Written for the LSWA
The 2024 football season was quite memorable for two Panther teams.
Bunkie was one win shy of advancing to the LHSAA Prep Classic, but it matched its best season finish with its first semifinal trip since 1988.
Sterlington overcame a 2-3 start and rallied to win the Division III non-select title, where it defeated St. James.
Representatives of both teams earned top honors on the 2024 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 3A All-State Team, as selected by sportswriters across the state.
Bunkie senior quarterback Dillon Compton won Outstanding Offensive Player honors after playing a significant role in leading his team to a 12-1 season and its first district title since 2009. Compton passed for 2,287 yards and 28 touchdowns and added 568 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.
Sterlington senior linebacker Tre Burch earned Outstanding Defensive Player honors, thanks to making 153 tackles, seven sacks, and three fumble recoveries. Burch stepped up as the leader of a team that lost six starters from its front seven and held six of its final 10 opponents to under 20 points.
Lee Doty earned Coach of the Year honors after winning his third LHSAA title, his second as Sterlington’s head coach, since moving from Mississippi in 2014. On top of the defensive replacements, Doty replaced his quarterback, top offensive lineman, and a key two-way athlete from last season’s team.
LSWA CLASS 3A ALL-STATE CHART
OFFENSE
Pos Player School Ht Wt Cl
WR Kyle Johnson Bunkie 6-0 175 Sr.
WR Jakias Villanueva St. James 5-7 165 Jr.
WR James Evans John F. Kennedy 5-10 160 Sr.
OL Michael Bozeman Sterlington 5-9 200 Sr.
OL Cale Parker Jena 6-0 215 Jr.
OL John Hebert University 6-3 265 Sr.
OL Robric Walker Madison Prep 6-2 290 Sr.
OL Calvin Grant John F. Kennedy 5-8 245 Sr.
QB Dillon Compton Bunkie 6-0 192 Sr.
RB Hagen Herring Sterlington 5-11 170 Sr.
RB Lochlen Claverie Haynes Academy 6-1 200 Sr.
RB Kevon Johnson Northwest 5-8 175 Jr.
PK Zachry Sugandi-Truitt St. Louis 5-7 170 Sr.
ATH Tylan Johnson Madison Prep 5-11 195 Sr.
DEFENSE
Pos Player School Ht Wt Cl
DL Cam Bagwell Sterlington 6-0 190 So.
DL Jaiden Elly De La Salle 6-0 260 Sr.
DL Dominick Ruth John F. Kenedy 5-10 225 Jr.
DL Curtis Harrison Northwest 6-3 300 Sr.
LB Alec Haynes University 6-1 230 Sr.
LB Tre Burch Sterlington 6-0 235 Sr.
LB Nolan Zenon St. James 6-1 185 Jr.
LB Lucas Mose Bunkie 6-0 175 Jr.
DB Ron Patterson Bunkie 5-8 150 Jr.
DB Jarrell Williams St. James 6-1 175 Sr.
DB Montez Randall De La Salle 5-11 170 Jr.
DB Jacob Hess Parkview Baptist 5-8 155 Sr.
P Nahun Lalin John F. Kennedy 5-11 190 Sr.
ATH Kristopher Griffin L.B. Landry 5-11 170 Jr.
RS Jayce Lantier Iota 5-11 180 Sr.
OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER: DILLON COMPTON, BUNKIE
OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: TRE BURCH, STERLINGTON
COACH OF THE YEAR: LEE DOTY, STERLINGTON
HONORABLE MENTION
Brody Anderson, Westlake; Demico Barnes, Booker T. Washington-NO; Jye Blain, St. James; Haidyn Boone, Buckeye; Lamar Brown, University; Omarion Brown, John F. Kennedy; Jim Burlew, Buckeye; Ayden Carter, Lake Charles Prep; Amyne Darensbourg, John F. Kennedy; Ryan Desselle, Buckeye; Davien Edward, Jennings; Gaven Evans, Sterlington; Jeremiah Freeman, Lake Charles Prep; Dane Frick, Kaplan; Brennan Gibson, Port Allen; Dion Griffith, Livington Collegiate; Gavin Higgins, Parkview Baptist; Ju’Juan Jackson, St. James; Kani King-Young, St. James; Jack Landry, Erath; Mason Lantz, Iota; Devin Lavalais, Marksville; Zion Lee, Bunkie; Zay Martin, University; Cedric McDonald, De La Salle; Alfred McKnight, Madison Prep; Elidrick Murray, Marksville; Chris Ned, Jennings; Humphrey Ned, Jennings; Luke Normand, Bunkie; Aidan Parker, Sterlington; Alijah Pete, Lake Charles College Prep; Kyreon Prier, Marksville; Peyton Renfro, Iota; Keyon Robinson, Madison Prep; Kevin Rideau, Westlake; Nate Riordan, Sterlington; Colten Sharp, Jena; JD Smith, Bunkie; Calvin Sparrow, John F. Kennedy; Bryce Wilkerson, Thomas Jefferson; Sedrick Wilson, Jena; Christian Wold, South Beauregard; Re’John Zeno, Jennings.