Louisiana Football Magazine 2026 Class 4A Football Preview (Written by Lee Brecheen)

District 3

Lagrange Gators

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| Landon Mitchell

| Photo provided by Landon Mitchell

Head Coach: Idaibi Ogbanga(4^th year)

2025 Record: 1-9

Signees Colleges: Athlete Dylan Bertrand (Arkansas Baptist)

2026 Non District Games:Week 1 Washington Marion HS(Away), Week 2 Westlake HS(Away), Week 3 St.Louis HS(Home), Week 4 Peabody HS(Home), Week 5 Vinton HS(Home)

Team Outlook: “If we stay healthy we can win games in 2026," said coach Ogbanga. “We have our starting Quarterback back which is big for us and most of our Offensive and Defensive Lines also come back.” “We also return some of our top Wide Receivers and Running Backs.”

The Gators' skill talent will be as good as anyone in the District, led by All-District CB/WR Landon Mitchell (8 interceptions with 600 yards receiving in 2025). Mitchell is 5'10" 155 pounds with legit 4.5 speed in the forty; RB/WR/SS James Butler 5'6" 160 pounds returns for his 4th year as a starter with 4.5 speed, determined runner, leader; QB Jaiden Jones 6'1" 155 pounds, returning starter, leader; CB/RB Bryce Riggs 5'6" 160 pounds; WR Dylan Martin 6'1" 165 pounds; RB/LB Jamison Butler 5'6" 220 pounds; Safety/CB Travion Jackson 6'0" 160 pounds; CB Gabin Jackson 5'9" 165 pounds; RB/Safety Jaidyn Holmes 5'10" 175 pounds; and TE/DE Nathan Francois 6'4" 205 pounds.

Key Linemen and Linebackers back are DE/DT Kyle Washington 6'0" 225 pounds, 3-year starter, leader; DT/OL Courtlan Eaglin 6'2" 245 pounds, 3-year starter; OT/DT Devante Bernard 6'1" 270 pounds; OL/Center Joshua Pave 6'2" 265 pounds, 3-year starter; OT/DE Treyveon Davis 6'0" 270 pounds; OL Leniel Salaldo 6'2" 245 pounds; DT Jakyren Napleon 6'0" 250 pounds; DT/TE Jaqleon Antoine 6'0" 220 pounds; LB Brody Williams 6'0" 190 pounds; and DE Nathan Francois 6'4" 205 pounds.

Special Teams, Landon Mitchell will be the starting Kicker and Punter. Long Snapper will be Jakyren Napoleon.

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Lake Charles College Prep Trailblazers

| David Thomas

| Photo provided by David Thomas

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| Javon Vital, 

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

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| Head Coach Erick Franklin

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

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Head Coach:Erick Franklin(12^th year)

2025 Record:9-3

2025 Playoffs: 1^st Round beat Leesville HS, and 2^nd Round lost to Vandebilt Catholic HS

Signees Colleges: OT Myles Joseph(Sam Houston State), and LB Elijah Frank(Millsaps)

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Lafayette Renaissance HS(Home), Week 2 Sam Houston HS(Away), Week 3 Peabody HS(Home),and Week 5 Sterlington HS(Home)

Team Outlook: “ Focused on discipline,” said coach Franklin.” “One of the most talented teams I’ve ever coached.

The Trailblazer Offense is the most talented I have seen at the school. I had a chance to see this team play in 2025 and drove to Lake Charles in May to meet the team, and I am bought in for their chances to be in position to play for a Title in 2026. The run game has more RB depth than any team in Louisiana with incredible players like RB Javon Vital 5'9" 190 pounds, over 8,000 career rushing yards going into the 2026 season and over 10,000 total yards in his career. There is also the talented Ayden Carter 5'7" 175 pounds, who runs a legit 4.45 in the forty, looks faster on the field, and is special also. They also return Jeff Nevels 5'7" 180 pounds, who ran for over 600 yards in 2025, talented player, and they have a 4th back, Lathan Royal 5'7" 165 pounds, has 4.5 speed in the forty. The program also has two talented Quarterbacks, both can win games with experience: QB Phillip Hunter 5'11" 172 pounds, rushed for over 1,200 yards in 2025, and you also have QB Dylan Vital 6'3" 225 pounds, a pro-style passer with an SEC college build. When they do throw the ball, something they really don't have to do a lot, there's the talented WR Christian Manuel 6'0" 180 pounds, 4.5 speed, playmaker; WR Myles Simon 5'8" 160 pounds, returns; and WR Jordan Levier 5'6" 170 pounds. There's also 2-way starter DI playmaker Caiden Jones 5'11" 170 pounds back with 4.45 speed in the forty or faster. Jones was All-District in 2025 both on Offense and Defense. The Offensive Line, you have OL/DL Ayden James 5'10" 265 pounds; OT/OG Jarhyn Citizen 6'5" 303 pounds; OL Chance Chretien 6'0" 250 pounds; OL Everette York 6'3" 270 pounds; Center/OG Caron Henderson 6'1" 290 pounds; OG/OT Keith Williams 5'11" 228 pounds, newcomer to the program; and OL Tristan Rogers 5'10" 230 pounds. Also, two very good blockers, starting HB/TE/FB Ja'Corey Jack 5'11" 222 pounds and TE/HB Evin Rideaux 6'1" 215 pounds.

The Defense has a chance to be the most athletic Defense in Louisiana, led by a Secondary full of college prospects: Safety Brayden Watkins 6'0" 185 pounds; CB Caiden Jones 5'11" 170 pounds; DB David Thomas 6'1" 180 pounds; CB Braedon Reed 6'2" 180 pounds; CB Koi Fontenot 5'6" 140 pounds (100 meters, 10.5 in Track); DB Dylan Williams 5'10" 160 pounds; and DB Braylen James 5'10" 169 pounds. The front seven is also strong, led by DE/OLB Kellen Ford 6'3" 210 pounds, 4.55 speed in the forty; LB Deon Bates 5'8" 160 pounds; DT Corey Jackson 5'9" 235 pounds; DE Jayvian Henney 6'2" 200 pounds; and LB Steadman Ford 5'9" 180 pounds. These are talented players that will rotate in: LB/RB Kylon Guillory 5'9" 165 pounds; Safety Aaron Thierry 5'7" 135 pounds; CB/FS Jomond Wilkins 5'7" 155 pounds; FS/SS Tyrone Brooks 6'0" 175 pounds; and CB/SS Josiah Oliver 5'10" 160 pounds.

Special Teams Kicker and Punter should be decided over the Summer/early Fall.

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Leesville Wampus Cats

| Jakori Celestine, Jacob Pajinag

| Photo provided by Leesville

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| Maysn Escoffery Williams

| Photo provided by Maysn Escoffery Williams

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Head Coach:Robert Causey(11^th year)

2025 Record:6-6

2025 Playoffs: 1^st Round beat Kenner Discovery HS, and 2^nd Round lost to Lake Charles Prep HS.

2026 interesting Non District Games:

Class 2026 Signee: WR Michael Davis(Western Carolina)

Team Outlook: “ We just need to keep doing what we do," said coach Causey. “Try not to be complicated, on both sides of the football as a team. Keep getting better and work to become better people as a program.”

The Offense returns one of the best players in the District in Quarterback Antrel Broom 6'3" 190 pounds. Broom in 2025 had 2,400 passing yards and 3,000 total yards with 29 touchdowns and averaged 200 yards a game passing with only 6 interceptions. Broom will be a 3-year starter and the leader of this team. Top skill players back are WR Kaiden Callier 6'0" 160 pounds; big-time leader WR/SS Julius Brown 5'10" 180 pounds, 4.5 speed, had 810 yards receiving in 2025 with 10 Touchdowns and 110 tackles on Defense with 3 Interceptions, with 1,349 all-purpose yards; one of the best Running Backs in the District, RB Grant Braxton 5'6" 175 pounds, ran for 1,500 yards with 18 touchdowns in 2025, big-time player; RB/WR Javon Edwards 5'7" 150 pounds, 4.6 speed, strong kid; and CB/WR Jaylen James 5'7" 150 pounds, has legit 4.45 speed as a playmaker on both Offense and Defense. The Offensive Line will be led by Center Presley Hall 6'1" 265 pounds, a 2-year starter; OG/DT leader Jarron Eakes 5'10" 250 pounds, 3-year starter; OG/HB Hunter Garton 5'9" 240 pounds; OG Xaiden Horn 6'0" 290 pounds; and OL Kendrick Barge 5'5" 250 pounds.

The Defense will be led by their experienced Linebacker group: Maysn Escoffery Williams 6'0" 205 pounds, leader; LB Kole Cook 5'10" 195 pounds, All-District in 2025; LB Daren Lewis Brown 5'8" 205 pounds; and rotating in LB Jailen Johnson. More really good players returning are FS Jakori Celestine 6'3" 170 pounds, 2nd-year starter; CB Damien Matthews 6'0" 160 pounds, 2nd-year starter; DT Ryan McDonald 5'9" 280 pounds; FS Layton Combs 6'0" 160 pounds; SS Cameron Escoffery Smith 5'9" 160 pounds; and 2-way starters Jaylen James at CB and Julius Brown at DB.

North Vermillion Patriots

| Chase Henslee

| Photo provided by Chase Henslee

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Head Coach:Roderick Moy(3^rd year)

2025 Record:0-10

Team Outlook: “Good off season,” said coach Moy. “We had to play 15 Sophs and Freshman in 2025 and it will pay off for us in 2026.” “2026 we will have a small senior class.”

The Patriots have some really good skill players with experience, led by Quarterback Jaxsen Frederick 6'2" 175 pounds, has a really good arm and feet to run if needed; TE Eli Dubois 6'2" 185 pounds, hands and speed, 4.65 in the forty; WR Cayne Breaux 6'3" 170 pounds; FB Avery Stutes 5'11" 195 pounds (benches 300 pounds); starting RB Gage Wise, a 3-year starter with power and speed, 5'8" 185 pounds; RB Wallace Kelley 5'7" 180 pounds, explosive back; WR Jackson Simien 5'11" 165 pounds, a big playmaker with 4.55 speed; FS/WR Daegan Broussard 6'0" 170 pounds, really good athlete; CB Issac Smith 5'9" 165 pounds; CB Emmitt Simon 6'0" 175 pounds; talented RB Jaiden Payne 5'11" 190 pounds; FB/TE Kole Seibold 6'1" 215 pounds; and WR Ben Monaghan 6'0" 170 pounds, rotating in for snaps.

Key Linemen and Linebackers back are OG Aaron Smith 6'1" 270 pounds; Center Parker Broussard 6'1" 245 pounds; DE/DT Chase Henslee 5'11" 250 pounds (benches 325 pounds); DE Preston Harris 5'11" 200 pounds; DE Tremaine Cormier 6'1" 240 pounds; LB Kylon Martin 5'11" 180 pounds; LB Lane Bernard 6'0" 200 pounds; and DT Hayden Herrington 6'1" 290 pounds, a senior.

Special Teams will return one of the best Kickers in the District, Parker Romero 6'2" 175 pounds, has a 50-yard leg for Field Goals.

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Rayne Wolves

| Brody Trahan

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

Head Coach:Daniel Lotief(1^st year)

2025 Record:4-7

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round lost to Franklinton HS

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Crowley(Away), Week 2 South Beauregard HS(Home), Week 3 Church Point(Away), Week 4 Eunice HS(Home), Week 5 Mamou HS(Home), Week 8 Northwest HS(Home).

Team Outlook: “I'm excited about what we have.” “ We have great kids in the program moving forward," said coach Lotief. 

Coach spent the 2025 season coaching Quarterbacks for Louis Cook at Notre Dame High School in Crowley. His dad is Tank Lotief, who spent 12 years coaching at Kaplan High School as the head coach two different times.

The Offense for the Wolves will possibly have as many as 3 players under center at Quarterback in 2026: Dallas Beercier 5'8" 165 pounds, also a RB/DB; Austin Goins 5'11" 185 pounds, the leading candidate; and Ryken Morgan, DB/WR, can also play some Quarterback, all athletes with the ability to run and throw the football. Most of the starters will play both sides of the football, led by TE/DE Brody Trahan 6'4" 265 pounds, one of the best in Louisiana; RB/Safety Chase Cary 5'8" 170 pounds, 2nd-year starter; DT/OL Rondell Johnson 6'3" 300 pounds, 3-year starter; LB/TE Gabriel Joyner 5'10" 185 pounds; OL Reed Romero 6'0" 238 pounds, 2nd-year starter; WR/CB Lionel Francis 6'3" 165 pounds; WR/CB Tyreke Gordon 5'7" 150 pounds, 2nd-year starter; WR Lesean Leday 6'3" 165 pounds, 2nd-year starter; OL/DL Brycen Comeaux 6'3" 310 pounds; big-time leader OL/DL Nolton Senegal 6'1" 230 pounds; and DB Ashton Breaux 5'10" 150 pounds.

Special Teams, Kicker and Punter are both open positions to win in the Fall. Long Snapper will be Bennett Leonards 5'8" 130 pounds, new starter.

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