2024 was another excellent year for prep football in the Teche Area. Seven teams advanced to the playoffs after strong showings in the regular season, with Catholic High School taking home the Division III Select crown after a dramatic 31-28 win over top-seeded Dunham. 

The Panthers rode a nine-game winning streak into the playoffs, where they made short work of Northlake Christian in the second round. Road wins over No. 2 seed Isidore Newman (31-0) and No. 3 seed Calvary Baptist (33-31) saw CHS return to the state championship game for the first time since 2018. After going behind to Dunham early, the Panthers took the lead and carried it into the fourth quarter, when the Tigers began to make a comeback. A goal line stand in the final minute of the game was capped off by an interception inside the Panthers’ own endzone by sophomore DB Karon Eugene, giving CHS the ball and the school’s third state championship. 

The Erath Bobcats surprised everyone with an 8-1 regular season record, earning them the No. 2 seed in Division III Non-Select. The Bobcats eventually lost out to Loreauville in the second round. The Tigers entered the playoffs as the No. 15 seed after one of the worst starts to the season in recent memory. Loreauville was able to string together four wins in the final five games to earn a spot in the top half of the playoff bracket, defeating Marksville 48-26) and Erath (28-7) before losing 18-14 to Jena.

Westgate ended its season with an 8-3 record, falling to Airline, 42-16, in the second round of the Division I Non-Select playoffs. 

West St. Mary earned a spot in the Division IV Non-Select playoffs in head coach Kendall Mouton’s first season in charge of the program. The Wolfpack ended the season with a 5-5 record after a 59-24 loss to Welsh in the opening round.

Jeanerette made another deep run in the playoffs this season. After ending the regular season with a 7-2 record, the Tigers defeated Grand Lake, 46-24, before losing to General Trass in the quarterfinals. 

Franklin also made it to the Division IV Non-Select quarterfinals after wins over No. 3 seed Dequincy (22-19) and No. 14 White Castle (44-0). The Hornets ended the season with a 7-6 record.

For the second year, the Best of the Teche teams are split into “big school” and “small school” based on enrollment. Big school teams are NISH, Westgate, Erath, St. Martinville, Loreauville, Franklin and West St. Mary. Small school teams are Catholic High, Delcambre, Jeanerette, Highland Baptist, Hanson Memorial and Acadiana Christian.

This year features two new awards: the Comeback Player of the Year, awarded to a student-athlete who overcame injury or adversity this season, and the Freshman of the Year, awarded to a freshman who made a noticeable impact at the varsity level.

Big Schools

OFFENSE

QB: Hayden Benoit, Loreauville

RB: Shanga Charles, NISH

RB: Tavias Gordon, Westgate

RB: Maddox Savoy, Loreauville

WR: Kylon Polk, Loreauville

WR: Davian Jackson, Westgate

WR: Cameron Soriez, Erath

WR: Synjaya Hamilton, NISH

OL: Dylan Singleton, Loreauville

OL: Kydrick Washington, Franklin

OL: Landon Harmon, NISH

OL: Xavier Mogerman, NISH

OL: Lloyd Vital, Westgate

TE: Gavin Hebert, Westgate

ATH: Makharee Narcisse, St. Martinville

DEFENSE

DL: Leonard Howard, Westgate

DL: Evan Bryant, Westgate

DL: Coty Broussard, Erath

DL: Dominick Jackson, West St. Mary

LB: Amari Simon, Westgate

LB: Dy’Traevous Lively, Westgate

LB: Mason Hebert, Erath

LB: Vaschon Blount, Loreauville

DB: Kylon Polk, Loreauville

DB: Trending Benjamin, Westgate

DB: Dameon Polite, NISH

DB: Couric Thomas, Franklin

FLEX: Zyrian Johnson, St. Martinville

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Marshall Moore, NISH

K: Jake Thibodeaux, Westgate

K: Gavin Judice, Loreauville

KR: Blake Delcambre, Loreauville

KR: Jamion James, St. Martinville

OFFENSIVE MVP: Tavias Gordon, Westgate

DEFENSIVE MVP: Mason Hebert, Erath

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Chance Archangel, Westgate

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kaiden McGlasson, NISH

COACH OF THE YEAR: Eric LeBlanc, Erath

HONORABLE MENTION

Jamboree Antoine,Westgate; Khylon Antoine, Westgate; Noah Antoine, Westgate; Coty Broussard, Erath; J’Kaylon Carter, WSM; Caemon Crockem, Westgate; Jayden Dwyer, Westgate; Luke Etie, Erath; Keshaun Hoskins, WSM; D’Maryian Jackson, Westgate; Joshua John, Westgate; Ahamad Jones, WSM; Christopher Jones, Loreauville; Peyton Knatt, Westgate; Cayden Lancelin, Westgate; Jack Landry, Erath; Shadon Lee, Westgate; Landon Lemaire, Erath; Brock Mitchell, Westgate; Jatyri Rankins, Westgate; Charles Robertson, WSM, Makai Wells, Westgate 

Small Schools

OFFENSE

QB: Luke Landry, Catholic High

RB: Devine Duhon, Jeanerette

RB: Owen Morris, Catholic High

RB: Hugo Morales, Delcambre

WR: Jaiden Mitchell, Catholic High

WR: Gavin Roy, Catholic High

WR: Levi Boykin, Jeanerette

WR: Morris Walter, Jeanerette

OL: Roan Judice, Catholic High

OL: Shamar Loston, Jeanerette

OL: Jake Poirier, Catholic High

OL: Kamden Langlinais, Delcambre

OL: Jaxon Olivier, Acadiana Christian

TE: Joseph LeBlanc, Catholic High

ATH: Zyon Colar, Jeanerette

DEFENSE

DL: Xander Labauve, Catholic High

DL: Michael Bertrand, Catholic High

DL: Quentin Martin, Highland Baptist

DL: Javonte Williams, Jeanerette

LB: Bennett Woodring, Catholic High

LB: Izaac Andre, Catholic High

LB: Joa’Quinn Charles, Jeanerette

LB: Raymond Jack, Jeanerette

DB: Chris Green, Catholic High

DB: Karon Eugene, Catholic High

DB: Andre Sonnier, Jeanerette

DB: Austin Stafford, Highland Baptist

FLEX: Tristan Lewis, Catholic High

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Bennet Boudreaux, Catholic High

P: Joseph LeBlanc, Catholic High

KR: Ethan Clements, Hanson Memorial

OFFENSIVE MVP: Luke Landry, Catholic High

DEFENSIVE MVP: JohnDavid Hidalgo, Catholic High

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Nave Nguyen, Delcambre

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jake Wyman, Catholic High

COACH OF THE YEAR – Matt Desormeaux, Catholic High

HONORABLE MENTION

Gykel Bessard, Delcambre; Luke Bordelon, HBCS; Kaleb Broussard, ACS; Rowan Charpentier, HBCS; Malakai Coon, ACS; Landon Decuir, ACS; Landon Derouen, HBCS; Tre’ Edmond, Hanson Memorial; Gregory Green, Jeanerette; Ross Helms, Delcambre; Brent Henry, ACS; Silas Johnson, ACS; Dominick Lewis, Jeanerette; Tyrae Lively, Jeanerette; Shamar Loston, Jeanerette; Rix Robin, Delcambre; Logan Savoie, HBCS; Desean Tolbert, Jeanerette; Dylan Walters, Jeanerette; Jaidon Ward, Jeanerette; Loren Wells, Hanson Memorial