15 standouts from Acadiana vs. Alexandria scrimmage
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One of Louisiana’s higher-profile scrimmage matchups this past week featured a rematch of a thrilling 2020 Class 5A state championship game. Acadiana hosted Alexandria in a tune-up that itself featured a couple ebbs and flows. But the home-standing Wreckin’ Rams…
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Continue ReadingOne of Louisiana’s higher-profile scrimmage matchups this past week featured a rematch of a thrilling 2020 Class 5A state championship game.
Acadiana hosted Alexandria in a tune-up that itself featured a couple ebbs and flows. But the home-standing Wreckin’ Rams started fast, held off the Trojans’ push and then pulled back away with explosive plays on both sides of the ball.
Here are a few notes on nine of the standout performers from the evening.
Tayden Collins | 5-9, 170 RB | Acadiana (2025)
and Jonah Gauthier Jonah Gauthier 5'7" | 170 lbs | RB Acadiana | 2025 LA | 5-7, 170 RB | Acadiana (2025)
The Wreckin’ Rams received a strong 1-2 punch at running back to help set the tone on offense. “TC” provided the early highlights on a long touchdown run on which he shook free of an attempt tackle down around his ankles in traffic near the line of scrimmage and accelerated off to the races and then a second score on which he pushed his way just enough through the pile at the goal line. Gauthier meanwhile took the bulk of the pitches to the outside where he showed power through and over opposing defensive backs and eventually some nice speed up the sideline for a longer score.
Caden DiBetta Caden DiBetta 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Acadiana | 2025 State LA | 6-0, 195 QB | Acadiana (2025)
The Wreckin’ Rams carried some of their momentum in the passing game from a strong summer of 7-on-7 into the scrimmage with DiBetta in his second season as starter and a dynamic receiving corps appearing poised for a notable aerial component in their offense to go with their traditional veer running reputation. DiBetta connected with at least four different receivers for nice gains downfield and showed his athleticism to pull the ball and take off for yardage with his legs when his targets are covered.
Omari Dupas | 5-6, 140 WR | Acadiana (2024)
The aptly nicknamed “Speedy” earned a starting role as a junior, but was hampered by injury. He appears poised for a big senior season, though, as he carried his explosive playmaking ability from a strong summer into the scrimmage with a pair of long touchdown catches. Junior Russell Babineaux Russell Babineaux 5'9" | 160 lbs | ATH Acadiana | 2025 State LA is the Rams’ most well-known receiving threat with his long list of offers, but the health of Dupas and emergence of freshman Collin DiBetta Collin DiBetta 5'9" | 170 lbs | WR Acadiana | 2027 State LA — plus a nice catch-and-run in the scrimmage from senior Tourean Campbell — to provide Caden DiBetta Caden DiBetta 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Acadiana | 2025 State LA more options and pressure opposing defenses with more difficult choices is a notable reason for the optimism in the team’s passing attack.
Dajon Francis Dajon Francis 5'8" | 175 lbs | LB Acadiana | 2025 LA | 5-8, 175 LB | Acadiana (2025)
and Shamarius Harris Shamarius Harris 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Acadiana | 2024 State LA | 6-0, 215 LB | Acadiana (2024)
and Amir Hill Amir Hill 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Acadiana | 2024 State LA | 6-1, 185 DB | Acadiana (2024)
The star power of the Acadiana defense comes up front with the heavily, nationally recruited McKinley brothers, both of whom made big plays during the course of the night. But that unit is strong at every level, and the linebacking corps — including Hill, the intriguing star/hybrid athlete who appears poised for a breakout senior year as a college prospect — flew around and made several big, hard-hitting stops behind the line of scrimmage, particularly in the Trojans’ early possessions to take control of the scrimmage from the start. Francis, Harris and Hill seemed to rack up the highest tackle totals, with junior defensive back Keeman Thibodeaux Keeman Thibodeaux 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Acadiana | 2025 LA and junior linebacker Keldrick Francis among others heavily involved at that level.
Jaquarian Frazier | 5-6, 140 DB | Alexandria (2026)
and Ja’Kyrin Griffin | 5-6, 150 DB | Alexandria (2027)
A pair of young defensive backs made big impact plays during second-team drives that should be nice confidence-boosters and encouraging signs for the years to come as they provide some depth and successors to veterans such as senior Jason Blackwell, who had a near-intercepted pass breakup among his highlights. Frazier came away with a pair of sacks rushing off the edge. And Griffin, who will play JV and freshman ball this season, intercepted a pass.
Dalyn Lewis Dalyn Lewis 5'10" | 155 lbs | DB Acadiana | 2025 State LA | 5-10, 155 DB | Acadiana (2025)
The Wreckin’ Rams look like they’re cloning solid cornerbacks to create a deep room around senior leader Maurice Brown Maurice Brown 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB Acadiana | 2024 State LA . The junior duo of “D-Lew” and Braylon Noel Braylon Noel 5'10" | 160 lbs | DB Acadiana | 2025 State LA and sophomore Taveian Landry are all listed at 5-10 and between 150 and 160 and all stood out from pregame warm-ups as good-looking high school corners. Lewis and Noel hit the Prep Redzone Louisiana radar this spring, and Lewis had the group’s biggest play of the night with an over-the-shoulder interception on a nicely covered route downfield.
J.T. Lindsey J.T. Lindsey 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Alexandria | 2025 State LA | 5-11, 190 RB | Alexandria (2025)
Even against a salty Acadiana defense, Alexandria’s junior running back showed some flashes of why he’s considered among the top prospects at the position in central Louisiana. Lindsey ran physically from start to finish, lowering his shoulder and powering through contact — often multiple tacklers on the same play — for any yardage he could grind out, including the highlight-reel play on the longest of his touchdown runs on which he ran through contact and broke away for the end zone.
Dominick McKinley Dominick McKinley 6'5" | 275 lbs | DL Acadiana | 2024 State LA | 6-7, 270 DL | Acadiana (2024)
The big defensive tackle, largely considered Louisiana’s top 2024 prospect, held up in the middle of the Rams’ defensive front to help free up teammates, including younger brother Darryus McKinley Darryus McKinley 6'3" | 225 lbs | DL Acadiana | 2026 State LA on the end and the aforementioned linebacker crew to consistently make big plays at and behind the line of scrimmage. And late in the evening, the older McKinley snatched an attempted Trojans screen — a play he has shown a knack for making — and began dashing the other direction toward the end zone.
Amyrion Mingo Amyrion Mingo 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Alexandria | 2024 State LA | 5-11, 170 WR/ATH | Alexandria (2024)
Even as they finish sorting through a quarterback battle, the Trojans managed some explosive plays in the passing game by getting the ball to Mingo and fellow senior E.J. Scott E.J. Scott 5'8" | 150 lbs | WR Alexandria | 2024 State LA on quick screen hits for big runs. Mingo, a versatile potential three-phase guy, was involved in a variety of ways on those types of plays, tries deeper downfield and as a threat on some sweeps across the backfield. Regardless of the passer leading the offense, “MyMy” should be a nice safety blanket working primarily out of the slot. Junior Kirkland Bates, listed at a tall and lean 6-2, also had a nice red-zone catch as a bigger target in the receiving corps.
Aayden Walker Aayden Walker 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Alexandria | 2024 State LA | 6-3, 245 DL | Alexandria (2024)
and Jeremiah Wright | 6-2, 270 DL | Alexandria (2024)
The senior duo, both of whom looked the part, helped lead the the Trojans’ defensive front with Wright in the middle and Walker making plays on the end. They were, by the nature of the Acadiana offense, around the ball the bulk of the night. Wright held up well inside and got some good push on a few plays, including a red-zone play on which he ended up chasing the quarterback backward, and Walker was involved in a few more disruptive plays off the edge on stops and pressures behind the line.