District 5-4A season preview

District 5-4A
Preseason coaches poll
Team (1st place votes)    Pts
Jennings (4)    40
St. Louis (1)    32
Sam Houston    28
DeRidder    24
Wash.-Marion    16    

2009 District 5-4A standings
    Overall    Dist.
St. Louis    8-4    3-1
Sam Houston    7-4    3-1
DeRidder    8-3    2-2
Jennings    8-4    2-2
Wash.-Marion    1-9    0-4


DeRidder
Mascot: Dragons
Colors: Royal blue and white
Homefield: Cecil Doyle Stadium
Head Coach: Eric Parmely, 6th year as head coach (16-32)
2009 record: 8-3, (2-2 3rd), lost to Bastrop 32-22 in first round.
Offense: Multiple I
Defense: 4-2-5
Returning starters: Offense 5, Defense 5
Key losses: QB-Samuel Peterson, DL-Daniel Lyles, RB-Stephen Richmond.
Top returning players: LB-Harrison Lewis, DB/Ath-Rashad Robinson
College prospects: SS/Ath-Deshavor Everett.
Outlook: The DeRidder Dragons were one of four teams from District 5-4A to reach the playoffs last year but will have some rebuilding to do this with just 10 returning starters.
With the loss of quarterback Samuel Peterson and running back Stephen Richard, they return just two skill players on offense in wide receiver Charles Bailey and fullback Oneal Stenson but have three linemen back in Danie Sweet, James Gore and Willie Cheaver.
Although they return just five players on defense, three them will make a big impact this season in linebacker Harrison Lewis (Sr. 6'0", 220lbs), strong safety Deshazor Everett (Sr., 6'0" 175lbs) and cornerback Rashad Robinson (Sr., 5'9", 165lbs).
Schedule: Sept. 3 vs. Natchitoches Centra; Sept. 10 @ Northeast; Sept. 17 vs. Abbeville; Sept. 24 @ Westlake; Oct. 1 vs. Leesville; Oct. 8 vs. St. Louis; Oct. 15 @ Peabody; Oct. 22 @ Jennings; Oct. 29 vs. Washington-Marion; Nov. 5 @ Sam Houston.

Washington-Marion
Mascot: Chargin Indians
Colors: Green, gold, black and white.
Homefield: Robert Lavergne Jr. Memorial Stadium
Head coach: Freddie Harrison, 1st year as head coach.
2009 record: 1-9, (0-4, 5th)
Offense: Multiple one-back (Multiple last year)
Defense: 3-4
Returning starters: Offense 5, Defense 2.
Top returning playres: WR-Geroski Harmon, QB-Dwight Barker, DL-Christian Lemelle.
College prospects: WR-Geroski Harmon, QB-Dwight Barker, DL-Christian Lemelle.
Outlook: After a three-year run as the head coach of Ferriday High School, Freddie Harrison returns to the Lake Area to take over the reigns of the Washington-Marion Chargin' Indians.
Harrison’s teams at Ferriday went 24-11 in his three years including an undefeated regular season in 2007 and three playoff appearances.
Harrison prepped as a quarterback at Westlake in the late 1990's and more recently has been the starting quarterback for the Louisiana Swashbucklers in the Southern Indoor Football League.
Harrison will be tasked with turning around a program that has gone 2-18 the last two years.
The Indians return two major weapons on offense in quarterback Dwight Barker and slot back/wide receiver Geroski Harmon.
With no jamboree game, the Indians will have to gain experience on defense on the job when the season starts on Sept. 2nd at LaGrange. Defensive lineman Christian LeMelle and linebacker Desmond Richard are the only returning starters on defense.
Schedule: Sept. 2 @ LaGrange; Sept. 10 vs. Peabody; Sept. 17 @ Barbe; Sept. 24 @ Leesville; Oct. 1 vs. Redemptorist; Oct. 8 vs. Plaquemine; Oct. 15 @ Sam Houston; Oct. 22 vs. St. Louis; Oct. 29 @ DeRidder; Nov. 5 vs. Jennings.

St. Louis Catholic
Mascot: Saints
Colors: Royal blue, orange and white.
Homefield: John J. Mims Stadium
Head coach: Mike Johns 9th year as head coach (48-45).
2009 record: 8-4, (3-1 1st), lost to Lutcher 25-20 in regionals.
Offense: One back spread
Defense: 4-2-5
Returning starters: Offense 5, Defense 7.
Key losses: QB-Drew Francois, K-Andrew Bice, DB-Jonathan Doucet, DB-Rusty Metoyer
Top returning playres: RB-Dillon Berlin, OL-Cade Courville, LB-Collin Todd
College prospects: P-Kris Albarado
Outlook: The St. Louis Catholic Saints will be looking for another District 5-4A title this year after sharing it with Sam Houston last year.
The Saints return a solid group of 12 starters this year.
Normally special teams players do not draw much attention but Saints punter Kris Albarado has gotten the attention of several major universities. He averaged 42 yards a punt last year and is getting attention from LSU, Georgia, Texas A&M, Tennessee and the entire Southland Conference.
St. Louis will replace quarterback Drew Francois (1,195yds, 12TDs) with 6'2" 200lbs senior Bryce Lanningham but do have second team all-district running back Dillon Berlin  (835yds, 9TDs) back for his senior year.
After recording 124 tackles last year, senior linebacker Collin Todd (5'11", 175lbs) will lead a defense that features seven returning starters. Leading the defensive line will be second team all-district selection David Nodier.
Schedule: Sept. 3 @ Crowley; Sept. 10 @ Eunice; Sept. 17 @ Iowa; Sept. 24 vs. Rosepine; Oct. 1 vs. Livonia; Oct. 8 vs. Sam Houston; Oct. 14 @ St. Louis; Oct. 22 vs. DeRidder; Oct. 29 vs. Port Allen; Nov. 5 @ Washington-Marion.

Jennings
Mascot: Bulldogs
Colors: Maroon and white.
Homefield: Jerry Simmons Stadium
Head coach: Rusty Phelps, 15th year as head coach.
Last year's record: 8-4, (2-2 3rd), lost to Northside 19-7 in regionals.
Offense: Split back veer
Defense: 4-2-5
Returning starters: Offense 7, Defense 7  
Top returning players: QB-Bryson Abraham, RB-Davondrick Phillips; RB-Michael Wilridge, CB-Aaron Perkins.
College prospects: QB-Bryson Abraham (La. Tech, McNeese, Northwestern St., UL-Monroe), RB-Davondrick Phillips (McNeese, Northwestern St., Southeastern, UL-Lafayette), RB-Michael Wilridge (McNeese, Northwestern St., Southeastern), CB-Aaron Perkins (Northwestern St., Southeastern).
Outlook: In there first year in Class 4A, the Jennings Bulldogs finished in the middle of the pack in District 5-4A and reached the second round of the playoffs.
This year they are the overwhelming favorite to win the district with 14 starters back.
The big reason why they are the favorite in the district is who they are returning in the back field; all-district second team quarterback Bryson Abrahams and a pair of first team all-district running backs in Michael Wilridge and Davondrick Phillips.
Phillips rushed for 1,460 yards and 22 touchdowns last year and along with pair of 6'2" receivers in Chais Watkins and Kellen Richard, the Bulldogs will have a potent offensive unit this year.
Jennings will run a mixture of seniors, juniors and sophomores on defense led by All-District first team cornerback Aaron Perkins who had six interceptions last year.
Schedule: Sept. 3 @ Crowley; Sept. 10 @ Eunice; Sept. 17 @ Iowa; Sept. 24 vs. Rosepine; Oct. 1 vs. Livonia; Oct. 8 vs. Sam Houston; Oct. 14 @ St. Louis; Oct. 22 vs. DeRidder; Oct. 29 vs. Port Allen; Nov. 5 @ Washington-Marion.