North Desoto Griffins

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: Dennis Dunn (5th year)

2022 Record: 12-2

Class & District: Class 4A (District 1)

2022 Playoffs: 1st Round Bye, Defeated Cecilia 33-14 in 2nd Round, Defeated Breaux Bridge 42-13 in Quarterfinals, Defeated Iowa 38-9 in Semifinals, Lost to Lutcher 28-25 in Division II (Non-Select) State Championship Game

North Desoto Head Coach Dennis Dunn and QB Luke Delafield (Photo provided by Luke Delafield)

The North Desoto Griffins made it to their first-ever state championship game last season but lost heartbreakingly to Lutcher, 28-25. However, they have all the talent to make it back as they are led by one of the greatest head coaches in Louisiana high school football history, Dennis Dunn.

Dunn’s first head gig was at Woodlawn High School in Shreveport where he coached three All-American High School players: LB Fred Harris (San Diego State), James Gillyard (LSU) and Tyrone Frazier (LSU/MLB). Dunn was then hired as the head coach at Evangel Christian and was there from 1992-2005. Dunn turned the program into a powerhouse not only statewide but nationally as well as led the Eagles to nine state titles and one national championship in 1999. After his more than successful stint at Evangel Christian, Dunn became a successful coach as the head coach of Louisiana (now known as Louisiana Christian ) for 11 years with 7 winning season’s in a row (65 wins) Before Dunn took over, the Wildcats had not had a winning season since 1961.

North Desoto QB Luke Delafield

“We had a great year in 2022 as the Class 4A State Championship runner-up team and we were building for four years to get to that point,” Dunn said. “Last season was a by-product of players buying in and when we advanced to the state title for the first time in the school’s history, it was more than amazing. I think anything less than making a state title game in 2023 will be a disappointment. We have been to the top of the mountain now and we can go back and finish what we started. It’s a program now.”

The Griffins have a talented quarterback to get them back to the title game in Luke Delafield. Delafield started as a freshman in 2022 and knows what it takes to play for a championship with experience now. Delafield has all the talent to be the next great quarterback from the Shreveport area and his future is high off the charts.

The receiving corps returns one of the best in Louisiana in WR Cole Cory who had over 1,000 yards receiving in 2022 with 4.5 speed and great hands to go with speed. There’s also senior WR/CB Corbyn Cross (5-9, 160, 4.5 speed), Landry Wyatt (5-10, 170, Sr.), who has great hands, Chaz Martinez who is a tough kid and Miller Warren who has all the stuff to make this unit tough to defend.

North DeSoto WR Cole Cory

The offensive line has to replace 4 starters but they return some really good players in third-year starter senior OG/OC Gage Caskey (6-1, 240) returns to lead this line along with C/OG John David Murray 6-1 265. TE/HB Tucker Brewster (6-2, 190) will also help out with run blocking. The run game lost some talent but returned talent in senior RB/CB Trysten Hopper (5-10, 195) who is a three-year letterman and two talented players in RB Kenny Thomas and RB Braylin Latin.

The defense will need to overcome losing some key players but they do have the talent to have a state title defense by midseason at least. The defensive line has a few players to build from in DE/DT Kane Hampton (5-11, 230), senior DT Blake Loupe (5-10, 230) who is a strong kid, DT Javon Brown (5-8, 230), DT Konnor Watson (5-11, 225), DT Kernere Jones (5-11, 270) and third-year starter senior DE/OLB Brian McMillian (6-2, 210) who has 4.59 speed and is a big-time sleeper.

North DeSoto DE/OLB Brian McMillian

The Griffin defense also returns third-year starting LB Kaleb Carter (5-10, 225, 4.6 speed) who is a tackling machine for the program and is one of the leaders on the defense and third-year starter OLB/FS Lincoln Hooper (6-2, 200, 4.5 speed) who is another big-time player. The defense also has senior CB/SS Lake Bates (5-10, 170, 4.59 speed), CB Corbyn Cross and CB Raidon Smith (4.5 speed). There will be others who will compete to win spots in the secondary and defensive line.

The special teams unit will be strong as it returns kicker/punter Gavin Longoria (5-9, 170) and senior kicker/punter Caleb Sanders (6-2, 165) both can help this team with facets of the kicking game. The program returns a pretty good long snapper in Kermere Jones who is also a starting defensive tackle on the team.

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