Louisiana Football Magazine 2026 Class 3A Football Preview (Written by Lee Brecheen)

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District 11

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Covenant Christian Lions

Head Coach: Jesse Turner(4^th year)

2025 Record: 8-3

2025 Playoffs: 2^nd Round loss to St. Edmund HS great game 44-36.

Signees Colleges: Athlete Jaden Carter(Coffeyville Kansas JC), DB Patrick Williams(Albany State), and District Defensive MVP 2025 LB Peyton Trosclair (UNO Baseball)

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Ellender HS (Home), Week 2 Riverside HS (Away), Week 3 Opelousas Catholic HS (Home), Week 4 Patterson HS (Away), Week 5 Lake Arthur HS (Home), Week 6 West St. John HS (Home).

Team Outlook: “Great season in 2025,” said coach Turner. “We overcame major injuries without our Quarterback for the playoffs and our top Wide Receiver.” “We have to figure out a way to get over the hump in the playoffs.” “Our kids and staff are excited to get better over the Summer as a team to get ready for the 2026 season.”

The Offense will return Quarterback Peyton Clement, a new starter but got experience because of injuries in 2025 and showed some promise. There's a few talented skill players returning on both sides of the football, led by RB/Safety Jesse Turner II 6'1" 205 pounds, All-District Safety in 2025, CB/SS/WR Kylan Johnson 5'10" 155 pounds, 2nd-year starter, WR/CB Kirt Townsend II 5'9" 155 pounds, 4.45 speed in the forty, RB Landon Williams 5'10" 180 pounds (averaged 6 yards per carry in 2025), WR TJ Celestine 5'8" 150 pounds, WR Amare Burks 6'2" 185 pounds, All-District in 2025, CB Mekai Jackson 5'10" 175 pounds, and CB/WR Jeremiah Gray 5'11" 165 pounds.

Key Linemen and Linebackers to watch are DT/DE Jayden Burrell 6'0" 185 pounds, big-time Athlete for the Defense, leader, DT Brason Ponvelle 5'11" 235 pounds, tough player, leader, Center Landon Ocampo 5'10" 190 pounds, OT Keithen Boudreaux 5'11" 230 pounds, OG/DT Owen Gautreaux 6'1" 265 pounds, DE/TE Richard Horn 6'2" 185 pounds, MLB/FB Madix Latiolais 5'9" 175 pounds, strong kid, leader, LB Benton Trosclair 5'7" 180 pounds, OL Eli Boyd 6'1" 215 pounds, DT Jaythen Lawson 6'1" 230 pounds, DE Casey Scott, and LB Ethan Lally 5'11" 185 pounds, recovering from an injury, should be back at some point in 2026, a big-time leader for the program.

Special Teams will be led by Kicker Benton Trosclair 5'7" 180 pounds. Starting at Long Snapper will be Keithen Boudreaux.

Fisher Gators

Head Coach:Randal Agee(2^nd year)

2025 Record:1-9

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 North Iberville HS(Home), Week 2 Thomas Jefferson HS(Home), Week 3 Morris Jeff HS(Home),Week 4 Archbishop Hannan HS(Away), Week 5 Patrick F. Taylor(Away),Week 9 Ascension Christian(Away).

Team Outlook: “We made a commitment to our strength program to get stronger and we lift weights outdoors covered with a Tent/Tarp which was donated. We’d like to thank St. Augustine HS for the donation much appreciated to our program,” said coach Agee. “Our team Motto is: T.E.A.M W.I.N.S, which means Together, Everyone, Accomplishes, More. Working hard being, Invested having, No excuses, and being Selfless.”

The Offense will have more depth, and the team had 62 players dressed for Spring Practice, the most ever for a Fisher Football team in the history of the school. QB Jeremy Kinley returns to lead the team in a new Offense in 2026, more of a spread team to suit his talents for the program.

There are several players that will get reps in 2026, led by RB/DE Tristan Ritchie 6'0" 210 pounds, brings power and speed to the program and experience, RB Nathan Gaspard 5'10" 165 pounds, HB Trey Touchard 5'4" 145 pounds, one of the strongest kids on the team, WR Corey Tamborella 5'5" 140 pounds, WR Kolton Berthelot 5'10" 150 pounds, converted DB now WR Alex Martinez 5'10" 135 pounds (2 interceptions in 2025), WR Laetyn Cooper 5'10" 146 pounds, and RB Brody Ronquille 5'11" 150 pounds.

The Offensive Line has OG Landen Diamond 6'0" 205 pounds, talented OT/DT Raymon Terrazas 6'2" 280 pounds, Center Jace Munoz 5'6" 250 pounds, quick and leader, OT Justin Terrazas 5'11" 260 pounds, 2nd-year starter, and pulling OG Lucas Plaisance 5'10" 195 pounds.

The front seven will be bigger and stronger in 2026, led by DT Randy Lacrosse 5'9" 215 pounds, LB Slade Rogers 5'10" 170 pounds, leader on the field, DT Cullen Mamolo 6'1" 235 pounds, quick and tough, LB Randy Rudolph 6'0" 190 pounds, they call Monster, LB Blaine Parria 5'7" 170 pounds (2 fumble recoveries in 2025), LB Roman Creath 5'10" 160 pounds, new player, and OLB/SS players Ayden Young 5'8" 135 pounds and Ben Ritchie 5'8" 122 pounds, new player.

The Defensive Backfield is led by FS Reed Curppel 6'1" 180 pounds, CB Corbin Black 6'1" 140 pounds, and CB Nathan Burling 6'1" 170 pounds.

Special Teams: Both Punter and Kicker spots are open after Spring Practice. Long Snapper will be Nathan Burling 6'1" 170 pounds.

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Houma Christian Warriors

Head Coach:Jamar Celestine(3^rd year)

2025 Record:1-9

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Highland Baptist HS, Week 2 Centerville HS, Week 3 Westminster Lafayette HS, Week 4 Berwick HS, Week 5 Ascension Christian HS, and Week 8 Gueydan HS.

Team Outlook: “Excited about the season coming up,” said coach Celestine. “Numbers of players in the program is going up, kids are coming out of football now from other sports like Soccer and Baseball to help us grow with numbers for the 2026 season.” 

The Warriors return a key starter at a key position for the 2026 season in Henry Legendre 5'11" 175 pounds, and with a season of experience now should help this team in 2026.

More players to watch in the program are OC/DT Kannon Caldwell 5'11" 280 pounds, WR/DB Drew Pennison 5'11" 160 pounds, DB/WR Cole Henry 5'9" 170 pounds, OL/DL Cullen Schulte 6'0" 240 pounds, LB/TE Baylen Falgout 6'2" 180 pounds, Center Timothy Zeng 5'11" 190 pounds, 3-year starter, WR/CB Jamar Celestine 5'8" 145 pounds, with 4.5 speed in the forty, playmaker, LB/RB Madox Rhodes 5'8" 140 pounds, a great, tough 2-way starter, RB/LB Blake Pellegrin 5'11" 165 pounds, OL/DL Luke Duplantis 6'3" 260 pounds, new starter, OL/DE Reed Theriot 6'1" 172 pounds, and DB Austin Clements 6'1" 175 pounds, a leader with a ton of ability.

Special Teams: Starting at both Kicker and Punter will be Wes Spiers, a new starter with a pretty good leg.

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Isidore Newman Greenies

Head Coach:Aaron Vice(2^nd year)

2025 Record:7-3

2025 Playoffs:2^nd Round beat Menard HS, and 3^rd Round lost to Dunham HS

Signees Colleges: Athlete George Loop(Dartmouth), OL/DL Henry Jackson(Cornell), and RB Jake Randle(Tulane).

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 St.John’s HS Houston,Texas (Away), Week 2 Sante Fe Christian California(Home), Week 3 East Jefferson(Home), Week 4 Willow HS(Home), Week 5 Bonnabel HS(Away), and Week 6 Morris Jefferson HS(Home).

Team Outlook: “Lost a talented group of graduating Seniors from the 2025 team,” said coach Vice. “We do have talented young players back on both sides of the football.” “I also like our staff and look forward to coaching these kids in 2026.”

The Offense will have a new QB, and the battle is between Ren Guidry 6'1" 165 pounds, SR, and Jalen Hunter 6'0" 185 pounds. Both players are very capable of leading this Offense in 2026.

The team will rely heavily on RB Hendrix Hill 5'11" 190 pounds, a 4-year starter with dynamic ability as a playmaker, will play multiple positions on both Offense and Defense for the program. Also in the run game, you have Tanner Robert Sr. 5'10" 185 pounds, who brings some power and toughness as a returning starter. WR Thomas Smallpage 5'10" 170 pounds, FB/WR Jace Irving 6'1" 190 pounds, and RB/LB AJ Yunesan is a 3-year starter and the team's best Defensive player but also will get some looks at RB.

The Offensive Line returns 3 starters, led by Charles Jackson OC/OG 6'0" 270 pounds, OL Jack Roos 5'10" 210 pounds, OL Emory Wolfson 6'3" 255 pounds, OL Brady Magee 5'10" 205 pounds, and OT Eli Toushav 6'2" 215 pounds, new starter.

The Defense will lean on leaders Alex Roth 6'2" 205 pounds, DE, returning starter, LB AJ Yunesan 6'0" 193 pounds, FS Ben Singer 5'10" 175 pounds, 2nd-year starter, CB Malcolm Schairer 5'11" 170 pounds, one of the top Athletes in the school, DE Nick Gardner 5'10" 195 pounds, DE/TE Auggie Sauska 6'3" 210 pounds, and CB Ford Summeo 5'11" 165 pounds, new starter. Several young players will compete for spots and playing time over the Summer.

Special Teams: Kicker, Punter, and Long Snapper were all up for grabs after Spring.

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Metairie Park Country Day Cajuns

Head Coach:Benjamin Powell(1^st year)

2025 Record:4-7

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round lost to D’Arbonne Woods HS

Team Outlook: “Good off season.” “A lot of our kids play Basketball and Baseball too," said coach Powell. “I feel like we have some holes to fill but should be a good team and get back to the playoffs again.” 

The Offense goes into the Summer and early Fall with 2 players capable of being the starting Quarterback, Jack Grace 5'10" 160 pounds and Alan Dietz 6'3" 225 pounds. Dietz will also play OLB/DE for the team.

The Wide Receiver room will be one of the best spots on the team, led by Curtis McCalister 6'4" 195 pounds (50 catches, 9 Touchdowns, and 963 yards in his 1st year to start), WR Kellen Brewer 6'5" 190 pounds (10 Touchdowns in 2025), WR/FS/RB Jake Weaver 6'1" 180 pounds, a senior, WR Preston Snyder 5'9" 175 pounds, and WR Collin Snyder 5'9" 175 pounds. All will play and help this team win games.

The run game will rely heavily on Justin Drago 5'11" 195 pounds, an Honorable Mention All-State player in 2025, and will be a 4-year starter in 2026 and leader for this team.

More key players to watch will be CB Aiden Davis 5'9" 170 pounds, CB Chris Kazour 5'10" 170 pounds, LB Cooper Vitrano 5'11" 185 pounds, DT Henry Shannon 5'10" 170 pounds, DT Lennon Wright 5'11" 190 pounds, DT Duncan Wallace 6'3" 300 pounds, LB Joel Smith 6'1" 190 pounds, a 4-year starter, leader, OL William Johnson 6'6" 285 pounds, Safety Baxter Parker 6'1" 180 pounds, All-District in 2025, leader, with 4.6 speed in the forty, and a few younger players competing to start or play.

Special Teams will be a strong point for the team. Kicker will be Josh Arraya 5'9" 160 pounds. Starting Long Snapper will be Joel Smith.

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