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

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District 7

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Basile Bearcat

Head Coach:Josh Andrus(1^st year)

2025 Record:5-6

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

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Elton HS (Away), Week 2 Beau Chene HS (Away), Week 3 Rosepine HS (Home), Week 4 Port Barre, Week 5 Oberlin HS (Home), and Week 9 Ville Platte (Home)

Team Outlook: “Looking to be competitive and prepared for every game we play in 2026,” said coach Andrus. “We will also play hard as a team and the whole game week to week.” “The Offense will go from power in 2025 to more Multiple and some Spread that fits the personnel we have in 2026.”

Key players to watch will be returning starting Quarterback Ricky Malone 5'7" 155 pounds, WR/DB Marcus Evans 5'8" 150 pounds, returning starter, RB Landon Johnson 5'10" 170 pounds, RB/LB Carter Darbonne 5'9" 175 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader, DB/WR Landon Fontenot 5'8" 155 pounds, RB/LB Logan Bergeron 5'5" 175 pounds, RB/LB Alex Palacios 5'10" 165 pounds, returning starter, OL/DL Christian Guillory 6'3" 270 pounds, Center/DT Gabe David 5'8" 225 pounds, returning starter, OL/DL William Ashford 5'8" 175 pounds, returning starter, OL/DL Zachary Mason 6'5" 265 pounds, returning starter, WR/DB Braylin Richardson 5'9" 170 pounds, OL/DL Ethan David 6'0" 190 pounds, new starter, and TE/LB Eli Lebouef 6'0" 180 pounds, starter.

Special Teams: Starting Kicker will be returning starter Alex Palacios.

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Kinder Yellow Jackets

| Isaiah Thomas

| Photo by: Abby Fontenot

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| Paxton Pierotti

| Photo by: Abby Fontenot/Sophie Bruchhaus

| Bryson Eaglin

| Photo by: Abby Fontenot

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Head Coach:Justin Reed(4^th year)

2025 Record:11-1. District 4-0

2025 Playoffs: 2^nd Round beat Kaplan HS, and Quarterfinals lost to Union Parish HS 20-14 in Overtime

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Westlake HS(Away), Week 2 Northwest HS(Home), Week 3 Eunice HS(Home), Week 4 Lake Charles Prep HS(Away), Week 5 Bunkie HS(Away) Week 7 DeRidder HS(Home)

Team Outlook: “We have a lot of production returning, but we do have question marks," said coach Reed. “ “Trying players out in different spots.” “ We have an old team. It gives you hope to lean on past experiences to grow and be your best at the end of the year.” 

The program does return one of the best players in the District, if not the best player, in Quarterback Isaiah Thomas 6'1" 210 pounds, a 4-year starter, leader, District MVP on Offense in 2025, and has all the tools I think to be a DI starting QB. I think this kid is special from what I saw in 2025 from in-game film. Thomas had 1,800 yards passing with 640 yards rushing in 2025. Thomas is one of those rare Athletes you can't defend when he is running and throwing the football.

More key players to watch in 2026 are LB/FB Paxton Pierotti 6'0" 200 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader, FB/LB Bryson Eaglin 5'11" 210 pounds, a 3-year starter, DE Vince Gonzales 6'2" 215 pounds, CB Gare May 5'10" 165 pounds, 4.55 speed in the forty, WR/CB Josh Roane 5'11" 165 pounds, TE/FB Gage Hayes 6'1" 215 pounds, a tough 3-year starter, DT Eli Fontenot 5'9" 275 pounds, OL Kenny Hyatt 6'2" 245 pounds, WR Kaleb Jacob 6'0" 185 pounds, FS Wyatt Howell 6'2" 175 pounds, DE Taiven Ceasar 6'2" 235 pounds, OL Jackson Crawford 6'1" 280 pounds, and OL Owen Jennings 6'3" 305 pounds.

Special Teams: Starting Kicker will be Angel Tzul 5'8" 155 pounds.

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Lake Arthur Tigers

| Wyatt Monceaux

| Photo by: Brooke Hornsby

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Head Coach:Cody Gueringer(1^st year)

2025 Record:5-6

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round lost to Welsh HS

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Holy Savior Menard HS (Away), Week 2 DeQuincy HS (Home), Week 3 Iota HS(Home), Week 4 Oakdale HS(Home), Week 5 Covenant Christian HS (Away).

Team Outlook: “The Community is in place with support to be very successful here,” said coach Gueringer. “Lake Arthur is a small town with really good athletes and they do a good job of keeping the players and students here in the Community.” “We tell the kids to play football not as a hobby but love the game and have that mindset of love for the game to bring the passion which creates stability and commitment for the program to do well.” “If the kids buy in we can be pretty good in 2026.” 

The Offense returns one of the best in the District in Running Back Jaydon Prudhomme 5'10" 200 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader for the program. The Defense is led by leader senior Linebacker/TE Wyatt Monceaux 5'10" 205 pounds, the leading tackler in 2025 with 97 tackles. Monceaux will be entering his 3rd year as the starter and is the QB of the Defense.

More players to watch are WR Kyson Daniel 6'3" 195 pounds, DE Brock Onellion 6'4" 190 pounds, OG/DE Landen Daigle 5'10" 200 pounds, Safety Owen Blanchard 5'9" 175 pounds, Center Cy Breaux 5'10" 250 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader, OG Aiden Simon 5'9" 225 pounds, leader, 3-year starter, new starting Quarterback Gabe Turner 5'10" 170 pounds, a 4-year starter at WR/CB in 2025, LB/RB Tyler Campbell 5'11" 185 pounds, a 3-year starter, OG Aiden Thibodeaux 5'10" 185 pounds, OL Alister Guidry 5'9" 235 pounds, LB Koy Hornsby 5'10" 180 pounds, WR Austin Abshire 5'9" 170 pounds, and WR Kam Robinson 5'9" 180 pounds.

Special Teams: Starter at both Kicker and Punter will be Tucker Betrand 5'10" 165 pounds.

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Notre Dame Pioneers

| Jack Vondenstein

| Photo provided by Jack Vondenstein

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| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

Head Coach:Lewis Cook(29^th year)

2025 Record:11-2

2025 Playoffs: 2^nd Round beat De La Salle HS, Quarterfinals beat Lafayette Renaissance Charter HS, and Semifinals lost to Calvary Baptist HS 34-28 in overtime.

Signees Colleges: Athlete Drew Lejeune(LSU Eunice Baseball),

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Northwest HS(Away), Week 2 Church Point HS(Away), Week 3 Catholic New Iberia HS(Home), Week 4  Teurlings Catholic HS(Home), Week 5 Cecilia HS(Home),and Week 6 Abbeville HS(Home).

Team Outlook: “2025 team kids did a great job going back to discipline, play and structure,” said coach Cook. “2026 players need to play at that high level and our key is players to stay healthy.” “We return 8 starters on Defense and the Defense will have to carry us to start the 2026 season.”

Head Coach Lewis Cook has over 400 career wins, which is third all-time in High School football records in Louisiana currently. I was able to sit down and meet with coach in the early Spring at Notre Dame High School, and he’s one of the most professional and knowledgeable coaches in the US. If this team stays healthy, like coach said, they could be playing for a State Title this year.

The Offense will have a new starting Quarterback Parker Menard 5'9" 165 pounds with 4.59 speed in the forty. Menard is not completely new. He started 2 games in 2025 and looked really good. The run game will have a chance to be strong, led by RB William Lavergne 5'10" 185 pounds, senior, FB Sam Prevost 5'10" 205 pounds, RB/WR Gavin Thomas 5'5" 150 pounds, and rotating in RB Braxton Meche 6'0" 180 pounds. The Wide Receiver room, you have WR Julian Duhon 5'10" 165 pounds, WR Luke Frank 5'9" 165 pounds, had a great Spring, and WR Luke Swacker 6'3" 190 pounds. The Offensive Line has a chance to be the strong point of the Offense with size and experience back, led by OL Scott Sibley 6'4" 295 pounds, OL Brodie Lejeune 6'3" 255 pounds, OG Brayan Jasso-Frey 5'10" 255 pounds, OL Jackson Gautreaux 6'7" 315 pounds, and two players competing to rotate in, Cohen Andrus 5'10" 270 pounds and OL Gregory Dugas 5'10" 215 pounds. At Tight End/Fullback, you have Gabe Smith 6'0" 190 pounds, TE Jake Cantrell 6'3" 190 pounds, and 2-way starter, leader FB/TE Jack Vondenstein 6'1" 205 pounds.

The Linebacker group, always a strength for this program's Defense for many years, will be strong again, led by LB Jack Vondenstein 6'1" 205 pounds, over 100 tackles in 2025, LB Dallas Beslin 5'7" 185 pounds, LB Jude Duplechin 6'2" 190 pounds, LB/DE Jack Murray 5'11" 185 pounds, and DE/DT Thomas Andrus 5'11" 210 pounds. The rest of the Defense to watch will be DT Drake Bertrand 5'10" 185 pounds, DT Drewe Bertrand 5'10" 185 pounds, SS Jackson Trahan 5'11" 170 pounds, SS Brayden Frey 5'7" 170 pounds, CB Maddox Morgan 5'11" 170 pounds, CB Grant Dore 6'0" 160 pounds, and two players rotating on the field a lot, Safety/CB Ashton Leleux 5'9" 170 pounds and Safety Major Lavergne 5'7" 170 pounds.

Special Teams: Starting Kicker will be Ty Savant 5'10" 160 pounds, and Punter will be Drake Bertrand. In the return game, you will see Gavin Thomas as a Punt Returner with speed.

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Welsh Greyhounds

| Grant Haydel

| Photo by: Renee Benoit

Head Coach: Ronnie Courville(4^th year)

2025 Record: 5-7

2025 Playoffs: 1^st Round beat Lake Arthur HS, and 2^nd Round loss to Logansport HS.

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Abbeville HS(Away), Week 2 Opelousas Catholic HS(Home), Week 3 Jennings HS(Away), Week 4 Vermillion Catholic HS(Home), Week 5 DeQuincy HS(Away), Week 7 Washington Marion HS(Home).

Team Outlook: “Kids are excited and motivated with great attendance over the Summer workouts,” said coach Courville. “We have  a big senior class returning(17 players), and excited about the upcoming season.”

The program will be led again by Quarterback Grant Haydell 6'2" 170 pounds, had over 1,500 yards passing in 2025 and really runs the Offense well with a chance to have even a bigger year in 2026. There are several skill starters back with experience: 4-year starter FS/WR/RB Jordan Strong 6'2" 200 pounds, senior leader on both sides of the football, RB/LB Azarias Bennett 5'9" 175 pounds, 3-year starter, WR/RB Vince Bagala 5'9" 175 pounds, big-time playmaker, had over 800 yards receiving in 2025, RB/LB Jakyrin Woodard 6'1" 180 pounds, really good Athlete, broke the single-game rushing record in 2025 with 300 yards in one game, WR/CB Devanta Castille 5'11" 185 pounds, 3-year starter, leader, and RB/Safety Hunter Lejeune 5'9" 168 pounds, 2nd-year starter.

Coach Courville told me the strength of the team will be the Offensive Line with most of the starters back, led by OG/DT Noah Lefrane 5'7" 210 pounds, OL Tanner Lejeune 5'11" 250 pounds, OG/OC/DT Hagun Bryant 5'10" 240 pounds, OL Jackson Trahan 5'11" 210 pounds, and rotating in OL Brody Jagneaux 5'7" 235 pounds and OL Austin Pope 6'3" 180 pounds. More key Linemen and Linebackers back are TE/LB/DE Levi Mallett 5'7" 190 pounds and LB Owen Davis 5'7" 165 pounds.

Special Teams: The Kicking job is open, and the Punter should be Bryson Prudhomme 6'2" 175 pounds, also a WR for the team. Long Snapper will be Owen Davis. In the return game, you have returning Devanta Castille, a big-time playmaker anytime he touches the ball.

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