Top Performers: Zachary vs. Lafayette Christian

A pair of Louisiana’s top teams didn’t score an offensive touchdown until the last 25 seconds of their final preseason tune-up. But a late strike from junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="138485" first="Eli" last="Holstein"] to senior wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id="136520" first="Kameran" last="Senegal"] provided the late fireworks necessary to left Zachary past host Lafayette Christian, 12-6. And the Broncos and Knights’ jamboree matchup didn’t lack for notable standout performers kicking off their fall campaigns on a positive note. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/smoM3tOuE-4" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Holstein, the Texas A&amp;M commitment, found top target [player_tooltip player_id="136512" first="Charles" last="Robertson"], a Louisiana (Lafayette) commitment, early and often, and junior safety [player_tooltip player_id="138305" first="Kylin" last="Jackson"] made plays on both defense and special teams for Zachary. Meanwhile Tulane and Louisiana (Lafayette) target [player_tooltip player_id="136610" first="Masey" last="Lewis"] was the biggest name on the field for the Knights with [player_tooltip player_id="136630" first="Jordan" last="Allen"], [player_tooltip player_id="136632" first="Brylan" last="Green"] and [player_tooltip player_id="136581" first="Fitzgerald" last="West"] Jr. all sidelined. But here are a few of the other players who showed they could have big falls and careers ahead. <strong>Melvin Hills — 6-4, 260 DL — Lafayette Christian (2024)</strong> One of the Knights’ younger athletes stepped up alongside Lewis to help lead the team’s defensive push up front. Hills is already one of LCA’s biggest bodies and showed good quickness off the line and shedding blockers for his age and size. He looks to be one of the perennial power’s key players to watch when the talented senior class graduates. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">More of Melvin Hills in the middle of LCA’s defensive front. <a href="https://t.co/fQLmoJ9xpJ">pic.twitter.com/fQLmoJ9xpJ</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1431425952156995588?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Tai’Shon Nelson — 6-0, 245 DL — Zachary (2022)</strong> The strong, stout defensive lineman with a high motor generated consistent push in the middle of the Broncos’ defensive front for a sack and another couple hurries. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mtKo3U9CrT0" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Alonzo Ryes — 5-9, 165 — Lafayette Christian (2023)</strong> The junior wide receiver and returner looks to be another emerging weapon for the Knights alongside [player_tooltip player_id="136494" first="Darian" last="Riggs"] and [player_tooltip player_id="136536" first="Cowinn" last="Helaire"] to help fill the big shoes left by the graduations of [player_tooltip player_id="63550" first="Sage" last="Ryan"] and Caemon "Speedy" Scott. <strong>Kam Senegal — 5-9, 160 WR — Zachary (2022)</strong> The senior, who broke free to haul in the game-winning touchdown from Holstein, is probably a more well-known name than the rest of this list after his strong spring and summer. But the smaller, quicker counterpart to Robertson remains relatively under-the-radar entering a season in which he figures to be a consistent weapon for a high-powered attack. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">[player_tooltip player_id="138485" first="Eli" last="Holstein"]. [player_tooltip player_id="136520" first="Kameran" last="Senegal"].</p> Zachary back ahead, 11-6, with 25 seconds left in the jamboree. <a href="https://t.co/yrU3k5ovRT">pic.twitter.com/yrU3k5ovRT</a> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1431431632590983173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Emauri Sibley — 6-0, 190 LB — Zachary (2022)</strong> Another senior standout on the Broncos’ defense, who helped bring pressure from the linebacking corps, including one particularly ferocious sack in the second half of the low-scoring battle in which Zachary didn’t allow an offensive touchdown. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="es">6-0, 190 senior Emauri Sibley 😳😳 <a href="https://t.co/z96MaSDneP">pic.twitter.com/z96MaSDneP</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1431424877605662722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Kameran Thomas — RB — Zachary (2025)</strong> Even before the varsity teams squared off, the freshman running back rattled off a slew of impressive runs in the junior varsity game that had his older teammates impressed on the sideline. Thomas hit holes with purpose, smoothly navigated traffic and made defenders miss. <strong>Brayden Zeigler — 5-11, 215 LB — Lafayette Christian (2022)</strong> The linebacker was an underrated, hard-hitting leader on last year’s state championship team and looked to come back bigger and faster to start his senior season. Zeigler picked up a drag route across the middle of the field, stayed in stride with the receiver and jumped the pass, then darted about 45 yards to the end zone for the Knights’ only points. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">So… Lafayette Christian is on the board.</p> Brayden Zeigler pick-six. Knights take a 6-5 lead with 2:44 remaining. <a href="https://t.co/fbPDx1R4Bd">pic.twitter.com/fbPDx1R4Bd</a> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1431429145423122432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>