By Jake Martin
Written for the LSWA
An irresistible force, an electrifying showman and defiant underdog highlighted a memorable season of high school football at the Class 5A level.
The irresistible force became an unavoidable outcome, as Edna Karr’s dominance garnered national attention with a 27-game win streak that showed no signs of slowing down in the Caesars Superdome and will continue into next season.
Karr’s dominant defender inside, Richard Anderson, collected Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year honors on the Class 5A All-State team which was released today by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. The 6-foot-4, 330-pound LSU signee had 53 tackles, 10 sacks, 22 hurries, two fumble recoveries and a pick-6.
Perhaps Anderson will one day share the field with LSU commit Peyton “Pop” Houston, who received the Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year award after a dazzling show of speed, elusiveness and live arm.
Evangel’s quarterback passed for 3,836 yards and 42 touchdowns with nine interceptions, while rushing for 942 yards and 12 touchdowns. With Houston pulling the strings, the Eagles averaged 48 points per game and scored 50 or more points in seven different contests.
Ouachita head coach Benjy Lewis earned Coach of the Year honors after the Lions finished fifth in District 2-5A and were seeded 14th in the playoffs.
That didn’t prevent Lewis from leading his squad to victories over the top three seeds en route to capturing the non-select Division I state championship.
Ouachita (11-4) became the first team in Class 5A history to win a state championship after finishing fifth in its district in the regular season. The Lions edged top-seeded Ruston, 21-20, in a state championship showdown amongst District 2-5A rivals in the Superdome in New Orleans.
It was Ouachita’s second state championship in school history and its first since 1989.
Class 5A All-State
Offense
Pos, player, school, ht., wt., cl.
WR Chantz Babineaux, Carencro, 5-11, 200, Sr.
WR Easton Royal, Brother Martin, 5-11, 190, Jr.
TE Ahmad Hudson, Ruston, 6-8, 242, Jr.
OL Brooks Brown, Ruston, 6-4, 216, Sr.
OL Ty George, West Monroe, 6-3, 330, Sr.
OL O’Ryan Mosley, Terrebonne, 6-3, 305, Sr.
OL Leon Noil, Karr, 6-4, 270, Sr.
OL Blaise Thomassie Catholic-BR, 6-5, 290, Sr.
QB Peyton Houston, Evangel Christian, 5-10, 200, Jr.
RB Malachi Dabney, Destrehan, 5-9, 185, Jr.
RB M.J. Dade, Ouachita, 5-5, 161, Sr.
RB Tre Garrison, Karr, 5-11, 190, Sr.
ATH John Johnson, Karr, 5-11, 190, Sr.
PK Asher Murray, Byrd, 5-10, 176, Sr.
Defense
Pos, player, school, ht., wt., cl.
DL Richard Anderson, Karr, 6-4, 330, Sr.
DL Dylan Berymon, Ouachita, 6-2, 320, Sr.
DL Darryus McKinley, Acadiana, 6-3, 275, Sr.
DL Ra’Keem Potts, Ruston, 5-10, 224, Sr.
LB Jeffrey Curtis, John Curtis, 5-9, 200, Sr.
LB Damari Drake, Evangel Christian, 6-0, 215, Sr.
LB Dylan Shelmire, Zachary, 6-0, 215, Sr.
LB Xzavier White, Alexandria, 6-1, 240, Sr.
DB Blaine Bradford, Catholic-BR, 6-1, 207 Sr.
DB Julian Burns, Neville, 6-3, 196, Sr.
DB Aidan Hall, Karr, 6-2, 200 Sr.
DB Hayward Howard, Karr, 6-2, 185, Sr.
P Owen Oliver, Terrebonne, 5-10, 185, Sr.
ATH Wydell Clark, Ouachita, 5-9, 155, Sr.
RS Kenny Darby, Airline, 6-0, 175, Sr.
OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Peyton Houston, Evangel Christian
OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Richard Anderson, Karr
COACH OF THE YEAR: Benjy Lewis, Ouachita
Honorable mention
Charley Abraham, Evangel Christian; Quincy Adams, Terrebonne; Cameron Allen, Southside; Jayden Anding, Ruston; Bo Armstrong, Barbe; Isaias Avalos, Acadiana; Cooper Babin, St. Amant; Tadan Bingham, Terrebonne; Jamieon Brown, Lafayette; Romeo Brown, Karr; Tyree Bruer, Bonnabel; Gary Burney, Parkway; Ethan Cabos, Jesuit; Jake Cain, Natchitoches Central; Andre Campbell, Captain Shreve; Geo Carter, Thibodaux; Marvin Causey, Bonnabel; Alvin Celestin, Terrebonne; Mason Coleman, Terrebonne; Emanual Collins, Southside; Montrell Conner Jr., Ouachita; Cody Corales, St. Paul’s; Vashaun Coulon, St. Augustine; Brandon Craig, Haughton; Tyray Darensburg, Chalmette; Trez Davis, West Monroe; Ashton Dawson, Evangel Christian; John Russel Demoss, Catholic-BR; Shawn Devers, Captain Shreve; Colin DiBetta, Acadiana; Ty Dominique, St. Augustine; Derrick Dunbar, Covington; Jeremiah Epps, Airline; Mister Finney, Carencro; Carlos Flemings Jr., Slidell; Cameron Florent, Destrehan; Alex Fontenot, Alexandria; Gabe Ford, Prairieville; Zaiden Foster, Liberty; Eli Fung, Alexandria; Travis Gallien, Acadiana; Tony Gladney, Parkway; Syre Gilmore, St. Augustine; Da’Jean Golmond, Denham Springs; Da’Sean Golmond, Denham Springs; Ian Gray, Byrd; Jelandon Gray, Barbe; Malik Grayson, Neville; Chris Green, Parkway; JaKyrin Griffin, Alexandria; Jordin Griffin, Barbe; Savoy Guidry, Holy Cross; E.J. Hanney, Sam Houston; Graham Harris, Central; Mitch Harris, Archbishop Rummel; Dylan Henry, Mandeville; Da’John Howard, Salmen; Carlin Kinchen, Archbishop Rummel; Braylen Jackson, Airline; Royaun Jackson, Huntington; Quincy Jackson, Bonnabel; Connor Jarreau, Thibodaux; Jake Jarreau, Central; Ethan Johnson, Haughton; Roderick Johnson, Parkway; Jermiah Jones, Thibodaux; Harrison Kidder, Catholic-BR; Ethan Kimmie, Zachary; Micah Levy, East Ascension; Jeremy Lowe, Natchitoches Central; Prentice Mackyeon, John Curtis; Brady McCluskey, Brother Martin; Jabari Mack, Destrehan; DeAndre Mansfield, Ouachita; Kevin Martin, Karr; Brysten Martinez, East Ascension; Van Martinez, Neville; Christian Maxie, Byrd; Brandon Mays, Captain Shreve; Tyrone Morgan, Woodlawn-BR; Jayden Miles, Catholic-BR; Josiah Morgan, Ruston; Damiere Mouton, Southside; Brenton Paul, Denham Springs; Bryon Perrilliat, Riverdale; Jaedon Phillips, Warren Easton; Jamarcea Plater, Captain Shreve; Christian Ponti, West Monroe; Dylan Post, St. Paul’s; Dalen Powell, Ruston; Jayden Reed, Neville; Parker Robinson, Neville; Karsen Sellers, Alexandria; Andrew Shofstahl, St. Paul’s; Albert Simien, Sam Houston; Ke’Rynn Smith, Holy Cross; Owen Smith, Natchitoches Central; Bennett Speer, Evangel Christian; Jackson Speer, Evangel Christian; Jaden Terrance, Archbishop Rummel; Xavier Villamor, Benton; A.J. Washington, Ouachita; Miguel Whitley, St. Augustine; Greg Wilfred, Karr; Kason Williams, Alexandria; Ray’Quan Williams, St. Augustine; Mason Willis, West Monroe; Keithon Womack, Central; Eric Veal, McDonogh 35; J.D. Yates, Airline; Ze’Land Young, Neville; Marques Zenon, Mandeville.