District 3-Class 4A

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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DeRidder Dragons

Head Coach:Brad Parmley(11th year)

2024 Record:5-6

2024 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Northwest HS

2023 Record:7-5.2nd Round playoffs

Key players graduated: Athlete Uriah Wade, Athlete Jatari Harris, TE/OL Jacob Hernandez, OL Marcus Puckett, RB Dylan Rhodes, DB Demarcus Watts, QB Tanner Davis, RB/DB Dylan Vines, FB/LB Xavier Watson, OL Nicholas Rochelle.

Team Outlook: Holes to fill on Offense. We will have a QB battle over Spring & Summer. We will also have a few new starters among the Offensive Line and Wide Receivers. I am excited we return 7 starters on Defense said Head Coach Brad Parmley.”

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The run game has a chance to be a strong spot again, returning a lot of experience in home run hitter RB Reed Williams, SR 6-0 188 4.4 speed, close to 2,000 yards of Offense combined 2024 & 2025. There’s also the great  Athlete returning for his 3rd year as a starter RB/WR/CB, Javaughn Fairley, 5-7 160 4.5 speed, and 2024 All District Punter/RB Connor Rushford, 5-9 170 SR, go-to guy on Offense. The QB battle will be between Connor Rushford and young QB Michael Parmley. The WR unit will be young but talented, led by Ayren Woods, WR Daniel Mazyck, WR Jayden Merriwether, and Athlete Fairley. The Offensive Line, though young, has a chance to be good in the end with players like leader SR Center John Lesaux 5-11 250, TE Deacon Shirley 6-0 255, OL Ayden Stracener 5-11 270, OL Thomas Poczontek, and OL Leonard Joubert 5-10 255 new starter but lettered in 2024.

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The Defense, like the coach said, returns 7 starters. The Defensive Line has a chance to be one of the best in the District and Class 4A. The Defensive Line you have 2024 All District DE/OLB Amari Willis 6-3 220 with 4.6 speed, DT Ja’ron Jackson 6-1 265 SR, DE Paxton Romine 6-1 230, and several talented young players. The rest of the Defense you have big time hitter Safety Grant Cooper 5-11 185 SR, FS/WR Daniel Mazyck 5-9 170, Safety Zaden Scott hitter 5-9 165, LB Arik Hall 5-10 190, Safety Ayren Woods lettered in 2024, and CB/FS Kamdyn Johnson 5-9 150 SR.

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Special Teams will have a new starter at Kicker in Luis Rodrigues, 5-8, 160, from the Soccer team, with a good leg. All District Punter Connor Rushford returns in 2025.

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Eunice Bobcats

Head Coach:Andre Vige(6th year) 

2024 Record:2-8 

2024 Playoffs: No 

2023 Record:7-4

Key players Graduated: FB/LB Bryan Allen, RB Thaddeus Godfrey, RB Trent Gallow, LB Zyron Fontenot, OG/DT Chris Malbrough, DB Xavier Hebert. 

Team Outlook: We will still be young. We do feel like we will be better. Only 10 seniors. Starting QB will return, and we are rearranging the Offensive Line. Last year, some Sophomores were thrown in the mix when they were not ready. Hopefully, that experience will pay dividends, and we can flip last year’s record. Expect the Cats to bounce back. The schedule will remain tough in 2025 said Head Coach Andre Vige.”

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Tidbits: Eunice Head football Coach Andre Vige is one of several coaches at the school who all played at Eunice High School. Vige was an All-District QB back in the day for Eunice High School and played college football for ULM of Monroe. More coaches that went to Eunice High School and played Football/Baseball are Trenon Trosclair, Trace Trosclair, Baseball Head Coach Stuart Turner was drafted by the Minnesota Twins MLB in the 3rd Round former QB for Eunice High School, and former Head Coach Paul Trosclair 25 years was the head football coach at Eunice High School still helps coach with the varsity football staff father of Trenon Trosclair former Eunice QB also on the staff and Trace Trosclair on staff.

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The Offense will return one of the best Quarterbacks in the district in 3-year starter  Montana Brown, 6-1, 195, who has a really good arm and is a great Athlete when needed to run the football. Two big time 2 way players will return and help both sides of the football in Brighton LaDay 6-0 170 WR/CB/FS missed last season and will give the team a big boost with 4.5 speed in the forty, and also back to start both sides of the football RB/Athlete Mailk Thomas 5-9 155. The Offense also has RB Aiden Lejeune 5-9 180 SR, FB/Safety Tyler Collins 5-9 150, WR Cain Watson, WR Demarkis Williams, RB/LB Jaquan Calloway 5-6 145, SR Cameron Carrier TE 6-3 210 one of the better TE’s in Louisiana in my opinion, and FB/LB Parker Pedigo 5-6 185 to form a really good group of skill players. The Offensive Line has a chance to be solid lead by OT/DT Caleb Haley 6-1 215, All District in 2024 Center/DT Tyler Coward 6-0 230, OG Austin Francois 5-10 190, OT/DE Liam Schouest 5-11 210, OG Nicholas Decquir, OG Hunter Abbott 5-6 170 and young OG Austin Sittig 6-0 235 will get some reps.

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The Defense will be led by Safety Tommy Black III, who will anchor the Defense. Tommy Black III, 5-8, 175, is a 2nd-year starter that Coach Vige thinks very highly of as a leader. More players to keep an eye on, Defense are LB Jacobie Fontenot 5-10 185, DE D’Andre Reed 6-6 215, DE Tacorious Cesar, DT/NG Andre Fontenot 5-8 180, LB Ryan Guillory 6-0 175, CB/RB  Devontre Williams 5-6 150, CB/WR Demarkis Williams 5-10 140, and OLB Marquis Hooker Jr 6-0 175. More players looking to make an impact on Defense are OLB Payton Brown 5-10 185, LB Jamarion Calloway, FS Derious Trimble 5-7 135, and DT/OL Gaige Guillory 6-1 250.

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Special Teams, the Kicking and Punting spots will be handled by Brody Castillo.

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Iowa Yellow Jackets

Head Coach:Tommy Johns(9th year)

2024 Record:12-2 

2024 Playoffs: Semifinals lost to Franklinton HS

2023 Record:9-4

Key players Graduated: WR/DB Cohen Charles 159 tackles in 2024 with 795 yards as a WR and 17 touchdowns and 4 interceptions (McNeese State), Athlete Jonathan Walker, CB Jamar Deville, QB Reed Dupre, OL Aiden Gubancsik, DE Andrew Duhon,2024 2nd team All State OL Jude Guillory, DT Ethan Desjardine, LB/LSP Hayden Lebleu, Center Drue Winfrey, DT Ryan Arsement, WR/HB/DE Jamarcus Jones, WR Graham Cooley, FB Kaden Styron, OL Danny Simpson, Kicker Lucas Dunn.

Team Outlook: We have some question marks that need to replace a lot of starters, but it’s something we are used to in the last 3 years. We have lost large senior classes, anywhere from 12 to 21 starters in each of the last 3 years to graduation. Our staff does a great job with the Freshman/JV team developing and getting kids ready to play when called upon every year said Head Coach Tommy Johns.”

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Tidbits: Head Coach Tommy Johns is the son of local Lake Charles High School Football coach  Hall of Fame retired coach Mike Johns, who is currently 82 years of agy. I met Coach Mike Johns when he was the Head Coach at LaGrange High School in Lake Charles in 1997, and he was one of my favorite coaches to work with for several years with Louisiana Football Magazine. Iowa High School only has between 600 and 630 students total in the high school, and it is amazing how good the program competes every year with some of the best programs in Louisiana. Coach Tommy Johns and his staff do a great job with the program year in and year out. Iowa graduated 21 seniors from the 2024 football team and returns 13 seniors in 2025.

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The program will suit up some great skill players again, like 2024 All State DB/WR Jeremiah Bushnell, 6-3 200 SR, one of the top players in the Lake Charles area, who will start on both sides of the football, All District, and All State in 2024. Then you have 2024 All District RB J’Vien Adams 5-9 170 returning for his 2nd year as a starter, H-B C.J Bellow 5-11 205 starter 3rd year, new QB starter Lawston Broussard 5-10 170, FS Christian Williams 5-10 170 2nd year starter, Safety Kaston Lewis 6-0 190 2nd year starter with 4.45 speed in the forty, FS Alex Bartie 5-11 165 new starter, TE/FB Brady Beaudeaux 6-0 190 new starter, WR Mayden Simon 5-11 170 new starter, and RB Mylan Simon 5-9 205 will get a bunch of carries rotating in for the run game.

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The lineman in the trenches will be tough, and return leaders, not big but they have kids that play big and play full throttle like Hon Mention All State, All District in 2024 OL Kohl Fulton 6-2 280 SR 3 year starter leader one of the biggest players on the team, DE/TE Landon Joseph 6-2 225 2nd year starter, DE Gavin Brown 6-2 225 2nd year starter, OL Wyatt Guidry 5-11 228 2nd year starter, DT/OL Kyan Rivera 5-11 230 2nd year starter, OL Izac Montou 5-10 205 2nd year starter, OL Haidin Hamilton 5-11 250 2nd year starter, DT Thomas Harris 5-10 205 new starter, OL Drake Swain 5-10 210 new starter, and two talented Linebackers Zachariah Guillory 5-9 180 new starter, and LB Bryceson Fontenot 5-11 195 2nd year starter.

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Special Teams, the Yellow Jackets in 2023 had an All District Kicker that graduated, and in 2024 another  All District Kicker who graduated, so the coach told me the Kicking job is open going into the Summer/Fall for 2025. The Punter will be Christian Will, Iams,5-10, 170, who has a good leg.

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LaGrange Gators

Head Coach:Idaibi Oganga(3rd year) 

2024 Record:5-6

2024 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Iowa HS 

2023 Record:1-9 

Key players Graduated: SS Taysean Harris, TE/WR Markus Spiller, OG Royale Stewart, DE/TE Brayden Williams(Southern U Baseball), TE/DE Marvin Chatman(Arkansas Baptist), WR/DB David Martin(Texas College), OL Roy Stewart, LB Stephan Coleman.

Team Outlook: This has a chance to be the best team I’ve had since being the Head Coach for Lagrange HS. I am excited for the upcoming season. Most of our Offense will be returning. We should be pretty good on both sides of the football. The Offense, I feel, will carry the team in 2025 said Head Coach Idaibi Oganga.”

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Tidbits: Head Coach Idaibi Oganga is an Alum of LaGrange High School Class(2005). Coach got his experience coaching a few years in Shreveport Southwood High School and Peabody High School in Alexandria.Coach Oganga was an Offensive Coordinator at Southwood High School and, for 5 years, a Defensive Coordinator at Peabody High School.LaGrange High School 1st year as a school was established in 1903 as a one-room schoolhouse on Ryan Street in Lake Charles.LaGrange has one football State Title in 1938. Great players to come out of the school are 1962 Grad OG John Demarie,1967 Grad Mike Demarie, 2-time All State 1983 Safety Jamie Bice,1985 Tight End Chuck Gorman,1990 2-time All State LB Robert Deshotel, and 1999 Grad Defensive Back Eric Franklin, to name a few of many.

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The Offense will have a lot of speed and experience back lead by All District in 2024 SR RB Dillian Green, who had a incredible season in 2024 ran for over 1,000 yards with 15 touchdowns, QB Patrick Bertrand 6-0 170 SR 4 year starter passed 1,500 yards, ran for over 600 yards, WR Kyren Richard a 3 year starter over 600 yards receiving with 5 touchdowns in 2024 explosive Athlete, a 3 year starter RB James Butler 5-8 180 RB/DB 4.5 speed in the forty, WR/TE Dylan Bertrand 5-11 165 a 3 year starter SR, and big time playmaker 2 way starter All District as a DB in 2024 WR/DB Landon Mitchell 5-11 160. The Offensive Line will also bring back experience and size lead by OL/DL Keilynn Tanner 6-3 305 3 year starter, OC/OT Armald Leday 6-0 275 a 3 year starter, OL Kyle Washington 5-10 230 2nd year starter, Dayven Lee 6-0 255, and OL Joshua Pave 5-10 255 a new starter.

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The Defense will have a good-sized Defensive Linebacker, along with speed in the back end. The Defensive Line you have DE/DT Dayven Lee 6-0 255 full throttle player, DT/NG Kaleb Douglas 5-10 265, Sr 2nd year starter, DT Courtlan Eaglin, DT Devante Bernard 6-2 280, and DE Treyveon Davis, a 2nd year starter 6-0 240, also very Athletic.The rest of the Defense look out for CB Kyron Griffin 5-10 165 SR 2nd year starter,2024 All District CB Landon Mitchell had a great 2024 season on Defense with 8 interceptions, LB Alex Bonilla 5-9 215 new starter,2 way starter Kyren Richard DB with 4.5 speed in the forty, LB Kamario Scott 5-11 180 2nd year starter best LB on the team big time hitter, and CB Bryce Riggs 5-8 155 with 4.5 speed in the forty.

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Special Teams starting both Punter and Kicker will be Landon Mitchell, who plays WR/DB and might even return punts in 2025.

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Leesville Wampus Cats

Head Coach:Robert Causey(10th year) 

2024 Record:10-3

2024 Playoffs: Semis/Finals lost to E.D White HS

2023 Record:8-3.1st Round lost St.Martinville HS 

Key players Graduated:2024 District Offensive MVP, All State RB Xavier Ford ran for 8,592 career yards with 120 career touchdowns (Minnesota),2024 District Defensive MVP FB/LB D’Andre Herron(Louisiana Christian), LB/DE Vernon Stewart, CB/Safety Taj Jackson, OLB/SS Jordan Patterson, LB Razion Taylor, LB/SS Deshun McNeely, WR/K Bryce Cunningham, DB Damire Davis, OL Andrew Lewis, OL Kenneth Ingram, DT Kamarion Harrison, OL Jaythan Hurd, OL Rene Diazbarraiga-Slover.

Team Outlook: We graduated a special, experienced 20-plus player senior class from the 2024 season. The next Wampus Cats need to step up. Young kids will have the opportunities now and see which ones will take advantage of these new open spots. We only return 2 starters on Defense. We will have our smallest senior class at the school since 2020 said Head Coach Robert Causey.”

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Tidbits: RB Xavier Ford added his name to one of the top schools in Louisiana over the years, I would call(Running Back U). I grew up watching or covering Eddie Fuller(LSU), Vincent Fuller(LSU), Cecil Collins(LSU/McNeese State), Michael Ford(LSU), and RB Erwin Brown(McNeese State), RB Oscar Joiner(LSU), RB Xavier Burrell(Louisville, D’Ante Gallashaw(Belhaven), Caleb Gallashaw(Belhaven), and RB Cory McCoy(McNeese State).

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The Offense will be built around returning starting QB Trel Broom, who threw for over 2,000 yards in 2024 in his 1st year to start. The run game will have to replace the 2024 MVP of the District All-State RB Xavier Ford, who ran for over 5,000 yards in the last two years combined and over 60 touchdowns. Three players coming back will compete for carries in RB/WR/DB Julius Brown 5-10 165, RB/DB Jovon Edwards 5-8 165, and RB Grant Baxton 5-8 170. The Offensive Line only returns one starter in leader Jarron Eakes, 5-10 205 SR, with new starters OL Charles McCoy, 5-8 260, OL Pressley Hall, 6-1 245, and Xaiden Horn, 5-250 0 stepping in to help the OL in 2025. The WR position has one of th,e best back i n 2024 All District WR Michael Dav, is 6-0 16 5 SR, a big playmaker, a back for the Offense,e, along with new starter WR Dylan Absher, 5-9  155, lettered in 2024, and RB Julius Brown can play some WR too.

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The 2s2-starRS back on, Defense are leaders LB Jacob Pajina,6-0 225, a big time hhitterrSR All District, CT in 2024, and LB Maysn,  Escoffery Williams, 5-10 198, both tough kids will probably combine for over 150 tackles in 2025. The rest of the D,efense has new starters and some of those kids who will probably start are FS/CB/SS, Jaylen Tucker 5-8 160 SR lettered in 2024, DB Jakori Celestine, DB Mar quale Williams 5-9 150 SR, DB Jorriyn Smith 5-8 150 SR, LB Miles Marlin 5-9 185, and LB Javion Dixon 5-9 170 SR.

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Special Teams will be wide open and ongoing through the Spring & Summer for the Kicking & Punting starting jobs after talking to coach Causey.

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Washington Marion Indians

Head Coach:Dio Bernard(2nd year)

2024 Record:1-9

2024 Playoffs: No 

2023 Record:1-9

Key players Graduated: Athlete Ashton Savoie(Centenary), CB/WR Tyler Mouton, CB/WR Joey Simmons, QB/Athlete John Chavis, LB Andrea Shillow, DT Prince White, inTexasT Jeff Thomas, DE Devante Galmore. 

Team Outlook: The Offensive room, I feel like we return most of our starters. Defense, we will have a new Defensive Coordinator coming over from a big-time program in Texas.s, C.E. King HS coach George Young, originally from Sulphur, Louisiana. We will run the same Defense because our Defense and C. E King HS Defense are the same formation, so kids will not have to learn anything new, which is good in 2025. I know it doesn’t show up in our record, but we had moments in 2024 where we played two semi-final teams close for the first half of those games with Leesville HS  and IOWA HS, so we are not far away, I  feel, getting over the hump. We will have 15 seniSemifinal, with 60 players for fall practice. Our Spring game was against my former High School, Donaldsonville, said Head Coach Dio Bernard.”

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Tidbit Head Coach Dio Bernard is a former All-District Athlete from Donaldsonville High School. Washington Marion High School has a great history and has produced some great players. Some of my favorite players to seeAll-District time talent wise was RB George Guidry signed with Nebraska 6-3 230 pounds ra an a 4.59 forty, Ohas L Nate Livings signed with LSU had a great career at 6-5 325 pounds played a few years with the Cincinnati Bengals, Athlete Dennis Nelson ran a legit 4.4 in the forty was a incredible player in the early 1990’s, WR Eddie Kennison 6-0 185 ran a 4.3 forty legit Football/Track at LSU was All SEC one of the fastest players i have even seen play football in Louisiana and played a few years in the NFL, OT Brandon Winey 6-7 310 also had a great career with LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge and finally WR Vincent Brisby 6-1 188 played for Northeast College in Monroe, and had a great NFL Career with mostly the New England Patriots for 7 years.

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The program returns a QB with 4 years of game experience and starting in 6-7 in height, Monte Farmer, who is also a really good Basketball Prospect and gets better every year in football. There will be several players with game experience back on Offense here’s some players to keep a eye on skill wise on Offense WR/RB 2nd Team All District WR/RB Craig Tillman SR 5-7 160 with 4.45 speed in the forty 9 touchdowns in 2024, RB/QB Damond Ballard 5-8 185 SR, WR Tyson Boullard 5-8 165 2nd year starter, new player RB/SS Darmari Miller 5-6 170, RB/FB/TE/SS Kendrick Ryan 6-2 205, new starter playmaker R’lon Porter 5-10 180, WR Haiden Stevens has experience and will rotate in as a WR 5-7 160 pounds along with RB Daniel Godfrey 5-10 175. The Offensive Line has a chance to be one of the best in the District lead by OG/DT Adonis Cannon 6-3 268, OC/OL Davian Flagg 6-3 250, OL/DT Quentin Miller 6-2 260, OL Brandon Williams 5-9 215 new starter, and OL/DL Josiah Arvie 6-3 285.

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The Defense returns leading tackler MLB JaJawaun Hicks 5-11 180 (70 tackles in 2024), OLB/DE Braylon Hardy SR 6-3 185, Hon Mention All State Defensive Back,2nd Team All District WR Dre Bernard 5-9 170 SR returns with (5 interceptions in 2024), CB Ladaruis Levier 5-8 160 2nd year starter, DT/OL Carson Guice 6-0 240, DT Josiah Arvie, DE/OLB Hearnst Arvie 6-2 190, Safety Briah Franklin 6-0 170, Safety Ethan Johnson 6-2 170 SR, Safety Ladarius Lee 6-2 170, SS Kendrick Ryan 2 way starter, and 2 way starter R’lon Porter.

Special Teams starting Punter will be QB Monte Farmer, and Kicker should be Damond Ballard.

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