Public/Private Debate Tabled

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The splitting of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association into public and private division will have to wait a while longer.

On Friday, the LHSAA tabled by a vote of 146-132 a proposal by Marlin Ramsey, principal of South Beauregard High School, that would have split the LHSAA's 387 member schools into four classes and then sub-divide them into divisions for non-select (traditional public schools) and select (private, magnet, charter, dual curriculum and lab schools) schools for playoffs for the 2013-14 school year.

However, the members did pass a proposal that will allow schools to compete for championships in one classification higher than their enrollment-based classification.  Similar proposals were voted down over the last four years.

Louisiana Delays Decision on Creating High School Football "Super Conference"

by Jeff Fisher
Louisiana High School Football Huddle

It will probably be another year before the Louisiana High School Athletic Association considers a proposal that would create a Division I "Super Conference".

The LHSAA closed-out three days of meetings by tabling a vote that would have been a football-only classifying of schools.

Under the proposal, 36 schools would have been place into Division I (Now 5A) with smaller schools like powers John Curtis and Evangel Christian (now 2A schools) being able to "play up" in Division I.  If that would happen, schools with the smallest enrollments in 5A being bumped down to Division II, which could cause a domino-effect in all five divisions under the new proposal.

The proposal also called for 60 schools to be place in Divisions II, III and IV; 64 would be in Division V.

Click here to look at the division-alignments that were tabled. Please note that these alignments don't include teams that would want to "play up" in Division I.

Louisiana 2009 Class 4A All-State Football Team

Selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association

Offense
Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Cl.
WR James Wright Belle Chasse 6-3 185 Sr.
WR Jarvis Landry Lutcher 6-3 215 Jr.
WR Jeremy Runner Neville 5-10 190 Sr.
OL Audonnis Madison Karr 6-5 290 Sr.
OL Jared Trosclair Lutcher 6-2 250 Sr.
OL Xavier Jefferson Franklinton 6-3 235 Jr.
OL Ryan Zeller St. Michael 6-5 270 Sr.
OL Kennan Wilson Franklinton 5-9 235 Sr.
QB Gavin Webster Lutcher 5-11 210 Sr.
RB Rico Pollard Neville 5-11 210 Sr.
RB James Gillum Pearl River 5-11 185 Sr.
RB Josh Robinson Franklinton 5-9 185 Jr.
PK James Bice St. Louis 6-0 165 Sr.
ATH Munchie Legaux Karr 6-4 185 Sr.

Defense
Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Cl.
DL Isame Faciane Salmen 6-5 255 Sr.
DL Ledarrius Bickham Franklinton 6-0 220 Sr.
DL Anthony Johnson O.P. Walker 6-3 290 Jr.
DL Harold Legania Karr 6-4 250 Sr.
LB Joshua Marks Franklinton 5-9 195 Sr.
LB Waderrious Sellers Neville 5-10 210 Sr.
LB Dwayne Mitchell Karr 6-2 210 Sr.
LB DeShazor Everett DeRidder 6-0 175 Jr.
DB Devon White McDonogh 35 6-0 175 Jr.
DB Trevence Patt Breaux Bridge 6-0 175 Sr.
DB Todd Washington Lutcher 6-0 175 Sr.
DB Ernest Andrus Northside 6-1 185 Sr.
P Kris Albarado St. Louis 5-11 185 Jr.
KR Imoan Claiborne Alexandria 5-10 175 Sr.

OUTSTANDING PLAYER OFFENSE: GAVIN WEBSTER, LUTCHER
OUTSTANDING PLAYER DEFENSE: ANTHONY JOHNSON, O.P. WALKER
COACH OF THE YEAR: SHANE SMITH, FRANKLINTON

Honorable mention: Seth Ward, Vandebilt Catholic; Damion Dilon, Franklinton; Devonta Flowers, Franklinton; Hunter Feibel, Northwood-Shreveport; Desmon Hill, Fair Park; Kris Sanders, Minden; Travin Dural, Breaux Bridge; Jeremy Meyers, St. Michael; Austin Frey, St. Michael; Orlan Lockhart, Sam Houston; Dak Prescott, Haughton; Daniel Taylor, Lutcher; JaRen Johnson, Ruston; Nick Richardson, Ruston; Lawrence Cayou, McDonogh 35; Brandon Jeter, Parkway; Chris Carter, Independence; Kenny Brown, St. Louis Catholic; Jeron McGilvery, Northside; Brad Norris, Cecilia; Gary Disotell, Lutcher; Lyle Smith, Ruston; Terrance Magee, Franklinton; Taylor Burch, Neville; Davondrick Phillips, Jennings; Michael Willridge, Jennings; Terrell Alfred, Northside; Zack Lynn, Bossier; Demarcaze Givens, Woodlawn-BR; Michael Blanchard, Vandebilt Catholic; Tyler Port, Northside; Michael Ortego, Vandebilt Catholic; Rashad Robinson, DeRidder; Jarrett Fobbs, Huntington; Calton Jones, Huntington; Earl Williams, Bossier, Josh Hoard, Parkway; Nicholas Williams, Glen Oaks; Simeon Stevenson, Neville; Anthony Balancier, McDonogh 35; Keithon Parker, Sam Houston; Quinton Crowe, Ruston; Hagan Lawrence, Neville.

Louisiana 2009 Class 2A All-State Football Team

Selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association

Offense
Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Cl.
WR Eric Thomas Jr. Evangel 6-2 210 Sr.
WR Caleb Kellogg, DeQuincy 6-0 170 Sr.
TE Nic Jacobs Many 6-6 265 Sr.
OL Dale Martin Riverside 6-2 235 Jr.
OL Luke Charpentier Curtis 6-4 300 Sr.
OL Sylvan Alaracon St. Charles 5-11 240 Sr.
OL Corey White Capitol 6-5 315 Jr.
OL John Mark Holliday Rosepine 6-1 190 Sr.
QB Terrance Broadway Capitol 6-2 185 Sr.
RB Frankie Jackson Capitol 5-10 183 Sr.
RB Torrey Pierce Curtis 5-8 180 Jr.
RB Tony Casey Homer 6-0 185 Sr.
ATH D.J. Palmer Many 6-0 180 Sr.
PK William Russ Evangel 6-4 176 Sr.

Defense
Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Cl.
DL Walker Ashburn Curtis 6-3 260 Sr.
DL Nicholas Reine St. Charles 6-0 220 Sr.
DL Jermauria Rasco Evangel 6-4 244 Jr.
DL Evan Fortier Opelousas Catholic 6-4 290 Sr.
LB Collin Ellis Dunham 6-3 210 Sr.
LB Dylan Bardin Sterlington 5-11 185 Sr.
LB Seth Jones Curtis 6-0 220 Jr.
LB John White Curtis 5-10 230 Sr.
DB Ronnie Vinson Newman 5-11 190 Sr.
DB Jonathan McKnight Curtis 6-1 175 Sr.
DB Jordan Hanberry Curtis 6-1 175 Sr.
DB Virgil Williams Evangel 5-8 154 Sr.
KR Gary Suydam Rosepine 5-10 200 Jr.
P Jonathan Ginsburgh Menard 6-0 190 Sr.

Outstanding Offensive Player: D.J. Palmer, Many
Outstanding Defensive Player: Walker Ashburn, Curtis
Coach of the Year: Freddie Hallman, Menard

Honorable mention: Odell Beckham, Newman; Joe Coutee, Lakeview; Carl Pearson, Farmerville; Dorian Durald, Opelousas Catholic; Clay Branton, Sterlington; Logan Dopson, Sterlington; Darnell Rachal, Riverside; Kevin Henderson, Springfield; Darron McKigney, Springfield; Lamar Carraway, Lake Providence; Charcandrick West, Springhill; Auldon Robinson, Lake Arthur; Thomas Bridgewater, Evangel; Rod Davis, Many; Roosevelt Wright, Capitol; Brandon Becker, St. Charles; Alex Kessler, Newman; Andrew White, Farmerville; Morgan Williams, Farmerville; Jared Myatt. Calvary Baptist; Jonathan Lewis, Many; David Dee Duron, Evangel; Dakota Cryer, South Beauregard; Will Guidry, Welsh; Brandon Robertson, St. Thomas Aquinas; Tyler Lusignan, Pope John Paul II; Anthony Williams, Jeanerette; Ricky Nichols, Jonesboro-Hodge; DePaul Elliott, Farmerville; Bryant Dunn, Donaldsonsville; George Palmer, Jonesboro-Hodge; Devante Scott, Ferriday; Devon Breaux, Donaldsonville; Hunter Bordelon, Menard; Travis Moses, Rosepine; Brandon Jackson, Evangel; Dorseay Bindon, Capitol; LaQuinten Allen, Sterlington; Jordan Hebert. Welsh; Kolandre Richardson, Springfield; Shawn Burst, Northlake Christian; Deonte Thompson, Evangel; Klint White, Rosepine; Jared Rodgers, Episcopal; Dylan Kliebert, St. Charles; Grant Authement, St. Catholic; Scrib Pipkins, Evangel; Marcus Hall, St. Charles; Kamonte Wilson, Winnfield.

West Monroe Reigns as Louisiana 5A Champs

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

West Monroe captured Louisiana's 5A state championship with a 30-0 shutout of Archbishop Rummel Saturday. The Times-Picayune reports that West Monroe was led by quarterback Paul Turner, who threw for over 200 yards. Both teams entered the game undefeated.

Neville's Defense Contains High Scoring Franklinton in Louisiana 4A Title Game

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Franklinton's offense was shutdown for the first time this year, and it came at the worst time for Demon fans.

Neville (14-1) beat Franklinton 31-15 in Louisiana's 4A championship game Saturday which was the Demons first state title game appearance since 1981. Franklinton (14-1) came into the game having scored a state record 705 points this season.

The Times-Picayune reports that Neville quarterback Taylor Burch threw for over 300 yards and accounted for 392 yards in total offense. Included in those numbers was a Superdome Classic record 95-yard touchdown pass.

Cox Sports Television Teams-Up with Saints For LHSAA Game of the Week

by Jeff Fisher
Louisiana High School Football Huddle

For the second straight season, the New Orleans Saints partnering with the Louisiana High School Athletic Association for a High School Football Game of the Week on Cox Sports Television.

The 14-game broadcast schedule includes 10-regular season games and four post-season match-ups leading-up to exclusive coverage of the state championship games.

"The New Orleans Saints are proud to partner with the LHSAA for the second year in a row to spotlight some of our state's tremendous high school football programs," said Saints Owner/Executive Vice President Rita Benson LeBlanc. "Our support of high school and youth football programs is critical both to the communities we serve and the growth of the game we all love. We look forward to again bringing many of our gameday and youth programs elements to the different locations this season to compliment the passion and commitment of football fans to their teams."

2009 Game of the Week Schedule

Friday, September 4 - Belle Chase @ South Plaquemines, 7:00 P.M.
Friday, September 11 - St. Thomas More (Lafayette) @ Zachary, 7:00 P.M.
Friday, September 18 - Pineville (High) @ Alexandria (High), 7:00 P.M.
Friday, September 25 - St. James (High) @ Patterson (High), 7:00 P.M.
Thursday, October 1 - Oak Grove (High) @ Sterlington (Monroe), 7:00 P.M.
Friday, October 9 - Rummel (Metairie) @ Brother Martin (New Orleans), 7:00 P.M.
Friday, October 16 - Hahnville (Boutte) @ Destrehan (High), 7:00 P.M.
Thursday, October 22 - Evangel Christian (Shreveport) @ Calvary Baptist (Shreveport), 7:00 P.M.
Thursday, October 29 - Amite (High) @ Independence (High), 7:00 P.M.
Thursday, November 5 - St. Augustine (New Orleans) @ Thibodaux (High), 7:00 P.M.
Friday, November 13 - LHSAA Playoffs (Bi-District), 7:00 P.M.
Friday, November 20 - LHSAA Playoffs (Regional), 7:00 P.M.
Friday, November 27 - LHSAA Playoffs (Quarterfinal), 7:00 P.M.
Friday, December 4 - LHSAA Playoffs (Semifinal), 7:00 P.M.
December 11-12, 2009 - State Farm/LHSAA Prep Classic