Eye-catchers from Ragin’ Cajuns 7v7 tournament | Offense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twenty-five talented high school teams from all over the state of Louisiana visited Lafayette this weekend for the Ragin Cajuns' annual 7-on-7 tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the second straight year, St. Augustine brought the victory and bragging rights back to New Orleans. But the event was loaded with standout performances across the board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are 40 eye-catchers on offense from 12 different teams, including the top four finishers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Note: With 25 times playing on five different fields in quick succession, Prep Redzone Louisiana was not able to see every team and saw most teams for a single matchup. "Eye-catchers" lists are not intended to be complete, comprehensive "top performers" lists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ST. AUGUSTINE PURPLE KNIGHTS</strong> (champions)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising junior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1348424' first='Vashaun' last='Coulon']</strong> continued his strong offseason with a championship-leading effort. Tall, athletic outside targets <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323402' first='Miguel' last='Whitley']</strong> and <strong>Ray'Quan Williams</strong> were again impressive, and another underclassman receiver, <strong>Verchaun "Birdie" Simms Jr.</strong>, was lethal out of the slot. And rising freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1372182' first='Kamari' last='Navarre']</strong> was another consistent weapon, as a tight end with a solid build and some athleticism in the air and after the catch that only further bolsters a deep cast of weapons with rising senior <strong>Monroe Dillon IV</strong> and rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='740984' first='Keith' last='Hill'] Jr.</strong> among the vets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ST. JAMES WILDCATS</strong> (runners-up)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats' young quarterback, rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='742755' first='Peyton' last='Clement']</strong>, looked poised and confident throughout the day —&nbsp;including big throws against notable competition and a bracket-play comeback against Acadiana — to help lead his team to the title game. Rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401966' first='Jakias' last='Villanueva']</strong>, one of the team's primary veterans was electric in his ability to create space to have one of the event's most productive receiving performances. And running back <strong>Kani King-Young</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1348431' first='Kanye' last='Zenon']</strong> were again standouts for a St. James skill group with some good diversity and versatility of weapons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ST. THOMAS MORE COUGARS</strong> (semifinalists)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With rising junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='401749' first='Cole' last='Bergeron'] resting, rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1336802' first='Matt' last='Parker']</strong> had full-run of the offense and helped lead the Cougars' new-look offense to an impressive run, including a clutch quarterfinal defeat of Edna Karr to avenge a pool-play loss. The diving touchdown reception to win that low-scoring battle helped highlight a strong performance overall by rising senior tight end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914116' first='Aiden' last='Falgout']</strong>, a big-bodied target with sure hands who should be a major factor in the offense this fall. And another big target, rising senior receiver <strong>Jacob Froehlich</strong>, looked the part of one of the unit's more experienced players with his consistent production. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CALVARY BAPTIST CAVALIERS</strong> (semifinalists)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Familiar, rising senior faces in quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144901' first='Abram' last='Wardell']</strong> and receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291081' first='Kolby' last='Thomas']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144900' first='Kaleb' last='Tucker']</strong> helped the Cavaliers' offense cruise through the bulk of their matchups despite their defense, which is already working to replace several key graduates, being short-handed. And another rising senior, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1336716' first='Daylen' last='Wilson']</strong>, flashed some big plays and should be a breakout player to watch this fall after his family's move back from Texas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CECILIA BULLDOGS</strong> (quarterfinalists)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='145333' first='Diesel' last='Solari']</strong> and his talented receiving corps were clicking as well as any team for a stretch of pool play before the all-state standout had to leave for family obligations. Rising sophomore and budding star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934555' first='Braylon' last='Calais']</strong> racked up one highlight-reel catch after another. New Louisiana (Lafayette) commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913904' first='Brent' last='Gordon Jr.']</strong> was a constant playmaker on both sides of the ball. And Solari's and Gordon's fellow rising senior, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913920' first='Ellis' last='Stewart']</strong>, made multiple touchdown grabs before stepping in, taking the lead of the offense and throwing some.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EDNA KARR COUGARS</strong> (quarterfinalists) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising junior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920629' first='John' last='Johnson']</strong> and his impressive cast of weapons were on display in a pool play game vs. St. Thomas More. Recent Tulane commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214144' first='Oliver' last='Mitchell Jr.']</strong> showcased his long catch radius and speed after the catch early and often. LSU commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='426960' first='TaRon' last='Francis']</strong> hauled in a smooth, over-the-shoulder touchdown in the back of the end zone. And another ascending prospect, fellow rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710768' first='Daejawn' last='Smith']</strong>, made multiple acrobatic touchdown grabs of his own, including at least one particularly high-flying highlight in the end zone. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ACADIANA WRECKIN' RAMS </strong>(bracket qualifier)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The chemistry and confidence between brothers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913931' first='Caden' last='DiBetta']</strong>, a rising senior, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934589' first='Collin' last='DiBetta']</strong>, a rising sophomore, was on full display as one of the top quarterback-receiver connections of the weekend, as Collin and rising senior <strong>Parker Robicheaux</strong> were go-to's for Caden and consistently found the end zone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PEABODY WARHORSES</strong> (bracket qualifier)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior <strong>T.J. Hullaby</strong> was another of the event's most consistent playmakers, flying through opposing defenses for one deep shot after another, quickly creating separation on the goal line and also making a few tough and even one-handed grabs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WARREN EASTON EAGLES</strong> (bracket qualifier)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New starting quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1238192' first='Carl' last='Reed Jr.']</strong>, a rising junior, showed the decision-making and quick release that has long had the confidence of his high school and 7-on-7 teammates, and his backup quarterback, rising senior <strong>Joshua Jones</strong> stepped up as a tall, reliable target up seams and near the goal line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RIVERDALE REBELS</strong> (bracket qualifier) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1318520' first='Rida' last='Ghazzali']</strong> was on time and on target, zipping the ball around the fields to a good mix of targets led by rising juniors in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237783' first='Toren' last='Signal']</strong> and running back <strong>Byron Perrilliat</strong> and rising sophomore slot <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1356130' first='Armani' last='McKennie']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN KNIGHTS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights have plenty of big shoes to fill from their graduated 2024 class, but looked poised to still be a dangerous, explosive attack with [player_tooltip player_id='1601816' first='Braylon' last='Walker'] at the helm and speedy weapons all over the field. Fellow rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='924621' first='Brayden' last='Allen']</strong> made multiple leaping touchdown grabs to lead the group with rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914216' first='Brennan' last='Walker']</strong> and rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1348446' first='Draylon' last='August']</strong> also standing out and reaching the end zone and versatile rising senior leader <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1224578' first='Calvin' last='Parker']</strong> making plays on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EAST ASCENSION SPARTANS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1335954' first='Darrin' last='Magee']</strong> was a big target with long arms for the Spartans who also flashed good speed after the catch, including an explosive gain against Warren Easton on which he gained multiple steps of separation from a defender over the middle, caught the ball in stride and out-ran others to the sideline and upfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->