10 Denham Springs vs. Walker jamboree eye-catchers

Denham Springs and Walker squared off Friday for their final preseason matchup before officially kicking off the regular season next week.   The District 5-5A and Livingston Parish rivals did not disappoint in terms of their competitiveness and intensity — and atmosphere — for the jamboree setting.   But, when the dust settled on the two-period tune-up and some late special-teams chaos, the visiting Yellow Jackets managed to escape their host Wildcats with a 7-6 victory, with big junior kicker [player_tooltip player_id='1350626' first='Jonathan' last='Bravo']'s first-half extra-point ultimately holding up as the razor-thin margin.   Here's a look at another 10 (or, actually 13) players who stood out on the evening.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZFbxpKUPhA </div></figure>     Miguel D'Angelo — 6-6, 295 OL — Walker (2026)   and Tony Fassino — 6-2, 285 OL — Walker (2026)   The Wildcats were without left tackle Charlie Ward, who has become an ascending prospect in Louisiana's 2026 class, but not without some standout performances by junior offensive linemen. D'Angelo stood out right away with his big frame and had a solid night overall, including sticking with the play on the Wildcats' long touchdown run and keeping his defender free of the cutback lane. Fassino, alongside him at left guard, was active all over the field getting outside in front of quick screens and pulling left for the most explosive block on the aforementioned touchdown run.   Donte Flowers — 6-0, 225 DL — Walker (2025)   The senior has been a versatile defender in the box throughout his high school career and has had a strong preseason to what looks poised to potentially be a big senior season. Flowers was in the backfield early and often Friday, including at least two or three tackles behind the line of scrimmage — which coaches said had been a continuation of the pressure he was able to provide in the previous week's scrimmage.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unm_A7WnWQw </div></figure>     JaCori Gross — 6-3, 225 DL/LB — Denham Springs (2025)   The Yellow Jackets' defense also got some of its biggest production and most timely plays from a senior edge rusher as Gross brought pressure throughout the evening, highlighted by his batted pass on the Wildcats' first possession to force a three-and-out and his late sack to help slow the momentum and tempo of a promising Wildcats drive into a turnover on downs a few plays later. Senior linebacker Rayvious Williams and junior linebacker Caden Allyn were among other standouts in the Yellow Jackets' pressure with big plays behind the line.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G_Ftgf_OqU </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1335962' first='Tylan' last='Haynes'] — 6-1, 180 WR — Denham Springs (2025)   The senior receiver hauled in a couple of passes Friday, including the Yellow Jackets' lone touchdown in the winning effort on which he was able to use his route-running and his big frame to create space around the goal line and give his quarterback a big, reliable target.   [player_tooltip player_id='144906' first='Jerry' last='Horne'] — 6-2, 205 QB — Denham Springs (2025)   The senior quarterback weathered the early onslaught of Walker pressure and remained unfazed and poised as he delivered in the biggest moments, mounting the Yellow Jackets' touchdown drive primarily through the air and delivering a deep third-down strike to senior Peyton Puffer late to keep his offense on the field and the clock moving. Horne also had a couple of opportunities to show some mobility, including a keeper bounced out to the sideline for a big second-half gain.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPPxd9N-_TI </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='740987' first='Cayden' last='Jones'] — 5-10, 180 RB — Walker (2025)   The speedy "Cheat Code" in the Wildcats' backfield was the biggest, most consistent spark to the promising offense on a night on which points were tough to come by. Jones was the primary ball-carrier throughout the evening, highlighted with his cut upfield through traffic, getting small through the hole and exploding for the 45-yard, breakaway score. That burst was nearly on full display again in the second half on what looked like another potential long score, but a Yellow Jackets defender managed to get just enough of a hand to trip him up at the last moment.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6wecrwvup0 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='401739' first='Brenton' last='Paul'] — 5-9, 180 RB — Denham Springs (2026)   The Wildcats' stingy defense contained the junior running back from having as big of a showing as he had in the Yellow Jackets' scrimmage the previous week, but he still managed to show a couple flashes of his explosive burst as the team's top running back and returner. Paul, who debuted in the Prep Redzone Louisiana rankings this offseason, figures to be a notable name to know in the District 5-5A picture throughout this fall.   Zyon Russ — 5-9, 150 DB — Walker (2025)   The senior defensive back was a busy man for the Wildcats' defense and special teams, including a nicely read and covered first-half screen on which he broke on the play, kept his leverage and made a nice open-field stop and a second-half breakup on a pass attempt his direction. Russ also served as Walker's lead returner, a role where he'll have big shoes to fill after the team's elite production in 2023.   Nolan Teston — DL — Walker (2026)   The Wildcats' junior nose tackle actually helped set the early tone of pressure the defense was able to bring against Horne and company. Teston was active and disruptive inside with a couple of early stops behind the line and at least one more later in the matchup.

Denham Springs and Walker squared off Friday for their final preseason matchup before officially kicking off the regular season next week.