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Louisiana Football Magazine 2026 Class 1A Football Preview (Written by Lee Brecheen)
District 7
Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators
Head Coach:Jay Domengeaux
2025 Record:11-2
2025 Playoffs: 2nd Round beat Kentwood HS, Quarterfinals beat Hamilton Christian HS lost to Riverside HS.
Team Outlook: “New year,” said coach Domengeaux. “Players are committed and put our pieces together to become a team again in 2026.” “We graduated 9 seniors but will return 10 seniors in 2026.” “We need to rebuild the Wide Receiver position and have all new Kicker and Punter which has been a strength in the program for a few years.”
The program returns one of the best Athletes in the District in 4-year starter Quarterback DJ Kelley 6'0" 205 pounds, a really athletic player with 4.6 speed and the experience now to lead this team to another great season in 2026.
The rest of the skill players on Offense that will need to step up are RB Landon Huff 5'6" 140 pounds, RB Owen Leblanc 6'0" 205 pounds, and also a senior Linebacker, WR Jake Boudreaux 5'10" 170 pounds, a 3-year starter, senior, and several young players providing depth for this young Offense.
More key players to watch in the program are OT Rhodes Perry 6'4" 230 pounds, OL Andrew Clement 6'0" 215 pounds, a 3-year starter, DE David Kennedy 6'1" 210 pounds, DB Michael Gayles 5'10" 145 pounds, LB/TE Lucas Cormier 5'10" 185 pounds, new starter, OLB Aiden Johnson 5'9" 165 pounds, returning starter, Center/DT Merritt Hawkins 5'11" 215 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader, SS Sports Gros 6'1" 170 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader, LB/TE Braxton Woodring 5'9" 165 pounds, returning starter, and CB Austin Adams 5'10" 165 pounds, had an incredible game in 2025 in the playoffs against Hamilton Christian High School with 3 interceptions in that one game.
Centerville Bulldogs
Head Coach: Devin Pontiff(2nd year)
2025 Record: 2-8
Signees Colleges: WR Jameon Francis(Centenary College)
2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Haynes Academy HS(Home), Week 2 Houma Christian HS (Away), Week 7 Gueydan HS(Away).
Team Outlook: “Graduated one of the biggest classes we’ve had in 2025," said coach Pontiff. “I am excited because we have one of the largest Freshman classes in the history of the school coming in for the 2026 season.” “The future is bright for this young program.”
The leader for the program will be 1st-year starter at Quarterback Eric Dennis 5'7" 135 pounds and has already become a leader as a Freshman for the 2026 season.
More players to watch will be OL/DL Randy Harris 5'8" 185 pounds, RB Chance Landry 5'7" 150 pounds, TE Randall Ebert 6'1" 185 pounds, MLB/RB Evan Daigle 5'9" 175 pounds, leader, RB Tylon Spain 6'0" 165 pounds, Safety/WR Cayson Alexander 5'8" 140 pounds, OLB/WR Reginald George 6'0" 175 pounds, OL/DL Todd Leblanc 6'0" 205 pounds, and OL/DL Lucas Carline 6'3" 275 pounds.
Special Teams: The Kicking and Punting starting spots are both still open going into the Summer.
Central Catholic Eagles
Head Coach:C.L Grogan(6th year)
2025 Record:3-8
2025 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Covenant Christian HS.
2026 Non District Games: Week 1 West St.Mary HS (Away), Week 2 Loreauville HS (Home), Week 3 East Iberville HS (Away), Week 5 Slaughter Charter HS (Away).
Team Outlook: “We will be a very young team in 2026," said coach Grogan. “Only 6 seniors total in 2026.”
The Offense, after Spring, is still not 100% settled in to name a starter yet at Quarterback, but it's between Xailen Hebert 5'8" 170 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader, also Safety and WR for the team, and QB Khyler Willis 6'0" 160 pounds, who, if not the QB in 2026, will start at WR and possibly DB too.
More key players to watch for this young team will be RB/LB James Sanders 5'10" 185 pounds, OLB/RB Parker Gros 5'10" 185 pounds, leader, OLB/TE Christian Chauvin 5'11" 175 pounds, DB/WR Luke Vaccaro 5'9" 160 pounds, WR/CB Noah Pickens 5'8" 160 pounds, RB/Safety Dre Erwin 5'8" 160 pounds, DT Maddox Rodriguez 6'1" 200 pounds, DE/DT Troy Jones Jr. 6'0" 220 pounds, and talented new starter WR Keiland Johnson 6'2" 165 pounds.
Special Teams: James Sanders will handle both the Kicking and Punting duties for the program.
Gueydan Bears
Head Coach:Kevin Kern(3rd year)
2025 Record:1-8
2026 Non District Games: All Games are Non District will not play for District in 2026.
Team Outlook: “2025 season we had a ton of injuries and had to forfeit a game with only 9 players available at the time and by week 5 we had half our starters hurt and out," said coach Kern. “We even had to start a 7th grade Free Safety because of injuries in 2025.” “We had a total of 26 players on the team in 2025.” “ We will run a Gun-T Offense and on Defense a Three/Four set.”
The program will build around returning starting Quarterback Koen Breaux 6'0" 160 pounds, who had 634 yards passing and completed 50 of 108 passes in 2025.
More players to watch will be OT/DT Charlie Thibodeaux 6'3" 270 pounds, a 5th-year starter, OL/DL Draeven Edwards 5'11" 265 pounds, a 3-year starter, OL/DL Trip Hebert 5'9" 225 pounds, leader, 3-year starter, RB/LB/QB Tylan Leopold 5'11" 170 pounds, 3-year starter, ran for 318 yards in 2025 in just 4 games. Leopold had a 90-yard passing touchdown. TE/LB Terry Leopold 5'11" 170 pounds, 3-year starter, TE/HB [name missing] 6'3" 190 pounds, 2nd-year starter, and WR/CB Collin Trahan 5'10" 160 pounds, All-District in 2025 for the team.
Special Teams: Kicker/Punter and Long Snapper are open going into the Summer/Fall.
Hanson Memorial Tigers
| Spencer Fuhrer
| Photo by: Neaux Filter Foto
Head Coach:Ryan Stoute(6th year)
2025 Record:2-8
2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Berwick HS (Home), and Week 2 Delcambre HS (Away)
Team Outlook: “We have a big senior class in 2026 of 8 to 10 seniors which is a big class for our program," said coach Stoute. “I am very excited to know we return several leaders in the senior class which is huge for our program being also in a new District in 2026.”
The Tigers will have a chance every week thanks to returning Quarterback Spencer Fuhrer 6'2" 200 pounds, with a really good arm and feet in the pocket. He will play many positions outside of QB, like Punter/Kicker, and sometimes Free Safety, a game-changing player for this program.
More players to watch will be WR/RB/DB Trey Rochel 5'8" 150 pounds, returning starter, senior, RB/LB Slade Ladnier 5'11" 180 pounds, a really good runner in the open field with some power, OT/DT Ty Brasseaux 6'4" 220 pounds, strong, tough kid, TE/OLB Riley Rhineholt 6'1" 180 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader, OC/DL Trenton Pharris 6'3" 260 pounds, a senior, OL/DL Jason Babb 6'3" 225 pounds, RB/FB/OL/DL Tate Martin 5'9" 162 pounds, OLB/WR Brysen Robichaeux 5'10" 155 pounds, and rotating in as a senior, CB Ethan Verdin 5'9" 135 pounds.
Special Teams: Spencer Fuhrer is one of the top Punters in all of Class 1A and will be the Kicker. Long Snapper will probably be Jason Babb.
Highland Baptist Bears
| Andrew Perry
| Photo by: Matt Louviere Sports Photography
| Layne Kupihea
| Photo by: Taylor Benoit
Head Coach:Donald Fuselier(1st Year)
2025 Record:0-10
Team Outlook: “We will have a young team," said coach Fuselier.” “I think the program school is a sleeping giant with great support from the Athletic Director and Principal.” “We should have around 25 players for the Fall .” “We will even play three 8th graders on varsity in 2026.
The Offense will be led by new starting Quarterback Eli Segura 5'11" 180 pounds, who is already becoming a leader in the program.
More players to watch in 2026 are OL/LB Layne Kupihea 6'3" 235 pounds, OL/DL Braxton Bruner 6'2" 260 pounds, DE JoJo Mitchell 6'0" 220 pounds, RB/CB Brylon Anthony 5'9" 150 pounds, RB/DB Harrison Charpentier 5'9" 160 pounds, WR/FS Noah Derouen 6'5" 175 pounds, WR/FS/CB Camden Courtois 5'8" 150 pounds, MLB/TE Braylon Guy 6'1" 220 pounds, SS Reed Denise 5'9" 165 pounds, OLB Tate Begnaud 6'1" 155 pounds, CB/WR Michael Moity 6'0" 165 pounds, DT/OG Ashton Boudreaux 6'0" 240 pounds, Center/DT Pierce Thomson 6'0" 265 pounds, and OG/DT Braden Ellis 5'11" 270 pounds.
Special Teams will return 4-year starter, leader Andrew Perry 5'11" 180 pounds, one of the top Kickers in Louisiana, who will also play some WR for the team and can punt too. There's also Punter Reed Denise and Long Snapper Tate Begnaud.
Jeanerette Tigers
| Aaron Tillman
| Photo by: Kooh Photography
Head Coach:Clifford Paul(8th year)
2025 Record:11-2
2025 Playoffs: 2nd Round beat Grand Lake HS, Quarterfinals beat Logansport HS, and Semifinals lost to Haynesville HS
Signees Colleges:OLB/DE Javonte Williams (Southern U), RB/LB Desean Tolbert (Arkansas Baptist), Athlete Jaidon Ward (Louisiana Christian), and LB/RB Joa’quinn Charles (Arkansas Baptist).
2026 Non District Games:Week 1 Patterson HS(Home),Week 2 West St. Mary HS(Away),Week 6 Port Barre HS(Away)
Team Outlook: “Building off what we did last year," said coach Paul. “Hopefully we can get over the hump and bring home the hardware in 2026.”
The Offense will be led by talented Quarterback Aaron Tillman 6'2" 195 pounds, who returns as the starting QB with 4.6 legit speed in the forty and is evolving into a really good passer.
The Defense returns young, talented Defensive Tackle Blair Lewis 6'6" 325 pounds, leaned up, with feet you don't see every day from a big guy in high school his age.
More key players to watch and lead will be DE/OLB Brad August 6'2" 220 pounds, RB Kobe Gage 5'8" 165 pounds, big playmaker, 4.4 speed, WR Morris Walters 6'1" 185 pounds, playmaker, returning starter, DT/OG Gregory Green 6'2" 280 pounds, a 2-time All-District and All-State selection in 2025, leader, RB Devine Duhon 5'11" 180 pounds, a 4-year starter, leader, FS/WR Nysir Jackson 5'11" 190 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader, Safety Devone Duhon 5'11" 175 pounds, a 4-year starter, leader, DT Israel Phillips 6'1" 270 pounds, returning starter, RB/LB Dustin Smith 5'10" 170 pounds, and OL/DL Dylan Walters 6'2" 245 pounds, late bloomer, had a great Spring and Summer.
Special Teams: Looking like Aaron Tillman will handle both the Kicking and Punting spots along with QB. One of the best kickoff and punt returners returns in Kobe Gage. The kid has another gear and is not someone you would like to kick the ball to because he can take it all the way.
Vermillion Catholic Screaming Eagles
Head Coach:Broc Prejean(7th year)
2025 Record:4-7
2025 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Kentwood HS
2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Catholic New Iberia HS(Away), Week 2 Catholic Pointe Coupee HS(Home), Week 3 Loreauville HS(Home), and Week 4 Welsh HS(Away)
Team Outlook: “We’ve got a young unproven team in 2026,” said coach Prejean.
The Eagles won a State Title in 2024, going 15-0 on the season, one of the best regular seasons in the history of the program. In 2025, they were rebuilding from losing so many players from that title team, and in 2026 they have some players back to lead, but still have a lot of position battles ongoing into the Summer/Fall.
Here are some players to keep an eye on in the Fall: WR/DB Trevin Hebert 6'3" 190 pounds, a big-time Athlete who can play anywhere with 4.5 speed in the forty and is looking to blossom in 2026, DE/LB Maddox Primeaux 5'10" 180 pounds, Athlete Ty Leblanc, DB Jacob Dubois, OL/DL Andrew Lopez, OL/DL Carson Touchet, TE/DE James Bradley, Athlete Kizer Delahoussaye, WR/DB Henry Bertrand, Athlete Peyton Thomas, and OL/DL Jesse Landry.
Westminster Christian (Lafayette) Chargers
Head Coach:Kent Gable(3rd year)
2025 Record:7-5
2025 Playoffs: 1st Round beat Sacred Heart HS, and 2nd Round lost to Catholic Pointe Coupee HS.
Signees Colleges: DB Marlon Reed(Lincoln College in Kansas)
2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Lafayette Renaissance HS(Away), Week 2 Port Barre HS(Home), Week 3 Houma Christian HS(Away), Week 10 Ascension Catholic HS(Home)
Team Outlook: “We’ve had some great early success in our young program 2 playoffs appearances in 2 different seasons in our 1st three years of having football, and won a playoffs game in year 3," said coach Gable. “I’ve learned we need to get bigger, faster, and in the best shape possible because we have to play both sides of the football with a small roster even though we have had a lot of success as a program.” “We have a good group of kids that are Iron men. When it comes to playing the whole game, I feel like in 2026 we will be in the best shape as a team and be the best conditioned I have seen since the program started.” “We are also bigger and stronger players going into 2026 season.”
The Offense will be led by RB/LB Pierce Gable 6'1" 215 pounds, the main Iron Man on Offense/Defense. Gable ran for 1,800 yards with 16 touchdowns in 2025 as a RB and played on Defense as a LB.
More key players to watch in 2026 will be OL/DL Michael Landry 6'0" 240 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader, FS Luke Davis 6'0" 170 pounds, QB Zade Prejean 6'3" 185 pounds, a returning starter, OL/DL Maddox Bertrand 5'9" 270 pounds, TE/LB Dane Fontenot 5'11" 210 pounds, OL/LB Henry Waldeier 5'11" 185 pounds, OL/DL Austin Reed 5'10" 230 pounds, RB/DB Andre Green 5'10" 160 pounds, WR Abe Lemoine 5'9" 160 pounds, DB Zack Otis 5'10" 175 pounds, WR Zeph Prejean 6'2" 185 pounds, and rotating in on both sides of the football, RB/DB Ethan Simon 5'8" 170 pounds.
Special Teams: The starting Kicker and Punter will be Zeph Prejean in his 2nd-year as a starter.
© 2026 Lee Brecheen Louisiana Football Magazine. All rights reserved. The content above is the intellectual property of Lee Brecheen and Louisiana Football Magazine. Permission is granted for personal, non-commercial purposes. Any reproduction, redistribution, publication, or use of this material for professional, commercial, media, or promotional purposes without prior written permission from Lee Brecheen is strictly prohibited.
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