District 5-Class 2A

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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Avoyelles Mustangs

Head Coach:Corey Bannister(3rd year)

2024 Record:5-6 

2024 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Mansfield HS 

2023 Record:4-8.1st Round lost to Pine HS 

Key players Graduated:2024 Hon Mention All State RB/LB Preston Barnes

Team Outlook: The 2025 theme for the program will be (Don't get by, get better). We have only 7 seniors in 2025, but we do have leaders back in the senior group. Very few seniors in 2024 finished last year for a full season, so most of our players coming back played a lot in 2024 said Head Coach Corey Bannister.”

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Tidbits: The Mustangs finished with 37 players during Spring, but the coach expects about 40 players for Fall practice. The High School is a 7th-grade to 12th-grade school.

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The Offense and Defense return three big-time leaders to build this program around in OL/DL Kobe Smith, 6-2 240 2024 Hon Mention All State DT/All District in 2024 and 2023. Smith had a great season in 2024 with 52 total tackles with 8 sacks, and 18 tackles for losses. The second leader back will be 3rd year starter RB/CB Kevin Jones 5-9 170, and you also have a third leader back in 3 year starter DE/OG/OL Josh Cazugay 6-0 226.

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More key players back most of these players are really young with one year starting or less will be QB Kaise Gauthier 5-11 170 2nd year starter, WR/RB/FS Kelvin Jones 5-9 150 2nd year starter, WR/OLB Wyatt Bordelon 5-10 141 2nd year starter, RB/MLB Xavier Scott 5-5 162 2nd year starter, CB/WR Daron Jenkins 5-9 155 2nd year starter 4.55 speed in the forty, OLB/DB/WR Terrance Valant 5-10 152 new starter, FB/LB Brayden Murray 5-8 175 rotate in, DT/OL Trevonne Prier 6-0 259 new starter, OT/DT Connor Firmin 6-2 246 2nd year starter, OLB/WR Kurston Ramos 5-11 152 new starter, WR/CB Jayden Williams 5-6 140 2nd year starter, WR/CB/Safety Xavier Stafford new impact player, LB/RB Xavion Keller 5-10 164, OC/OG Conner Adams 5-10 267, competing to start and  Tarrant Valant 5-10 145 will get a lot of reps as a FS/OLB for the team.

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Special Teams Kicker & Punter will be a new starter, Devin Thomas, who will also play some WR/CB for the team. Long Snapper will be two players: Luke Nicholson, 5-9, 220, also an Offensive Lineman for the team, and Trevonne Prier.

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Holy Savior Menard Eagles

Head Coach:David Perkins(3rd year) 

2024 Record:4-7 

2024 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Pope John Paul HS 

2023 Record:2nd Round lost to Calvary Baptist HS. Won District.

Key players graduated: OL/DL Jake Roy, WR/SS Jordan Reich, CB/WR Carson Harrison, DB Hunter Branch, DT Asher Davis, and  OL/DL Benjamin Good.

Team Outlook: We only had 6 seniors graduate from the 2024 team. We will have 14 seniors in 2025, which is a big class for our program. Most of the seniors coming up have experience, too. We will also have a nice-sized Freshman class coming in with really good skill players and linemen, which bodes well for the future of the program. We look forward to throwing the ball more on Offense in 2025. Defense, we have a strong Linebacker core of players with a lot of experience said Head Coach David Perkins.”

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Tidbits: Holy Savior Menard High School won two State Titles in 2025 Softball and Boys Tennis.  In 2024, Menard won the Track & Field Indoor and Outdoor State Titles. Menard has 4 State Titles in Girls Softball. Best player to come from the football program I covered and saw play is Offensive Lineman John Leglue(NFL), and he college started at Tulane Green Wave.

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The Offense returns QB Jake Vaughan, 6-2 200, who is a dual-threat player, had a good year in 2024, and much improved as a SR in 2025. More key players return OG/OC Lane Evans 6-1 225 2nd year starter, WR Zachary Dauzat 5-10 165 2nd year starter with 4.6 speed in the forty, starting RB Aidyn Moran returns recovered from a injury in 2024 5-10 180 SR, WR Mason Jarred 6-2 170 will rotate in, WR Cutter Knowles a returning starter 5-8 150 SR, WR Matthew Hicks 6-2 175 SR a big play threat at any time for the Offense, and a few players will rotate in as a RB Brooks Juneau 5-9 160, RB/MLB Aaron Brevelle 5-9 215, RB/OLB Jack Simpson 5-9 175 SR All District LB/RB Sam Brocato 5-9 180, and RB/CB Austin Parra 5-9 170 will start on Defense but still might get some carries. More Offensive Lineman to keep eye on on Offense are OT Hollis Chatman 6-3 290 SR a 3 year starter, OG Cade Tassin 6-1 215 SR, All District in 2024, OG/DE Carson Naalbanian 5-10 210, All District in 2024, and OT Kaden Lacombe 5-11 200 will compete for reps.

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The Defense will be led by the Linebacker group, OLB Jacob Jeanise, 5-9 190, All District in 2024, LB Sam Brocato, OLB Austin Tarra, and LB Branson Buller, 5-8 165, a 2nd year starter. More key players to keep a eye on are All District in 2024 Safety Wyatt Heyward 5-9 165 big time hitter, DE Aaron Brevelle, All District in 2024 OLB Jack Simpson, DE Sawyer Brown 5-8 185, DT Beckett DuPlechin 5-11 200, and 2 way starter CB/WR Matthew Hicks 6-2 175 will help the team on both sides of the football.

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Special Teams Kicker will be new starter Nate Matthews, a really good Soccer player turned football player in the fall, a SR 6-1 175. Punter should be Matthew Hicks, who has a really good leg.

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Kinder Yellow Jackets

Head Coach:Justin Reed(3rd year) 

2024 Record:9-3

2024 Playoffs:2nd Round beat Westlake HS, and 3rd Round lost to Union Parish HS

2023 Record:5-5.1st Round lost to Avoyelles HS. 

Key players Graduated: RB/FB Logan Leboeuf, WR/FS Noah Romero, WR/DB Landen Rice, OL/DL Guy Hayes, OG/DT Hunter Sonnier, TE/DE Hudson Guidry, Athlete/SS Braysen Bowning. 

Team Outlook: We have some players returning in some key spots. We also did lose key seniors from the Class of 2025, but we have young guys that are becoming leaders in key roles for the fall said Head Coach Justin Reed.”

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The team will only get as far as QB Isaiah Thomas can take them. Thomas returns after passing for 1,800 yards with 19 Touchdowns,  and running for 640 yards with 7 Touchdowns on the ground in 2024. Thomas was the MVP of the District in 2024. You will see a few key skill players starting both sides of the football lead by RB/SS John Roberts 5-10 172 2nd year starter, WR/CB Peyton Semien 5-10 165 2nd year starter, WR/FS Jon Luke Bendily 6-2 196 2nd year starter with legit 4.6 speed in the forty, WR/CB Brandon Perkins Jr 5-10 165(870 yards receiving with 5 Touchdowns in 2024), 3rd year starter playmaker, RB/LB Bryson Eaglin 5-11 180 All District as a Linebacker in 2024 with over 100 tackles, RB/DB Jordan Prudhomme 5-9 165 playmaker, HB/TE/LB Riley Edwards 5-11 190, HB/LB Paxton Pierrotti 5-11 195, and RB/DE/DT Eli Self 6-0 215 SR tough kid returns as a 3 year starter. 

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The Defense will be lead by CB Mason LaFargue, 5-9 160 SR returning starter, DT/OL Hayes John, 6-1 265, DL/OC Monroe Guidry, 6-2 195 SR 2nd year starter, and several players like WR/FS Jon Luke Bendily will start both sides of the football for the team.

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Special Teams will have Kicker & Punter Cooper Lemons 5-8 165 as a SR starting.

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Oakdale Warriors

Head Coach:Kevin Bertrand(2nd year) 

2024 Record:3-8 

2024 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Union Parish HS

2023 Record:8-4.1st Round beat East Beauregard HS & 2nd Round lost to Homer HS 

Key players Graduated: Athlete Tim Horne, Athlete Keane Micelle, P/K/WR Noah Hyatt 

Team Outlook: Productive off-season as a team. We are moving guys position-wise and getting the small things ready for Summer/Fall. We only graduated 3 seniors from the football team. Team is looking forward to a better year in 2025 said Head Coach Kevin Bertrand.”

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Tidbits: One of the most impressive programs in North Louisiana and one of the best at playing mostly the same 11 to 12 players both sides of the football the last few season’s and have the ability to close games out over the years. The program, after talking to coach Bertrand, should have over 40 players in the program come Fall practice, which is very encouraging for the future.

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The Offense will return QB C.J Waller for his 2nd year as the starter has the arm and strength to be even better in 2025. Waller is 5-10, 190 pounds, not a big guy, but again a strong and tough Athlete. There will be several key players back in WR/RB/LB/Safety Brandon Baker Guidry 5-8 188 big time player, LB/RB Jacarvi Alsburry 5-10 190 has some power and quick, WR/SS Anjel Moreaux 6-4 175 SR 3 year starter really athletic, RB/WR/CB/Safety Deverrick Winfield a 3 year starter, All District in 2024 OL/DL Tylon Jackson 5-10 250 big time player all out for team SR, OL/TE Cortland Hobson 6-0 205 2nd year starter, All State LB in 2024 Jacob Sumbler 5-9 170 plays like hes (6-2 220) had over 100 tackles in 2024 and lead the Defense in tackles, WR/Safety Maddox Thompson 5-8 170, DT/TE/LB Gavin Valle 5-11 200 2nd year starter, and OC/OT Jayce Thomas 5-11 270 2nd year starter.

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Special Teams returning for his 2nd year as the starter for both Punter & Kicker will be Peyton Crawford, 5-8, 170.

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Port Barre Red Devils

Head Coach:Brent Angelle(3rd year) 

2024 Record:1-9

2024 Playoffs: No

2025 Playoffs:5-5.1st Round

Key players Graduated: WR/DB Adam Barron, MLB/DE Julian Armand, DE/OLB/TE Colin Deshotels, CB Keidrin Stelly, LB Billy Reed. 

Team Outlook: We are on track to try and get healthy again. We had a lot of injuries in 2024 to many starters, and most of those players should be back in time 100 % for Summer workouts. We do have a good core group coming back. The group brings leadership and many qualities to our program. At one time in 2024, we had so many injuries that we were down to our 3rd team QB. We should dress around 32 players in the fall. So we hope to stay healthy in 2025 said Head Coach Brent Angelle.”

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The Offense will have 2 options at QB in 2025. Returning starter Tylus Metrejea, a SR 6-2 170 going into his 4th year to start, can be the QB and could be the WR & DB for the team at any given time. The program has a really talented young QB coming up in Seth Smith, 5-1,1, 160 lettered in 2024, and the ideal situation is if he can win the QB job, the team can get Metrejean back out at WR to make big plays for the Offense, his more natural spot as a playmaker. Smith has the ability to become that guy at QB and take over. The team will also count on big years from 2nd Team All District TE Bailey Rideaux 6-3 225 a 2nd year starter leader, OT/DT Karson Dupre 6-4 260 a 3 year starter leader, All District LB Juwan Horns 6-0 185 SR leader of the Defense, and 2nd year starter OC/DL Luke Grimmett 6-2 240 who played every game on the Offensive Line in 2024 and played thru a injury tough kid. Here are more players who will need to have a big year for the Red Devils program RB Chase Dedon 5-8 180 SR 2nd year starter, LB/RB/DE Malcolm Mallet 5-8 155 2nd year starter, OL/LB Brett Menard 5-8 180 2nd year starter, OLB/DE Alec Lachney 5-10 160 2nd year starter, OC/DT Luke Staggs 5-8 245 new starter, FS/WR Owen Willis 5-9 140 new starter coach said probably lead the state in JV tackles in 2024, and there’s CB/WR Brendan Purdue 5-7 135 lettered in 2024 but a new starter.

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Special Teams will be Tylus Metrejean, who does everything for the program as a QB/WR/DB, but also the team’s Punter/Kicker and sometimes Punt Returner.

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