LHSAA Playoff Brackets: Top Storylines, Prospects | Large Schools
In this article:
Louisiana’s high school football playoffs kick off this weekend.
The LHSAA’s nine brackets — five nonselect (public) and four select (private and magnet) — are full of impressive teams and prospects and intriguing matchups and storylines.
We’ll give a quick preview of each, including the top five seeds, a lower seed to watch for a potential run, up to eight top-ranked prospects, up to five sleeper prospects, an intriguing first-round matchup and an overarching storyline entering the tournament.
Check out the large schools (Class 5A, Division I, Class 4A, Division II and Class 3A) capsules below.
Or click here for the small schools (Division III, Class 2A, Division IV and Class 1A).
CLASS 5A
Top 5 seeds: No. 1 Zachary, No. 2 Captain Shreve, No. 3 Ponchatoula, No. 4 Destrehan, No. 5 Ruston
Lower seed to watch: No. 13 Woodlawn (Baton Rouge)
Top prospects: 2022 Acadiana DL
Walter Bob
Walter
Bob
6'4" | 250 lbs | DL
Acadiana | 2022
State
LA
Jr., 2023 Woodlawn (BR) QB
Rickie Collins
Rickie
Collins
6'3" | 180 lbs | QB
Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023
State
LA
, 2023 Zachary QB
Eli Holstein
Eli
Holstein
6'3" | 215 lbs | QB
Zachary | 2023
State
LA
, 2023 Zachary DB
Kylin Jackson
Kylin
Jackson
6'3" | 195 lbs | DB
Zachary | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 Captain Shreve ATH
Kendrick Law
Kendrick
Law
6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH
Captain Shreve | 2022
State
LA
Jr., 2022 Ponchatoula ATH
Jacoby Mathews
Jacoby
Mathews
6'2" | 215 lbs | ATH
Ponchatoula | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Woodlawn (BR) DB
Jordan Matthews
Jordan
Matthews
6'2" | 175 lbs | DB
Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 West Monroe DB
Rayshawn Pleasant
Rayshawn
Pleasant
6'0" | 180 lbs | DB
West Monroe | 2022
State
LA
Sleeper prospects: 2022 Captain Shreve WR
Braylon Finney
Braylon
Finney
6'1" | 175 lbs | WR
Captain Shreve | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Ponchatoula RB/LB
Braydon Johnson
Braydon
Johnson
6'0" | 210 lbs | RB
Ponchatoula | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Alexandria RB
Jarvis Newton
Jarvis
Newton
5'11" | 190 lbs | RB
Alexandria | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Central (BR) ATH/QB
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan
Swift
6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH
Central (Baton Rouge) | 2022
State
LA
II, 2022 Destrehan DL
Steven Walker
Steven
Walker
6'1" | 240 lbs | DL
Destrehan | 2022
State
LA
Intriguing first-round matchup: No. 15 Alexandria vs. No. 18 Parkway
Overall Storyline: Difficult to look at the Class 5A bracket and not get excited about the possibilities. Top-seeded Zachary certainly leads the pack as one of Louisiana’s top few teams, if not top team overall, this regular season. But quality teams all the field includes another dozen or more high-quality teams — with far more talent that would fit on the above lists — eager to make their own runs. No. 2 Captain Shreve is having its best season in decades. And other perennial contenders, including other top contenders from a year ago with plenty key pieces back again, litter the list: Ponchatoula, Destrehan, Ruston, Acadiana and West Monroe, to name a few. The winner of the 15-18 matchup between Alexandria and Parkway could pose an interesting second-round threat for Captain Shreve. And No. 13 Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) fared respectably against one of Louisiana’s toughest schedules this regular season, including handing powerhouse Catholic (Baton Rouge) its only loss (or even particularly close game). To name just a few of the lower-seeded teams that could engineer their ways to Thanksgiving weekend or beyond.
DIVISION I
Top 5 seeds: No. 1 Catholic (Baton Rouge), No. 2 Jesuit, No. 3 C.E. Byrd, No. 4 Scotlandville, No. 5 St. Paul’s
Lower seed to watch: No. 11 Brother Martin
Top prospects: 2023 St. Augustine DL Kyran Bourda, 2022 St. Augustine OL
Cam East
Cam
East
6'7" | 280 lbs | OL
St. Augustine | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Scotlandville RB
Marlon Gunn
Marlon
Gunn
6'0" | 205 lbs | RB
Scotlandville | 2022
State
LA
Jr., 2022 Catholic (BR) OL
Emery Jones
Emery
Jones
6'4" | 295 lbs | OL
Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Brother Martin ATH/DB
Corey Lambert
Corey
Lambert
6'1" | 195 lbs | DB
Brother Martin | 2022
State
LA
Jr., 2023 Brother Martin ATH/RB
Torey Lambert
Torey
Lambert
6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH
Brother Martin | 2023
State
LA
, 2023 Catholic (BR) WR
Shelton Sampson
Shelton
Sampson
6'4" | 185 lbs | WR
Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2023
State
LA
Jr., 2023 Scotlandville QB
Czavian Teasett
Czavian
Teasett
6'3" | 195 lbs | QB
Scotlandville | 2023
State
LA
Sleeper prospects: 2022 St. Augustine DB
Damaiyuran Compton
Damaiyuran
Compton
5'10" | 170 lbs | DB
St. Augustine | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Jesuit WR Jace Larsen, 2022 Brother Martin QB
Garrett Mmahat
Garrett
Mmahat
6'2" | 180 lbs | QB
Brother Martin | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 John Curtis LB
Connor Orgeron
Connor
Orgeron
6'2" | 220 lbs | LB
John Curtis | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 St. Paul’s DB
Justin Washington
Justin
Washington
6'0" | 165 lbs | DB
St. Paul's | 2022
State
LA
Intriguing first-round matchup: No. 6 Archbishop Rummel vs. No. 11 Brother Martin
Overall Storyline: The expectation grew each week that Catholic (Baton Rouge), which won the Division I state title game in Natchitoches last year, would roll through the highest select division this season in a seemingly down year overall for the Catholic League in New Orleans. But one twist after another has followed. A veteran Brother Martin team finally worked through its losses from last year’s roster and a delayed start because of Hurricane Ida to hit its stride and begin looking the part of one of the state’s top 5-10 teams. An LHSAA ruling ultimately forced five Crusaders forfeits and a plummet to this bracket’s lowest seed, but they’ve appeared more determined than ever as a result, if anything. Meanwhile, Jesuit bears a certain resemblance under first-year coach Ryan Manale to its team that won the 2014 state championship in terms of its stingy defense and enough playmaking ability from quarterback
Jack Larriviere
Jack
Larriviere
6'2" | 210 lbs | QB
Jesuit | 2022
State
LA
and company to claim the outright district title. Manale, too, knows a thing or two about navigating the postseason after leading De La Salle to three of the past four Division-II title games. No. 3 Byrd surprised many fans in 2020 with a run to the state title game, and No. 4 Scotlandville returns a ton of talent and adds even more to a team that was second-seeded a year ago. All in all, Catholic still looks to be the team to beat in Division I, but not without some key tests along the way that could prove themselves prime for a slip-up if the Bears aren’t atop their game.
CLASS 4A
Top 5 seeds: No. 1 Edna Karr, No. 2 Neville, No. 3 Warren Easton, No. 4 Northwood (Shreveport), No. 5 Westgate
Lower seed to watch: No. 18 Carencro
Top prospects: 2022 Edna Karr WR
Aaron Anderson
Aaron
Anderson
5'10" | 180 lbs | WR
Edna Karr | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Neville OL
Will Campbell
Will
Campbell
6'6" | 290 lbs | OL
Neville | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Edna Karr DL
Tygee Hill
Tygee
Hill
6'3" | 285 lbs | DL
Edna Karr | 2022
State
LA
, 2024 Warren Easton DB
Wallace Foster IV
Wallace
Foster IV
5'11" | 160 lbs | DB
Warren Easton | 2024
State
LA
IV, 2022 Warren Easton DB
Ronald Lewis
Ronald
Lewis
6'2" | 175 lbs | DB
Warren Easton | 2022
State
LA
III, 2022 Istrouma RB
Le’Veon Moss
Le’Veon
Moss
5'11" | 200 lbs | RB
Istrouma | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Neville DB
Lorenzell Dubose
Lorenzell
Dubose
6'1" | 170 lbs | DB
Neville | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Westgate DB
Derek Williams Jr.
Derek
Williams Jr.
6'2" | 185 lbs | DB
Westgate | 2023
State
LA
Jr.
Sleeper prospects: 2023 Northwood (Shreveport) DL
TaDerius Collins
TaDerius
Collins
6'4" | 245 lbs | DL
Northwood (Shreveport) | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 Leesville RB
Caleb Gallashaw
Caleb
Gallashaw
5'8" | 180 lbs | RB
Leesville | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Opelousas ATH
Javonnie Gibson
Javonnie
Gibson
6'3" | 205 lbs | ATH/TE
Opelousas | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Carencro DB
David Journet
David
Journet
6'2" | 180 lbs | DB
State
LA
, 2023 Northwood (Shreveport) DB MarJayvious Moss
Intriguing first-round matchup: No. 15 Belaire vs. No. 18 Carencro
Overall Storyline: Edna Karr won four straight Class 4A state championships between a 2015 loss to Neville and 2020 loss to Carencro. And the Cougars returned to action this year maybe as good as ever with a large returning and hungry contingent, plus a few key new key pieces. Neville meanwhile has climbed back to elite status as one of Louisiana’s top teams once again in Jeff Tannehill’s second season since taking the reins from former coach Mickey McCarty, who moved into administration. Warren Easton — the runner-up to Neville in 2014 and in 2018 and 2019 — is once again the biggest threat to the perennial powerhouses’ frequent title-game dates. Northwood (Shreveport), Westgate, Huntington and Cecilia are among other highly ranked challengers to enter the tournament with two of their best respective teams in recent years. And teams as far down the list as reigning champ Carencro at No. 18 could have a push left in them. The Bears lost a phenomenal 2021 class after last year’s run, but saw the new faces hang tough with several of the state’s top teams this season before falling just short. If coach Tony Courville and company could successfully upset No. 15 Belaire, which second-year coach Byron Wade has led to resurgence, then Neville would be forced to Carencro in the second round.
DIVISION II
Top 5 seeds: No. 1 E.D. White, No. 2 University Lab, No. 3 Loyola Prep, No. 4 Liberty Magnet, No. 5 St. Thomas More
Lower seed to watch: No. 10 De La Salle
Top prospects: 2022 University Lab DB
Austin Ausberry
Austin
Ausberry
6'1" | 205 lbs | ATH
University Lab | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 University Lab LB
Jaiden Ausberry
Jaiden
Ausberry
6'2" | 215 lbs | LB
University Lab | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 St. Thomas More QB
Walker Howard
Walker
Howard
6'1" | 185 lbs | QB
St. Thomas More | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Liberty Magnet RB
Kaleb Jackson
Kaleb
Jackson
5'11" | 205 lbs | RB
Liberty Magnet | 2023
State
LA
, 2023 De La Salle OL
Caden Jones
Caden
Jones
6'7" | 255 lbs | OL
De La Salle | 2023
State
LA
, 2025 University Lab ATH
Keylan Moses
Keylan
Moses
6'2" | 215 lbs | LB
University Lab | 2025
State
LA
, 2022 U-High LB
Roman Pitre
Roman
Pitre
6'3" | 220 lbs | LB
University Lab | 2022
State
LA
, 2024 De La Salle LB
Keidrick Richardson
Keidrick
Richardson
5'11" | 220 lbs | LB
De La Salle | 2024
State
LA
Sleeper prospects: 2022 University Lab ATH Jason Barnes Jr., 2023 Liberty Magnet DL Lester Jones, 2023 De La Salle RB
Patrick Martin
Patrick
Martin
5'11" | 200 lbs | RB
De La Salle | 2023
State
LA
, 2023 E.D. White ATH Matthew Melancon, 2022 Loyola Prep WR
Tray Taylor
Tray
Taylor
5'6" | 140 lbs | WR/TE
Loyola Prep | 2022
State
LA
Intriguing first-round matchup:
Overall Storyline: Division II bears a similar storyline to Division I. Baton Rouge-based University Lab has appeared the likely favorite throughout the season. And the seeming top contender, De La Salle out of New Orleans, lost major seeding because of an LHSAA ruling, but is playing well and could now disrupt the bracket from that lower seed. The biggest difference here is that E.D. White’s phenomenal season — playing a similar role to Jesuit in Division I — has pulled the Cardinals all the way to No. 1 and left U-High and De La Salle on the same side of the bracket with a potential quarterfinal date at hand. And as much drama as resides in those three teams alone, the list goes on with Loyola Prep out of Shreveport, highly talented Liberty Magnet in its first year, St. Thomas More with its LSU-committed quarterback and on down the line. Indeed, the intrigue has some potential to start early and last the long haul in Division II.
CLASS 3A
Top 5 seeds: No. 1 Sterlington, No. 2 Abbeville, No. 3 St. Martinville, No. 4 Iowa, No. 5 Church Point
Lower seed to watch: No. 20 West Feliciana
Top prospects: 2023 St. Martinville WR
Harvey Broussard
Harvey
Broussard
6'4" | 180 lbs | WR
St. Martinville | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 Iowa WR
Curtis Deville
Curtis
Deville
6'0" | 180 lbs | WR
Iowa | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Jennings RB
Trevor Etienne
Trevor
Etienne
5'10" | 210 lbs | RB
Jennings | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Union Parish RB
Trey Holly
Trey
Holly
5'8" | 190 lbs | RB
Union Parish | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 St. James WR
Shazz Preston
Shazz
Preston
6'1" | 190 lbs | WR/TE
St. James | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 West Feliciana LB
Delvin Whitaker
Delvin
Whitaker
6'3" | 250 lbs | LB
West Feliciana | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 Madison Prep DL
Quency Wiggins
Quency
Wiggins
6'7" | 270 lbs | DL
Madison Prep | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Lutcher ATH/QB D’Wanye Winfield
Sleeper prospects: 2023 St. James ATH/DB
Cyler Christmas
Cyler
Christmas
6'1" | 165 lbs | ATH
St. James | 2023
State
LA
, 2023 McDonogh 35 WR
Tyrus Morris
Tyrus
Morris
5'10" | 165 lbs | WR
McDonogh 35 | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 Patterson ATH
Kyler Paul
Kyler
Paul
5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH
Patterson | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Abbeville ATH Blake Saddler, 2022 Mansfield ATH
Monquavaris Wells
Monquavaris
Wells
6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH
Mansfield | 2022
State
LA
Intriguing first-round matchup: No. 12 Patterson vs. No. 21 Donaldsonville
Overall Storyline: Class 3A is one of Louisiana’s most wide-open brackets year in and year out, and this is no exception. Recent champions and runners-up litter the entire field from No. 1 Sterlington all the way down to No. 31 Richwood and a long list in between. Teams such as Abbeville and Iowa are easily the highest seeds they’ve been in quite some time, if not ever, and earned every bit of it. Church Point is undefeated and has allowed just 20 total points all season. No. 7 Union Parish and No. 22 Jennings boast not just two of the state’s, but two of the nation’s top running backs, which can give a high school team a great chance on any given night. Half the bracket could pose realistic threats to make deep runs, and that level of competition capable of derailing the top squads should make Class 3A one of the most entertaining tournaments to monitor start to finish.
Walter
Bob
6'4" | 250 lbs | DL
Acadiana | 2022
State
LA
Jr., 2023 Woodlawn (BR) QB
Rickie Collins
Rickie
Collins
6'3" | 180 lbs | QB
Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023
State
LA
, 2023 Zachary QB
Eli Holstein
Eli
Holstein
6'3" | 215 lbs | QB
Zachary | 2023
State
LA
, 2023 Zachary DB
Kylin Jackson
Kylin
Jackson
6'3" | 195 lbs | DB
Zachary | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 Captain Shreve ATH
Kendrick Law
Kendrick
Law
6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH
Captain Shreve | 2022
State
LA
Jr., 2022 Ponchatoula ATH
Jacoby Mathews
Jacoby
Mathews
6'2" | 215 lbs | ATH
Ponchatoula | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Woodlawn (BR) DB
Jordan Matthews
Jordan
Matthews
6'2" | 175 lbs | DB
Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 West Monroe DB
Rayshawn Pleasant
Rayshawn
Pleasant
6'0" | 180 lbs | DB
West Monroe | 2022
State
LA
Sleeper prospects: 2022 Captain Shreve WR
Braylon Finney
Braylon
Finney
6'1" | 175 lbs | WR
Captain Shreve | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Ponchatoula RB/LB
Braydon Johnson
Braydon
Johnson
6'0" | 210 lbs | RB
Ponchatoula | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Alexandria RB
Jarvis Newton
Jarvis
Newton
5'11" | 190 lbs | RB
Alexandria | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Central (BR) ATH/QB
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan
Swift
6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH
Central (Baton Rouge) | 2022
State
LA
II, 2022 Destrehan DL
Steven Walker
Steven
Walker
6'1" | 240 lbs | DL
Destrehan | 2022
State
LA
Intriguing first-round matchup: No. 15 Alexandria vs. No. 18 Parkway
Overall Storyline: Difficult to look at the Class 5A bracket and not get excited about the possibilities. Top-seeded Zachary certainly leads the pack as one of Louisiana’s top few teams, if not top team overall, this regular season. But quality teams all the field includes another dozen or more high-quality teams — with far more talent that would fit on the above lists — eager to make their own runs. No. 2 Captain Shreve is having its best season in decades. And other perennial contenders, including other top contenders from a year ago with plenty key pieces back again, litter the list: Ponchatoula, Destrehan, Ruston, Acadiana and West Monroe, to name a few. The winner of the 15-18 matchup between Alexandria and Parkway could pose an interesting second-round threat for Captain Shreve. And No. 13 Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) fared respectably against one of Louisiana’s toughest schedules this regular season, including handing powerhouse Catholic (Baton Rouge) its only loss (or even particularly close game). To name just a few of the lower-seeded teams that could engineer their ways to Thanksgiving weekend or beyond.
DIVISION I
Top 5 seeds: No. 1 Catholic (Baton Rouge), No. 2 Jesuit, No. 3 C.E. Byrd, No. 4 Scotlandville, No. 5 St. Paul’s
Lower seed to watch: No. 11 Brother Martin
Top prospects: 2023 St. Augustine DL Kyran Bourda, 2022 St. Augustine OL
Cam East
Cam
East
6'7" | 280 lbs | OL
St. Augustine | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Scotlandville RB
Marlon Gunn
Marlon
Gunn
6'0" | 205 lbs | RB
Scotlandville | 2022
State
LA
Jr., 2022 Catholic (BR) OL
Emery Jones
Emery
Jones
6'4" | 295 lbs | OL
Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Brother Martin ATH/DB
Corey Lambert
Corey
Lambert
6'1" | 195 lbs | DB
Brother Martin | 2022
State
LA
Jr., 2023 Brother Martin ATH/RB
Torey Lambert
Torey
Lambert
6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH
Brother Martin | 2023
State
LA
, 2023 Catholic (BR) WR
Shelton Sampson
Shelton
Sampson
6'4" | 185 lbs | WR
Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2023
State
LA
Jr., 2023 Scotlandville QB
Czavian Teasett
Czavian
Teasett
6'3" | 195 lbs | QB
Scotlandville | 2023
State
LA
Sleeper prospects: 2022 St. Augustine DB
Damaiyuran Compton
Damaiyuran
Compton
5'10" | 170 lbs | DB
St. Augustine | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Jesuit WR Jace Larsen, 2022 Brother Martin QB
Garrett Mmahat
Garrett
Mmahat
6'2" | 180 lbs | QB
Brother Martin | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 John Curtis LB
Connor Orgeron
Connor
Orgeron
6'2" | 220 lbs | LB
John Curtis | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 St. Paul’s DB
Justin Washington
Justin
Washington
6'0" | 165 lbs | DB
St. Paul's | 2022
State
LA
Intriguing first-round matchup: No. 6 Archbishop Rummel vs. No. 11 Brother Martin
Overall Storyline: The expectation grew each week that Catholic (Baton Rouge), which won the Division I state title game in Natchitoches last year, would roll through the highest select division this season in a seemingly down year overall for the Catholic League in New Orleans. But one twist after another has followed. A veteran Brother Martin team finally worked through its losses from last year’s roster and a delayed start because of Hurricane Ida to hit its stride and begin looking the part of one of the state’s top 5-10 teams. An LHSAA ruling ultimately forced five Crusaders forfeits and a plummet to this bracket’s lowest seed, but they’ve appeared more determined than ever as a result, if anything. Meanwhile, Jesuit bears a certain resemblance under first-year coach Ryan Manale to its team that won the 2014 state championship in terms of its stingy defense and enough playmaking ability from quarterback
Jack Larriviere
Jack
Larriviere
6'2" | 210 lbs | QB
Jesuit | 2022
State
LA
and company to claim the outright district title. Manale, too, knows a thing or two about navigating the postseason after leading De La Salle to three of the past four Division-II title games. No. 3 Byrd surprised many fans in 2020 with a run to the state title game, and No. 4 Scotlandville returns a ton of talent and adds even more to a team that was second-seeded a year ago. All in all, Catholic still looks to be the team to beat in Division I, but not without some key tests along the way that could prove themselves prime for a slip-up if the Bears aren’t atop their game.
CLASS 4A
Top 5 seeds: No. 1 Edna Karr, No. 2 Neville, No. 3 Warren Easton, No. 4 Northwood (Shreveport), No. 5 Westgate
Lower seed to watch: No. 18 Carencro
Top prospects: 2022 Edna Karr WR
Aaron Anderson
Aaron
Anderson
5'10" | 180 lbs | WR
Edna Karr | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Neville OL
Will Campbell
Will
Campbell
6'6" | 290 lbs | OL
Neville | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Edna Karr DL
Tygee Hill
Tygee
Hill
6'3" | 285 lbs | DL
Edna Karr | 2022
State
LA
, 2024 Warren Easton DB
Wallace Foster IV
Wallace
Foster IV
5'11" | 160 lbs | DB
Warren Easton | 2024
State
LA
IV, 2022 Warren Easton DB
Ronald Lewis
Ronald
Lewis
6'2" | 175 lbs | DB
Warren Easton | 2022
State
LA
III, 2022 Istrouma RB
Le’Veon Moss
Le’Veon
Moss
5'11" | 200 lbs | RB
Istrouma | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Neville DB
Lorenzell Dubose
Lorenzell
Dubose
6'1" | 170 lbs | DB
Neville | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Westgate DB
Derek Williams Jr.
Derek
Williams Jr.
6'2" | 185 lbs | DB
Westgate | 2023
State
LA
Jr.
Sleeper prospects: 2023 Northwood (Shreveport) DL
TaDerius Collins
TaDerius
Collins
6'4" | 245 lbs | DL
Northwood (Shreveport) | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 Leesville RB
Caleb Gallashaw
Caleb
Gallashaw
5'8" | 180 lbs | RB
Leesville | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Opelousas ATH
Javonnie Gibson
Javonnie
Gibson
6'3" | 205 lbs | ATH/TE
Opelousas | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Carencro DB
David Journet
David
Journet
6'2" | 180 lbs | DB
State
LA
, 2023 Northwood (Shreveport) DB MarJayvious Moss
Intriguing first-round matchup: No. 15 Belaire vs. No. 18 Carencro
Overall Storyline: Edna Karr won four straight Class 4A state championships between a 2015 loss to Neville and 2020 loss to Carencro. And the Cougars returned to action this year maybe as good as ever with a large returning and hungry contingent, plus a few key new key pieces. Neville meanwhile has climbed back to elite status as one of Louisiana’s top teams once again in Jeff Tannehill’s second season since taking the reins from former coach Mickey McCarty, who moved into administration. Warren Easton — the runner-up to Neville in 2014 and in 2018 and 2019 — is once again the biggest threat to the perennial powerhouses’ frequent title-game dates. Northwood (Shreveport), Westgate, Huntington and Cecilia are among other highly ranked challengers to enter the tournament with two of their best respective teams in recent years. And teams as far down the list as reigning champ Carencro at No. 18 could have a push left in them. The Bears lost a phenomenal 2021 class after last year’s run, but saw the new faces hang tough with several of the state’s top teams this season before falling just short. If coach Tony Courville and company could successfully upset No. 15 Belaire, which second-year coach Byron Wade has led to resurgence, then Neville would be forced to Carencro in the second round.
DIVISION II
Top 5 seeds: No. 1 E.D. White, No. 2 University Lab, No. 3 Loyola Prep, No. 4 Liberty Magnet, No. 5 St. Thomas More
Lower seed to watch: No. 10 De La Salle
Top prospects: 2022 University Lab DB
Austin Ausberry
Austin
Ausberry
6'1" | 205 lbs | ATH
University Lab | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 University Lab LB
Jaiden Ausberry
Jaiden
Ausberry
6'2" | 215 lbs | LB
University Lab | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 St. Thomas More QB
Walker Howard
Walker
Howard
6'1" | 185 lbs | QB
St. Thomas More | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Liberty Magnet RB
Kaleb Jackson
Kaleb
Jackson
5'11" | 205 lbs | RB
Liberty Magnet | 2023
State
LA
, 2023 De La Salle OL
Caden Jones
Caden
Jones
6'7" | 255 lbs | OL
De La Salle | 2023
State
LA
, 2025 University Lab ATH
Keylan Moses
Keylan
Moses
6'2" | 215 lbs | LB
University Lab | 2025
State
LA
, 2022 U-High LB
Roman Pitre
Roman
Pitre
6'3" | 220 lbs | LB
University Lab | 2022
State
LA
, 2024 De La Salle LB
Keidrick Richardson
Keidrick
Richardson
5'11" | 220 lbs | LB
De La Salle | 2024
State
LA
Sleeper prospects: 2022 University Lab ATH Jason Barnes Jr., 2023 Liberty Magnet DL Lester Jones, 2023 De La Salle RB
Patrick Martin
Patrick
Martin
5'11" | 200 lbs | RB
De La Salle | 2023
State
LA
, 2023 E.D. White ATH Matthew Melancon, 2022 Loyola Prep WR
Tray Taylor
Tray
Taylor
5'6" | 140 lbs | WR/TE
Loyola Prep | 2022
State
LA
Intriguing first-round matchup:
Overall Storyline: Division II bears a similar storyline to Division I. Baton Rouge-based University Lab has appeared the likely favorite throughout the season. And the seeming top contender, De La Salle out of New Orleans, lost major seeding because of an LHSAA ruling, but is playing well and could now disrupt the bracket from that lower seed. The biggest difference here is that E.D. White’s phenomenal season — playing a similar role to Jesuit in Division I — has pulled the Cardinals all the way to No. 1 and left U-High and De La Salle on the same side of the bracket with a potential quarterfinal date at hand. And as much drama as resides in those three teams alone, the list goes on with Loyola Prep out of Shreveport, highly talented Liberty Magnet in its first year, St. Thomas More with its LSU-committed quarterback and on down the line. Indeed, the intrigue has some potential to start early and last the long haul in Division II.
CLASS 3A
Top 5 seeds: No. 1 Sterlington, No. 2 Abbeville, No. 3 St. Martinville, No. 4 Iowa, No. 5 Church Point
Lower seed to watch: No. 20 West Feliciana
Top prospects: 2023 St. Martinville WR
Harvey Broussard
Harvey
Broussard
6'4" | 180 lbs | WR
St. Martinville | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 Iowa WR
Curtis Deville
Curtis
Deville
6'0" | 180 lbs | WR
Iowa | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Jennings RB
Trevor Etienne
Trevor
Etienne
5'10" | 210 lbs | RB
Jennings | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Union Parish RB
Trey Holly
Trey
Holly
5'8" | 190 lbs | RB
Union Parish | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 St. James WR
Shazz Preston
Shazz
Preston
6'1" | 190 lbs | WR/TE
St. James | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 West Feliciana LB
Delvin Whitaker
Delvin
Whitaker
6'3" | 250 lbs | LB
West Feliciana | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 Madison Prep DL
Quency Wiggins
Quency
Wiggins
6'7" | 270 lbs | DL
Madison Prep | 2022
State
LA
, 2023 Lutcher ATH/QB D’Wanye Winfield
Sleeper prospects: 2023 St. James ATH/DB
Cyler Christmas
Cyler
Christmas
6'1" | 165 lbs | ATH
St. James | 2023
State
LA
, 2023 McDonogh 35 WR
Tyrus Morris
Tyrus
Morris
5'10" | 165 lbs | WR
McDonogh 35 | 2023
State
LA
, 2022 Patterson ATH
Kyler Paul
Kyler
Paul
5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH
Patterson | 2022
State
LA
, 2022 Abbeville ATH Blake Saddler, 2022 Mansfield ATH
Monquavaris Wells
Monquavaris
Wells
6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH
Mansfield | 2022
State
LA
Intriguing first-round matchup: No. 12 Patterson vs. No. 21 Donaldsonville
Overall Storyline: Class 3A is one of Louisiana’s most wide-open brackets year in and year out, and this is no exception. Recent champions and runners-up litter the entire field from No. 1 Sterlington all the way down to No. 31 Richwood and a long list in between. Teams such as Abbeville and Iowa are easily the highest seeds they’ve been in quite some time, if not ever, and earned every bit of it. Church Point is undefeated and has allowed just 20 total points all season. No. 7 Union Parish and No. 22 Jennings boast not just two of the state’s, but two of the nation’s top running backs, which can give a high school team a great chance on any given night. Half the bracket could pose realistic threats to make deep runs, and that level of competition capable of derailing the top squads should make Class 3A one of the most entertaining tournaments to monitor start to finish. 
