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

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District 4

Acadiana Renaissance Charter Eagles

Head Coach:Travis Blaise(4^th year)

2025 Record: Did not play for District but went 5-1. Now in 2026 apart of the LHSAA

Team Outlook: “We are very excited for the first full year of varsity football here at ARCA High School," said coach Blaise. “The senior class for 2026 started this program and have been here since the beginning through many trials and tribulations.”  “We can not express how proud we are of this group of kids.” “We are ready to play great teams, all of which have had sustained success.” “We look forward to trying to win one battle at a time and to create a consistent competitor for years to come.” 

The ARCA program is a fast-growing school with close to 90 players in the program in their 1st year in the LHSAA. There's a ton of players coming back with 2 or 3 years of experience playing prior to joining the LHSAA in 2026.

Let's start with the Offense with two options at Quarterback, Jackson Kretzer 6'2" 170 pounds and Vance Laborde, both been in the program playing 3 years each. Kretzer can also play full time as a WR when not the QB. Both of these kids will help the program win games. Here are more players to watch on Offense: RB Kristian Aubrey 5'9" 210 pounds; WR Michael Batiste 6'1" 165 pounds; RB Dylan Young 5'6" 165 pounds, 3-year starter, leader; RB/DB Ayden Louis 5'8" 165 pounds, a 2-way starter, 3-year starter in the program, big-time leader; Noah Nowicki, 2nd-year starter as a Tight End; OL Jai Broussard 5'8" 240 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader; OG Maddox Blackwell 6'0" 220 pounds; OL Maddox Guidry 6'1" 235 pounds; OL Maddox Boudreaux 5'8" 220 pounds; and OL Aivyn Tyra 6'2" 220 pounds.

The Defense, you have DT Hayden Gardiner 5'6" 250 pounds, a 3-year starter; DT Mason Breaux 5'7" 150 pounds; DT Michael Simon 5'7" 220 pounds; DT Clayton Randolph 6'3" 235 pounds, a 3-year starter; DE Tyson Romero 6'1" 215 pounds, a 3-year starter; LB Parker Robinson 5'8" 170 pounds, a 3-year starter; LB Kai Bernard 5'8" 185 pounds; DE John Gee 5'7" 230 pounds, a 3-year starter; DE Kayden Williams 6'1" 215 pounds; LB David Dressell 5'9" 195 pounds; LB Rome Simpson 6'2" 175 pounds, a 3-year starter; LB Cruz Burley 5'9" 165 pounds; LB Alex Frederick 5'8" 195 pounds; CB Austin Gardner 5'7" 165 pounds; and CB Connor Booker 5'9" 175 pounds.

Special Teams, there are still players competing going into the Summer for both the Kicking and Punting

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Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy

| Brenden Miles

| Photo by: Ashtyn Beard

Head Coach:Hunter Landry(2^nd year)

2025 Record:9-3

2025 Playoffs: 2^nd Round beat Amite HS, and Quarterfinals loss to Notre Dame HS

Signees Colleges: WR/DB Ja’Courey Duhon(Centenary), and OL Xavier Dickerson(Grambling State)

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Edna Karr HS(Away), Week 2 Catholic New Iberia HS(Away), Week 3 John Curtis HS(Home), Week 4 Liberty Magnet HS(Away), Week 5 Lake Charles College Prep HS(Home), and Week 10 Thibodaux HS(Away).

Team Outlook: “We graduated 11 seniors and I would say 5 of those played in 2025,” said coach Landry.” “We do return a lot of lettermen and a good bit of our starters.” “Our saying around the program God + US is enough, motto.” “We got a shot anytime we step on the field is our mindset right now.”

The Program will not lack for size or playmakers, and I think the program is close to competing for a State Title, if not this year, somewhere near in the future with the talent they have currently and coming up with younger players from what I have seen.

The Offense returns 4-year starter Quarterback Kennan Brown Jr. 5'10" 205 pounds as a leader and field general for this program. Brown is a smart, high-IQ player of the game of football and can beat you in multiple ways as a QB. Also back on Offense are WR Brenden Miles 5'9" 170 pounds; WR Shamar Taylor 6'2" 180 pounds, tough, strong WR; WR/CB Zion Batiste 6'3" 185 pounds, returning starter, 4.5 speed in the forty; WR Ashton Joseph 6'0" 170 pounds, 4.5 speed, playmaker; starting RB Keith Guillory 5'10" 175 pounds; OL Ronin Montet 5'9" 255 pounds; OL Marcus Richard 6'2" 320 pounds; OC/OG/OT Hayden Easton 5'10" 245 pounds; OL Kriston Owens 5'11" 245 pounds; and OL Za'Kailen Andrus 6'0" 315 pounds.

The Defense has a chance to be even better in 2026 after doing a great job in 2025. There will be speed and some size on Defense at all spots, led by A.J. Charles 6'5" 230 pounds, 4.7 speed; DE Trilon Francis 6'2" 235 pounds, 3-year starter; DE Landon Anderson 6'0" 245 pounds; Safety Jaymien Zenon 5'10" 175 pounds, 4.5 speed in the forty; OLB Ashton Williams 6'2" 180 pounds; DT James Jones 5'11" 295 pounds; DT Tyler Yokum 5'11" 270 pounds, leader, 3-year starter; LB Kaycee Sellers 5'9" 215 pounds, leader, 4-year starter; DT Rylin Prejean 6'1" 215 pounds; OLB Ky Sellers 5'10" 185 pounds, 4.6 speed in the forty, leader, 4-year starter; DB Kamren Benton 5'11" 170 pounds, tough kid; CB Chance Paddio 6'1" 168 pounds; and 2-way starter Zion Batiste 6'3" 185 pounds. Also rotating in on the Defensive Line will be Jaydrian Joseph 5'11" 235 pounds.

Special Teams Starting Kicker will be Jayden Zeno 5'11" 170 pounds, returning starter, and Punter will be Kennan Brown Jr. Long Snapper will be Shamar Taylor.

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Northside Vikings

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

Head Coach:Brandon Green(1^st year)

2025 Record:6-6

2025 Playoffs:2^nd Round beat Landry Walker HS, and lost to St. Charles Catholic HS

Signees Colleges: CB/WR Mario Alexander(Butler,Kansas,JC), Athlete Jekaven Felix(Arkansas Baptist), and CB Braden Prejean(Dillard U for Track).

2026  Non District Games: Week 1 Cecillia(Away), Week 2 Carencro HS(Away), Week 3 Ascension Episcopal HS(Home),Week 4 Bunkie HS(Away),Week 8 Liberty Magnet HS(Home).

Team Outlook: “Motto is Standard over Status to our players meaning we don’t have great facilities but we have great tradition and hard work will get you where you need to be over having the best facilities.” “Let’s not get caught up in that and get caught up in hard work with high energy as a program," said coach Green. “Coach Jacarde Carter was like a father to these kids here and he always said build it brick by brick and we will continue the tradition. When I played here we had some ballers like Keiland Williams (RB went to LSU), DB Tyson Andrus(Ole Miss) and several others and great years at Northside we will keep that standard going in 2026. I signed with Southern U out of high school in 2006 and when I had the opportunity to come back to Northside High School I could not say no because I care about this school.” “I returned to coaching at Northside as a Defensive Back coach in 2024 after being self-employed for several years.”

The talent at Northside has been built up, and it would not surprise me if they made another run in 2026 as a team.

There are a few athletes to watch in 2026 like QB/DB/RB/WR Chase Dugas, who will do it all, 6'2" 170 pounds, 4.5 speed in the forty; QB Caleb Joseph 6'3" 170 pounds; RB/OLB Cameron Charles 5'8" 155 pounds, 4.5 speed; RB Malik August 5'10" 170 pounds; playmaker WR Ja'Vonte Broussard 6'2" 165 pounds; WR Zaryion Huntsberry 6'1" 170 pounds; RB Jayden Simon 5'8" 160 pounds; CB/FS/QB Javien Dalcourt 5'10" 160 pounds; CB/Athlete Markel Joseph 5'9" 160 pounds; DB Dinney Martin 5'9" 150 pounds; Safety Thaddeus West 6'1" 165 pounds, 3-year starter, leader; Safety/CB Jaylon Francois 6'2" 175 pounds; Safety Clint Cormier 5'11" 180 pounds; CB Lathan Lazard 5'11" 155 pounds; and rotating in WR Jauvion Thompson 5'8" 155 pounds.

Key Linemen and Linebackers back are OC/DT Jeremy Britton 5'10" 260 pounds; OT/DE James Ross 6'4" 240 pounds, leader; DE Luderius Williams 6'0" 230 pounds, leader; OT Da'Qualan Thomas 6'3" 230 pounds; La'Caveon Toussaint 5'11" 185 pounds; DE Jessie James 6'4" 190 pounds; OG/DT Khoi Vedal 5'10" 210 pounds; LB Ladarien Allen 5'11" 165 pounds; LB Kurwin Brown 5'9" 160 pounds; and OG/OC Braydon Lawrence 6'0" 210 pounds, rotating in.

Special Teams returns Kicker Joseph Escoto 5'9" 145 pounds, and also Punter/Kicker Chase Dugas. In the return game, Chase Dugas and Cameron Celestine will both be big playmakers for the team again in 2026.

Teurlings Catholic Rebels

| Head Coach Mikey Courville

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

Head Coach: Mikey Courville (2^nd year)

2025 Record: 11-1.District 6-0

2025 Playoffs: 2^nd Round beat Bonnabel HS, and Quarterfinals lost to John Curtis HS

Signees Colleges: Kicker Logan Boudreaux(College Soccer), DT/OL Drake Perry(UL), DE/LB Andrew Fruge(McNeese State), TE AJ Price(Millsaps), Athlete Nick Celestine(Mississippi Delta JC), and QB Alex Munoz(UL).

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 St. Thomas More HS, Week 2 Cecillia HS, Week 3 Notre Dame HS, Week 4 Lafayette Christian HS, and Week 5 University High

Team Outlook: “2025 going 10-0 during the regular season was a special year,” said coach Courville. “The transition as the new head coach in 2025 was a smooth one.” “We will have competition at Quarterback probably thru the Jamboree week.” “We did graduate all 5 starting Offensive Linemen and 90 percent of our production on Offense graduated from the 2025 team.” “We actually graduated a special group of 30 senior football players.” “We will have talent and depth again but young and not experienced in some spots yet.”

The two players competing at QB will be Austin Calandra, a senior, 5'10" 190 pounds, a pocket passer with a good arm, and QB Will Fontenot 5'11" 180 pounds, a dual-threat type QB who also has a good arm. Key skill players returning in the program on both sides of the football are WR Kylan Butler 5'11" 180 pounds, 4.59 speed in the forty, new starter; WR Riley Dupuis 5'5" 150 pounds, electric in the open field; WR Brewer Cain 5'11" 170 pounds, 4.6 speed, new starter; WR Andrew LeBoeuf 6'1" 190 pounds; RB/OLB Eslere Granger Jr., 4.5 speed; RB Spencer Meche 5'11" 178 pounds, new starter with 4.5 speed; FB Matthew Cantrelle 6'0" 215 pounds, powerful blocker, athlete, Team Captain; TE/FB James Benoit 5'9" 185 pounds, tough blocker; TE/FB/RB Hudson Clavelle 5'10" 195 pounds; and rotating in at RB La'Cobe Willis 5'11" 180 pounds, 4.5 speed in the forty, has big playmaking ability. The Offensive Line still has some battles going on to start thru the Summer: OT Thomas Domingue 6'3" 245 pounds, new starter; OL Jonah Armand 5'11" 225 pounds; Center Alex Landry 6'1" 215 pounds, new starter; OG Baron Parkins 6'2" 300 pounds; OL Michael Burson 6'2" 265 pounds; OL Layton Marks 6'1" 255 pounds; and possibly rotating in OT Logan Patin 6'3" 260 pounds.

The Defense does return some leaders and starters in LB Carter Macha 6'2" 220 pounds, a tough 3-year starter; CB Kaden Chavis 5'9" 170 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader, All-District in 2025; Safety Karter Deculus 6'0" 185 pounds, big-time hitter; FS/SS Luke Hebert 5'10" 178 pounds; DE/DT Lucas Guidry 6'1" 245 pounds; LB/Safety Maddox Domingue 6'2" 220 pounds, a big-time hitter, 4.65 speed; DE Jude Smith 6'0" 230 pounds; and DE Seth Young 6'2" 230 pounds. Here are more players to watch on Defense in 2026: LB Noah Macha 5'10" 185 pounds, new starter; DE Aidan Wyble 6'2" 200 pounds; DE Mason Citron 5'10" 210 pounds; DE Evan Dupre 6'1" 230 pounds; and CB Carsen Leblanc and CB Sam Haynes, both competing to start in the Defensive Backfield.

Special Teams, always a strong point for this program, will have a new starting Kicker in Alex LeBoeuf 6'0" 155 pounds, who will also handle punting duties.

Westgate Tigers

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

| Chance Archangel

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

| Head Coach Ryan Antoine

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

Head Coach: Ryan Antoine(14^th year)

2025 Record:7-5

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round beat Airline HS, and 2^nd Round lost to Ruston HS

Signees Colleges: DT Leonard Howard(McNeese State), Athlete Trandin Benjamin(Lamar U), WR/DB Makai Wells(Coffeyville Kansas JC),and LB David Antoine(Arkansas Baptist)

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Liberty HS(Away), Week 2 Southside HS(Away), and Week 3 Jena HS(Home)

Team Outlook:  “Love where we are right now as a team,” said coach Antoine.” “If we play like we are supposed to on Defense,Offense run the ball and Special Teams I like our chances in 2026.”

The Offense will not lack for speed or experience, led by Quarterback Noah Antoine 6'1" 175 pounds, a young leader with the ability to blossom in 2026 for this elite program that competes for Championships every year. There are several playmakers, some will start both sides of the football, returning like WR Joshua John 5'7" 165 pounds; WR/DB Jackilon Roberson 6'0" 170 pounds; TE/WR Brock Mitchell 6'5" 210 pounds; RB/LB Keyon Colbert 5'10" 190 pounds; RB Caemon Crockem 5'10" 185 pounds; WR Cayden Lancelin 6'1" 180 pounds; WR/FS Rahim Alem 6'3" 190 pounds; WR Tony Qutel 5'10" 180 pounds; and newcomer WR Cole LeBlanc 5'9" 165 pounds. The Offensive Line returns size and experience, led by OL Keiyon Reno 6'2" 270 pounds; OL Lloyd Vital 6'3" 270 pounds; Center Keo Sayasith 5'11" 270 pounds; OL Ashton Mitchell 6'1" 330 pounds; OL Javisus Lewis 6'2" 315 pounds; and Jimmy Huynh 6'1" 330 pounds.

The Defense has a chance to be a great Defense if they can gel with a ton of speed and good size overall, led by DE/OLB Chance Archangel 6'4" 265 pounds, has a chance by the time he graduates to break the career sack record of anyone in Louisiana. More players to watch on Defense are LB Ahmad Walker 5'10" 198 pounds; CB/Safety Shadon Lee 6'1" 175 pounds; DT/DE Jason Domingue 6'1" 230 pounds; SS/FS Joseyer Evans 5'10" 185 pounds; CB Zyier Stokes 5'10" 175 pounds; LB/FB Ram Curl 5'11" 220 pounds; CB Caleb Clement 5'9" 170 pounds; and big-time Safety/CB Rahim Alem 6'3" 190 pounds. Plus, several skill players on Offense will play some on Defense too.

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