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

District 7

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Archbishop Hannan Hawks

| Gabe Timmons

| Photo provided by Gabe Timmons

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| Photo provided by

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| Riley Jones

| Photo provided by Riley Jones

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| Paul Hoyt

| Photo provided by Paul Hoyt

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Head Coach:Steve Soper(3^rd year)

2025 Record:3-7

Team Outlook: “We return 9 total starters from the 2025 football team," said coach Soper. “Looking forward to having a good off season for the Fall and getting everyone ready at Linebacker and Cornerback where we lost a lot from last season.” “I am excited we will have close to 90 players in the program and that’s the most the program has had in quite some time.”

Key players to watch on Offense in 2026 are returning starting Quarterback Braden Sprang 6'3" 180 pounds, leader; RB Riley Jones 5'9" 170 pounds, 3-year starter, ran for (1,200 yards with 19 Touchdowns in 2025); WR Hunter Lay 5'10" 180 pounds, 3-year starter, leader; WR Carter Speerly 6'3" 170 pounds; WR Graesyn Broussard 5'10" 165 pounds; and RB Ryan Bordelon 5'8" 160 pounds, will rotate in for carries. The Offensive Line will be OG/DT Brennan Jarrell 5'10" 195 pounds, 3-year starter, leader; OG Jude Monier 5'10" 205 pounds, 3-year starter, leader; and OG Max Hand 6'4" 280 pounds, 3-year starter, talented young player.

The Defense returns Defensive End Gabe Timmons 6'4" 225 pounds, 2nd-year starter (13 sacks in 2025); Safety Ryan Rist 6'1" 180 pounds (65 tackles in 2025); LB Evan Morales 5'11" 180 pounds, 2nd-year starter; CB Camden Williams 5'9" 165 pounds, 2nd-year starter; FS Paul Hoyt 5'9" 175 pounds, leader, 3-year starter; DE Liam Benton 6'2" 225 pounds, 3-year starter, leader; and rotating in Defensive Tackle Logan Wheat 6'4" 310 pounds.

Special Teams has a chance to be one of the best in the District with Kicker Dylan Robles 5'9" 160 pounds, 2nd-year starter, and Punter Carter Perniciaro 5'10" 160 pounds, new starter. Both players have strong legs.

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Franklinton Demons

| Ricardo Burris

| Photo by: bradpenny_media

| Chakyn McClain

| Photo by: Ressie Wilson

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| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

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| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

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| Head Coach Nick Salterformaggio

| Photo by Lee Brecheen (Louisiana Football Magazine)

Head Coach:Nick Salterformaggio

2025 Record:9-4

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round beat Rayne HS, 2^nd Round beat Jennings HS, and Quarterfinals lost to North Desoto HS.

Signees Colleges: QB Jacob Crain(Pearl River Junior College,Mississippi), TE Dalton Freeman(Louisiana Christian).

2026  Non District Games: Week 1 Amite(Home), Week 2 Thursday Night Covington HS(Home), Week 3 Pine HS(Away), Week 4 Jewel Sumner HS(Away), Week 5 Lutcher HS(Away), Week 10 Prairieville HS(Away).

Team Outlook: “I think our strength and conditioning program is still growing and will completely pay off in 2026,” said coach Salt.  “Our Offense will be strong again but we are working on building a stronger Defense.” “We need to improve ourselves there and lock it down against teams in 2026 with lowering points per game.” “If we come together in time as a Defense we will be a great team this upcoming season.” 

I think Coach Salt does a great job, and in both seasons as head coach at Franklinton High School he's been to the Dome and Quarterfinals in 2024 and 2025. This will be Coach Salt's 45th year of coaching, he told me.

The program graduated a great QB but has a talented newcomer to keep things going in Kerston Diddon 6'3" 185 pounds with an arm and feet to be a dual-threat type in the Offense in 2026. The rest of the skill talent on the team will be second to none in Class 4A, led by WR/CB Chakyn McClain 5'11" 165 pounds, has over 2,000 total yards in his last 2 years combined, 10.6 speed in the 100 meters, and legit 4.45 speed in the forty as a 3-year starter. Here's more skill players to keep an eye on: RB Ricardo Burris 5'11" 170 pounds, runs a 10.8 in the 100 meters in Track; WR Jayden Burkhalter 5'9" 175 pounds, 3-year starter with 4.55 speed, playmaker; RB Steven Tate 6'2" 220 pounds, brings power with feet; WR Khalifa McClendon 5'7" 160 pounds, brings more speed; and Tight Ends Preston Venable 6'1" 205 pounds and Todd Hammond 6'2" 215 pounds bring blocking and athletic ability on the edge of the Offense. The Offensive Line will have good size and experience, led by OG/OC Caleb Wright 5'9" 265 pounds, 2nd-year starter; OT Javonte Wood 6'3" 320 pounds, new starter; OG Manny Ayers 6'0" 270 pounds, new starter; OG Nate Hillburn 6'0" 270 pounds, new starter; and the 5th spot will be determined this Summer/Fall.

The Defense, you have 2-way standout WR/CB Chakyn McClain, 4.45 speed, but you also have talented Safety/OLB Demontre Taylor, one of the best players on the team, 4.6 speed in the forty; CB Taylor McCray, leader, 4.5 speed with toughness, 5'11" 165 pounds; FS/SS JW Magee 6'0" 160 pounds, 2nd-year starter; new CB O'Sean Warren 5'9" 155 pounds, 4.4 speed; and DB/CB B.J. Dillon 5'10" 175 pounds, rotating in. The front seven will be quick, led by OLB/DE Tyler Magee 6'1" 190 pounds, 4.6 speed, can get after the passer; DE Devin Harris 6'2" 230 pounds, new starter; DE Caleb Garrett 6'2" 210 pounds, 4.6 speed, new starter; DT Angel Garcia 5'9" 230 pounds; DT Samuel Guillermo 5'8" 205 pounds; LB Marshawn Wilson 6'0" 190 pounds; and DT/NG Denman Bryan 6'2" 340 pounds.

Special Teams will be strong again, led by Kicker Liam Young 5'8" 160 pounds, has a good leg; Long Snapper JW Magee; and in the return game, the playmaker Jayden Burkhalter.

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Lakeshore Titans

| Brody Loudermilk

| Photo by: Herb Gomez

| Gareth Hernandez

| Photo by: Maddie Butler

Head Coach: Hunter Bonvillian (1^st year)

2025 Record: 8-3

2025 Playoffs: 2^nd Round lost to Cecilia HS 54-42

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Fontainebleau HS(Home), Week 2 Slidell HS(Away), Week 3 Northshore HS(Away), Week 4 Vanderbilt Catholic HS(Away), Week 6 Erath HS(Home).

Team Outlook: “I am excited this is my 1^st head coaching job,”  said coach Bonvillian. “I will coach the Offensive Line and Special Teams in 2026.” “We will continue to build on the 4 pillars: Attitude, Effort, Toughness and Disipline.” “We only have about close to 750 students in the school but we will have a roster of 60 to 70 players in 2026 and we have 20 really talented Freshmen coming in to help this program.”

New Head Coach Hunter Bonvillian is an alum of Lafayette High School, Class of 2011, and played Center/Offensive Line for the football team back in the day.

The Titans won a District Title in 2025, a team effort, but the good news is the program returns its best player in 2026, Quarterback Brody Loudermilk 6'0" 185 pounds. He had a great junior year, ran for 1,192 yards and 21 Touchdowns, and passed for 792 yards with 5 Touchdowns and zero interceptions on the season. This kid brings it every play, and he can run like an RB and makes things happen when you flush him out of the pocket as well as anyone in Louisiana with legit 4.45 speed in the forty. More key players to watch in 2026 are RB/FB/LB Landon Hollingshead 5'9" 185 pounds; RB/OLB Jaiden Velthouse 5'9" 170 pounds; CB/WR Bobby Williams 5'11" 160 pounds; RB/OLB James Vance 5'10" 170 pounds; SS/WR Elijah Galiano 6'0" 165 pounds; DL/TE Dayton McGee 6'1" 265 pounds (34 tackles in 2025); OG/OC Benjamin Sandman 5'10" 245 pounds; Center Luke Logue 6'0" 255 pounds, All-District in 2025; OG Ross Guzman 6'0" 250 pounds; DB/WR Gareth Hernandez 5'8" 160 pounds, 4.6 speed in the forty; WR/DB James Vance 5'10" 155 pounds; WR Elijah Galiano 6'0" 165 pounds; DT Mason Fricke 5'11" 265 pounds; Center/OL Dawson Latiolais 5'10" 215 pounds; TE Tristian Coulon 6'0" 180 pounds; OL/TE Santiago Mendieta 6'2" 300 pounds; DE Elijah Tusan 6'1" 245 pounds; LB Hank Griffin 5'10" 180 pounds; CB Bobby Williams 6'0" 160 pounds; CB Kyler Morel 5'8" 155 pounds; and RB Alexander Addison 5'7" 185 pounds, competing to rotate in or start in 2026.

Special Teams, starting at Kicker/WR will be Jackson Schemmel 5'9" 155 pounds. Starting Long Snapper will be Jaiden Velthouse. In the return game, Gareth Hernandez will return punts for the team.

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Pearl River Rebels

Head Coach:Jerry Leonard(2^nd year)

2025 Record:4-6

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Central HS(Away), Week 2 South Terrebonne HS(Away), Week 3 Fontainebleau HS(Home), Week 4 Pine HS(Away), Week 5 Jewel Sumner HS(Away), and Week 9 Jeff Morris HS(Home)

Team Outlook: “We have 12 to 13 senior starters back that all need to step up and lead this team in 2026,” said coach Leonard. “I feel good about the Offensive Line with experience back but we do have some key players to replace on Defense.”

The Rebels will have one of the better Offensive Lines in Louisiana, led by OG Jude Ohler 6'0" 300 pounds, a 3-year starter, pancake blocker; OG/TE Merrick Murphy 6'2" 245 pounds; OT Gabe Zeringue 6'5" 310 pounds; OG Donny Mankin 6'3" 365 pounds; OL Stone Da'Silva 6'4" 304 pounds; and OG/OT Jack Collier 6'6" 305 pounds. The leading candidate to be the new starting Quarterback will be Romy Berel 5'10" 160 pounds with 4.6 speed in the forty.

More key players to watch are Safety Charlie Rickoll 5'11" 195 pounds, a 3-year starter, leader; DT/FB Andrew Barron 6'0" 275 pounds (squats over 530 pounds); OLB Ethan Bowman 6'1" 210 pounds; LB Lee Holloway 5'10" 205 pounds; Safety Ryan Dean 6'0" 185 pounds; OLB/FS Dawson Dreux 6'2" 195 pounds; RB Drew Sikes 5'6" 168 pounds, rotating in; RB/CB Ja'Ty Maryland 5'11" 175 pounds, 4.55 speed in the forty; WR Angel Perez 5'9" 155 pounds, playmaker; WR Kayson McGinnis 6'2" 175 pounds; FB Davyn Kelcher 6'1" 210 pounds, 4.7 speed; DJ Harrison 5'9" 215 pounds, 4.7 speed; DT Alex Armbruster 6'0" 265 pounds; OLB/DE Albert Porter 6'4" 205 pounds; WR Dillon Painter 6'1" 168 pounds; Athlete Kendrick Lee 6'1" 170 pounds; and more young players rotating in.

Special Teams starting Kicker will be Joseph Vittorelli 5'8" 135 pounds, back for his 2nd year to start.

Salmen Spartans

Head Coach:Eric Cutrer(9^th year)

2025 Record:6-5

2025 Playoffs:1^st Round lost to Zachary HS

Signees Colleges: RB Jimmy Chanzey(Bethany College), and OL Joshua Loydrake(Bethany College), WR A’san Johnson(Butler Kansas,JC), LB/SS Desmond Beasley(Louisiana Christian)

2026 Non District Games: Week 1 Mandeville HS(Home), Week 2 Live Oak HS(Away), Week 3 Chalmette HS(Home), Week 4 Amite HS(Home) Week 5 John F. Kennedy HS(Away).

Team Outlook: “Excited to be back in Class 4A from Class 5A because I think it fits out enrollment to how many football players we can dress compared to those we were playing in Class 5A . A lot of our opponents had over 100 players which we will play anyone any day but now we will be one of the bigger Class 4A schools excited about that.” “Our motto is: Work While You Wait meaning even before you become a starter work hard and put time in and these kids we have do that proud of the kids," said coach Cutrer. “This will be one of the biggest teams I’ve had at Salmen High School.” “We just need to add more depth as we go into the Summer and early Fall as a team.” 

The Offense returns the District Offensive MVP from the 2025 season at Quarterback Dajohn Howard, who had a monster year with 31 total Touchdowns, threw for 14 and ran for 16 Touchdowns, passed for 1,900 yards and ran for 900 yards for the Spartans as a junior. The Spartans will have several playmakers back on both sides of the football. Here are some of the players to watch: WR/DB Rey'Sean Coleman 6'3" 170 pounds, 2nd leading WR in 2025 with 5 Touchdowns; WR/DB Kevin Smiles 5'11" 175 pounds, 39 tackles in 6 games; WR/DB Khyrin Goins 5'9" 175 pounds; starting RB Korde Harris 5'9" 180 pounds, electric player; WR Carter O'Shaughnessy 5'10" 175 pounds, SR; Safety/OLB Delaney Taylor 5'11" 175 pounds, SR; WR/DE Savolia Calahan 5'11" 215 pounds (5 sacks in 2025), 4.7 speed in the forty; Safety/CB Tyrell Toney 5'10" 160 pounds; CB Jerrett Thomas 5'9" 160 pounds; and rotating in at RB Kaiden Carter 5'6" 185 pounds, 4.6 speed with power and a chance to make the team really strong in the run game by adding depth. 

The Offensive Line will be returning only 2 starters, but they return a few players that all will get a shot during the season: OT/OC Nicholas Carr 6'0" 235 pounds; OC/OT Kermit Brower 6'4" 345 pounds, returning starter; OL Matt Austin 5'10" 275 pounds; OL Anthony Southmire 5'11" 295 pounds; OL Omar Trinidad 5'10" 245 pounds; OL Bentley Jordan 6'0" 245 pounds; and OL Gabriel Norwood 5'9" 225 pounds, tough kid competing for a starting role or rotation.

The Defense front seven will return size and a strong group, led by DE Reginald Bowie 6'3" 230 pounds, SR, 4.7 speed in the forty; DE Savolia Calahan 5'11" 215 pounds; DT Cordae Duncan 6'3" 365 pounds; DT Jatari Patterson 5'11" 290 pounds; DT/OG/DE Cameron Wiltz 5'11" 220 pounds, coming off an injury in 2025, should be ready to go in the Fall; DE/MLB Durrel Charlot 6'3" 220 pounds, big-time player, can play middle field or outside; LB Charlie Fountain 5'9" 175 pounds; and DT Zack Pace 5'10" 235 pounds will rotate in.

Special Teams will return Kicker/Punter Isaac Plinski 5'8" 145 pounds, not a big guy but has a strong leg and is not scared when called upon to kick or punt in a game.

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