By: William Weathers
Written for the LSWA
Hayneville’s produced state championships at such a prodigious rate it’s hard to believe the Golden Tornado ever experiencing a drought.
The school’s dynasty, which began under legendary coach Alton “Red” Franklin, ended an 11-year dry spell under his son David, who guided the Tornado to a perfect 14-0 season, which included a Division IV nonselect state championship.
Haynesville’s road began with the disappointment of consecutive state runner-up finishes, leading to this season’s show of perfection that earned Franklin the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 1A Coach of the Year honor.
Golden Tornado’s senior two-way standout Isaiah Washington, an LSU signee, is the state’s Defensive Player of the Year. First-year starter Trevin Simon of Ascension Catholic rewrote the state’s single-season records for yards and touchdown is the Offensive Player of the Year.
David Franklin won the fourth state title of his career under difficult circumstances. Not only did his father, the state’s fourth all-time leader in career wins (367), pass away in March, but he lost his beloved mother Beth in June.
Haynesville responded by outscoring opponents 687-146 with four shutouts and earned the No. 1 seed in the postseason.
The school’s 18th state championship, the first since 2014, was a test of will against second-seeded Mangham which led early in the fourth quarter.
Washington, the team’s quarterback who scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, showed his value to Haynesville once Mangham led 35-32 and were threatening for more. He came up with his fifth interception of the season with a 77-yard return with 9:52 remaining, providing the winning score, 39-35, with more than nine minutes to play.
Washington’s team-high 12 tackles in the final increased his season total to 61. Teammate Dakota Davis, a senior, was a repeat selection on the offensive line, and senior Eli Bray is the placekicker.
A year after Leesville’s Xavier Ford established new highs in rushing and touchdowns in a season Simon, a wide receiver in 2024, shattered those marks with 334 carries for 3,915 yards, 58 rushing touchdowns and 60 overall. His impact helped Ascension Catholic return to the Division IV select state championship game for the first in seven years.
Class 1A All-State
Offense
WR Eli Bullock, Montgomery, 5-6, 130, So.
WR Kenric Johnson, Riverside, 5-9, 159, So.
WR Roderick Tezeno, Opelousas Catholic, 6-3, 180, Sr.
OL Vaughn Blanchard, Ascension Catholic, 6-3, 250, Sr.
OL Dakota Davis, Haynesville, 5-10, 255, Sr.
OL Gabe Galvez, Riverside, 6-0, 285, Sr.
OL Gregory Green, Jeanerette, 6-2, 265, Jr.
OL Kabren Thomas, Covenant Christian, 5-10, 212, Sr.
QB Javon Vital, Hamilton Christian, 5-10, 185, Jr.
RB Makelin Lemoine, Elton, 5-10, 185, Jr.
RB Jayden Obiekwe, Riverside, 5-10, 180, Sr.
RB Trevin Simon, Ascension Catholic, 5-9, 160, Sr.
PK Eli Bray, Haynesville, 6-1, 190, Sr.
ATH Owen Trosclair, Covenant Christian, 5-9, 165, Sr.
Defense
DL Ahmad Cage, Riverside, 5-10, 271, Jr.
DL Cameron Joyce, Hamilton Christian, 5-8, 185, Sr.
DL Matt Lalonde, Westminster-Opelousas, 6-3, 220, Sr.
DL Wyatt Poland, St. Frederick, 5-11, 175, Sr.
LB Kyle Horde, Westminster-Opelousas, 6-2, 220, Sr.
LB Raymond Jack, Jeanerette, 6-2, 210, Sr.
LB Huntin Martin, Logansport, 5-9, 165, Sr.
LB Peyton Trosclair, Covenant Christian, 5-9, 165, Sr.
DB Damien Thomas, Westminster-Opelousas, 5-9, 185, Sr
DB Jace Trosclair, Riverside, 5-9, 180, Sr.
DB Jaidon Ward, Jeanerette, 5-11, 170, Sr.
DB Isaiah Washington, Haynesville, 6-3, 170, Sr.
P Mac Proffitt, Westminster-Opelousas, 6-2, 180, Sr.
ATH L’Travious Brooks, Haynesville, 5-11, 175, Jr.
RS Kobe Gage, Jeanerette, 5-8, 175, Jr.
OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Trevin Simon, Ascension Catholic
OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Isaiah Washington, Haynesville
COACH OF THE YEAR: David Franklin, Haynesville
Honorable Mention
Logan Amidon, Cedar Creek; Josh Barber, Ascension Catholic; Andrea Brooks, Haynesville; Keaton Cason, Logansport; Romyn Cortez, Basile; John Rob Daigle, Ascension Catholic; Nathan Driggs, St. Edmund; Wyatt Dubois, St. Edmund; Jeremiah Evans, Haynesville; Michael French, St. Mary’s; Pierce Gable, Westminster-Lafayette; Kalon Gardner, West St. John; Gregory Green, Jeanerette; Sammy Griffin, Opelousas Catholic; JP Guerriero, St. Frederick; Payton Harris, Cedar Creek; Tucker Johnson, St. Mary’s; Mason Jordan, Montgomery; Jacob Julien, Ascension Catholic; Dakota Knox, Jonesboro-Hodge; Wyatt King, LaSalle; Jabari Levingston, Lincoln Prep; Maurice Marcel, Opelousas Catholic; Luke McLain, Vermilion Catholic; Branon Mitchell, Ascension Episcopal; Jude Morrison, Catholic-Pointe Coupee; Haiden Nelson, St. Mary’s; Myka Nipple, Catholic-Pointe Coupee; Owen O’Neil, St. Frederick; Conner Payne, Westminster-Opelousas; Brayden Percle, Covenant Christian; Ryan Randolph, Lincoln Prep; Julian Rideau, Hamilton Christian; Blake Robinson, Cedar Creek; Julian Rideau, Hamilton Christian; Gabe Savarese, St. Martin’s; Tyler Simpson, Delta Charter; Trey Spann, Lincoln Prep; Davin Simon, Elton; Drake Theriot, Central Catholic-MC; John Paul Thibodaux, St. Mary’s; Jax Tingler, Grand Lake; Benton Trosclair, Covenant Christian; Pacer Williams, Logansport; Patrick Williams, Covenant Christian; Braxton Woodring, Ascension Episcopal.