District 4-Class 1A

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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Basile Bearcats

Head Coach:Dale Guillory(2nd year)

2024 Record:5-6 

2024 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Elton HS

2023 Record:5-6 1st Round lost to Welsh HS 

Key players graduated: RB/SS Bryan Hardy, SS Ross Bertrand, OT/DE Alijah Hardy, OL Pierre Berzas. 

Team Outlook: The pace has slowed down going into my 2nd year here at Basile HS, learning the players and their pace slowing down, and also learning our system.Had a good Spring and off-season. We have tape from the Spring game now to study something we did not have last year. We did lose some key players, but we hope to replace them with as good or better starters for the long run. This is what will make the program grow with no drop off said Head Coach Dale Guillory.”

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Tidbits: I think the Bearcats will do really well in 2025. I thought the hire of coach Guillory was a great hire. Coach spent 19 years as an assistant coach at Eunice High School and 8 years as the Defensive Coordinator there. 5 starters return on Offense, and Defense returns 6 starters . Basile Football will have 9 seniors on the roster in 2025.

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The new QB will be Ricky Moore, 5-7, 145 pounds, with a good arm, and the coach loves his ability to run away from the Defense with great feet and dynamic ability. Moore got experience in 2024, starting the last game of the season 2024, and did a good job. The leading tackler returns from the 2024 season on Defense LB Tanner David, 5-10, 165 pounds.

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More key players to keep a eye on are WR/DB Austin Ashford 6-1 160 3rd year starter, OL/DL Romyn Cortez 6-3 270 SR leader 2nd year starter, FB/DB Pierson Comeaux 5-7 150 2nd year starter, RB/WR Kye Smith 5-7 145 2nd year starter, OG/OC Cayden Lubin 5-10 220 2nd year starter, OL/DL Zack Mason 6-3 235 2nd year starter, WR/DB Sayg Smith 5-9 140 2nd year starter, LB Carter Darbonne 5-10 175 2nd year starter, and CB/WR Marcus Evans will get reps 5-7 135 pounds.

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Special Teams starting Punter will be Kye Smith, and the Punter job is open going into the Summer/Fall.

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Elton Indians

Head Coach:Marcus Lejeune(5th year)

2024 Record:8-4

2024 Playoffs:1st Round beat Basile HS,2nd Round lost to Logansports HS

2023 Record:6-3.1st Round lost in Playoffs

Key players graduated: RB Tristan Leblanc(Oklahoma Christian College) ran for 1,784 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2024, OL/DL Maverick Manuel.

Team Outlook: Continue to get better and build off last year. We have most of our starters back from a year ago, 8 back on Offense and 9 back on Defense. We are doing what’s best for the team and again to make ourselves better, said Head Coach Marcus Lejeune.”

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Tidbits: In 2024, Elton High School did something they haven’t achieved in years: beat Basile High School, and in 2024, they played Basile HS twice and beat them for the first time in 13 years. These two teams are about 5 miles apart and play for the Battle of the Bayou Trophy every year. The Indians will have a roster close to 40 players in 2025, which is the largest roster since coach Lejeune has been the Head Coach.

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In the 2025 season, Elton High School will have one of the sleeper offenses in all of Class 1A in the state of Louisiana. They return All District RB 4 year starter Ma’kelin Lemoine 5-11 200 pounds ran for 1,480 yards with 24 touchdowns in 2024, QB/OLB Davin Simon 5-11 190 4 year starter All District as a LB in 2024 starting QB and sometimes Safety, WR/RB/DB Derek Ross 6-0 170 5th year starter, TE/DE Jaylin Thomas 6-2 220 3 year starter, LB/OG Jeramiah Fontenot 5-10 175 3 year starter, and 5th year starter Keilan Crosby 6-0 225 a FB/DE for the team another big time leader back.

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Also back look for these kids to have great year’s Center Aaron Gobert 6-1 325 2nd year starter, DT Quentin Martin 6-1 305 2nd year starter, OG Ivan Gutierez 5-10 190 2nd year starter, DE Chris Ardoin 6-1 175 2nd year starter, CB Quincey Lavan 5-10 155 2nd year starter, CB/WR Derek George 5-10 155 2nd year starter, DE Dmarian Poullard 6-0 180 2nd year starter, OT Jhonny Sanchez 6-3 300 new starter, RB Calvin Thomas Jr 5-11 165 new starter, LB Fox Crosby 5-8 205 new starter, and WR Jojo Vicaro 5-10 150 will rotate in as a WR on Offense.

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Special Teams Kicker will be 2nd year starter Dreylan Delaphous, 5-8 170, and Punter will be new starter Drevin Hanley, 6-1 165.

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Grand Lake Hornets

Head Coach:Jeff Wainwright(7th year)

2024 Record:7-4

2024 Playoffs:1st Round won Jonesboro Hodge HS, and 2nd Round lost to Jeanerette HS

2023 Record:1st Round lost to Franklin HS

Key players Graduated: LB Wyatt Wilkerson(Defensive MVP of the District), OG/DT Zayne Armentor, QB/FS Brycen Guillory, TE/DE Ezra Fontenot, SS/OLB Tony Ledoux, TE/LB Louis Hernandez, WR Logan Lebleu, DE/OG Tate Verzwyvelt, DT Tyson Smith, OG/DT Tony Babineaux.

Team Outlook: The Team we have coming up is rebuilding. We will be in a transition year. We lost a lot of experience from several players that played 4 years of varsity said Head Coach Jeff Wainwright.”

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Tidbits: Coach Wainwright made a great hire in the off-season to the staff, bringing in former Sulphur High School Defensive Coordinator Matt Dufresne, who the coach feels brings a lot of experience and football knowledge to the staff at Grand Lake High School. Coach Dufresne will also be the school’s Athletic Director.

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The young Hornets will be led as a team by returning RB/LB/DE Charles McFarlan,d 5-8 180 SR, a 4-year starter in 2025. McFarland ran for over 1,600 yards in 2024, an incredible season, has 4.5 legit speed in the forty, and the coach thinks he is capable of rushing for more than 2,000 yards in 2025. Also returning to lead this young team will be OLB/WR/QB Kelan Vazquez, a 3-year starter, 5-8, 175 SR, also might end up the team’s starting Quarterback in the end for Fall. More players in contention for the QB job are Ryder Shields, 5-8, 160 can also play RB, and QB Bransyn Mudd, 6-1, 150 can also play multiple spots for the team.

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More players to keep a eye on in 2025 are RB/FB/MLB Jax Tingler 5-8 165 a 2nd year starter leader, OT Marques Brothers 6-1 265 SR a 3 year starter, RB/HB Lawrence Faulk 5-9 190, DE/DT Jayden Robicheaux 5-10 190, OT Grayson Verzwyvelt 6-2 295, OG Andon Baccigalopi 5-9 195 had a great Spring, OG Dax Guillotte 5-8 215, FS/WR Zachary Manuel 5-7 150, RB/DE/LB Gavin George 5-8 160, MLB/DE Tucker Tregle 6-0 190 a new starter, and Safety Luke St Romain and others will battle for reps on both Offense and Defense in 2025.

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Special Teams Kicker will be Luke Wainwright, 5-11, 170. Luke made a game-winning Field Goal in 2024 against Jonesboro Hodge High School in the playoffs. Long Snapper will be Grayson Verzwyvelt. Punter is still open going into the Summer and Fall. Return game, you have Zachary Manuel returning kickoffs.

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Hamilton Christian Warriors

Head Coach:Dexter Washington(4th year)

2024 Record:9-2

2024 Playoffs:1st Round beat St. John HS & 2nd Round lost to Riverside HS

2023 Record:4-7.1st Round lost to Covenant Christian HS

Key players Graduated: OL/DL Derwin Rankins, LB/RB Kevin Lewis, CB/WR Nate Carter, WR/DB Seth Ned, OT/DT Germilyn McGruder 

Team Outlook: Heart and Soul of the team is back in 2025. We return most of our backfield, secondary, Linebackers, and 3-4 key linemen for this coming year. We also have some really good 8th graders going to be 9th graders that will help us for depth in 2025 said Head Coach Dexter Washington.”

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Head Coach Dexter Washington was also the head Basketball coach for Hamilton Christian High School and won the Class 1A State Championship in 2025.

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Tidbits: The Warriors will be my sleeper pick to make the State Title game for the 1st time in football in 2025. They have all the ingredients to get there, experience, athlete’s and a great player in 5th year starter SR Javon Vital 5-10 185 who could end up the MVP of Class 1A in 2025 overall in football. The program will only have about 30 to 35 players on the team in the fall finished with 25 players in 2024. The school only has 70 total kids from grades 9th the 12th grade currently. Hamilton Christian High School won its 1st State Title in Boys Basketball in 2025, coached by Dexter Washington.MVP of the State Title game was football player Javon Vital with 20 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and 3 steals.

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Vital will be returning as the Quarterback for the 4th straight year as a starter, leader, All District, All State, MVP of the State Championship game in Basketball,  coming off an incredible junior year football 2024 with 3,700 total yards Offense with 47 touchdowns total,2 punt returns for touchdowns, and 2 kickoff returns for touchdowns . The program does have an incoming Freshman Quarterback, Raymarlin Alexander, who has the arm and ability to become the starter for the team in 2025 at QB if he can master the offensive playbook in time. If Alexander can take the QB job, then Vital can move to his more natural position, RB/WR, and become even more of a factor for the team as a playmaker.

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The Warriors also return some big time leaders in SS/FS Caleb Stewart 5-10 180, a 2nd year starter 2nd team All District in 2024 with 60 tackles, WR/OLB Kaleb Bigwood 6-2 175 a 3 year starter, WR/CB Noah Menard 5-10 170 SR a 3 year starter All District 2nd team Kicker, and All District Punter in 2024, OC/DE Grant Menard a 3 year starter 5-10 180 lead team in tackles in 2024 with 85, and All State honorable mention WR Chris Rideaux 6-0 170 had 10 touchdowns in 2024 will be a 2nd year starter. 

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More key players to keep a eye on are RB Darius Son 5-8 165 new starter, OL/DE Andrew Ward 6-3 215 new starter, DE/TE Paul Pitre 6-2 200 new starter, SS/WR Jayden Jasmin 5-11 165 2nd year starter great Athlete, CB/WR Justin Weston 5-10 155 2nd Team All District in 2024 lock down CB did not give up a touchdown pass in 2024, CB/WR Jake Menard 5-10 165, OL/DL Skylar Drain 5-10 220 new starter, CB/WR Kelby McMahon 5-10 160, RB/LB Julien Rideaux 5-7 180 brings power new starter, OC/OL/DL Dylan Netty 5-8 170 new starter, and WR Javante Vital 5-8 150 will compete for a starting job as a Freshman.

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Special Teams Kicker and Punter will be Noah Menard returning as the starter, and we mentioned above, who made All District in 2024 for both spots. The return game has one of the best in the state returning in Javon Vital had 4 touchdowns combined from Punt Returns or Kick Returns in 2024.

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Merryville Panthers

Head Coach:Bryan Barbay(1st year) 

2024 Record:3-7

2024 Playoffs: No 

2023 Record:3-7

Key players Graduated: RB/DE Hunter Higginbotham, RB/DT Jerimaya Robinson, TE/MLB Landon Ardoin, WR/RB/LB Lucas Tucker. 

Team Outlook: Graduated a really good senior class. We will be in a rebuilding year. We need to find a way to build some depth. All of our kids will be asked to start both sides of the football in 2025. We don't have the depth of some of the teams we play, but our kids do compete week in and week out said Head Coach Bryan Barbay.”

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Tidbits: Head Coach Bryan Barbay was the Offensive Coordinator from 2021 to 2024 at Merryville High School. So even though he is the new Head Coach, this will be his 5th overall year on the staff in 2025. Coach is from Newton, Texas. Coach Barbay coached 30 years in the State of Texas High School football prior to coming to Louisiana. His dad was inducted into the Texas Hall of Fame in 2025.. Curtis Barbay, who won 317 games as a Head Coach in the state of Texas, spent 42 years at Newton High School in Texas. Merryville will only have 5 seniors on the football team in 2025. Coach Barbay also coaches Baseball at Merryville High School.

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The team, like the coach, sa, id will have everyone starting both sides of the football. Here are some players to look for in 2025 as starters or rotating in WR/CB Blaze Brister 5-10 165 3 year starter, QB Joshua Robinson 6-1 180 2nd year starter does a great job, OT/DE Curd Walker 6-1 225 3 year starter leader, RB/OLB Carsten Lukens 6-0 185 2nd year starter, RB/LB/DT Cole Mirante 5-7 190 2nd year starter super strong kid, OC/DT Storm Flores 5-11 298 2nd year starter, OT/DT Zachary Byrd 6-2 215 2nd year starter, OL/DL Hunter Brister 5-11 190 2nd year starter, OL/DL Bobby Daniel 6-0 195 2nd year starter, WR/DB Austin Anderson 5-6 128 new starter, Athlete/QB Brooks Lukens 6-1 175, OL Billy Smith 5-10 205 2nd year starter, TE/CB Kanyon Treme 6-1 178 2nd year starter, WR/DB Caiden Watson 5-8 150 2nd year starter, RB/DB Lezayier Morgan 5-9 140 rotating in at RB, and RB/DB Bryson Dockens 5-9 155 also rotating in for carries reps at RB.

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Oberlin Tigers

Head Coach:Curt Ware(3rd year)

2024 Record:3-6

2024 Playoffs:1st Round lost to North Iberville HS

2023 Record:83.1st Round lost to Centerville HS 

Key players Graduated: QB Seth Lyons, DE/TE Kadyn Dart, OG/LB/LB Garrett Marchantel, RB/Safety Caden Manuel.

Team Outlook: If we can stay healthy, we can have a really good season. We have good players, but we just don't have much depth behind all the starters. Our kids compete every week, even though we have the same 11 to 13 players starting both sides of the ball every game said Head Coach Curt Ware.”

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Tidbits: Head Coach Curt Ware made a huge hire in the off-season, bringing in for the 2025 season new Offensive Coordinator Danny Carroll. Coach Carroll worked with Coach Ware at New Iberia High School for a few years and did a great job there. Oberlin High School currently has under 100 kids in the school for the 2025 season. The football team will look to dress anywhere from 21 to 25 players in the Fall.

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Oberlin High School will have a new QB in Jayden Bokemeyer, 5-8, 145, who made Hon Mention All State as a Wide Receiver in 2024. Bokemeyer had a great Spring, and the coach thinks he will have a great year at QB in 2025, leading this team.

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More players to keep a eye on in 2025 are TE/LB Mason Hazelton 5-10 180 a 2nd year starter leader, RB/DE Dylan Toups new starter 6-2 185, LB/OG Gavin Oliver 5-8 185 new starter, RB/SS Paityn Declouette 5-9 160 a 2nd year starter, CB/WR Dvante Simmons 5-8 150 a 2nd year starter, and OT/DT Cruz Chandler 6-0 190 a 2nd year starter and really good young lineman for the programAlso, the coaches are hoping Tre Rider, 5-9, 160 pounds, RB/FS, who led the team in tackles and rushing in 2024, will be back on the team come Fall practice. If Tre comes back, that will give this team the boost it needs going into the 2025 season.

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