2023 LSWA Class 4A All-State Football Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>(LSWA Release, Written by Jerit Roser)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of future LSU teammates and the coach of a historic, championship-winning team lead the LSWA's 2023 Class 4A all-state football team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lafayette Christian quarterback Ju'Juan&nbsp;Johnson caps a decorated and record-setting high school career as the Outstanding Offensive Player in 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The LSU signee threw for 3,597 yards and 41 touchdowns and rushed for another 1,497 yards and 25 scores as a senior to help topple Louisiana's long-standing career marks for total yardage and total touchdowns.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson was among the state's most dynamic playmakers at any level all season to help lead his Knights to a seventh straight state championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evangel Christian defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='285618' first='Gabriel' last='Reliford'], another new Tigers signee, garnered Outstanding Defensive Player for his dominant senior showing on the team selected by a panel of sportswriters from across the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The edge-rusher racked up 122 total tackles, including 71 solo, 29 for loss and nine sacks, and forced three fumbles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reliford and his teammates finished 7-5, including a playoff win, for the second straight season after the Eagles went winless their freshman season and 3-7 as sophomores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Opelousas alumnus Jimmy Zachery earned Coach of the Year honors after leading his alma mater the Division II nonselect title, the first football state championship in program history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In his fourth season at the helm, Zachery led the Tigers to a title just three seasons after OHS was winless in a COVID-shortened 2020 year. In Opelousas' first title game appearance since 1956, the Tigers beat District 5-4A rival Cecilia 26-13.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Opelousas finished 12-3 overall, including three straight road playoff wins and four straight as a lower seed on a Cinderella postseason run to rewrite its record books.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 LSWA CLASS 4A ALL-STATE CHART</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pos player school ht wt class </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='710281' first='Cole' last='Cory'] North DeSoto 5-9 175 Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285620' first='Parker' last='Fulghum'] Evangel Christian 6-2 180 Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='291094' first='Kylin' last='Wheeler'], Rayne 5-11 175 Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OL </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1203210' first='Gage' last='Caskey'] North DeSoto 6-0 255 Sr. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OL </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139479' first='Ashton' last='Helaire'] St. Thomas More 6-3 325 Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OL </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='677951' first='Raymond' last='Howard'] Archbishop Shaw 6-2 280 Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OL </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='677675' first='Joseph' last='Milton'] Opelousas 6-2 282 Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OL </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221046' first='Jace' last='Williams'], Assumption 6-1 280 Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB </strong>Ju'Juan Johnson Lafayette Christian 5-11 195 Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='145332' first='Jaylon' last='Coleman'] Vandebilt Catholic 5-9 160 Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710072' first='D'Shaun' last='Ford'] Opelousas 6-1 210 Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710079' first='Xavier' last='Ford'] Leesville 5-11 190 Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PK </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='902141' first='Trey' last='Furey'] Belle Chasse 6-0 175 Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285278' first='Sam' last='Altmann'] St. Thomas More 6-3 195, Sr. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pos player school ht wt class </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL </strong>Melvin HIlls III, Lafayette Christian, 6-3, 270, Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='678301' first='Ted' last='Jackson'], West Feliciana, 5-11, 240, Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285618' first='Gabriel' last='Reliford'] Evangel Christian 6-2 255 Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710074' first='Brody' last='Whatley'] Neville 6-5 255 Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='902061' first='Hayden' last='Hernandez'] St. Thomas More 6-0 215 Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='678300' first='Jamal' last='Jordan'] Evangel Christian 6-3 215 Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1203232' first='Brody' last='Latiolais'] St. Thomas More 5-11 195 Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1203236' first='Brody' last='Robichaux'] Assumption 5-10 200 Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1203212' first='Lake' last='Bates'] North DeSoto 5-10 180 Sr. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB</strong> Brent Gordon Cecilia, 5-11 180 Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB </strong>Ty Lee Lafayette Christian 6-0 180 Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB </strong>Ja'Corian Norris Tioga 6-2 185 Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>P </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221052' first='Cameron' last='Ott'] Assumption 6-1 170 Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KR</strong> Ky'ree Paul Istrouma 5-10 175 Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='145333' first='Diesel' last='Solari'] Cecilia 5-8 170 Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER: </strong>JU'JUAN JOHNSON, LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='285618' first='Gabriel' last='Reliford'], EVANGEL CHRISTIAN</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COACH OF THE YEAR: </strong>JIMMY ZACHERY, OPELOUSAS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable mention</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='740982' first='Chris' last='Addison'], Franklin Parish; [player_tooltip player_id='920613' first='Jakai' last='Anderson'], McDonogh 35; Kaleb Andrus, Tioga; Jason Banks, De La Salle; [player_tooltip player_id='1596736' first='Paul' last='Boudreaux'], Vandebilt Catholic; Kamden Bourg, South Lafourche; Quantravious Bradford, Huntington; Corey Broussard, Cecilia; [player_tooltip player_id='1204745' first='Bradford' last='Cain'], Teurlings Catholic; Wade Cannon, St. Thomas More; [player_tooltip player_id='401967' first='Jalan' last='Chapman'], Warren Easton; Jackson Cordill, Franklin Parish; [player_tooltip player_id='401978' first='Luke' last='Delafield'], North DeSoto; [player_tooltip player_id='1211808' first='Dartavin' last='Depass'], Peabody; [player_tooltip player_id='901571' first='Greg' last='Donaldson'], Warren Easton; [player_tooltip player_id='913928' first='Travis' last='Esprit'], Opelousas; Jacob Fairchild, Vandebilt Catholic; [player_tooltip player_id='1211834' first='Izaiah' last='Farley'], Leesville; [player_tooltip player_id='710769' first='Korey' last='Fontenot'], Opelousas; Collin Fontenot, Opelousas; [player_tooltip player_id='915076' first='Jonathan' last='Ford'], Opelousas; [player_tooltip player_id='139491' first='Wallace' last='Foster IV'], Warren Easton; [player_tooltip player_id='1203306' first='Kilas' last='Francis'], Archbishop Shaw; [player_tooltip player_id='914094' first='Tavias' last='Gordon'], Westgate; Robert Graves, Neville; Jayden Hagger, Cecilia; Jackson Hedrick, Grant; [player_tooltip player_id='291090' first='Brandon' last='Henderson'], Woodlawn-Shreveport; [player_tooltip player_id='1211838' first='Andrew' last='Houston'], Booker T. Washington; T.J. Hullaby, Peabody; [player_tooltip player_id='1203205' first='Chase' last='Jacobs'], Assumption; K.J. James, Teurlings Catholic; [player_tooltip player_id='904082' first='Jacobi' last='Jefferson'], Salmen; [player_tooltip player_id='285269' first='De'Myrion' last='Johnson'], Westgate; [player_tooltip player_id='901046' first='Maximus' last='Kadrmas'], Tioga; [player_tooltip player_id='1211818' first='Alfred' last='Kennedy'], Assumption; [player_tooltip player_id='1211828' first='Cleveland' last='Latulas'], Westgate; Dy'traevous Lively, Westgate; Charlie Mader, Teurlings Catholic; Tim Maxson, De La Salle; Dameon McCloud, McDonogh 35; [player_tooltip player_id='421646' first='Peyton' last='McFarland'], McDonogh 35; [player_tooltip player_id='1203196' first='Brian' last='McMillian'], North DeSoto; [player_tooltip player_id='904080' first='Damon' last='Narcisse'], Salmen; Carson Orgeron, South Lafourche; [player_tooltip player_id='913900' first='Jasper' last='Parker'], Archbishop Shaw;&nbsp;Bronson Patt, Cecilia; [player_tooltip player_id='678304' first='Santana' last='Price'], McDonogh 35; [player_tooltip player_id='1211815' first='Taylor' last='Quinn'], Neville; Ben Ragas, Vandebilt Catholic; [player_tooltip player_id='900870' first='Kaileb' last='Rayford'], Salmen; [player_tooltip player_id='139490' first='Keidrick' last='Richardson'], De La Salle; [player_tooltip player_id='139626' first='Fred' last='Robertson'], Warren Easton; [player_tooltip player_id='421606' first='Joel' last='Rogers'], West Feliciana; [player_tooltip player_id='1237616' first='Justin' last='Ross'], McDonogh 35; Markel Senegal, Washington-Marion; [player_tooltip player_id='900869' first='Kenias' last='St. Romain'], DeRidder; [player_tooltip player_id='1596887' first='Tyrese' last='Mosby'], Plaquemine; [player_tooltip player_id='145326' first='Landon' last='Strother'], St. Thomas More; [player_tooltip player_id='289901' first='Hutch' last='Swilley'], St. Thomas More; John Martinez, St. Michael; Zyrian Taylor, Peabody; [player_tooltip player_id='1345167' first='Kenny' last='Thomas'], North DeSoto; [player_tooltip player_id='1203186' first='Reece' last='Turner'], Assumption; Landon Vallee, Grant; [player_tooltip player_id='1211836' first='Eric' last='Vories'], Peabody; Damyren Washington, Booker T. Washington; Jayden Webb, Neville; [player_tooltip player_id='1220967' first='Tyler' last='Welch'], Huntington; [player_tooltip player_id='681280' first='Javion' last='White'], Franklin Parish; [player_tooltip player_id='1221203' first='Mason' last='Wilson'], Archbishop Shaw; Cody Beall, St. Michael; Landry Wyatt, North DeSoto.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->