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Will North rise again?
North Louisiana was shut out when it came to football championships last year. If the list of top senior football players in the state is any indication, 2009 could be another year without a title for teams located in the top part of the boot.
Last year's champs were Destrahan (5A), Belle Chasse (4A), Lutcher (3A), John Curtis (2A) and South Plaquemines (1A).
West Monroe, Bastrop, Haynesville and Evangel were the only North Louisiana teams to make it to the final four.
According to Don Long of Dandydon.com, Trovon Reed of Thibodaux is the top prospect in the State in 2010. Reed is a 6-foot, 180-pound athlete who runs a 4.4 in the 40. Or that is what is reported. You really can't go by those figures all the time for high school athletes.
Last year, Reed rushed for 746 yards on 91 carries for a 8.2 average and 10 touchdowns and completed 28 of 52 passes for 694 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a receiver, Reed had 19 receptions for 344 yards for an 18.1-yard average and one touchdown.
Rivals.com has Reed as their top prospect from Louisiana and he's rated as the No. 17 top player in the nation. He is listed as a 4-star out of a possible 5-star.
Long has Capitol High of Baton Rouge quarterback Terrance Broadway at No. 2. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder completed 92 of 142 passes for 1,260 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 240 yards on 20 carries for a 12.0 average and three touchdowns. He missed two games because of an injury.
Dutchtown defensive back Eric Reid is listed No. 3, while Newman safety Ronnie Vinson is No. 4. Linebacker D.J. Welter of Notre Dame of Crowley comes in at No. 5
West Monroe defensive lineman Jordan Allen (6'6", 245) is the top rated player from the top of the state. Allen is listed as the second-best prosect from the state by Rivals.com and is No. 61 nationally on their list. He is also a four-star.
Rounding out the top 10 are Many tight end/defensive end Nick Jacobs, John Curtis offensive tackle Luke Charpentier, Eunice wide receiver/safety Tharold Simon and Belle Chasse wide receiver/defensive back James Wright.
Other athletes mentioned for the north are Eric Thomas of Evangel, a wide receiver listed at No. 14, Neville quarterback Taylor Burch at No. 15, Jarrett Fobbs of Huntington in Shreveport at No. 20, who is actually tied at No. 10 with West Monroe offensive lineman Dillon Day.
One interesting prospect is John Curtis running back/defensive back Jonathan McKnight, who is the brother of Southern Cal's Joe McKnight. He is listed at No. 22 by Dandy Don.
Another interesting prospect listed at No. 25. is Pat Swilling, a cornerback/safety from Brother Martin.
Swilling is the son of former New Orleans Saint linebacker Pat Swilling, who set the NCAA record for sacks in a game (seven against North Carolina State in 1985.
The elder Swilling was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 2000 and following his football career was elected to the Louisiana State House of Representatives in 2001 and served one two-year term. He is currently a real estate developer in New Orleans.
Ferriday fans will get to see No. 47 on the list as Jonesboro-Hodge defensive back Rob Donovan returns for the Tigers.
A couple of interesting notes for two players who are listed among Best of the Rest.
I've seen Bunkie quarterback Kendrick Leary the past three years in his games against Vidalia and he is an outstanding athlete. Not too many opposing teams have kept him in check, but Vidalia head coach Dee Faircloth certainly made life miserable for the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder last season
Leary had two rushing yards in the first half and 83 passing yards in the Panthers' 26-12 loss to the Vikings.
I doubt he was hit as hard or as much as he was against Vidalia. Leary actually missed a couple of games after being bruised up by the Vikings.
Bowers rushed for 221 yards against Vidalia last year as Bernie Cooley got his first win against his former coach.
It should be fun watching these two athletes again this season.
Unless you're Vidalia coach Dee Faircloth. |
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