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

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District 3

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Delhi Charter Gators 

| Dontavious Blanson, Joshua Harris

| Photo by: N&C Photography

Head Coach:Pat Lambert(1st year)

2025 Record:3-7

Team Outlook: “The program got hit by the injury bug in 2025,” said coach Lambert. “They  lost  2 best players for the year before we even played a game in 2025 which is 4 starters for this program.” “We do have a Quarterback battle and need to develop some depth in the Trenches for the 2026 season.” “We went through a lot of adversity in 2025 and I think that will help us move forward with players that got to play and learn.”

The program has 3 Quarterbacks that will compete for the starting job moving forward. They are Ian Till 6'3" 170 pounds, Myron Allen 6'3" 225 pounds, and Conner Hayman 5'10" 180 pounds, who has experience at QB. All three kids will start somewhere for the team if not at QB in the end.

More key players to watch in 2026 are WR/RB Elvis Meadows Jr., OLB Caden Kennedy 6'0" 180 pounds, leader, 3-year starter, WR/CB Dontavious Blanson 6'0" 160 pounds, OG/DL Jeremiah Meeks 5'9" 215 pounds, a 3-year starter leader (benches 310 pounds), Center/OG/DL Marquis Jones 5'9" 235 pounds, 2nd-year starter, RB/CB/WR Tayven Carter, leader and 3-year starter with 4.6 speed in the forty, and OL/DL John Jammal 6'1" 220 pounds, a big-time lineman for the team and returning starter.

Special Teams starting Kicker Brandon Velasquez 5'6" 140 pounds returns and does a good job for the team. Starting Punter will be Ashton Williams 5'10" 185 pounds, also a returning starter.

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Ferriday Trojans

| Sheldon Holmes

| Photo provided by Sheldon Holmes

Head Coach:Walter Johnson(3^rd year)

2025 Record:8-4

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round beat Northeast HS, and 2^nd Round lost to East Feliciana HS

Signees Colleges: Athlete Paityn Collins(McNeese State), and WR Desmen Jefferson(Southeastern), and LB Jaden Turner(Louisiana Christian)

Team Outlook: “We take pride in being in great condition to play a full season as a team and we win games by having energy still going into the 4^th quarter of games," said coach Walter Johnson. “If we stay healthy I feel like we can make a deep run with experience back along with a very talented Freshman Class coming in also.”

The Offense will play a number of players at Quarterback, and those same players will play multiple positions. QB Jase Harris is the starter from last year, 6'0" 170 pounds, 4.55 speed in the forty with a good arm. You also have CB/SS/QB Chris Sheppard Jr. 6'0" 165 pounds, a 3-year starter, can take snaps with 4.5 speed, and Athlete Robert Taylor 6'5" 188 pounds, a 4-year starter at OLB/DE/WR, and can play some QB too in the Wildcat.

There's a ton of speed and experience back that rivals Class 5A top rosters in Louisiana at all skill spots, led by Robert Taylor, Chris Sheppard Jr., RB Zylon Alexander 5'11" 185 pounds, has close to 3,000 yards rushing in the last 2 years combined with 31 total Touchdowns combined since the 2024 season as a 4-year starter, Safety Dalen Green 5'11" 185 pounds, SS/WR Andrew Foster 6'2" 175 pounds, has over 15 career interceptions on Defense, 4-year starter, WR/TE Jeydin Hardaway 6'3" 195 pounds, CB/WR McCai Maxion 6'3" 180 pounds, 4.45 speed, RB Chardarius Wilson 5'10" 170 pounds, CB/SS/OLB Jabari Evans 5'10" 200 pounds, a 3-year starter hitter, RB/DB/OLB Jakerious Norman 5'11" 170 pounds, big-time hitter, QB/Athlete Raheem Tolliver 5'8" 165 pounds, 4.45 speed, CB Collin Vinson 6'1" 170 pounds, and WR/CB Tre Parker 5'10" 170 pounds, big-time new playmaker on both sides of the football field.

There's a lot of depth for the Offensive Line, Defensive Line, and Linebackers, led by DE Salmond Davis 6'1" 225 pounds, a 3-year starter, all-out player, DE Jarell Miller Jr. 5'9" 230 pounds, DE Sheldon Holmes 6'2" 230 pounds, big-time player leader, DE/OLB McKale Wyatt 6'4" 195 pounds, Center Rashaad Jefferson 5'8" 270 pounds, leader, 3-year starter, OL/DL/FB Dillan Scott 5'10" 245 pounds, Center/OG Anthony Champagne 6'1" 250 pounds, OG/MLB/DE/TE Travis Atkins 6'0" 250 pounds, DT Sam Davis 6'0" 360 pounds, OG Markadric Robinson 5'9" 250 pounds, OL/DL K.J. Willis 6'3" 365 pounds, OL/DL Khylin Hawkins 6'2" 285 pounds, DE/OLB/WR Elan Jefferson 6'2" 185 pounds, and rotating in Center Nate Smith 5'9" 260 pounds, and DE Rashaad Green 5'8" 205 pounds.

Special Teams will be a huge strength with as many as 10 players running 4.6 or 4.5 in the forty returning punts or kickoffs, which doesn't fare well for too many teams to defend in Class 2A. Starting Kicker and Punter will be determined in the Fall.

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Madison Jaguars

Head Coach:Shaun Archer(1^st year)

2025 Record:1-9

2026 Non District Games:Week 1 Dar’bonne Woods HS(Away),Week 2 Ouachita Christian HS(Away),Week 3 Franklin Parish HS(Away),Week 4 General Trass HS(Away)

Team Outlook: “I want to bring Madison Back to Excellence,” said coach Archer. “There was a time when Madison High School football was winning and being competitive.” “I want to get back to that in the future.” “We have a small team made up mostly of new incoming Freshman 25 to 30 players for the Fall.” “I will not even see most of our kids till Fall when school starts. That's when most of the kids will come out for football.” “I coached the football team Head coach at Madison middle school in 2025.” “For several years was  assistant coach at Vicksburg High School as the Defensive Line coach and retired in the state of Mississippi.” “In college I played for Alcorn State as an Offensive Lineman from 1987 to 1991.”

“Two players that made almost all of the off-season workouts and caught my eye as the players to lead this program in the future are RB/DB Tristan Lee 5'7" 150 pounds and CB/WR Kemarrion Lewis 5'9" 158 pounds. We are hoping we can get more kids out before the Summer is over, but again, most will come out for football in late August/September when kids go back to school.”

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Mangham Dragons

Head Coach:Scott Wilcher(8^th year)

2025 Record:11-3

2025 Playoffs: 2^nd Round beat West St.John HS, Quarterfinals beat East Feliciana HS, Semisfinals beat South Plaquemines HS, and State Title Game lost to Haynesville HS.

Signees Colleges: CB Reggie Roberson(Northwestern State)

2026  Non District Games: Week 1 Jena HS(Away), Week 2 Caldwell HS(Home), Week 3 Oak Grove HS(Home),Week 4 Bastrop HS(Away), Week 5 West Ouachita HS(Home).

Team Outlook: “We came up short in 2025 by 2 points," said coach Wilcher. “Our kids and staff still have that bad taste and feeling to finish and we play for State Titles at Mangham High School. We look to return and finish and win a Title in 2026. Kids in our program also are motivated to work even harder to get back to the Superdome in 2026.” “What I like seeing this Spring is that our guys push one another in everything we do as a team.”

Everything will center around one of the most athletic Quarterbacks you will see in Louisiana in 2026, Colby Casey 5'10" 180 pounds with legit 4.55 speed in the forty (ran for over 1,500 yards and threw for over 2,000 yards in 2025). Colby Casey will be entering his 3rd year as the starting QB in the program, which is huge for the Dragons, his experience leading this team. Moving to RB and still playing Linebacker will be 4th-year starter leader Cade Poland, who has been named All-State twice and All-District 3 times in his career. Cade Poland is 6'1" 220 pounds, and Coach Wilcher told me he got faster in the offseason, running now a legit 4.65 in the forty.

The skill talent in this program reminds you of some Class 5A teams you will see, not in depth but in talent at a high level. You have WR/DB Rayon Bell 6'0" 160 pounds, 4.5 speed in the forty, DB/WR Ty Wilcher 6'0" 175 pounds, over 700 yards receiving and 12 Touchdowns in 2025, 4.6 football speed, with good hands, WR/DB K.J. Mitchell 5'10" 185 pounds, special player, 4.45 speed or faster, tough, strong Josh Allen CB/Safety 5'6" 175 pounds, CB Tyler Gix 6'1" 160 pounds, CB Trent Gix 6'2" 165 pounds, and Safety Nolan Gandy 5'10" 185 pounds.

Key linemen and Linebackers returning are OT Jalen Williams 6'4" 270 pounds, 3-year starter, OG Tyler Asburry 6'1" 240 pounds, OT Sal Sanchez 6'2" 280 pounds, OG Ammon Williams 6'3" 285 pounds, moving to Center Grant Middleton 6'3" 265 pounds, DE Jamarrion Lawrence 6'1" 220 pounds, DE Maddox Williams 6'4" 280 pounds, DE Cadyn Harrison 6'0" 195 pounds, 4.6 speed in the forty, LB Branten Twiner 5'8" 180 pounds, and rotating in DE Antonio Mitchell 5'10" 180 pounds.

Special Teams will be strong with Murphy Greene returning at Kicker with a good leg. Punter will be Colby Casey. In the return game, you have Ty Wilcher, K.J. Mitchell, and Rayon Bell, all can take it to the house at any given time.

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Rayville Hornets

| Brandyn Thompson

| Photo by: teeayy.wrld

Head Coach:Lynn Middleton (1^st year)

2025 Record:0-10

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Bastrop HS(Home), Week 2 General Trass HS(Away), Week 3 Caldwell HS(Home), Week 4 Cedar Creek HS(Away), Week 5 Magnolia HS(Away).

Team Outlook: “We don’t have  a Quarterback starter yet still have 3 players we are looking at going into the Summer competing at the position,” said coach Middelton. “We do have some depth at the Running Back position.” “Like most small schools we are short on depth when it comes to Lineman both sides of the football.” “That is our biggest concern right now.” “Not the talent level,but the numbers overall.” “Our Defense should lead us in 2026.” “Will be difficult to throw the ball on us and we fly to the ball pretty well as a Defense.” “We just need to stay healthy with all our Lineman having to start both sides of the football same kids.”

Like coach said, they have talent but just need to keep the starters they do have healthy, and if they can, might surprise some people in 2026. Key players to watch in 2026 will be WR/DB Braylon Booker 6'0" 170 pounds, 4.5 speed in the forty, OT/DL Brandyn Thompson 6'4" 250 pounds, OG/DL Jahyem Wilson 5'10" 295 pounds, DE/LB Justavious Reynolds 6'2" 215 pounds, TE/DE Brice Blackmon 6'2" 220 pounds, WR Jadarrius Natt 5'10" 165 pounds, DT Jayden Williams 6'0" 245 pounds, and RB/CB Malik Potts 6'1" 190 pounds.

Vidalia Vikings

Head Coach:Michael Burget(1^st year)

2025 Record:2-8

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 St. Mary’s HS(Home), Week 2 Delta Charter HS(Away), Week 3 General Trass HS(Home), Week 4 Block HS(Away), Week 5 D’Arbonne Woods HS(Home)

Team Outlook: “We have support here starting a Booster Club 1^st time but this is not an overnight fix,” said coach Burget. “The goal is to find a way to get to the playoffs in 2026.” “My background coaching in Texas for 34 years where I retired. My teams play tough and we had aggressive teams.” “I last coached in Texas at a school called Weslaco East High School near South Padre Island.” “We need to be more aggressive than our opponent  and make discipline the number one goal as a program.”

The Offense will have a Quarterback battle for the position: Shaun Washington 5'11" 160 pounds and QB Xavier Walker 6'1" 185 pounds. Both will play somewhere if not at QB in 2026.

The run game, you have RB Carlos King 5'11" 180 pounds, RB Jairon Lee 5'10" 170 pounds, and Athlete/RB/WR/Safety/CB Champ Blanton 5'7" 140 pounds, who had a great offseason. The Linemen in the program will be the strength of the team, led by OL/DL Xavier Gamble 6'0" 325 pounds, OL Jarrett Wooten 6'1" 320 pounds, OL Lucas Johnese 6'0" 270 pounds, OG Ace Brixbey 5'7" 225 pounds, OT Darius Lyle 6'6" 290 pounds, Center Jarvel Smith 5'8" 225 pounds, OL/DL Tyrell England 5'9" 210 pounds, and TE/DE Jayden Lee 6'0" 210 pounds, best Defensive Lineman in the program.

More players to watch are CB Keilen Washington 6'0" 180 pounds, CB/WR Joseph Jordan 5'7" 150 pounds, CB/WR Jayden Gaines 6'0" 185 pounds, great offseason, WR Noah Lyle 5'7" 155 pounds, good hands with 4.5 speed in the forty, OLB Xavier Johnson 5'10" 170 pounds, and a few younger players competing in the Fall.

Special Teams: Starting Kicker will be Abraham Pacheco 5'6" 140 pounds, tough kid with a good leg. In the return game, you have Champ Blanton as a Punt Returner and Kick Returner with the ability to break long returns in 2026.

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