Louisiana Football Magazine 2026 Class 1A Football Preview (Written by Lee Brecheen)

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District 1

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Arcadia Hornets

| Darien Baxter

| Photo by: _.flicksbydae

Head Coach:Taylor Perron

2025 Record:3-7

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round lost to North Iberville HS

Team Outlook: “We are working really hard.” “ We are a young team in 2026," said coach Perron. “Lost some older experienced players to graduation that have been in the program.” “We ended the season in 2025 with only 14 healthy players.” “We should be a more physical team in 2026 with more experience and we will have a new starting Quarterback.”

The Hornets, even though they had under 18 players by season's end in 2025, averaged 40 points a game on Offense.

The key to a great season will be keeping the best player in the program healthy for a full season. All-everything Running Back Bryce Gates had over 1,200 total yards of Offense in 2025 at 5'9" 155 pounds and plays like he is 6'1" 220 pounds. Gates will also play some OLB and Safety for the team.

More key players back to watch are QB Darrin Baxter 5'9" 205 pounds, has a good arm, RB/WR/DB JaCorey Brazil 5'6" 145 pounds, RB/DB Launadre Boyd 5'9" 180 pounds, RB Corey Charles 5'7" 160 pounds, QB Brayon Harrell 5'11" 170 pounds, really good Athlete, OT/OC Kingston Allen 6'2" 200 pounds, OT/DE Kaden Robertson 6'3" 205 pounds, OG Tylan Haulsey 5'11" 210 pounds, OLB Quintrez Miles 5'9" 170 pounds, RB Ja'Cameron Smith 5'6" 175 pounds, 4.6 speed in the forty, OG/DT Christopher Harris 6'1" 260 pounds, DT/OG Demarcus Harris 5'11" 240 pounds, and TE/LB Khail Abney 6'1" 185 pounds.

Special Teams: Starting at Kicker will be Darrin Baxter 5'9" 205 pounds.

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Cedar Creek Cougars

| Kaden Williams

| Photo provided by 

Head Coach:Jacob Angevine(2^nd year

2025 Record:6-5

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round lost to St.Frederick HS.

Team Outlook: “Mentality accomplished.” “Goals to still strive for more,” said coach Angevine. “Wanting more in position, earn more and take it.” “In 2025 we had about 39 players and in 2026 we should have 51 players come Fall.”

This Cougar team returns more depth and experience than I've seen in quite a few years, credit to Coach Angevine and his staff building the numbers back up and playing young players 2 years ago to be in position, like coach said, to take that next step.

The Offense will be led by returning starting Quarterback Brett Bell 6'0" 205 pounds, who had a good year in 2025, rushing for 950 yards. The skill talent around Bell will take the pressure off this year to do everything. He has some help, led by RB/WR Payton Harris 5'11" 160 pounds, 4.5 speed in the forty, 1,100 yards in just 9 games in 2025, will be a 3-year starter, WR Cade Phillips 5'8" 150 pounds, 4.6 speed, RB/FB Liam Durrett 5'8" 170 pounds, 4.6 speed, WR/RB/QB Hayden Durrett 5'11" 185 pounds, SS/RB Luke Easley 5'11" 170 pounds, CB/WR Ryder Sellers 5'10" 155 pounds, leader, 3-year starter, FB/LB Gunner Fontenot 5'11" 215 pounds, LB/FB Trigger Woodard 5'11" 215 pounds, FB/MLB Noah Smith 5'10" 190 pounds, and rotating in WR Cohen Pottharst 6'0" 160 pounds.

Most of the Linemen in the program will see time on both sides of the football, led by OT/OC Kaden Williams 6'4" 280 pounds, a 4-year starter, leader, OG/DT Eddie Henry 5'11" 275 pounds, a 3-year starter, DT Vance Mallett 5'11" 250 pounds, a 3-year starter, OT/DE Henry Patton 5'11" 215 pounds, DE Lathon Roberson 6'0" 210 pounds, DE Dawson Sills 5'11" 200 pounds, and OL/DL Chandler Bullock 5'10" 305 pounds.

The Defensive Backfield will return a lot of experience with Safety Asa Singleton 5'8" 145 pounds, Safety Luke Easley 5'11" 170 pounds, CB Micah Taylor 5'10" 165 pounds, a 3-year starter, 4.6 speed, CB Cooper Greer 5'11" 155 pounds, Safety Eli Slocum 5'10" 155 pounds, a 3-year starter, and CB Ryder Sellers 5'10" 155 pounds, a 3-year starter.

Special Teams: Starting Kicker will be Campbell Woodard 5'10" 160 pounds, returning for his 2nd year as the starter.

In the return game, both Cade Phillips and Liam Durrett will return as playmakers for Special Teams.

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Glenbrook Apaches

| Nolan Still

| Photo by: Barbara Still

Head Coach:Greg Tibbitt(2^nd year)

2025 Record:3-6

2026  Non District Games:Week 1 Winnfield HS(Home),Week 2 Bossier(Away),Week 3 Haughton HS(Away),Week 4 Lasalle HS(Away),Week 5 North Caddo HS(Home).

Team Outlook: “We are a young team in 2026,” said coach Tibbitt.” “Only 5 seniors on the team. We do have experience in the So/Jr class and that valuable experience will help us in the upcoming season.”

Key Offense players to keep an eye on are OG/DT Nolan Still 6'2" 320 pounds, returning starter, WR Carson Powell 6'4" 185 pounds, Honorable Mention All-District in 2025, RB/WR Ryan Reagan 5'10" 185 pounds, played half the season at QB in 2025, WR Darien Hollingsworth 6'2" 170 pounds, OC/DT Franklin Bridwell 5'10" 285 pounds, WR/Safety Ryder Malone 5'10" 160 pounds, RB Carson Whitehead 5'10" 185 pounds, had over 600 yards rushing in 2025, OT Aiden Nehls 6'6" 308 pounds, OT/DT Bruce Bonnette 6'1" 195 pounds, OG/DT Layton Raspberry 5'10" 240 pounds, and WR/Safety Brayson Fester Van 5'8" 158 pounds.

The Defense will be led by CB/WR Davis Edwards, who returns after leading the team in interceptions with 6 and was named 2nd Team All-District in 2025. Others to watch on Defense are SS Ace Rolen 5'10" 150 pounds, OLB Davis Powell 5'11" 170 pounds, DE/OL Channing Rainey 5'10" 225 pounds, DE Colton Jellum 5'8" 185 pounds, and LB Hudson Glasscock 6'1" 220 pounds.

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Haynesville Golden Tornado

Head Coach:David Franklin(24^th year)

2025 Record:14-0. District 6-0
2025 Playoffs: State Champs.2^nd Round beat Homer HS, Quarterfinals beat Jonesboro Hodge HS, Semisfinals beat Jeanerette HS, and State Title Game beat Mangham 39-37.

Signees Colleges: FS Isaiah Washington (LSU), WR/TE Kaylen Payton (Texas College), and Kicker/Punter Elijah Bray (McNeese State).

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Ouachita Christian HS(Home), Week 2 Junction City, Arkansas HS(Away), Week 3 Homer HS(Home), Week 4 (Open Date), Week 5 Union Parish HS(Away), Week 10 Kentwood HS(Away)

Team Outlook: “We have a lot to replace like we do every year.” “We do have some skill experience back with most of our Running Backs back," said coach Franklin. “We will have to move some guys around to get them ready to step up as 2 way starters.” “We have a tougher schedule and we might have some losses early but in the long run we will be a better team from playing some of the best teams in the state early.” 

After talking with Head Coach Franklin, always honest, and I think he has done a great job winning 4 State Titles in his Haynesville career, and his dad won 11 titles. You don’t see too many coaches in any sport where the dad and son win a combined 15 State Titles overall at one school like Haynesville High School. I will also say this, he is what makes High School football still the best sport to watch now in the US, an old-school coach who develops kids and runs his system to perfection.

The Tornadoes will have, for the 1st time, a new starting QB in Miller Toney 6'1" 170 pounds, a kid who will become, in time, a pretty good player, and with a strong group of Running Backs returning, it will take the pressure off of him being the guy now as a new starter at QB.

Here are some of the Running Backs to watch in the Offense: RB/OLB Ethan Henderson 5'11" 175 pounds, RB/Safety L'Travious Brooks 5'11" 175 pounds, has the talent to become a good player on Offense and Defense, RB/OLB Donnie Critton 5'8" 150 pounds, tough as nails, a 4-year starter and leader, FB/CB Moise Critton 6'0" 170 pounds, a returning starter at CB, and you will see younger players rotating in for the Fall.

More key skill players playing both sides of the ball to watch are WR/FS Tycorian Payton 6'3" 180 pounds and CB Jaron Perkins 5'9" 145 pounds, who had a really good Spring for the program.

Key Linemen, Tight Ends, and Linebackers coming back, needing to step up most as 2-way starters, are OL/DL Jeremiah Evans 6'2" 315 pounds, has the talent to become a great player one day, Center Drake Goodwin 5'11" 285 pounds, senior, leader, returning starter, TE/DE Da'Kayden Frazier 6'3" 225 pounds, new starter, LB/RB Bryce Modisette 5'9" 170 pounds, new starter as a Linebacker, OL/DL Zavion Wright 5'11" 230 pounds, new starter, OG/DT Khyrese Mallory 5'5" 190 pounds, new starter, OT/DE Jordan Pair 6'5" 235 pounds, new starter, and DE/OL Kajaveyar Williams 5'11" 215 pounds, another much-improved new starter at Defensive End.

Special Teams: The school graduated one of the best ever from the school but does return a pretty good Kicker/Punter in his 1st year to start for both in Miller Toney. In the return game, L'Travious Brooks will be one of the main players to get the 1st look again to be a playmaker here.

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Lincoln Prep Panthers

Head Coach:Chaunce Davison(2^nd year)

2025 Record:5-6

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round loss to St. Edmunds HS

Team Outlook: “We have a very talented team and have the Athletes to be competitive,” said coach Davis.” “We can spread people out on Offense and just need to go out there and play some smart, good football.” 

The program will start a new Quarterback in Jabari Levingston 6'3" 170 pounds, a returning 3-year starter as a Defensive Back, where he had 5 interceptions in 2025, and as a WR had 16 total Touchdowns in 2025. Levingston will play all over the field and give his team the best chance to win games as one of the best players in the District.

More key players to watch are OT/DT Nicholas Nelson 6'4" 290 pounds, 4-year starter, leader, OL Jordan Jones 6'5" 365 pounds, WR/TE Josiah Spann 5'9" 185 pounds, big-time playmaker with great hands and leader, WR Romelo Goings 6'3" 160 pounds, averaged 19 yards per catch in 2025, LB/FB Howard Killpatrick 5'8" 167 pounds, OL/DL Kenya Lovell 6'3" 280 pounds, OG/DE Dextin Washington 5'10" 195 pounds, DE/SS DeAntre Lighton 6'3" 175 pounds, OG Casey Reddick 5'11" 205 pounds, RB Brandon Ross 6'1" 180 pounds, RB Jaykalon Armstrong 5'4" 160 pounds, RB Keylan Miller 5'6" 200 pounds, WR Jalmel Williams 6'1" 160 pounds, WR Isaac Loyd 5'6" 135 pounds, Center Ke'Shaun Carrington 5'9" 200 pounds, OL/DL Sancarlos Taylor 5'8" 210 pounds, TE/DE Jerin Johnson 6'3" 180 pounds, DE Braylon Lyons 6'0" 200 pounds, and QB Joshua Kelly, recovering from an injury in the Spring, and the team hopes to get him back before the season is over, a talented leader for the program.

Special Teams: Howard Killpatrick returns and will handle Long Snapping. Punter and Kicker positions are open going into the Summer.

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Plain Dealing Lions

Head Coach:Jerry Byrd(2^nd year)

2025 Record:0-9

2026 Non District Games:North Caddo HS,Lakeside HS, and Week 9 Homer HS.

Team Outlook: “We will only have 2 seniors in 2026 on the whole football team. We will still play a Non District football schedule in 2026 as a program. We don’t have the total players of most programs right now but we have great kids who want to play football for this school. In my 30 years as a teacher/football coach this group has been the most fun to coach in my career,” said coach Byrd. “The future of the program we do have some increase in players at the elementary and middle school coming for the future of the program which is a positive. We also updated our weight room which will help a lot with the program in 2026 and moving forward.”

Key players to keep an eye on in the program are RB/WR/DB Jerry Harris, a 4-year starter in the program, 5'7" 140 pounds, a leader and hard worker. Antonio Taylor 5'8" 160 pounds, Punter/QB/DB, has been starting since the 7th grade for football, RB/WR/QB/DB J'marion Baker Shephard 5'8" 140 pounds, 2nd-year starter, great Athlete in the program, Kicker/Center/DT Colten Smith 6'0" 225 pounds, returning starter, OL/DL Xavier Wells Braggs 5'11" 220 pounds, best Lineman on the team back, OL/DL Xayden Newton 6'5" 250 pounds, returning starter, TE/LB/OL/DE Rodney Dupree 5'9" 195 pounds, 2nd-year starter, and 2nd-year starter Tyrone Davis 5'10" 200 pounds, who will help both sides of the football.

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