District 2-Class 3A

28th Year Louisiana Football Magazine High School Previews for 2025

by Lee Brecheen. 

(Previews were written solely by Lee Brecheen since 1997 for Louisiana Football Magazine.)

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Bolton Academy Bears

Head Coach:Lance LaGrange(1st year)

2024 Record:0-10

2024 Playoffs: No

2023 Record:0-10

Key players graduated: None

Team Outlook: We were a Junior High Team in 2024, playing a Class 3A schedule. We had only 21 players on the roster in 2024, with 5 players being 8th graders, and two 8th graders ended up starting. When the season ended, we lost 10 of the 21 players to other schools. We hope to be at 21 players or over for Fall. The goal is to get through the 2025 season and be better set up schedule-wise in 2026 with more of a Class 1A Schedule against teams with rosters like ours. 7 out of the 10 teams we played in 2024 went to the playoffs in Class 3A said Head Coach Lance LaGrange.”

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Tidbits: Head Coach Lance LaGrange graduated from Northside High School in Lafayette(Class 1998). Coach LaGrange went to college at UL in Lafayette. Coach was the Defensive Coordinator for Bolton Academy  High School in 2024. Coach LaGrange was a Freshman coach in 2023 at Pineville High School. Bolton Academy will not play for District honors for the 2nd year in a row in 2025. Bolton Academy will play for District honors in 2026. There are currently only 171 kids in the school, but that’s up from 126 students in 2024. Several coaches have other full-time jobs at Bolton Academy. Assistant Dre Simon has a catering job, Coach Wade Bailey is a Youth Paster, Coach Logan Nicholson is the Head Baseball coach, Offensive Coordinator Jimmy Washington coaches Flag football in the area, and Coach Colin McShehy is a security officer at the school. The staff only has 2 full-time coaches on campus, Coach LaGrange and Coach Logan Nicholson, a former Ruston High School QB back in the day.

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Key players who took part in Summer workouts to look for are QB/Safety Royce Roberts 5-9 161 2nd year starter, WR/DB Kenneth Bowie 6-1 145 2nd year starter, OL/DL Kristopher Lands 5-9 239 2nd year starter, RB/LB Tyler August 5-7 180 2nd year starter, RB/CB Desean Powell 5-9 137 new starter, OC/DT Jayden Washington 5-10 282 3 year starter, OL/DL Marlon Darby 6-0 287 2nd year starter, OLB Colin Erwin 6-2 183 2nd year starter, OLB Tyler Layssard 6-2 173 2nd year starter, Safety/RB Rayden Heaton 5-8 144 new starter, OL/DT Chase Calvin 5-7 295 new starter, and DE Arey Darby 6-0 213 2nd year starter.

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Special Teams for both Punter and Kicker is still wide open going into the Fall for starters.

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Buckeye Panthers

Head Coach:Aaron York(2nd year) 

2024 Record:6-5 

2024 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Booker.T.Washington(New Orleans)

2023 Record:5-5 

Key players Graduated: OC/DT Mason Deville, WR/Safety Haidyn Boone, RB/LB Jim Burlew. 

Team Outlook: We don't have the Class 3A numbers that a lot of schools have. We also did not have a Spring Game or Practice this year due to 20 players from the Football team also being on the Baseball team during Spring. Our strength starting will be our Defense, where we return a lot of starters said Head Coach Aaron York.”

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Tidbits: The program had the 1st winning season in 12 years for the Panthers in 2024, and for the 1st time in school history hosted a playoff game. The Panthers also only graduated 5 seniors from a year ago.

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The Offense also has the luxury of having two Quarterbacks with experience, starter Kadin Grimmet 2nd year starter, who threw for over 1,000 yards in 2024, and when Grimmet had to miss some games because of an injury, one of the best players on the team came in at QB in 2024, Kolt Vercher, and did a great job. Vercher is a 4-year starter, All District in 2024, and the best player on the team as a LB/RB/QB, 6-2, 190 pounds, with 4.69 speed in the forty and looks faster on the field. The Defense returns one of the best players from the Defense in 2024 LB/RB Ty Curtis, 5-11 190 SR 2-year starter, had 105 tackles last year.

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More players to keep a eye on in 2025 are WR Bryce Warthen 5-6 155 SR,2024 All District OT/DT Ryan Desselle 6-2 255 SR All District in 2024, CB/WR Brayden Paulk a 3 year starter 5-11 165, OLB Justin Hunt 6-0 160 2nd year starter, FS Jackson Tam 5-8 150 lettered in 2024, DB Jackson Spradling 5-8 160 2nd year starter, OL Blayden Roszell 5-11 230 2nd year starter, WR Brenton Fitz 6-0 170 2nd year starter, WR Cameron Burns 6-1 185 2nd year starter, WR Gage Warner 5-8 155 2nd year starter, DE/DT Mason Crooks 5-9 165 2nd year starter, LB Gage Belgard 5-10 165 2nd year starter, and RB Wade Jenkins 5-9 175 1st year starter lettered in 2024.

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Special Teams will be strong again with returning at both Punter & Kicker Preston Willis, All District in 2024.

Bunkie Panthers

Head Coach:Jimmie Hillman(2nd year) 

2024 Record:12-1

2024 Playoffs: Semis/Finals lost to Dunham HS 

Key players Graduated: WR/CB Kyle JohnsonCo-Defensive MVP of the District (Mississippi State), QB Dillon Compton, District Offensive MVP(Southern U), DE/TE Kenyon Randall(Co-Lin Mississippi JC), OG/DT JD Smith, OG/DT Bryce Francois, OL/DL Johnkiest Lavalais, OL/DL Julian Eves, CB/WR JJ Johnson. 

Team Outlook: Graduated 10 seniors from the 2024 season. All 10 seniors were starters. We do return a lot more on Defense than Offense. Our big motto word as a program since last year is (Prove It), meaning we are not a one-hit wonder as a program, we believe what the program was able to accomplish in 2024 was not a fluke, and we can compete year in and year out for Championships. We have young players who will need to step up, but feel confident we will be good in the long run, we will be fine said Head Coach Jimmie Hillman.”

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Tidbits: The Bunkie program did have an incredible year in 2024. I saw this program built brick by brick from afar, following, watching games, and talking to coaches every year. I am happy for the program and do think they are here to stay as a contender every year for Championships.

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The Offense will have a new QB, and it will be a QB battle probably through the Spring & Summer between QB Brady Wright, 5-10 190 SR, who is a star LB starter on Defense for the team, and newcomer Austin Fitzgerald, who had a great year starting for the team’s JV in 2024. You will see most of the skill starters start on both sides of the football. One of the best 2 ways starters in the state will be 3 year starter LB/RB Zion Lee 5-11 225 SR All State LB, All District in 2024 4.6 speed in the forty, great vision, all out player on Defense 93 tackles with 10 tackles for loss in 2024 and on Offense ran for 946 yards with 15 touchdowns. Lee is a team captain in 2025 for Bunkie HS. Also back will be 4 year starter WR/FS Cain Milligan SR 5-11 160 500 yards receiving with 8 touchdowns in 2024 big time leader,3 year starter WR AJ Perry SR 22 catches,440 yards with 4 touchdowns in 2024, RB/SS Jateren Gaines 5-6 170 SR 2 year starter leader, and WR Jeffrey Rushing a new player will get reps also. The Offensive Line returns leader Heart & Soul of the Offense the glue 2024 All District OL Dominic Palermo 5-10 215 SR 3rd year starter coach thinks the heart beat of the team also play some DL, OT Thomas Welch new starter, OC Graham Newton 5-9 260 new starter, and OT Ethan Smith 5-11 250 a 2 year starter.

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The Defense will be lead by a great Linebacking core of  2024 Hon Mention All State Zion Lee LB, but also by 2024 2nd Team All State/All District LB  SR Luke Normand 5-7 185, who had 127 tackles to lead the team in 2024, 300 in his career and 40 tackles from the All Time school career total for tackles, LB Brady Wright, leader DT Kent Franks All State/All District in 2024, big time leader SS/LB Lucas Mose SR CO Defensive MVP of the District in 2024, Hon All State in 2024 also will play some WR on Offense, and RB Gaines will play some LB. The rest of the Defense has some leaders and experience too, back in DB Ron Patterson, SR 5-7 1,50 All District/All State in 2024, DE Gabe Thomas 6-6 235, DE/TE Gabe Guillot 6-1 190, and CB/WR Kayden Dobbins, 2nd year starter.

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Special Teams will be strong with the return of Kicker/Punter Patrick Lemoine, 5-10, 180 was good in Extra Points and should have a great year in 2025. Lemoine will also play some OLB for the team.

Caldwell Parish Spartans

Head Coach:Cleo Head(3rd year) 

2024 Record:1-10 

2024 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Jena HS

2023 Record:6-6 Playoffs 2nd Round

Key players Graduated: LB Briar Thompson, LB Cooper Williams, WR Zae Brown, OG Bernard Morgan, FS AJ Maxwell, and OL/DL BJ Alston(Louisiana Christian) 

Team Outlook: What’s different than years is that kids are taking accountability now for the program. We have growth there in work ethic and leadership. Players are buying into the program better now said Head Coach Cleo Head.”

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The Offense for the Spartans will return their starting QB from the 2024 season in SR Joe Sutherlin, 6-0 189, a very Athletic player who can run 4.6 and throw it up. Skill players back to help on Offense are RB QJ Donald 5-8 155 SR, WR Kyran Williams 6-3 160 SR, TE/FB/RB Andrew McKee 6-2 225 4.6 speed, and RB/WR Case Abrams 5-9 180 returns again as a leader. The Offensive Line will be led by SR OG/OT Drake Duchesne 6-0 26R, SR Jacob Jameson 5-10 265, and new starter OG/OL Maddox Schulte 5-10 240.

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The Defense will return a pretty good front in DE Jaydon Bennett 5-11 240, DT/NG Dentarius Roquemore 5-8 280 SR, LB Kaden Hatten 5-8 180 hard worker, LB Andrew May 5-9 175, and some younger players battling for spots in the Summer.The Defensive Backfield you have CB/WR Jayden Heams, Safety Blea Fores 6-1 175, Free Safety Easton Phillips 5-10 170 4.6 speed, and Free Safety Ashton Gaston 5-10 170 4.6 speed.

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Special Teams again at Punter returning will be 2024 All District Joe Sutherlin, the team’s QB.

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Jena Giants

Head Coach:Jay Roark(14th year)

2024 Record:10-4

2024 Playoffs: Semifinals lost to Sterlington HS

2023 Record:12-1.1st Round beat Amite HS, and 2nd Round lost to Union Parish HS

Key players Graduated: LB/QB Jacob Belcher(College Baseball), RB Cameron Koch, WR/P Brayden Oakes, OT Zachary Scales, DT/FB Colton Sharp, LB Triston McClendon, CB Amari Jackson, WR/TE Blake Krahn

Team Outlook: We have young players whom we are confident in for the upcoming season on Defense. The Offense will carry us till the young players grow some with more experience as the season goes along. We expect to have a good year, get over some growing pains along the way early on said Head Coach Jay Roark.”

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Tidbits: Head Coach Jay Roark and his staff have done a great job the past two years. The program has a 22-5 record, which is good. These kids have a lot of experience going past the 1st Round two years in a row, and the coaches do a great job of what they have in numbers every year. The program lost all 4 Linebackers to graduation from the 2024 team.

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The Offense will have a chance to be one of the best if not the best in the District again in 2025 lead by a few players with experience QB Deuce Mcpherson 5-10 180 has a great arm returning starter, RB Daniel Hatcher 5-11 200 returning starter,2024 All District RB Sedrick Wilson 5-9 190 returning starter, WR Zadrian Cooper 6-4 190 2nd year starter, and new starter converted DE now TE All District in 2024 on the Offensive Line Cale Parker 6-0 215 pounds make up one heck of a unit. The Offensive Line you have returning starter Luke Smith 5-8 190 at Center, OL Keiland Dean 5-7 380 2nd year starter, OL Malik Wilson 5-9 226 2nd year starter, and OL Cruz Humphries 5-9 190 competing for a starting job on the OL.

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The Defense, like the coach said, will be much younger to start in 2025. The Defense will build around Safety Xavier Brown 5-5 150 2nd year starter, DT Bubba Stevens 5-9 280 big time player on the line, 2nd year starter, DE Trey Gaines 5-8 200 2nd year starter, CB Zac Brown 5-5 150 2nd year starter, LB Jesse Love 5-9 160 2nd year starter, and new starter DT Nolan Williams 6-0 215 pounds.

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Special Teams starting Kicker will be Xavier Brown. Punter will be wide open going into the Fall.

Marksville Tigers

Head Coach:Josh Harper(3rd year) 

2024 Record:5-6 

2024 Playoffs:1st round lost to Loreauville HS

2023 Record:5-6 1st Round

Key players graduated: Athlete Elidrick Murray, CB/RB Kyreon Prier, OLB/WR Kaiden Pierite, SS/WR Noah Bryant, WR Caden Evans, DT/OG Keyshawn Pierite, OL Christian Herrin, and TE/DE Caden Flores.

Team Outlook:  We were very young overall in 2024. We will be young again in 2025 with a lot of Juniors back that started for us. Players are starting to mature. I am excited that this Summer we will get bigger and stronger, and better. We don't have a lot of depth, but what we do have are good players, tough kids who work hard.. 2024, we started with 48 players and ended with 37 players, will be similar in 2025 said Head Coach Josh Harper.”

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The team and both Offense and Defense will rely heavily on one player starting both sides of the football to make things happen in the talented 2024 All District Athlete QB/FS/Kicker Devin Lavalais, back for his 3rd year to start. The Offensive Line will be young and talented but led up front by Center Ayden Turner, 5-10 275, HB/OL/OT Keyshawn Moore, 5-9 215, and OL Brayden Ramos, 6-0 260. The run game will rely on RB Jayden Holmes and RB Braylon Woods to carry most of the load in carries in 2025.  The passing game will be mainly WR/CB Jaden Price returning to be the big playmaker in 2025 for the team.

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The Defense returns leaders Jayce Warren 6-0 195 SR All District in 2024, DE/FB Travis Palmer 6-0 215 big time player lead team with 8 Sacks in just 5 games in 2024, Jaden Price will double as a CB, DT Kenny Hall 5-7 220 big time player huge heart in the middle of the Defense, LB Keron Alexander 5-8 165 returning starter and LB Dashawn Jones 5-8 165 big time ball hawk returns.

Vidalia Vikings

Head Coach:Josh West(4th year)

2024 Record:2-8

2023 Record 6-5

2024 Playoffs: No 

Key players Graduated: OC/DT Briasen McCrane, WR/CB Marc Perkins, RB/LB/WR Tyson Davis, WR/RB Kaden Trahan, and WR Jacob Lott. 

Team Outlook: Still adjusting to being at a smaller school where all kids play multiple sports. Culture is changing, and it’s a player-led culture. We will have close to 55 players on varsity in 2025. The young kids coming up have already become hard workers, and the future is bright for the Vikings said Head Coach Josh West.”

The Offensive Line has a chance to be the best in the District in 2025, with each player averaging from 240 pounds to 320. The line will be made up of OT KennedyHarris, OG Lucas Johense, OC Ace Brixley, OL Jarrett Wooten, and OL Darius Lyle. The program has some very good 2 way players in Elman Tony Lewis 6-0 180 SR with tons of experience at QB 2nd team All District in Football and All District in Basketball and Track will play some Safety in 2025, RB/WR Michael Randall 6-0 185 was 2nd team All District in 2024, HB/LB Davion Franklin 5-8 240 all Muscle, LB/RB Tyler Brixley 4.6 speed leader, CB Keilen Washington 5-10 165 4.5 speed, CB/WR Joseph Jordan big time quick in space, CB/WR Jayden Gaines 2nd in tackles in 2024 on Defense and will be a 3 year starter in 2025, QB Donald Franklin, QB/WR ShaunWashington, and SR TE/DE/LB/P Logan Cater 5-10 205 a team all out leader.

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