District 5 Class 5A

By Lee Brecheen

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Beau Chene Gators

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Head Coach: Buck Harris (1st year) 

2023 Record: 1-9

2023 Playoffs: None

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduating: WR/DB Matthew Mayfield, RB/DB Davonte Charlot Goins, LB/RB Michael Wheaton, OL/DL Anthony Smith, DB/WR Kameron Callis, DB/WR Tylon Major

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Team Outlook: “Finished season playing 22 players in 2023. We have a lot of new faces in the program for varsity. Total rebuild in 2024. Most new guys haven't played football before. Up to 50 players for Spring & Summer which is a positive for us. We might get up to 70 players for fall," said coach Harris. 

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Coach Harris is an alum of Beau Chene HS, and he was on the staff in 2023 as a Defensive Line coach. I think it's a good hire. Coach went to college at McNeese State in Lake Charles as a walk-on and you can tell he knows football and loves his school. The team did not have a Spring for football. The Offense did not have a QB named after Spring or Summer. So this spot might not get answered till the fall.The two Quarterbacks battling for the job are Cayson Woods, and Cameron Simmons both stepped up this Summer. Key players back in the program coach is high on are OL/DL Owen Hayes (5-9, 250) SR, OL/DL Maly Mayfield, DT/DE Kenyon Brown, WR/Safety Ja’Vantre Tre Charles, District MVP in Basketball new to football in 2024, WR/DB Trey Johnson (5-10, 155), OL/DL Casey Charles, LB/RB Matthew Wheaton (6-0, 160), OLB Channing Pickney, RB Chandlor Pinkney, RB Christian Wheeler new starter, and Kicker Marcelo Sanchez (5-8, 150) SR 2nd year starter with good leg. 

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Breaux Bridge Tigers

Head Coach: Tyler Pierce (1st year) 

2023 Record: 7-5

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round Beat Eunice HS 35-19, and then 2nd Round lost to Assumption HS 43-21. 

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduating: OG Reece Poirier, OG Guy Williams, OT Ashton Joseph, QB Kelby Hypolite, DT Braxton Simon, CB Coddie Noel, LB Landon Roberts. 

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Team Outlook: “Going into the season I am excited to see how the players execute after learning a new Offense & Defense over the Summer,” said coach Pierce. 

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The program has 4 players back who made All District in 2023 LB Jay’den Chevalier (5-9, 175) 100 tackles with 5 TFL in 2023,, DE Logan Roberts (5-10, 215) SR 77 tackles 2 Sacks in 2023, DB Ja’kylon Thomas (5-10, 155) SR 68 tackles with 2 interceptions in 2023, and TE Ethan Comb (6-0, 175) SR. More key players back in 2024 are DE/DT Christian Joseph, OL Luke Landry, OL Kale boudreaux (5-7, 240) SR, OL Ethan Pitre (5-10, 225), LB Shawnee Lewis, LB Baylon Champagne, QB Jaden Broussard, DE Adam Camille (5-10, 165), WR Isaiah Leblanc, TE Sage Chevalier (6-1, 198) SR. 

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Cecilia

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Head Coach: Dennis Skains (9 years)

2023 Record: 12-2. Won District 4-0 Record

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round beat Iota 70-30, 2nd Round beat Jennings HS 38-14, Semifinals beat Northwest HS 55-18, and State Title game lost to Opelousas HS 26-13. 

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduating: DE/OLB Demarco Roberts, TE Jonathan Boudreaux, DB Jylan Wiltz, WR Markaylon Roberts, OLB Bronson Patt, DE/OLB Timothy Andries, CB/SS Jacob Joseph, and OT Hunter Kidder

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Team Outlook: “We stayed healthy and got a good draw in 2023. Offensive Line was so strong in 2023 which helped everything work. We need to replace a 1, 300 yard rusher from 2023 in Corey Boudreaux who graduated,” said coach Skains. 

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You could not ask for anything more than what these kids did in 2023 win 12 games and make it to the State Title game. Incredible year for the program. The good news is one of the best athletes in Louisiana returns for his 4th year as a starter in Diesel Solari (5-8, 185) SR. Anytime this kid Solari is on the field you have a chance to win games. Solari has played QB/WR/RB/PR/KR he does everything for this program. Diesel had in 2023 33 rushing Touchdowns wow, and 52 total touchdowns. More skill talent returns in WR/DB  BJ Gordon (5-11, 185) returning starter playmaker, WR/DB/QB Ellis Stewart (5-11, 170) SR with 4.59 speed the teams top QB and at times you will see Diesel, WR Jermaine Davis, FB Collin Dore tough, and WR Braylon Calais future star, WR Justin Oliver leader with 4.6 speed. The Offensive Line lost some experience but returns experience in SR Christian Menard (6-3 260) SR, Center Ryker Airhart (6-6, 305), OL Kristen Landry (5-10, 240) teams best lineman coach loves this kid, and OL Ames Meche (6-2, 240) SR. Another tough strong Offensive Line. The Defense lost some players but did return the bulk of the unit from 2023. Some key players are OLB Braylon Jones, CB Franky Franks 2nd year starter all 12 in 2023, MLB Ben Theriot (5-10, 165) SR coach thinks one of the toughest in state, CB Gavin Solomon (5-9, 150) SR, DE Daniel Sams (5-10, 205) SR, DT Rylan Hardy (6-0, 240) Leader, SS/OLB Demarcus Babineaux new starter and great future. The Special Teams coach told me up in the air for jobs after Spring going into the Summer. 

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Livonia Wildcats 

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Head Coach: Khalil Thomas (1st year) 

2023 Record: 2-8

2023 Playoffs: None

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

Team Outlook: “Started at Episcopal HS as a coach, then Brusly HS as a Defensive Back coach 5 years, and then Central HS DB coach in 2023. The program had 16 players in the program after the 2023 season. Get guys to buy into what we're doing and get our players to come back. We are up to 40-50 players Spring and Summer," said coach Thomas.

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New Head Coach Thomas, I remember watching him play RB for Catholic HS of Baton Rouge (Graduate of 2013) and was a pretty good one in his day. I think a great hire and has a bright future as a coach. Coach mentioned players that stuck out in Spring on Offense starting with QB/FS Corey Parker (6-1, 168) SR 4th year starter leader hurt in 2023, QB Avery Bergeron, RB Jamyrie Lambert, RB Cameron Johnson 2nd year starter, WR Bo Stewart, WR Chase Sylvin, WR CJ Aguillard, WR Parris Hayes, and younger players coming up in the Summer. Offensive and Defensive line are the same players OL//DL Dillon Houston (6-1, 245) SR 4 year starter leader, OL/DL Cayden Jarreau (6-3, 260) SR, Center/DL Danaan Rice (6-1, 245) SR, DT/OL Corey Rodney (6-0, 250) SR, DT Jirrus Scott (6-1, 270), and younger players in fall competing. The Defense has some talent back at LB & DB in LB Mario Acevedo (5-9, 230) SR, LB Jaedon Lathers (6-1, 228) 5th year to start since grade 7, Safety AJ Collar (6-0, 150) SR, Safety Nico Mradiaga 2nd year starter, CB Carmel Bourgeois (6-0, 155), OLB/Safety Zach Nelson, and OLB/Safety Chris Nelson. Special teams were open Kicker & Punter After Spring. 

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Opelousas Tigers

Head Coach: Jimmy Zachary (5th year) 

2023 Record: 11-4 State Champs

2023 Playoffs: 1st Round beat Rayne HS 57-6, 2nd Round beat West Feliciana HS 14-0, Quarterfinals beat Lutcher HS 26-10, Semifinals beat North Desoto HS 28-20, and State Title game beat Cecillia HS 26-13. 

2024 Playoffs: Non-Select

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Key Players Graduating: RB Isiah Amos, SS Collin Fontenot (ULM), OT Keegan Moten (Grambling), Center Joseph Milton (Northwestern State), DE CJ Bernard (Grambling).

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Team Outlook: “What an incredible year Lee, we beat some great programs in 2023 Lutcher HS, North Desoto HS, Cecilia HS, West Feliciana HS, Rayne HS, Lake Charles Prep HS, and Natch Central in Class 5A. We are going to work hard to make run again to win it all in 2024,” said coach Zachary. 

What is really scary is 2024 was supposed to be the year with more seniors and more experience back but the team won it in 2023. Get the popcorn out week 2 Opelousas HS will host powerhouse Edna Karr HS. The Offense has a little bit of everything size, speed, strong, and experienced. The RB De’Shaun Ford going into his 4th year as a starter All State in 2023 ran for 2, 100 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2023 and looks to even have a bigger year in 2024 at (6-0, 225) with 4.59 speed, more power and more speed in 2024. The rest of the skill spots deep group QB Zackeus Malveaux (6-0, 175) 3 year starter 4.5 speed and leader, WR Kolby Fontenot (6-1, 170) SR 3 year starter leader 4.5 speed, WR Myles Zachary (5-10, 160) 4.5 speed 2nd year starter, WR Korey Major (6-1, 170) 2nd year starter 4.5 speed, WR/QB De’Antre Jackson 4.5 speed and will play a lot in 2024 as a WR and when will letter as a QB in 2024, RB Cody Major will rotate in, RB Brandon Gravingo rotate in 4.45 speed, and WR Dreveon Henderson will rotate in 4.5 speed. The Offensive Line has a chance to be one of the best in Louisiana with size and experience lead by Center Chris Rideau Jr (6-2, 285) SR 4 year starter, OT Bryson Lewis (6-2, 270) SR, OT Daniel Green (6-6, 275) SR, OL Grant Lascrapes, and Syane Broussard both over 260 pounds. The Defense has a chance to be one of the strongest and most athletic in the State in 2024. Leaders back are LB Corey Amos (6-4, 215) also a TE has 4.55 speed and wow upside, LB Travis Espirit (6-1, 230) SR college size player 3 year starter, DT Jacobian Ardoin (5-10, 270) SR, DT Jonathan Ford (6-2, 275) SR 4 year starter, Safety Kyron Moore (6-2, 180) SR, CB/SS Justin Washington (5-10, 170) SR 4 year starter leader, CB Landon Hammond (6-1, 165) SR 4 year starter 4.5 speed, DE Jamarion Doughrty, LB Khlen Young (5-10, 195) SR 2nd year starter, CB Colin Rideaux, CB Javlen Owens, CB/Safety Marley Richard, CB/Safety Braylon Brown 2nd year starter 4.5 speed, Safety/CB Jalen Breaux new starter with 4.5 speed, and LB rotating in Durrell Edwards (6-1, 215) SR will play as many minutes as a starter. Special Teams will be Kicker Jonathan Ford best big Kicker in State. Ford can hit the End Zone on Kickoffs and you don't see too many 275 pound players do that. Coach thinks he's got a D1 leg.

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