North American U in TX, LB Nolan Garms.

Team Outlook: “More mature team in last two years. A lot of players back with experience from the year before. We have leaders and I feel positive about it. Offense we will be more Wing-T Hybrid in 2024,” said coach Heard.

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The Offense has a really talented young QB back for his 2nd year in Hudson Brown. Brown has a really good arm and did a good job in his first year in 2023. The skill talent on Offense will depend on RB Dunovan Robinson 2nd year starter, kid is strong (5-10, 230) benches 315 pounds. More skill players will need to step up are OLB/WR/RB Jaylon McKinney (5-10, 189) SR 4.59 speed, WR Porter Neal (5-10,170) 4.6 speed, CB/WR Brayden Britton (6-1,180) SR Athletic, Safety Kameron Harris 4.5 speed, CB/Safety Treshun Young 4.5 speed, WR Jaxon Smith good Athlete, and RB/WR Caylien Aubrey quick with 4.6 speed. The Offensive Line has size and experience to be a strong group in 2024 lead by OL Garrett Dooley (6-0,270) SR,OL Jonathan Bradford (6-3,285), OL James Williams (5-10,265) SR, and OT Grayson Gorum 280 pounds.The Defensive front seven has the talent to help this team with players like DT Demetrus Robinson (6-2,280) SR 2nd year starter talented, DT Jarvis Davis (6-2,270) SR 2nd year starter, MLB Landon Huddleston (5-11,190) SR 2nd year starter, OLB Zion Johnson 4.65 speed, DT Saige Bailes, 280 pounds, and DT Jeremiah Jones 250 pounds. Special Teams after Spring was wide open at Kicker & Punter.

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North Desoto Griffins

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Head Coach: Dennis Dunn(6th year)

2023 Record: 11-2 Won Distric

2023 Playoffs: Semis-finals lost to Opelousas HS
2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

Key Players Graduated: LB Kaleb Carter, RB/CB Tryston Hopper (East Texas Baptist), OG/OC Gage Caskey (East Texas Baptist), CB/SS Lake Bates (ULL), CB/WR Corbyn Cross (Calvin Knights U in Michigan), OLB/P Lincoln Hooper, LB BT McMillian (Harding U) WR Landry Wyatt (Louisiana Tech), K/P Gavin Longoria, K/P Caleb Sanders, LSP/DT Kemere Jones and DT Blake Loupe

Team Outlook: “Good group returning but question marks all over. We have a veteran QB. Lost most of our Secondary 3 of the 4 starters,” said coach Dunn.

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The program has been to the Superdome 1st time in 2022, 2023 Semifinals and 2024 they look to get back to the dome and win it all with one of the best young QBs in the US in 3rd year starter QB Luke Delafield (6-3,185) cannon arm and good feet most of all leader for the program.The Offense has more skill players in WR Cole Cory a 3 year starter lead all classes in Louisiana in catches in 2023 with 4.45 speed, WR Chaz Martinez (6-1,180) SR with DI ability, RB Kenny Thomas 4.55 speed,RB Braylin Latin, WR/TE 2nd year starter Miller Warren incredible talent,and a few younger players mixed in for depth. The Offensive Line will strong again lead by Center John David Murray (6-1,225) SR, OL Mason Guillory 2nd year starter 255 pounds, OT Nate Dutroc 265 pounds,OG Walker Chadwick (6-4,280) with a lot of upside, and OG Logan Smith (6-1,250) SR another leader.

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The Defense though young in the Secondary will be carried by the front seven talented early on with players like DE/OLB Tucker Brewster 2nd year starter (6-2,210) SR 4.6 speed, OLB Kane Hampton (5-11,225), DT Konnor Watson (5-11,240) SR, DE Alex Simpson (6-2, 225), DT Javon Brown (5-9,240) SR, DT Kyle Remedes (5-9,220) lettered in 2023, LB Porter Doyle new starter, LB Hayden Bell, and OLB Bryant Lacour (5-11,178) SR lettered in 2023.The young Secondary you have CB Raidon Smith (5-11,170) SR 4.5 speed, CB Aidan Davis (5-10,170) SR, CB Ethan Ivy, CB Braylin Belton 4.45 speed talented young player, and some more players will emerge here over the Summer at Safety. Special Teams will have back at both  Kicker & Punter same player Dakota Denney 2nd year starter talented.

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Northwood

Head Coach: Austin Brown(5th year)

2023 Record: 5-5

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Archbishop Rummel HS.

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

Key Players Graduating: QB Hutson Hearron, RB/DB/WR Desmond Harris (Hendrix College), RB/WR/FS Elijah Crawford (Southern Arkansas), WR Tucker McCade, LB Jeremiah Reed (Centenary), OG Beau Brady, DE Jaden Terry, FS/CB James Hollingsworth, WR/CB Chase Stewart.

Team Outlook: “New QB excited no drop off at QB knows the game has been in the program 4 years. We started season in 2023 0-3 and all games lost by touchdown or less then went 5-5 to finish the year proud of the kids in 2023,” said coach Brown.The new QB for the Offense is Jaxon Bentzler (6-2, 215) SR was a TE in 2023 but like coach said been in the system for 4 years and might end up the biggest sleeper QB in Louisiana in 2024.The skill talent on Offense has some talent in RB/FB John Snead, RB/TE/DE Christian Robinson 4 year starter leader (6-2,215) great Athlete does it all for the program. RB Kaleb Armstrong, RB/WR Kyran Johnson 4.5 playmaker, RB Tomarcus Keith 2nd year starter power and speed, WR Chris Shephard, WR Jayden White, WR Duntavious Young great Athlete, and others coming up in Summer for depth. The Offensive Line will have some mixture of returning players and new starters OG Latraveous Gay (5-10,275) SR a leader 3 year starter, OT JOnah Jennings (5-10,198) SR 2nd year starter, OL Michael Robinson 2nd year starter, OT Chance Young (5-10,250) SR, OL Riley Rogers, OL Adam Hemphill lettered in 2023 and OL Carson Randall (5-10,225) SR. The Defense returns more starters in 2024 the Defensive front will be the strength as a group early on DE Zy’Terious Gardner (6-2,235) 4.6 speed, DE Brayden Ramirez (6-1,230), DT Devin McKenna, DT Caleb Houser 2nd year starter, LB Kolby Turner lettered in 2023, LB Gaige Lummus. The Defensive backfield has two really talented Safeties in Jeremiah Johnson 74 tackles in 2023 with 4 Interceptions, and Safety Justin Thomas new starter really good Athlete 4.5 speed. Special Teams has two talented Kickers back in Alexander Williams and Kicker Landon Lavasseur. Long Snapper will be Christian Robinson.

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Southwood Cowboys

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#1 Lyquinton Pinkney (Photos taken by Vermon Brown)

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Head Coach: Mike Greene(2nd year)

2023 Record: 0-10

2023 Playoffs: None

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduating: WR/QB Detanion Arkansas (Centenary), DB/WR DeTraveon Williams (Louisiana Christian), SS Shamichael Johnson (Louisiana Christian), OL/DL Ashton Player, OL/DL Nicholas Robinson, DT Travail Hamilton (Bethal College), OLB Ja’Than Skinner, QB Michael Morgan LB Caleb Nunsant (Bethal College).

Team Outlook: “We have to replace 18 starters who graduated and 24 total from the 2023 team.I am glad we dropped in class competing with most schools similar to our program in size numbers.Our kids are excited and we are ready to compete again. Ready to win the 1st game in 2024,” said coach Greene.

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The Offense will have a new QB in Cornelous Martin, a SR who lettered in 2023 (5-10, 180). There’s also RB/WR/QB Jayden Carter, quick with 4.45 speed can play many positions for the team and some QB. The rest of the skill players that will play are RB Dylan Turner moved from CB (5-8,175) SR, RB Cameron Lee starter with power, WR Eric Baulkman (6-1, 170), CB Corian Johnson (6-1, 170) 4.5 tough kid, TE/FB Roderick Bates Jr (5-11, 205) good blocker hands, SS Jarrmarcus Lacy new starter, CB Caden Davis new starter, FS Carrington Ford missed 2023 season, and WR Lyquinton Pinkney (6-2, 175) 2nd year starter and team leader. Lineman that the program will need big year from are OT Cameron Conway (6-4, 350), OC/OT Justyn Brown (5-11,230), OL/DL John Rachal 2nd year starter, DE/OLB Fred Little (6-3,190) 4.6 speed, Center Rodrick Lovance, RG/NT David Brown (5-10, 230) benches 405, squat and deadlift 550, has power and runs a 4.8, LB Arthur Douglas 4.6 speed, and several younger LB’s and Lineman will get reps in fall. Special Teams Kicker will be Skyler White, and Punter will be Arthur Douglas.

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Woodlawn Knights

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Head Coach: Thedrick Harris (4th year)

2023 Record: 4-7

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Madison Prep HS.

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

Key Players Graduated: LB Anthony Bryant, LB/LSP Shadrick Jones, QB Isaiah Kennedy,WR/DB Jaiyon Allen, DE Donovan Reliford, WR Joshua Dodson, DE Joseph Dodson.

Team Outlook: “We got a lot quality guys coming up. Strength team is most of the Offensive Line is back on Offense. We did lose our 4 year starting QB but skill guys were intact otherwise. Defense we will be strong at Defensive Back but have to replace all of our Linebackers and some of the Defensive Line,” said coach Harris. What might set Woodlawn apart this year is the ability to win in the trenches this year with players like OG/OC Trevon Jones (6-0,285) SR 3 year starter, DT/NG Marcus Palmer (5-11,370) 3 year starter, DT/OC Dmarion Houston (5-8,250) SR 3 year starter, OG Jayen Artison (6-2,275), OG Demond Page (6-3,280), DE Darrion Prim (6-2,245), OT/DT Jakody Robertson (6-1,260) SR, MLB T.J Winzor (5-9,220), and DE/OLB Ta’Mazion Morgan (6-4,230). Skill wise Woodlawn is very talented again with size and speed. Here’s some of the players starting at skill spots FS/WR/RB/QB Branden Henderson (6-1,170) SR one of the best recruits in Louisiana and a 4 year starter for the school 4.45 speed or better long and can do it all on the field. There’s CB/SS/WR Jotaven Scroggins (5-11,165) a 4 year starter and sleeper college prospect, RB/LB Semaj Snow (5-11,210), RB Quinton Wilson (5-10,190) 4.5 speed, WR Antonio Reynolds (5-11,165) 4.5 speed, WR/CB Issac Pickrom (5-10,160) 4.5 speed,WR/QB Carlos Smith (6-0,165) 4.6 speed great Athlete, FS/SS Jotavein Washington 4.45 speed very fast, WR Jaden White, and SS/FS/CB Kameron Jenkins lettered in 2023.

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Bossier Bearkats

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Head Coach: Gary Smith(2nd year)

2023 Record: 1-9

2023 Playoffs: None

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

Key Players Graduating:

Team Outlook: “2024 we have 7 seniors back all starters. Most players will play both sides of the football and we have young players coming into the program to help too in the Fall. We have a chance to be a better team, we had a first great off season senior group doing a great job. We are 2 years away from being where we need to be overall,” said coach Smith.

The Offense will revolve around QB Quintarion Scott (6-1,215) 2nd year starter leader for the program. The rest of the skill spots are WR/CB/Safety Randy Robinson 2nd year starter improved (5-10,178) SR, Safety Denzel Kirtendoll 2nd year starter (6-1,185) SR 4.65 speed big hitter, 2nd year starter RB Caleb Jones (5-11,195) SR moved to RB in 2024 from another position, Safety/RB Arayvis Davenport 4.5 speed, Safety/WR/QB Montravel Lewis, RB/LB Cornelius Reynolds, and CB Dwayne Robinson. Lineman mostly starting both sides of the ball are Center Caden Williams (6-2,290), TE/DE Matteo Guerro (5-11,185) 4 year starter, OT Isiah Cortez, OT/DT K.J Sims, and LB/DE Derrick Haynes (6-0,220) SR 3 year starter.

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