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

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District 6

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Berchmans Academy Saints

Head Coach:Jude Garrett(1^st year)

2025 Record:1-9

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Gueydan HS(Away), Week 2 Delcambre HS(Home), Week 3 Highland Baptist HS(Home), Week 4 Ascension Christian HS(Away).

Team Outlook: “Trying to build  a solid foundation this year,” said coach Garrett. “Make these young kids men on and off the field.”

New Head Coach Jude Garrett coached Defensive Backs in 2025 at Haughton High School and is a Alum of Teurlings Catholic HS in Lafayette Class of 2017.

The team will count on Quarterback William Miller 5-8 165 a returning starter to lead this team in 2026 and also will play some Safety for the team.

More key players to watch RB/OLB Lawson Prince 5-10 160,WR/RB Colston Davis 5-9 165,OG/OC Thomas Person 5-9 180,OL/DL Colin Schexnayder 5-10 185,TE/LB Eli Saltzman 5-9 165,OT Alexander Roy 6-1 190,WR Austin Matt 5-7 150,WR/CB Max Yerger 5-11 160,WR/Safety Darryn Barlow 6-0 160,and WR/CB Ben Barousse 6-0 155 a returning starter.

Special Teams handling both Kicking and Punting duties will be William Miller.In the return game you will have Colston Davis,Darryn Barlow,and Max Yerger.

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JS Clark Academy Bulldogs

| Dresean Payne

| Photo by: juiceman_graphics

Head Coach:Justin Kelly(2^nd year)

2025 Record:8-1

2025 Playoffs:Team did not play for District in 2025.

Signees Colleges: LB Dillon Jones(Graceland U)

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Iota HS(Away), Week 2 East Iberville HS(Home), Week 3 Istrouma HS(Home), Week 5 Elton HS(Away)

Team Outlook: “2026 we will be playing a full schedule for District," said coach Kelly. “We played 5 varsity games and 4 JV Games in 2025 and even the kids got to experience a Class 5A game against Live Oak High School.” “We just want to be disciplined. We are not the biggest or fastest team but we have a bunch of hard working good kids.” “Our players are excited to be a part of building the program as a group in 2026.”

The Bulldogs return 3 players with 4 years as starters in the program from the beginning of the program: RB/FS Austin Simon 5'9" 190 pounds, WR/CB Jeremy Sonnier 5'10" 185 pounds, and DT/OT Denver Andrus 6'1" 270 pounds. All will lead this young team.

More players to watch will be LB D'Marcus Gloston 5'10" 195 pounds, WR/SS Jayden Sonnier 6'2" 180 pounds, OG/DL Jahmar Doucet 5'9" 260 pounds, OLB Jayden Wilson 5'9" 180 pounds, OLB/RB Cohlen James Hall 5'9" 175 pounds, WR/DB Dresean Payne 6'0" 180 pounds, OLB/QB Kevin Johnwell 6'2" 180 pounds, 4 years in the program, QB Paul Lee 6'2" 160 pounds, OL/DL DeAndre Riggs 6'1" 240 pounds, and DB/WR Narion LeDay 5'8" 160 pounds.

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North Central Hurricanes

Head Coach:Dwight Collins(3^rd year)

2025 Record:5-5

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round lost to Jonesboro Hodge HS

Signees Colleges: Athlete Steven Joseph (Victor Valley California JC, and OL/DL Tristin Leblanc (Victor Valley California JC)

2026  Non District Games: Week 1 Open, Week 2 Gueydan HS(Home), Week 3 Block HS(Away).

Team Outlook: “Our Motto in 2026 is: We just need to Finish,” said coach Collins. “We want to continue to build this program. We had the school’s 1^st 5 win season in several years and for only the second time started a season 3-0 in the history of the program.” “We will be a faster team overall too in 2026.”

The program has a new Quarterback in Braxton Huff 6'1" 165 pounds, senior, who started in 2025 at both WR/DB. Huff is one of the top Athletes in the program.

More players to watch are WR/CB Bobby Fontenot 6'1" 160 pounds, 2nd-year starter, LB/RB Rashaad Shaw 5'9" 175 pounds, 2nd-year starter, OLB/RB Ryland Smith 6'1" 210 pounds, leader with great feet, 2nd-year starter, LB/RB Tayshaun Mirvil 5'6" 160 pounds, one of the toughest kids in the District, 2nd Team All-District at 3 positions in 2025 (RB/LB/Kick Returner), CB/WR Joelyn Pickney 6'0" 160 pounds, 3-year starter, 4.5 speed in the forty, OC/OG Cayson Gordon 5'10" 245 pounds, 3-year starter, WR Khalil Doucet 6'1" 170 pounds, and OT/DE Jason Augustine 6'2" 180 pounds.

Special Teams: The starting Kicker and Punter will be returning starter Myion Bush 5'6" 140 pounds. In the return game, Tayshaun Mirvil is a big-time playmaker every time he touches the ball.

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Opelousas Catholic Vikings

Head Coach:Kent Masson(1^st year)

2025 Record:7-5

2025 Playoffs: 1^st Round beat Ascension Catholic HS, and 2^nd Round lost to Westminster HS(Opelousas).

Signees Colleges: WR/DB Roderick Tezeno(USC)

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Breaux Bridge HS (Home), Week 2 Welsh HS (Away), Week 3 Covenant Christian HS (Away), Week 7 Archbishop Hannan Hs (Home)

Team Outlook: “I was hired in April of 2026, and from what I have seen from these kids they have already bought in, work hard and tough nosed kids,” said coach Masson. “There will only be 4 seniors on the team in 2026.” “We will be a run oriented team with a power ball control Offense with a really good Offensive Line and I think  a Defense that has a chance to be really good in the end.” “95 % of the team made Summer workouts really pleased with that for our program moving forward.” “We will be a Iron man type football team in 2026 with a few players having to play both sides of the football in 2026.” 

New Head Coach Kent Masson was an assistant football coach at Teurlings Catholic High School for 23 years through the 2025 season. It will be his 1st head coaching job in football, and I think he will do great things for the Vikings. Coach Masson will also be the Head Coach for the Boys Wrestling Program at Opelousas Catholic High School in 2026.

Players to watch in 2026 are LB/FB Ethan Belleau 5'8" 185 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader, WR Lane Dugas 6'2" 185 pounds, new starter, RB/CB Carter Savant 5'9" 165 pounds, RB/LB Braxtin Harris 6'0" 180 pounds, who will be the go-to guy as the team's RB, QB/Safety Kaleb Tezeno 5'10" 180 pounds, new starting QB with 4.55 speed in the forty, K/P/TE Aiden LaFleur 6'1" 175 pounds, a 3-year starter, Center/DL John Parker Fontenot 6'2" 230 pounds, OL/DL Owen Richard 6'0" 270 pounds, OG Kyle Latiolais 6'0" 265 pounds, still recovering from an injury, the team hopes to get him back this year, RB/WR/DB Evan Duplechain 5'8" 160 pounds, 4.5 legit speed in the forty, playmaker, WR/DB Khobi Collins 6'0" 170 pounds, TE/DE Bennett Citron 6'4" 210 pounds, WR/DB Ty'Sean Tolbert 5'7" 140 pounds, WR/DB Holden Thibodeaux 6'0" 160 pounds, OL/DL Cole Daigle 6'1" 220 pounds, OLB/WR Colt Thomas 5'7" 165 pounds, and CB Ben Minyard 6'0" 160 pounds, a new starter.

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Sacred Heart Trojans

Head Coach:Derek Landry(1^st year)

2025 Record:7-4 

2025 Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Westminster HS(Opelousas HS)

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Oakdale HS (Home), Week 2 Avoyelles HS (Away), Week 3 Mamou HS (Away), Week 4 Opelousas Catholic HS (Home), Week 9 DeQuincy HS (Away), Week 10 Beekman Charter HS (Home)

Team Outlook: “When I was hired in June of this year I met with the players and was really impressed with the work ethic these players already have and wanting to win games,” said coach Landry. “We believe we will still be playing come Thanksgiving.” “Only 5 players graduated from the 2025 and everybody else returns as starters.”

This is a very experienced team returning with a lot of potential to play for, I think, a State Title in the end. They return all the right pieces in place, if they stay healthy, to be one of the favorites by season's end. New Head Coach Derek Landry was the head coach for New Iberia High School in 2025.

The Offense will be led by QB/DB Ellis Chapman 6'3" 180 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader, and really good player. Also back is 4-year starter, leader WR/DB Jax Fontenot 5'11" 170 pounds, All-District in 2024 and 2025, with great hands and a playmaker, TE/DE Aaron Lejeune 6'2" 190 pounds, returns with good blocking and pass-catching skills, RB/CB Gavin Patin 5'9" 170 pounds (squats over 400 pounds), OC/OL/DL Lane Joubert 6'0" 230 pounds, returns for his 4th year as a starter, OLB/DE Landon Fontenot 6'4" 218 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader, OL/DL Liam Vidrine 6'7" 330 pounds, returns in the trenches, OL/DL Ashton Boney 5'10" 220 pounds, is back as a starter, OL/DL Alex Clark 5'10" 220 pounds, returns as a starter, and MLB Wyatte Perry 5'9" 180 pounds, returns as a Defensive starter.

More players to watch are new starters WR Weston Deshotel 6'7" 190 pounds, LB Liam Kincannon 5'8" 165 pounds, and CB Dax Landry 5'11" 165 pounds.

Special Teams will be very strong with starting Kicker William Chapman back with a strong leg, 5'11" 170 pounds, and Punter Ellis Chapman is also back as the starter and has a strong leg too.

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St. Edmund Bluejays

| Davis Manuel, Ben Miller

| Photo provided by

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| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

Head Coach:Jacob Aguillard(1^st year)

2025 Record:10-3

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round beat Lincoln Prep HS,2^nd Round beat Covenant Christian HS,and Quarterfinals lost to Westminster Opelousas HS.

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 West St. John HS (Away), Week 2 Morgan City HS (Home), Week 3 Loyola Prep HS (Away), Week 4 South Beauregard HS (Away).

Team Outlook: “We have some holes to fill. Replacing a Quarterback, 3 Offensive Lineman, and Defensive MVP of the District Wyatt Dubois,” said coach Aguillard. “I think though we just need some players to step up and fill those shoes and I think we can do that in 2026.” “The Defense returns 6 starters and we will need the Defense to carry us until some of our players get experience on the Offensive side early on in 2026.” 

The Offense, like coach said, will have a new starting Quarterback, and that will be Carson Simon 5'10" 180 pounds, a young leader with a great future ahead of him.

More skill players in the program, mostly starting both sides of the football, to watch are RB/SS Nathan Driggs 5'9" 180 pounds, rushed for over 1,200 yards the last 2 seasons combined, one of the leaders of the team as a senior-to-be, Safety/WR Hudson Simon 5'7" 160 pounds, a 3-year starter, WR/DB Briar Guillory 5'11" 165 pounds, RB/Safety Cooper Berzas 5'9" 160 pounds, Safety/WR Michael Perron 5'8" 165 pounds, CB/WR Camdyn Loewer 5'11" 155 pounds, WR/SS Jack Aucoin 6'0" 165 pounds, and other younger players for depth on both sides of the football.

Key Linemen, Tight Ends, and Linebackers back are TE/DE Max Smith 6'4" 230 pounds, big-time player, Center/DE Davis Manuel 5'11" 215 pounds, big-time leader, senior, DE/OL Will Brown 5'11" 180 pounds, OG/LB Ben Miller 5'11" 205 pounds, OL/LB Fox Crosby 5'9" 198 pounds, newcomer, and new starter D.J. Bushnell 5'9" 225 pounds.

Special Teams Kicking, Punting, and Long Snapper positions are all open after Spring.

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Westminster Christian Academy Crusaders(Opelousas)

| Coaching Staff

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

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| Kyle Horde

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

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| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

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| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

Head Coach:Byron Porter(4^th year)

2025 Record:12-1.6-0 in District

2025 Playoffs: 2^nd Round beat Opelousas Catholic HS, Quarterfinals beat St. Edmund HS, and Semisfinal loss to Ascension Catholic HS.

Signees Colleges: Stephen George (Centenary), and Athlete Damian Thomas (Northwestern State)

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Kentwood HS (Away), Week 2 Lafayette Christian HS (Home), and Week 3 Live Oak HS (Home)

Team Outlook: “We changed the culture of the program after I got here," said coach Porter. “Now we have to keep the standard moving forward and move on from a great year in 2025.” “What I am also really proud of is the coaching staff is the same after 4 years of me getting the job which I think has helped a lot with stability in the program.” 

The program also does a great job of having several players able to play multiple positions well on both sides of the football.

Here are several players back to watch: LB/RB/TE Kyle Horde 6'2" 225 pounds, a 4-year starter and leader with a ton of experience in the program, RB/LB Jack Hunt 6'2" 210 pounds, senior, 4-year starter, leader, WR/RB/FS Cayden Brown 6'1" 170 pounds, WR/DB Branson Ray 5'10" 168 pounds, DE/OT Matthew Lalonde 6'3" 220 pounds, senior, leader, DT/OL Tonnerick Hayes Jr. 6'1" 330 pounds, senior, OL/DT/DE Andre Lemon 6'0" 205 pounds, 3-year starter, leader, DB/WR/RB Jeremiah Harris 5'8" 165 pounds, OG/DT Jayden Johnson 5'10" 240 pounds, OT/DT Marquis Butler 6'3" 260 pounds, OL Mark Tyler 6'0" 300 pounds, RB Trey Duplechain 5'7" 150 pounds, CB Wayne Campbell 5'8" 170 pounds, DB Malik Milton 5'8" 170 pounds, and new starting Quarterback Garrett Noel 6'2" 180 pounds, a very talented player who will lead this team in 2026.

Special Teams: New starting Kicker and Punter will be Adien Thomas 5'8" 170 pounds, who had a good Spring, and Long Snapper will be senior Jack Hunt.

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