JOURNAL STAFF
Just because there was no shortage of prolific offensive numbers in local high school football this year, it doesn’t mean that defenses were just out there taking up space.
Far from it.
Just take a look at the impressive accomplishments of the 2023 Shreveport-Bossier Journal All-Metro Defensive team.
Evangel defensive lineman Gabe Reliford is one of the top recruits in the nation at his position (he has committed to LSU and will officially sign today at home).
The offense got most of the headlines for Division III Select state champion Calvary, but the Cavaliers, who had six games of allowing only one touchdown or less, led the way with four selections to the All-Metro team.
Parkway’s stout defense also produced multiple selections on the All-Metro team.
There were three repeat selections from last year’s team – Reliford and defensive backs Landon Sylvie (Calvary) and Camaro Mayo (Parkway).
Reliford (122 tackles) is joined by D.D. Oliver (Parkway), Greg Webb (Captain Shreve) and Ethan Sands (Calvary) on the defensive front.
In his first year as a starter, Oliver had 43 tackles and 11 tackles for loss and was a unanimous selection on the All-District 1-5A team. Webb had 11 tackles for loss to go along with three quarterback sacks, two fumble recoveries and 52 tackles. Sands (47 tackles) was quite the disruptive force for the Cavs with 16 tackles for loss and four quarterback sacks.
Calvary had a pair of linebackers with the same initials and same results on the field. When Hutch Grace and Heath Gross went to make a tackle, consider it done. Grace had 97 tackles, 13 behind the line and 4.5 sacks and Gross had 74 tackles, 11 TBLs and two sacks.
Joining them at linebacker were Airline’s Sincere Walker and Evangel’s Jamal Jordan. Walker had an amazing 22 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He had 67 tackles and two fumble recoveries for the Vikings, who reached the state quarterfinals. Jordan led the area with 147 tackles, including eight for loss.
Two players who were Defensive MVPs in the district are part of the All-Metro backfield – Sylvie and Captain Shreve’s E.J. McDonald. The opportunistic McDonald had five interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Highlighting his year was a 97-yard fumble return against Parkway that began Shreve’s district championship run.
Not many defensive backs have 101 tackles, but Sylvie was all over the field for the Cavs. He also had three interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
They were joined by Mayo, who had 39 tackles and a forced fumble, and Northwood’s Elijah Crawford, who had 53 tackles, three tackles for loss, four interceptions and 87 return yards.
COMING THURSDAY: All-Metro Offense
ON FRIDAY: All-Metro Individual award winners
HOW THE TEAM WAS CHOSEN
** The defensive team was limited to 12 total players. Only four players were chosen at each of the standard defensive positions (no “flex” or “athlete”).
** Selections were done by the Journal staff after consultation with more than a dozen coaches.
** The “Best of The Rest” recognizes only those who were in consideration for a first team selection. There was no second team or honorable mention.
2023 SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER JOURNAL ALL-METRO DEFENSE
DL – Gabe Reliford, Evangel, Sr.
DL – Greg Webb, Captain Shreve, Sr.
DL – D.D. Oliver, Parkway, Jr.
DL – Ethan Sands, Calvary, Jr.
LB – Sincere Walker, Airline, Sr.
LB – Jamal Jordan, Evangel, Sr.
LB – Heath Gross, Calvary, Sr.
LB – Hutch Grace, Calvary, Sr.
DB – Landon Sylvie, Calvary, Sr.
DB – EJ McDonald, Captain Shreve, Sr.
DB – Carmaro Mayo, Parkway, Jr.
DB – Elijah Crawford, Northwood, Sr.
BEST OF THE REST
DL – BJ Patterson, Parkway; Trey Houston, Calvary
LB – Landon Lee, Captain Shreve; Cole Miller, Calvary; Andrew Houston BTW; Jayden Gladney, Airline
DB – Brandon Henderson, Woodlawn; Tyler Welch, Huntington