District 8-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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Ascension Catholic Bulldogs

Head Coach:Taylor James(1st year)

2024 Record:10-2

2024 Playoffs:2nd Round beat Opelousas Catholic HS,3rd Round beat Riverside HS, Semifinals lost to Ouachita Christian HS 

2023 Record:10-3 Quarterfinals lost to Vermillion Catholic HS

Key players Graduated:2024 All State RB Chad ElzyJr(Kentucky State), OL/DL/LSP Austin Paine, DT/OL Aiden Paine, RB/Safety Gavin Gregoire, WR/Kicker Peyton Dunn, OL/DL John David Landry,2024 All State LB Mace Melancon(Nicholls State), QB Camille LeBoeuf, Safety Luke Husers,2024 Hon Mention All State DE/OLB/TE Jamiris Breaux, LB/OG John Cancienne, CB Harrison Ledet

Team Outlook: I was hired on March 20th as the head football coach. The Community has been great to me. What stood out to me so far is the kids' ability to adapt with having so much coaching turnover, they have accepted new coaches, and they are willing to buy in what we are trying to build here with new systems in place, and the kids have been great picking up everything in a short time said Head Coach Taylor James.”

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Tidbits: Head Coach Taylor James is a Louisiana native Alum of Winnfield High School class of 2012. Coach James spent most of his coaching career in the state of Texas, coaching at Mount Vernon High School in 2023,2024, Longview Pine Tree High School 2021,2022, Woodville High School, close to Beaumont, Texas, and in Louisiana, Vanderbilt Catholic High School in Houma in 2018 and 2019. Coach James played college football at Louisiana College, now Louisiana Christian, in Pineville, and was also a graduate assistant coach at Northwestern State. Coach James played on the last Winnfield High School football team to play in a State Title game in 2011 against John Curtis High School.

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Tidbits: The Bulldogs program in Class 1A has been on a roll, getting deep in the playoffs these last 3 years: 2022 Semifinals,2023 Quarterfinals, and in 2024 Semifinals. I think in 2025 they will have a shot to get back to at least the Quarterfinals and maybe beyond, if things can happen fast enough to develop some depth, and have a good season from the Quarterback position will have a new QB in 2025.

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The Offense currently has an open competition at QB between Greg Fernandez and Kamyn Schexnayder. Both Quarterbacks have good arms, and both are really good athletes. Fernandez might be more of a passer right now, and Schednayder more of a runner. I think both will help the team win in 2025. WR Cy Landry will also get a shot at QB 5-9 165 pounds, a 2nd year starter as a WR and some Safety.

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The Bulldogs have been blessed with some really talented skill players these last few years and they still have some pretty good Athlete’s that will start both sides of the football in 2025 starting with leader 2024 2nd Team All State RB/DE Josh Barber 6-0 245 a 4 year starter with 4.7 speed in the forty, RB/Safety Trevin Simon 5-11 185 bigger in 2025 stronger and faster a 3 year starter with 4.5 speed in the forty, CB/WR Jacob Julien 6-0 170 a 3 year starter, RB/LB/TE John Rob Daigle 5-11 185 a 2nd year starter, WR/Safety Brooks J. Landry 6-1 180, SS/WR Shane Aucoin 6-1 175, CB/WR Jayden Verner 5-7 145, RB/LB Raif Melancon 5-5 165, and WR/Safety Cy Landry.

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The Offensive, Defensive Line, and Linebackers will be lead by OL/TE/DE Chris Anthens 6-3 220 a 2nd year starter with the talent to have a huge year for the team with 4.8 speed in the forty, OL/DT Vaughn Blanchard 6-4 255 a 3 year starter leader, DT/OG Karston Broden 5-11 220 a 2nd year starter, TE/LB John Rob Daigle will call plays on Defense, TE/DE Jaydin Bartholomew 6-2 185, OL/DE Dayveon Geason 5-11 195, OT/DT Hayden Turner 6-4 270, and TE/LB Kole Folse 5-11 180 competing for reps.

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Special Teams Kickers will be Michael Blanchard and Johnny Viallon. Starting Punter will be Michael Blanchard. Both Blanchard and Viallon are two of the fastest players on the team, so you will also see them play some WR and other spots to help the team when not playing Kicker & Punter. In the return game, one of the best in Class 1A returns in Trevin Simon.

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Ascension Christian Lions

Head Coach:Conrad Gayle(1st year)

2024 Record:2-8

2024 Playoffs: No

2023 Record:3-7 

Key players graduated: LB/DE Carter Murphy, WR/DB Mason Leblanc, and WR/DB Austin Jones.

Team Outlook: Taking it day by day. Kids are learning the Air Raid Offense we are putting in. The roster and team will mostly be new players. We will have only 7 seniors,12 juniors, and right now we don't have one Soph. SO you will see some freshmen having to play for depth in 2025. Our focus is on building the program. When I was hired, we only had 7 players on the team, and now we have close to 30 players from grades 9 through 12th grade. We should dress about 35 players in the fall said Head Coach Conrad Gayle.”

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Tidbits: Head Coach Conrad Gayle from 2015 to 2016 was the Head Baseball coach for Ascension Christian High School. Also started out helping at Southeastern College as a grad assistant coach under then head coach Hal Mumme, and Dennis Roland. Also coached early in his career with Benny Saia, Head Coach at that time, with Dutchtown High School as a Running backs coach. Coach Gayle got out of coaching from 2018 to 2025 and worked for Louisiana Cat. Coach Gayle is an Alum of Catholic High School of Baton Rouge(Class 2001), where he played Baseball & Football. Ascension Catholic High School did well in 2025. Volleyball went to the 2nd Round of the playoffs, Boys Tennis was State Runner Up, Girls Softball made the semisfinals, Golf went to State, Basketball Boys made the Quarterfinals, and Baseball made the Quarterfinals.

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Players to keep a eye on in 2025 are LB Cade Buratt 5-11 180 2nd year starter, WR/RB Kanson Turner 5-10 185 also can play some Wildcat QB for the team a 3 year starter, OG/DT Dorian Davis 6-1 275 a 2nd year starter, TE/CB Luke Denton 5-9 175 a 2nd year starter, QB Leron McDowell 5-10 165 a new starter, WR/DB Taylor Painter 5-10 190 a 2nd year starter, RB Leroy McDowell 5-4 145 new starter, OG/DT Elijah Williams 5-11 270 new starter, OL/DL Baird Hurst 6-1 270 new starter WR Preston Leblanc 5-9 180 new starter, OC/OL/DL Matthew Naquin 6-2 200 2nd year starter, WR Kyler Faul 5-6 170 new starter, OL/DL Micah Bergeron 5-6 185 2nd year starter, OL/DL Henry Struek 6-2 195 new starter, and OL/DL Layne Bufalo 6-1 205 new starter.

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East Iberville Tigers

Head Coach:Peter Villa(2nd year) 

2024 Record:4-7 

2024 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Manghum HS.

2023 Record:3-8.1st Round lost to White Castle HS

Key players Graduated:2024 Hon Mention All State WR/FS Theopholius Dunn Jr(Centenary),2024 Hon Mention All State RB/DB Ashontis Brooks Jr(Louisiana Christian),2024 Hon Mention All State LB/FB Darian Ausbon(Southern U or Jackson State U).

Team Outlook: Feel more confident going into year two, seeing the players get in the weight room, and now they're committed to the offseason work. We will have a lot of key players starting both sides of the football in 2025, but we should be stronger and faster as a team this coming season said Head Coach Peter Villa.”

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Tidbits: East Iberville Girls Basketball Team won the school's 1st State Title in 2021. The Boys Basketball team made it to the Semifinals in 2025. Head Coach Peter Villa coached 15 years at Plaquemine High School.

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This program will build around 7 veteran players with 2 or more years of starting experience back in 2 year starter WR Cort Willis SR 5-10 170 a great Athlete 4.55 speed,2nd year starter QB Colten Melancon 6-2 185 SR,2nd year starter OL/DE Noah Hanks 6-3 245,2nd year starter TE/FB/LB Gabe Johnson 6-1 240 sleeper recruit, OL Johnathan Daniels 6-2 255 3rd year starter, 2 year starter WR/DB Adrick Wilson 5-9 175 SR with great hands, and 2 year starter OC/OG Cardez White 5-10 255.More players returning with experience, looking to also be leaders, are LB/RB Daquan Benjamin, 5-11 215, moved to RB from LB in 2024, OG/OC John Haydel, 5-9 25,0, SR leader, WR/DB Alton Rivers, and DE/DT Darren Jones, 6-1 230.

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North Iberville Bears

Head Coach:Josh Gast(4th year) 

2024 Record:9-3 

2024 Playoffs:2nd Round lost to General Trass HS 

2023 Record:9-1. Played a JV Schedule.

Key players Graduated:2024 Hon Mention All State RB/LB Mekell Toussaint Jr, WR/FS Corey Domino

Team Outlook:2024 was our 1st year to compete and be eligible for the playoffs. We got our 1st ever playoff win in the school’s history in 2024. We return most of our starters but did lose a key piece in LB/RB Markel Toussaint Jr, who ran for over 1,000 yards and was 2nd on the team on Defense  with 113 total tackles, said Head Coach Josh Gast.”

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Tidbits: The Bears program is one to watch for 2025 in Class 1A.The school is getting a new turf field, updates to the stadium, and a new Track. For such a new program, they will have a big roster of 54 players for fall or more, including 7th & 8th graders for the 2025. Not bad for a program that just finished its 1st season competing in a District. The staff is also very strong, with years of experience led by former Northeast HS long-time Head Coach David Masterson and former Istrouma HS Head Coach Jeremy Gladney.

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The Bears will return some special players led by RB/OLB Jeremy Favorite,5-9, 190, who had 1,245 yards rushing, with 16 touchdowns in 2024. Favorite was All District, and there’s a good chance to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2025. Also returning will be 2024 Hon Mention All State Bra’jon Melancon, CB/WR had 43 catches,703 yards, with 14 touchdowns in 2024. Melancon was 2nd team All District in 2024 and can run the forty in under 4.5. QB Justice Roy also returns for his 4th year after having a great 2024 season passing for 1,507 yards, 20 touchdown passes, and only 7 interceptions. Roy will also play some FS for the team on Defense. Another player returns on Offense at multiple positions, WR/RB/SS, Jaylen Mims, 5-10, 165, 200 yards receiving with 4 touchdowns in 2024.

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The Defense will return leading tackler Dekai Butler, a 3-year starter with 120 tackles in 2024 and a District in 2024. Butler will play Safety/OLB in the Defense and can run the forty in under 4.6 at 5-10, 175 pounds.

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More key players back will be DT/NG Kayden Williams 5-9 400, DE/DT James Matthews 6-4 230, LB Trevis Phillips 5-10 190, LB/FB Christopher Armster 5-10 200 the ancor of the Linebacking core, CB Braylon Christmas, OT/DT Jordell Baise 6-3 270 SR All District in 2024, DE Damion Horton 6-1 185, and young QB Javante Thomas will have a chance to get playing time at several spots and is the future QB for the program after having a great JV Season in 2024.

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Special Teams will be led by Punter/Kicker Brajon Melancon, who basically plays 5 positions for the team, and the Long Snapper should be OT/DT Jordell Baise, a sleeper recruit as an Offensive Lineman.

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White Castle Bulldogs

Head Coach:Guy Morgan(1st year) 

2024 Record:5-5

2024 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Franklin HS

2023 Record:8-3.2nd Round lost to Welsh HS 

Key players Graduated: WR/RB/DB Chadrack Allen, WR/DB Kylei Foster, DE/TE Christian Flowers, RB/LB Javaris Williams, Center Ashtin Jones.

Team Outlook: Changing the culture. Long history at White Castle High School when it comes to Sports Programs, and the history of the school is long with success. We tell the kids not to think about the end goal, but think about being the best student and Athlete you can be all the time in the classroom and on and off the field said Head Coach Guy Morgan.”

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Tidbits: Head Coach Guy Morgan was recently with Brusly High School as the Co-Defensive Coordinator, Cornerback, and Safeties coach since 2021. Coach Morgan, I remember promoting him as a player in high school at St. John of Plaquemine High School, where he is a Class of 2009 alum. Also coach started as a Cornerback in college at McNeese State University for the then and now head Coach Matt Viator. Spring coach said they had 48 players out, and for Fall coach expects around 40 to 45 players total. White Castle will have 13 seniors in 2025 playing football, which is a large senior class for this program. Coach also said the Freshmen & Sophomores are going to be really talented in the future.

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The Bulldogs return some really good leaders in 2025 to lead the team, starting with 3 year starting Quarterback Jovon Woods. Woods 5-11 170 can run or pass and knows the Offense inside and out. The team also return’s leader 3 year starter OT/DT Jayvion Briley 6-3 275 big time player high effort kid, MLB Kollin Foster a 4 year starter one of the best Linebackers in Louisiana in my opinion 6-1 225, and 3 year starter MLB/TE Lance Foster 5-9 175 pounds not a big kid, but plays like he’s 290 pounds with 4.5 speed in the forty. Foster is the Heart & Soul of the team coach told me.

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More key players to keep a eye on are RB/LB Donnie Green 6-2 220 coming back from a injury should be 100% for the Fall, OG/DT Jyren Favorite 6-0 260 a 2nd year starter, OG/DT Vernon Jones Jr 5-11 218 new starter, Center Brayden Dunn 5-11 218 new starter, RB Jamal Brown 5-7 155 a new starter, WR/DB Chalen Lott 5-10 160 new starter, WR/Safety Caydon Duncan 6-0 170 a 2nd year starter really had a great Spring, LB Michael Cook Jr 5-11 180 new starter, and RB/CB Dakyrian Edwards 5-10 160 new starter.

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Special Teams for Kicker and Punter, you have Lionel Ranges 5-10, 175, a new starter, and Donnie Green can also kick and Punt for the team.

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St. John Eagles

Head Coach:Bryan Troxclair(3rd year)

2024 Record:3-7

2024 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Hamilton Christian HS

2023 Record:5-6.1st Round lost to Hanson Memorial HS

Key Players Graduated:  RB/CB Caden Cannella, OT/DT Ben Gourgues, OG/DT Jaren Primeaux, OL/DL John Hanks,

Team Outlook: This year, we will have a big Junior Class of kids in the starting lineups in 2025. A lot is coming back as far as experience, both sides of the football. The goal is to win a playoff game in 2025. We also need to finish games in 2025. We will run a Wing-T Offense again said Head Coach Bryan Troxclair.”

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Tidbits: What's really incredible, 2 years ago the program started a Quarterback on varsity that only weighed at the time 98 pounds, and that kid's name is Tyler Edwards, now a up and coming senior starter at 5-10 155 pounds. Truly amazing and tough kid to start that young and get through a tough season of varsity. Head Coach Bryan Troxclair is a student alumnus of LSU(Class 2016). St. John High School played the same team twice in 2024, Hamilton Christian High School from Lake Charles. They played Hamilton week 4 during the regular season and then had to turn around and play them in the playoffs week 11. Coach Troxclair graduated from St. John High School(Class of 2007)

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There are several key 2-way starters back at the skill spots led by QB/DB Tyler Edwards, 5-10,, 155 will be in his 3rd year as a starter in 2025. Tyler has a good arm and has grown into a pretty good football player and leader for this program. More skill 2 way starters back on Offense are RB/Safety Ahmad Wilson 5-10 175 a 2nd year starter ran for over 800 yards and averaged over 8 yards per carry in 2024, FB/LB Nathan Burleigh 5-11 220 ran for 800 yards with 10 touchdowns in 2024 and on Defense had 3 sacks as a LB will be a 4th year starter, RB/CB Daniel Braud 5-8 150 a 2 year starter, WR/SS Levi Taylor 6-0 170 a 2nd year starter 4.6 speed in the forty, FB/TE/DE Maddox Quebededeaux 6-0 208 pounds great blocker on Offense and on Defense in 2024, FB/RB Royal Robinson 5-8 170 will also rotate in at RB. The Offensive Line almost every play will see some time or start also on Defensive Line lead by ancor OT James Clark 6-0 245 a 2nd year starter, OC/OL/DT Braylon Roussel 5-10 245 2nd year starter, OG/LB Cole Markins 5-8 170 2nd year starter, OL/DL Andrew Hanks 6-1 225 2nd year starter, OL/DL Dalton Hebert 5-10 240 2nd year starter, and OT/DT Ian Avant 6-0 255 a new starter.

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The rest of the Defense at Linebacker and Defensive Back are LB Brady Lagrange 5-10 198 2nd year starter, LB Logan Ockmand 5-8 175 2nd year starter, Safety/OLB leader Patrick Bueche 6-1 185 3 year starter had 70 tackles on Defense in 2024 big time player, CB Jordan Dorsey 5-8 165 a 3 year starter, and FS Landen Daigle 6-1 160 2nd year starter.

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Special Teams starting Kicker will be Christian Dean, a 2nd year starter. Long Snapper will be Landen Daigle, and Punter will be Nathan Burleigh. Special Teams, the program is one of the best in blocking Punts. Ahmad Wilson had 2 blocked Punts in 2024.

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