By Christopher Dabe
Written for the LSWA
Destrehan quarterback Jai Eugene Jr. and John Curtis linebacker Justin Horne lead the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 5A All-State football team.
Eugene and Horne were selected by a statewide panel of sports writers as the Offensive and Defensive players of the year, respectively, after each helped his school win an LHSAA state championship.
Ruston’s Jerrod Baugh was voted as the Coach of the Year for reaching the state final after four straight losses in the quarterfinals. Ruston reached the state final for the first time since 1998.
Eugene, selected to the team as an athlete, completed 95 of 155 passes for 1,898 yards with 23 touchdowns and three interceptions. He rushed 93 times for 724 yards and 13 scores.
He scored the winning touchdown on a 29-yard run in the fourth quarter as Destrehan defeated Ruston 17-10 in the Division I nonselect state final.
Although a quarterback in high school, the Tulane signee projects as a defensive back in college. Eugene is among five Destrehan players selected to the team.
Horne, a Texas Tech signee, had 144 tackles, 17 for loss with 6 sacks and 3 passes defensed. The District 9-5A Defensive MVP showcased the same speed that helped him become a state championship hurdler in the spring.
2022 LSWA CLASS 5A ALL-STATE
OFFENSE
WR Pearce Russell Benton 6-0 185 Sr.
WR Shelton Sampson Jr. Catholic 6-4 185, Sr.
WR Dkhai Joseph East St. John 5-11 165 Jr.
OL Mason Skipper Ruston 6-1 305 Sr.
OL Bryce Godfrey John Curtis 6-3 275 Jr.
OL Brandon Spincer Edna Karr 6-2 275 Sr.
OL Landry Cannon Destrehan 6-3 330 Sr.
OL Troy Smith St. Augustine 6-5 290 Sr.
QB Daniel Beale Catholic 6-2 195 Jr.
RB Carldell Sirmons Ouachita 5-7 158 Jr.
RB Jaylan White Parkway 5-9 180 Sr.
RB Deantre Jackson Edna Karr 5-8 180 Sr.
PK Aeron Burrell Parkway 6-2 165 Jr.
ATH Jai Eugene Destrehan 6-0 190 Sr.
DEFENSE
DL Christian Davis Ruston 6-4 300 Sr.
DL Ashley Williams Zachary 6-4 220 Sr.
DL Jonathan Bax Edna Karr 6-3 230 Sr.
DL Brenden LeBlanc Brother Martin 6-1 265 Sr.
LB Jadon Mayfield Ruston 6-0 222 Jr.
LB Chauncey Lee West Monroe 5-9 190 Sr.
LB Justin Horne John Curtis 6-1 200 Sr.
LB Kolaj Cobbins Destrehan 6-3 200 Jr.
DB Jordan Matthews Woodlawn 6-1 185 Sr.
DB Kylin Jackson Zachary 6-3 200 Sr.
DB Michael Richard Edna Karr 5-9 160 Sr.
DB Kevin Adams Destrehan 5-10 170 Sr.
P William Hudlow Jesuit 6-0 215 Sr.
KR Daniel Blood Destrehan 6-0 175 Sr.
ATH Ashton Stamps Rummel 6-0 170 Sr.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JAI EUGENE, DESTREHAN
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JUSTIN HORNE, JOHN CURTIS
COACH OF THE YEAR: JERROD BAUGH, RUSTON
HONORABLE MENTION
Drew Dronet, Sam Houston; Jamaal Levi, Barbe; Kandyn Cordova, Barbe; Jamorion Jackson, Sam Houston; Josh Colvin, Ruston; Ahmad Breaux, Ruston, Nate Johnson, Ruston; Jordan McWain, Ruston; Pierson Parent, Dutchtown; Joe Bordelon, Alexandria; Jeremiah Jeffers-Wright, Alexandria; Luke Guidry, Slidell; Aaron Jackson, Ruston; Daxton Chavez, Airline; Amyrion Mingo, Alexandria; Jaylin Johnson, Alexandria; Chantz Babineaux, Carencro; Koby Young, Holy Cross; Royal Gray, East St. John; Nate Green, West Monroe; Jacob Johnson, Catholic; Ethan Fields, Dutchtown; Roy Brackins III, Woodlawn; Noah Miller, Ouachita; Kam Robinson, Captain Shreve; B.J. Meche, Acadiana; Akicita Ardoin, Southside; Israel Jolivette, Carencro; Khayree Lee, John Ehret; Lawson Champagne, Covington; Peyton Polk, Haughton; Ean Rodrigue, Thibodaux; Jaden Osborne, Ruston; A.J. Samuel, Edna Karr; Yashua Mitchell, East St. John; Royal Falgout, John Ehret; Chantz Caesar, Carencro; Gray Walters, Benton; Ben Taylor Airline; Antonio Ford, West Ouachita; Dyson Fields, Ruston; Tyler Rhodes, Haughton; Marlon Prout, John Curtis; Torey Lambert, Brother Martin; Shane Lee, Destrehan; George Martin, East St. John; Kevan Williams, Acadiana; Aidan Corbello, Jesuit; Ashton Guilbeau, Lafayette High; Demarcus Singleton, Thibodaux; Jahiem Johnson, Hammond; AK Burrell, Dutchtown; Colin Rains, Haughton; Geordan Guidry, Ruston; Judd Rouyea, Catholic; Dylan Carpenter, St. Amant; D’Arrius Zeigler, West Monroe; Shane Payton-Hodges, St. Augustine; Brenden LeBlanc, Brother Martin; Dominic McKinley, Acadiana; Keevon George, Carencro; Charles Atkins, East Jefferson; Terrence Greene, Captain Shreve; Zheric Hill, Ruston; Brooks Brossette, Byrd; Connor Blank, Haughton; Landen Lee, Captain Shreve; Kristian Doyle, Ouachita; Dickson Agu, Dutchtown; Rylon Johnson, Brother Martin; Lucas Harrington, Southside; Bryce Blackwell, Covington; CJ Williams, West Monroe; Chaunky Lewis, Ouachita; Dashawn McBryde, Denham Springs; Bryson Jones, Southside; Corinthian Walters, Southwood; Jacob Johnson, St. Paul’s; Abram Murray, Byrd; John Chance, Captain Shreve; Will Fendley, Ruston; Russell Babineaux, Acadiana; Christian Jones, Byrd.