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

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District 4

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Church Point Battlin Bears

| Noah Wiltz

| Photo by: shotbykeils

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Head Coach:Rob Pool(4^th year)

2025 Record:9-3

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round beat North Webster HS, and 2^nd Round lost to Loreauville HS

Signees Colleges: QB Luke Bauboin (Huntington College in Alabama), and Athlete Jarrison Reese(Basketball BR CC)

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Jennings HS(Away), Week 2 Notre Dame HS(Home), Week 3 Rayne HS(Home), and Week 6 Holy Savior Menard HS(Home)

Team Outlook: “Unique situation the last 2 years we return a lot of players with starting experience,” said coach Pool. “These kids have been in battles, playoffs and big games so they have the experience and know how to put the extra work that we need in to be in great shape and work even harder to get to the top .” “I am happy by the way our kids come to work knowing what it takes to be successful  since the season ended in 2025.”

The new starting Quarterback will be Grant Bertrand 5'8" 165 pounds, who was able to start 3 games in 2025 because of an injury to the starter, which will pay off for him in 2026. There are quite a few players back with experience at the skill positions like CB Blathon Citizen 5'11" 180 pounds, 4.45 speed in the forty; FB/RB Caden Miller 5'8" 185 pounds; WR/Safety Kylan Monroe 5'11" 160 pounds, a 3-year starter; WR Damarcus Boast 5'5" 155 pounds, a 3-year starter; Safety Caiden Boudreaux 5'10" 175 pounds; Safety Eli Barousse 5'8" 165 pounds, big-time hitter; WR Noah Wiltz 6'1" 175 pounds; DB/WR M.J. Logan 5'6" 130 pounds, lockdown CB; RB/DB Whit Stelly 5'6" 148 pounds; RB Haison Lopez 5'8" 180 pounds; and RB Daylon Leger 5'9" 175 pounds, who will all rotate in to get reps.

Key Linemen, Linebackers, and Tight Ends/Fullbacks to watch are OLB Wesley Kirkpatrick 6'2" 180 pounds, a 3-year starter; LB David Jenkins 5'10" 175 pounds, a 3-year starter and All-District in both 2024 and 2025; MLB Kingston Bellard 5'11" 190 pounds; OG/DT Elijah Savoie 6'1" 300 pounds, a 3-year starter; LB Callen Meche 6'1" 185 pounds; OG/DE Jacob Wiltz 5'11" 185 pounds; Center/OG Brandt LeJeune 5'11" 220 pounds, a 3-year starter; DE/TE Landon Chavis 6'3" 255 pounds; OG/DT Jeremiah Boyd 6'0" 285 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader (squats 715 pounds, benches 400 pounds, and deadlifts 800 pounds); OG Slade Stelly 5'11" 290 pounds, a 3-year starter; and OG/Center Herbert Willoughby 6'3" 210 pounds, a 3-year starter.

Special Teams will be strong, led by 3-year starting Kicker Seth Alleman 5'8" 170 pounds. Alleman will also handle the punting duties.

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Crowley Gents

Head Coach:Joel Sinclair(1^st year)

2025 Record:2-8

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Rayne HS(Home), Week 2 North Vermillion HS(Away), Week 3 Breaux Bridge HS(Home) and Week 4 Lagrange HS(Away)

Team Outlook: I had a chance to talk to the Crowley assistant coaches before coach Sinclair got hired and here’s what they thought of the team coming back. “We have to be good in 2026.” “I think a 5-5 record and making the playoffs could be reachable next year if the team comes together and stays healthy.”

New Head Coach Joel Sinclair is a 1992 alum of Crowley High School, where he was an All-State Offensive Lineman and signed with Michigan State out of high school. Coach Sinclair was coaching in 2025 at Wingfield High School in Mississippi and also coached track.

On Offense, you could see several players at Quarterback, or it could be star athlete and leader Ja'Mikel Walters, who does everything for the team at 5'7" 170 pounds. Walters can play QB/CB/WR/RB—anywhere the team needs him. The program has some talent, but a few players will have to play both sides of the football.

Several players the team will count on at different positions are WR/CB Oliver Price 5'10" 175 pounds; OG/DT Noah Guidry 6'1" 245 pounds; WR/DB Kmari Jason 6'0" 175 pounds; OL/DL Makai Trailor 6'3" 290 pounds; LB/RB Isiah Keithman 5'10" 215 pounds; CB/WR Jylan Joseph 6'1" 192 pounds; DE/TE Jayden James 6'1" 220 pounds; CB/WR Jeremy Evans 5'10" 175 pounds; CB/Athlete Savion Wyatt 5'9" 165 pounds; OL/DL Alejandro Rodriguez 6'0" 245 pounds; OL/DL Aidan Adams 5'9" 215 pounds; OL/DL Darrius Harrison 6'0" 230 pounds; LB/RB Dai'Jean Brown 5'7" 160 pounds; CB Sabian Jordan 5'11" 180 pounds; WR/DB Wyatt Cundiff 5'9" 160 pounds; LB/K/P Brayden Romero 5'10" 175 pounds; and a few new players competing for playing time on both sides of the football.

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Eunice Bobcats

| Head Coach Andre Vige and Former Head Coach Paul Trosclair

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

| Tommy Black

| Photo by: Dahlia Jones

Head Coach:Andre Vige(7^th year)

2025 Record:4-6

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round lost to DeRidder HS.

2026  Non District Games: Week 1 Bunkie HS(Home), Week 2 Jennings HS(Home), Week 3 Kinder HS(Away), Week 4 Rayne(Away)

Team Outlook: “We have a veteran team coming back," said coach Vige. “A few players have 3 years of experience and we also drop down in class from 4A to 3A and in a smaller District which I think will help us. The biggest problem we will face all year is that we are small in size with our overall lineman and as a program.”

The Offense will have a new QB and a QB battle through the Summer with Beau Brown 6'1" 165 pounds and QB Isaiah Joseph 5'7" 150 pounds. Both kids are capable of playing another position if they don't win the QB job. Joseph has experience at RB in his career. One of the key players in the trenches and biggest leaders on the team returns in DT/OT Liam Schuest 5'10" 225 pounds, senior.

More players to keep an eye on are go-to WR Brighton LaDay 6'1" 175 pounds, the team's biggest playmaker with 4.5 speed in the forty; LB Jacobie Fontenot 5'11" 185 pounds; Safety Tommy Black 5'8" 175 pounds; RB Malik Thomas 5'9" 155 pounds, starting RB; RB Deventre Williams 5'6" 165 pounds, a CB in 2025; RB Jaquan Calloway 5'8" 160 pounds; Center Tyler Coward 6'0" 240 pounds; LB Ryan Guillory 6'1" 175 pounds; OG Hunter Abbott 5'6" 165 pounds; TE/FB Austin Francois 5'11" 200 pounds; CB DeMarkis Williams 5'11" 145 pounds; OL/DL Nick Decquir 6'0" 210 pounds; WR Romelo Godoine 6'0" 165 pounds; CB Xavier Malveaux 5'8" 140 pounds; OT/DE Caleb Haley 6'2" 215 pounds, senior leader; and Safety Logan White 5'8" 145 pounds, 2nd-year starter.

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Iota Bulldogs

Head Coach:Ray Aucoin(5^th year)

2025 Record:4-6

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round loss to Lutcher HS

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 J.S Clark HS(Away), Week 2 Sulphur HS(Away), Week 7 Port Barre HS(Away)

Team Outlook: “We played for a District Title for the 4^th year in a row in 2025,” said coach Aucoin. “In 2025 we started mostly 14 and 15 year old kids in the program on varsity.”  “We also had a ton of injuries in 2025.”  “I am proud of what the kids were able to do with everything we went through last year.” “We are now older with tons of experience and the kids want to win a bunch of games in 2026.” 

The Bulldogs return, like coach said, a lot of experience from the 2025 season, and you will see a few players play both sides of the football, not because they have to, but because coach said this team is on a mission to have a great year in 2026 and his best players want to give it their all to help the program go deep into the playoffs.

There's a few players to choose from at the skill spots, and the team will be led by one of the most athletic players in the District in Quarterback Dace Fuselier 6'0" 170 pounds, a returning starter with a good arm and great feet in the pocket.

More players to watch in 2026 are RB Lance LeJeune 6'0" 180 pounds; WR/DB Rance LeJeune 5'7" 140 pounds; DB Landon Ward 6'1" 170 pounds; WR/TE Kaylor Broussard 5'9" 180 pounds (300 yards receiving in 2025); WR Braxton Meagher 5'9" 160 pounds; RB Jakson Yeager 5'10" 180 pounds; LB Colt Cormier 5'10" 170 pounds, 3-year starter, leader; DB/WR Hudson Daigle 6'0" 170 pounds; Center/DT Ian Lacombe 6'1" 205 pounds; DE Landon LaCombe 5'9" 170 pounds; OL/DL/LB Inman Douget 5'9" 225 pounds; DE Preston LeJeune 6'0" 170 pounds, 4.6 speed in the forty; Safety/QB/RB Braylon Darbonne 5'9" 160 pounds; TE/OT/DE Noah Deloach 6'0" 200 pounds; OT Onezime Richard 6'0" 205 pounds; DT Ian Hogg 5'11" 240 pounds, 3-year starter, leader; OG Dylan Domingue 5'9" 160 pounds, one of the strongest players in Louisiana pound for pound; OT Parker Miller 5'11" 190 pounds; LB Liam Gordon 6'0" 180 pounds, tough leader; DT/OT Aidyn Pousson 6'4" 265 pounds; CB/WR/TE Riley Jones 6'0" 165 pounds; RB/Safety Aiden Guillory 5'9" 155 pounds; and Center/OG Lane Andrus 5'9" 170 pounds.

Special Teams will be a strong unit again, led by Kicker Brayden Dooley 5'9" 145 pounds, who also plays Defensive Back for the team, and Punter Riley Jones. In the return game, playmaker Rance LeJeune will be back along with a few players capable of being in the punt and kick return units.

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Mamou Demons

Head Coach:Daniel Scully(1^st year)

2025 Record:4-6

Signees Colleges:RB Keontez Campbell(Graceland U)

2026  Non District Games: Week 1 Port Barre HS (Home), Week 2 Opelousas Catholic HS (Away), Week 3 Booker T. Washington New Orleans (Home), and Week 5 Rayne HS(Away).

Team Outlook: “Since I was hired here at Mamou High School I have seen we want to win but need to learn how to win,” said coach Scully Marksville High School (Offensive Coordinator in 2025). “Our goal mindset will be competitive as a team/ program and will play to win all 10 games every week.” “We will put in a new 4 man front Defense in 2026  and run a Spread Offense.” “ I am also very encouraged about our younger players coming up in the program. We have 48 players for Spring and expect about 60 players total in the Fall.”

The Offense will build around 3-year starting Quarterback Jayden Ardoin, returning at 6'2" 170 pounds with 4.6 speed in the forty and a good arm. The program also has one of the best Running Backs in the state, Zamurri Brown (1,022 career rushing yards as a RB; 1,306 receiving yards with 61 career receptions as a WR), a 4-year starter that has rare power and speed and has a chance to be one of the most gifted players I have seen come out of Mamou High School at 5'10" 205 pounds with 4.59 speed in the forty.

More athletes to watch are WR Tyrian Ardoin 6'1" 160 pounds; WR/CB Kevin Jason 5'8" 150 pounds, 4.5 speed; TE Layne Gremillion 6'1" 170 pounds, 4.79 speed, returning starter; RB/LB Branigan Berzas 6'0" 170 pounds, a 3-year starter in the program with power and speed; RB/HB Decordyon Arceneaux 5'11" 185 pounds, new starter; WR Quay Malveaux 5'10" 150 pounds, new starter; DB Zay Mose 5'11" 160 pounds, new starter; FS Jamarion Edward 5'11" 150 pounds, new starter; CB Ernest Dugas 6'2" 175 pounds, new starter, great athlete; and more younger players competing throughout the Fall.

Key Linemen in the program are 4-year starter and leader OG Eli Miller 6'0" 255 pounds, also a Defensive End for the team with great feet, a high-effort kid; 3-year starter OT/DT Jamauri Fisher 6'3" 265 pounds, tough kid; DT/NG Semaj Ben 6'0" 280 pounds, 2nd-year starter; DE Ian Tezeno 6'1" 180 pounds; OL/DL Ethan Jason 5'11" 250 pounds, new starter; and new starter OL Monte Fisher 6'0" 198 pounds. More young linemen in the Fall will need to step up to provide depth for the program, with some players competing for starting jobs.

Special Teams: The Kicker job is wide open after Spring, and the Punter should be Eli Miller.

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Northwest Raiders

| Head Coach Chris Edwards

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

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Head Coach:Chris Edwards(13^th year)

2025 Record:7-5

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round beat South Lafourche HS, and 2^nd Round lost to Iowa HS.

Signees Colleges:RB Ke’Von Johnson(Louisiana Christian),and WR/DB Reginald Lavergne(U of Charleston)

Team Outlook: “Will be very competitive,” said coach Edwards. “2025 was a rebuilding year for us.” “The key is to stay healthy in 2026.” “Keep the ball rolling to compete for championships.” “We will have 30 seniors take the field at some point in 2026 excited about that.”

The Raiders have a pretty good problem in 2026 with two incredible Quarterbacks, both with experience returning. In 2025, Chaise Dupre 5'10" 150 pounds (13 Touchdowns and 888 total yards) and 2nd-year starter Justin Chavis 5'7" 155 pounds are both dual threats. Both Quarterbacks can extend plays with their arm and feet.

The Raiders will return a great group of skill players on both sides of the football with experience and as good of a group as you will see in all of Class 3A, led by WR Markez Davis 6'3" 185 pounds, 4.45 speed, big-time gifted, and the sky is the limit for this kid. He was All-District/All-State in 2025 and could end up All-State again in 2026; SS/FS Jermaine Clark 6'1" 178 pounds, All-District in 2025; WR Mh'y Kael Richard 6'4" 175 pounds; CB Keadon Jenkins 6'3" 175 pounds; CB Landon James 6'1" 175 pounds; CB/Safety Jonreyon Freeman 5'9" 150 pounds; RB/OLB Frederick Niner 5'10" 206 pounds, All-District, leader of the team with over 160 tackles since the 2024 season combined; RB Jayden Lazard 5'8" 160 pounds, 4.43 speed in the forty; RB/WR Chris Cane 5'8" 160 pounds; and WR Peyton Johnson 6'3" 170 pounds.

Key Linemen, Tight Ends, and Linebackers back to lead this team are All-District OG/OC Justin Manuel 5'10" 230 pounds; OL Carson Williams 5'8" 230 pounds, All-District; OG Christian Huerta 5'11" 250 pounds, 2nd Team All-District; OL Nicholas Jackson 5'8" 215 pounds; DT/OL Jylon Lewis 6'1" 230 pounds; OC/FB Logan Moore 6'0" 240 pounds; DT Damon Jones 6'1" 230 pounds; DT Ty Savoy 6'0" 230 pounds; DE/LB Cameron J. Dawkins 6'0" 190 pounds; LB Malik Jones 5'11" 180 pounds; LB Marcus Sam 5'11" 200 pounds; LB Mason Johnson 6'1" 205 pounds; and Tight End Camron Wilson 6'1" 210 pounds, rotating in.

Special Teams starting Kicker and Punter will be returning starter Ga'Von Fontenot 5'10" 150 pounds. The team has two really good Long Snappers in Kaleb Mott 5'9" 210 pounds and Logan Moore.

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Pine Prairie Panthers

Head Coach:Lance Myers(3^rd year)

2025 Record:0-10

2026 Non District Games:Week 1 Pickering HS (Away), Week 2 Merryville HS (Away), Week 3 Ringgold HS (Home), Week 4 Northwood Lena HS (Home), Week 5 Gueydan HS (Away), Week 6 Plain Dealing HS (Away), Week 7 Delhi HS (Home), and Week 8 East Beauguard HS(Away).

Team Outlook: “20 years ago Pine Prairie High School started Football," said coach Myers.” “We will not play for District in 2026 and 2027 to give this program time to build up its numbers so we can compete with the District teams that have 60 to 80 players compared to our 27 to 30 players we have right now.” “So we went out and made a schedule in 2025 with teams similar in numbers to our program so we can compete and we think it will help our program grow into great numbers by the year  2027. 35 to 55 to maybe even in the 70’s is the goal.” “Most of our starters in 2026 will be majority Sophomores and Juniors throughout the lineup.” “We will go to more of a three four scheme on Defense in 2026.” “The boys have been working extremely hard and are ready to finally take the next step improving the program.” “They are learning  what it’s like to commit to the process on how to do things.” 

Head Coach Lance Myers enters his 19th year as a coach and 7th year as a Head Coach. He played for Iota High School as a player in a State Title game. I think Coach Myers is on a mission to get the program where it needs to go in the future, and I think he will do that.

The Offense will be led by Quarterback Kameren Guillory 5'11" 145 pounds, the leading candidate to start after Spring. Then you have talented QB Ryan Newman 6'1" 180 pounds also competing, and he will play some WR for the team too.

More key players to watch in 2026 are WR/DB Keadon Blood 6'1" 160 pounds; WR/DB Parker West 5'6" 130 pounds; WR/DB Aiden Le 5'7" 145 pounds; OL/DL Landon Laborde 5'11" 180 pounds; RB/LB Hunter Comeaux 5'7" 150 pounds; OL/LB Kasyn Ware 6'1" 207 pounds; WR/DB Jacob Carroll 5'7" 135 pounds; and TE/LB Leighton Odom 6'4" 180 pounds.

Special Teams is wide open and should be decided this Summer or early Fall.

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Ville Platte Bulldogs

Head Coach:Roy Serie(2^nd year) 9 years total. 2007/2012 and 2020/2022

2025 Record:4-6

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round lost to Loreauville HS

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Avoyelles HS(Home), Week 2 New Iberia HS(Away), Week 3 North Vermillion HS(Away).

Team Outlook: “I was hired in July of 2025 which was my third time now as head coach of Ville Platte High School,” said coach Serie.  “I am proud of the large senior class. We graduated 19 players from a talented group that helped the program get to the playoffs in 2025.” “We will have mostly new starters in 2026 and will lean heavily on some younger players for overall depth.”

Three key players back as starters will lead this program at multiple positions: RB/LB Kendarius Doucet 5'10" 170 pounds, senior, starting his 5th year with 4.59 speed; new starting QB Michael Zion Thomas 6'0" 170 pounds, senior, who was mostly a WR in 2025 but has experience at QB; and RB/QB/WR Isiah Seri 6'0" 175 pounds. All will be building blocks to lead the younger players in 2026.

More players to watch in 2026 are WR/SS Elijah Buxton 5'10" 155 pounds; WR/DB Landon Papillion 5'9" 160 pounds; WR/CB Tommy Murray 5'8" 155 pounds; RB Treminsky Bob 5'10" 165 pounds; WR/Safety Aaron Seriale 6'1" 170 pounds; WR/SS Keelan Thomas 6'0" 175 pounds; WR/CB Raylion Gallow 6'2" 180 pounds; Center Kendall Celestine 6'0" 180 pounds; OT/DT Keith Doucet 6'0" 220 pounds; OG/DT Ay'dyen Serialle 5'11" 240 pounds; and OG/DL/RB Kaiden Freeman 5'9" 185 pounds.

Special Teams: Punter will be Ay'dyen Serialle, and possibly the Kicker too. In the return game will be Tommy Murray with 4.45 speed and Kendarius Doucet with 4.59 speed, both big-time playmakers for the program.

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