District 4 Class 4A

By Lee Brecheen

Comeaux Spartans

Head Coach: Marquest Newsome (2nd year) 

2023 Record: 0-10

2023 Playoffs: None

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduated: DE Trey Jacquet, RB Tre Roy, CB/WR Hodges Brown, LB Javen Harrison, OT Dylan Sam, QB Jayden Sonnier, OL/DL Jakaylan Harrison, WR Trisitan Smith. 

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Team Outlook: “We went younger playing 15 Freshman in 2023. The program had 4 coaches in 4 years. We are excited we have a new Offensive Coordinator from a great program like Westgate HS,” said coach Newsome. 

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Program moves down from Class 5 A to Class 4A in 2024 which I think will help a lot. There’s a lot of really good skill talent coming back which helps a team trying to get better. QB Sean Brnkhaus is the new starter with a good arm and a really good Athlete. The skill talent around him will give him a chance to do well in WR/TE Treylon Carmouche, a SR with 4.5 speed and size, RB Jamar Mitchell (6-0, 195) SR with 4.5 speed, power, RB/WR Ryan Jenkins (5-7, 175) SR big time Athlete strong, RB/WR Jaden Celestine 4.4 speed, 2 way starter Kadon Batiste (5-8-175) SR 4.5 speed also a SS/CB/WR for team and WR sleeper Lathan Keely  great hands and routes. The Offensive Line lost some talented lineman but some really good kids return in OL Tate Desormeaux (5-10, 235) SR, OT Travis Goodie missed 2023 season All District player, and a few players still battling for starting spots for OL in the fall. The Defense will also rely on speed and has some talent back to build with in LB/DE Dayton Broussard also the backup QB for the team, SS/FS Akeem Demouche (5-9, 180) SR 3 year starter leader, CB Tre Thompson, DT/DE Cade Smith (5-11, 240) SR All District type player, DT Braylon Thomas 2nd year starter, LB Tristian Henry (5-8, 185) SR leader, CB Clyde Kerr a 3 year starter SR (5-10, 175) Leader, LB/Safety Zachary Lam, FS Zavyar Edwards and several young players fighting for time to give team depth. Special Teams you have Kicker Isaac Darela 6-5 in height with a cannon leg. 

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North Vermillion Patriots

Photographer Kohen Laundry 

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Head Coach: Roderick Moy (1st year) 

2023 Record: 2-8

2023 Playoffs: None

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduated: DE/OLB Myles Johnson, RB Tucker Denais, QB Logan Thompson, Kicker Jacob Lattier, OT Cameron Myers, RB Andrew Heints, WR/CB Norris Benoit

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Team Outlook: “Similar scheme we will run to that of my teams at Abbeville HS. Defense very young. I am excited. Be a team under the radar in 2024. We have a gauntlet to go through but if we get in the tournament we will have a chance to be a surprise," said coach Moy. 

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New Head Coach Roderick Moy did an incredible job at Abbeville HS and I think he’ll do the same with the Patriots. The Offense it all starts with QB James Higgins (6-2, 175), a new starter with a good arm and he can run. The Offense does have some skill talent around him in RB/CB 2 way starter SR Grant Wise (5-8, 190) runs with power, WR Zander Frederick (6-0, 175), WR Owen Leblanc (5-10, 170) SR, 2 way starter RB/CB Devin Galley (5-7, 165) SR 4.6 rotates in at RB, Carter McKeithan a 6-6 Tight End with the ability to catch some passes, and FB/LB Preston Bagwell (6-0, 215) brings more power in the Offense. The Offensive Line is young but will be built around OG/DE RJ Meaux (5-11, 210) SR Bench Presses (330) pounds, and Center Peyton Pereida (5-11, 215) SR. The Defense is really young but returns some really good players in OLB Jax Smith, LB Chandler Richard, DE Chase Hensley, LB/SS Ethan Tate (5-11, 200) SR, CB Brody Lambeck (5-9, 170) SR, plus 2 way starters CB Galley, LB Preston Bagwell, and CB Grant Wise. Special Teams has a great Punter in Preston Bagwell, and Kicker/Punter in Logan Blanchard. 

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Northside Vikings

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Head Coach: Jacarde Carter (2nd year) 

2023 Record: 4-7

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Istrouma 38-16 HS

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduated: OL/DL Kaleb Fox, TE/DE Ke’Andre Barfield, WR Cameron Gotch, OC/DT Malachi Celestine, OG Oliver Harris, SS Keegan Dugas

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Team Outlook: “Lost 9 key seniors from the 2023 season. 5 of those starters we lost were like losing 10 starters because they each played 2 positions. Focused on being more physical and systems in place better than a year ago,” said coach Carter. 

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The program also has a tough non-district slat with Ville Platte, Sulphur HS, Cecilia HS, and Breaux Bridge in 2024. The Offense will return a pretty good QB in Jaylin Williams (5-7, 160) SR hurt most of 2023 but back and you have QB/LB Jekaven Felix who started a few games in 2023 did a great job and is also a really good Athlete. The Offensive Line has a chance to be a pretty good group in time lead by, OL/DT Corde Portier 2nd year starter (5-11, 260), OT Azel Cruz, and OL Juanbre Alexander (5-11, 285) tough kid in the trenches. The skill spots are RB/LB Ja’Nathan Bonnet a 4 year starter (5-9, 198) SR leader, WR Damon Coemaux 4.45 speed, WR Taiten Arceneaux (6-1, 160) SR, and RB/OLB Miles Bruno (5-6, 160) SR really improved in Spring. The Defense is trying to build depth but they have quality starters in LB Jaden Walker (5-11, 195) SR lettered in 2023, DT Jemiyi Beighbors (5-11, 270) SR 2nd team All District in 2023, CB Mario Alexander 4.45 speed, Safety Peyton Boyd 2nd year starter, DT Kadon Gee full throttle player, OLB Miles Bruno and LB Ja’Nathan Bonnet both 2 way starters for the team. 

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Rayne Wolves

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Head Coach: Kaine Guidry (6th year) 

2023 Record: 6-5

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Opelousas HS

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduating: RB/DB Joseph Emllien, LB/TE Robert Breaux, DE/TE Christian Deshotel, DE Jaylan Harmon, OT Conor Venable and QB Dylan Judice. 

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Team Outlook: “We have a new Offense the Gun-T. We like our Offensive Line. Defense will get better as we go. Offense is ahead of the Defense. We averaged in 2023 37 points a game and 220 yards on the ground per game. We also had an average of 325 to 350 yards Offense per game in 2023,” said coach Guidry. 

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The schedule is going to be brutal with teams like Church Point, Beau Chene HS, Northwest non District, and St.Thomas More, and Westgate in District. The Wolves and it’s not a secret will lean on Kylin Wheeler for his 4th year as the leader of this team and difference maker to go far in the playoffs. All state in 2023, Wheeler just in 2023 had 18 total Touchdowns, 1,241 yards receiving, 600 yards rushing, 200 return yards and 150 yards passing. The program also has 4 year starter Korey Malone (6-1, 170) SR who is a big time player with 4.5 speed as a WR/DB/RB for the team. The Offense will also return 3 year starter at QB Lon Paul Moody, a leader also and a big piece of this program to go deep in the playoffs. The program also has the luxury of putting Moody at another position at times to help the team and they have a young QB in Syncere Smith lettered in 2023. More key players back are CB/OLB Cooper Letchworth (5-9, 170) SR 3 year starter tough, DT Isaac Harrison (5-10, 228) SR, Safety Tristan Scott (5-10, 165) SR, LB Horacio Robertson great player, OL Eric Lavergne (5-9, 210) SR, OL Kayton Cruz (6-1, 215) SR, OT Wendell Price (5-9, 215) SR, TE/DE Brody Trahan talented, CB/RB Rudolph Peter, Chase Cary RB/DB, DT/DE Chaidan Gibson 2nd year starter, LB/FB/TE Gabriel Joyner, LB Tanner Richard, WR/DB Austin Judice, and WR/DB Maccoy Wilson (5-10, 165) new starter. Special Teams Long Snapper is Austin Judice, and Kicker/Punter is Lon Paul Moody. 

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St. Thomas More Cougars

Head Coach: Jim Hightower (28th year) 

2023 Record: 14-0 State Champs and District Champs 5-0

2023 Playoffs: Playoff wins over Istrouma HS 57-14, St. Michael HS 49-0, Archbishop Shaw HS 69-30, and State Title game Lafayette Christian HS 35-21. State Champs

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduating: WR Landon Strother (UL Ragin Cajuns), RB Hutch Swilley (UL Ragin Cajuns), DB Peyton David, QB Sam Altmann (UL Ragin Cajuns), MLB Brody Latiolais, P/WR Brooks Templet, MLB Hayden Hernandez, RB John Luke St. Pierre, WR Sanders Foreman, OL Jackson Dickerson, Center Ashton Helaire, OL Eric Abadie, OL Nicholas Chase, OL Adam Crouch, DE Adam Guidry, DT Wade Cannon, LB Warner Domingue, TE Brandon Leblanc, OG Gannon Domingue and Kicker Brennan Bouque. 

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Team Outlook: I think besides winning another State title in 2023, what is really amazing is the wins over great programs in 2023 Shaw HS, Westgate, Lafayette Christian 2 times, Catholic HS BR, Teurlings Catholic, Alexandria HS, and Brother Martin. The 2024 Schedule is stacked again with Carencro HS, Catholic BR, Acadiana HS, Neville HS, and Teurlings Catholic rival game. In 2023 the Offense scored  over 40 points a game 9 times, and averaged over 35 points a game in 13 of the 14 games in 2023. The one game under 35 points was 31 points. The program will have a new QB for the first time in 3 years with Cole Bergeron being the next great QB up for the program. The Offense lost a ton of experience and talent but the program has new talent that can keep this going again in 2024. Skill players back to make this Offense strong again are RB Gabe Mocek, a SR with power and size (6-0, 205) with 4.59 speed and RB Carter Melancon. There’s also a whole new set of WRs ready to make their mark in WR John Avery Barton (5-11, 195) runs a 4.4 and wants to play in college, tulane is watching him, WR Cade Wilkinson (6-0, 178), WR Christian Breaux, WR William Sonnier, WR Aiken Bond, WR Cooper Hawkins, WR/HB/TE Jacob Froelich (6-2, 205) hands speed 4.65 and tough, TE 2nd year starter Aiden Falgout (6-2, 210), and TE Mason Mouton. The Offensive Line just about everyone graduated and will be a learning cure but again really good players back in OC/OG Ryan Brungart (6-1, 260), OL Tyler Ritz, and others competing through the Summer. The Defense returns one of the best tacklers on the team in 3 year starter OLB Nico Blanchard (6-1, 200) SR, CB Brian Broussard (5-10, 175) SR 4.6 speed, LB Ayson Hollier (6-1, 210) SR, DE Cayden Dartez 2nd year starter, DT Connor McAtee, DE Austin Pellerin, Safety Landon Ortte, DE Andrew Ritz (6-5, 240), DE/DT Brock Arceneaux (5-10, 225), DE Ethan Bear (6-0, 205) SR, DE Coleman Inzerella (5-9, 185) SR, OLB Oliver Allen (5-9, 180) SR, CB Zach Grizzaffi (5-10, 180) SR, DB Brennan Leblanc, and LB Reed Dupuis (6-2, 200) SR talented tackler. Special Teams were not mentioned for Kicker or Punter during Spring as far as starters. 

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Teurlings Catholic Rebels

Head Coach: Dane Charpentier (8th year) 

2023 Record: 9-4

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round beat Madison Prep HS 31-30, 2nd Round beat E. D White HS, and 3rd Round lost to Lafayette Christian HS 42-35. 

2024 Playoffs: Select

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Key Players Graduating: QB Preston Welch (Nich State), LB Conner Smith, CB Peyton Jones, CB Gylen Ford (North Dakota State), OT Bradley Habetz, RB/SS Ayden Trahan, WR/P/K Bradford Cain, LB Nick Dellumo, OLB Allan Black Hayes, and LB Jack Ortego. 

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Team Outlook: “We have a chance to have a great Offense Line. QB play will determine a lot but we have hungry kids that want to win. We are excited about this season in 2024,” said coach Charpentier. 

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It will all start and end with the Offensive Line in 2024. The trenches up front is the team's best position to lead with potential to be one of the best in the State with players like OG Jase Serrette (6-5-300), OL Jack Matthews (6-2, 270), OL/DT Gresham Perry (6-5, 315), TE Jack Pusser (6-2, 220) great blocker with hands, and brother OL/DT Drake Perry (6-3, 290). The run game should be really good with the OL starting backs are 2nd year starter Douge Viltz (5-10, 175) SR, RB Carson Evans strong, and FB Brayden Brooks (6-2, 205) great blocker tough kid. WR group will be WR Nick Celestine 2nd year starter, WR Cade Cother (6-1, 180) SR, and young players still competing after Summer. The QB spot will have a new starter for the first time in 3 years. AJ Price, and Alex Munoz are both really good players battling for the nod in Fall. Munoz is a dual threat and Price is a pro style both are really good players to help the team win. The Defense will build around a young Linebacking group lead by DB Kaleb Daniels (6-0, 180) SR All District in 2023 big time Athlete for the program. Other key players are DE Reed Broussard (6-3, 240), DE Matt Davis (6-2, 210), LB Jackson Broussard (5-11, 205), CB Noah Darby (5-9, 160) SR, Safety Chandler Hulin (5-10, 165) SR, and a few younger players competing at DL, LB and DB over the Summer. Special Teams will have Kicker Charlie Mader (6-1, 170) talented leg which is needed in this District so many close games. Punter Paul Holland is the new starter at Punter with also a strong leg. 

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Westgate Tigers

(Photo credits Lee Brecheen)

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Head Coach: Ryan Antoine (11th year) 

2023 Record: 7-5

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round beat Terrebonne HS 27-10, and 2nd Round lost to Ruston HS 20-18

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduating: DT De’Myrian Johnson (LSU), MLB/TE Andre Williams, OT Joseph Thibodeaux, DT Albert Seabble, TE/DE Sukaric Mitchell, LSP Cole Desormeaux, DT/OG Raquinton Allen, and DB Armidre Evans

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Team Outlook: “2021 we are State Champs, 2022 lost semi finals to Destrehan HS (State Champs 2022), and 2023 made the 2nd round losing to Ruston HS (State Champs 2023). These kids are used to winning. We can make a good run at it again I believe. We play in one of the best Districts in Louisiana,” said coach Antoine. 

Westgate returns 16 starters which means they will be in the thick of it again in 2024. One thing that hasn't changed for this program: the athletes and speed of Westgate is still one of the best in the state every year. It’s impressive because they lose great athletes every year to graduation. This year 6 of the most dynamic players in Louisiana return in WR/CB Jaboree Antoine (6-2, 190) 4.45 speed or better one of the best DB’s in the US, Athlete/WR/DB Amaree Simon All District in 2023 4.45 speed, Khylon Antoine CB/RB/WR 4.4 speed All District in 2023, QB/WR/DB Bryant Leon (6-3, 180) 4.5 speed, RB Tavias Gordon ran for 1,900 yards in 2023 with 37 Touchdowns 4.4 speed, and RB/WR/CB Davian Jackson (6-2, 180) 4.4 speed. More key players back to help the program compete for another State Title are K/P Jake Thibodeaux cannon leg, LB/RB Dy’Traevous Livley (5-10, 225) big 2 time All State leader with 130 tackles in 2023, TE/FB Gavin Hebert (6-1, 215), OL/DL Jatyri Rankins (6-2, 265), DE Jamron Jackson (5-11, 210) SR 11 Sacks in 2023, OL Adrian Vieria 2nd year starter tough kid can play all five OL spots for team, and DT Evan Bryant (6-5, 265) 2nd year starter his year to shine.

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