JOURNAL SPORTS
Evangel Christian defensive end Gabriel Reliford, an LSU signee, has garnered the state’s Outstanding Defensive Player award on the Class 4A All-State team distributed by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
The team was selected by a panel of sportswriters from across Louisiana.
The edge rusher racked up 122 tackles, including 71 solo, 29 for loss, with nine sacks, and forced three fumbles.
Reliford and his teammates finished 7-5, including a playoff win, for the second straight season after the Eagles went winless in their freshman season and finished 3-7 a year later.
His ECA teammate, senior linebacker Jamal Jordan, was also named to the first team all-state defense. Another Eagles standout, receiving record-breaker Parker Fulghum, made the first-team offense.
Four other local players were included as honorable mention selections: Quantravious Bradford and Tyler Welch of Huntington; Brandon Henderson from Woodlawn and Andrew Houston of Booker T. Washington.
Reliford will team up with the state’s Outstanding Offensive Player as LSU teammates, leading the Class 4A all-state team.
Lafayette Christian quarterback Ju’Juan Johnson capped a decorated and record-setting high school career. The LSU signee threw for 3,597 yards and 41 touchdowns and rushed for another 1,497 yards and 25 scores as a senior to help topple Louisiana’s long-standing career marks for total yardage and total touchdowns.
Johnson was among the state’s most dynamic playmakers at any level all season to help lead his Knights to a seventh straight state championship game. He will move to defense at LSU, projected to play cornerback and likely quickly to shore up the Tigers’ leaky secondary.
Opelousas alumnus Jimmy Zachery earned Coach of the Year honors after leading his alma mater to the Non-Select Division II title, the first football state championship in program history.
LSWA Class 4A All-State Chart
OFFENSE
Pos., Player, School Ht., Wt., Cl.
WR Cole Cory, North DeSoto 5-9, 175, Jr.
WR Parker Fulghum, Evangel 6-2, 180, Sr.
WR Kylin Wheeler, Rayne 5-11, 175, Jr.
OL Gage Caskey, North DeSoto 6-0, 255, Sr.
OL Ashton Helaire, St. Thomas More 6-3, 325, Sr.
OL Raymond Howard, Shaw 6-2, 280, Sr.
OL Joseph Milton, Opelousas 6-2, 282, Sr.
OL Jace Williams, Assumption 6-1, 280, Jr.
QB Ju’Juan Johnson, Lafayette Christian 5-11, 195, Sr.
RB Jaylon Coleman, Vandebilt Catholic 5-9, 160, Jr.
RB D’Shaun Ford, Opelousas 6-1, 210, Jr.
RB Xavier Ford, Leesville 5-11, 190, Jr.
PK Trey Furey, Belle Chasse 6-0, 175, Sr.
ATH Sam Altmann, St. Thomas More 6-3, 195, Sr.
DEFENSE
DL Melvin HIlls III, Lafayette Christian 6-3, 270, Sr.
DL Ted Jackson, West Feliciana 5-11, 240, Sr.
DL Gabriel Reliford, Evangel 6-2, 255, Sr.
DL Brody Whatley, Neville 6-5, 255, Jr.
LB Hayden Hernandez, St. Thomas More 6-0, 215, Sr.
LB Jamal Jordan, Evangel 6-3, 215, Sr.
LB Brody Latiolais, St. Thomas More 5-11, 195, Sr.
LB Brody Robichaux, Assumption 5-10, 200, Sr.
DB Lake Bates, North DeSoto 5-10, 180, Sr.
DB Brent Gordon, Cecilia 5-11, 180, Jr.
DB Ty Lee, Lafayette Christian 6-0, 180, Sr.
DB Ja’Corian Norris, Tioga 6-2, 185, Sr.
P Cameron Ott, Assumption 6-1, 170, Jr.
KR Ky’ree Paul, Istrouma 5-10, 175, Jr.
ATH Diesel Solari, Cecilia 5-8, 170, Jr.
Outstanding Offensive Player: Ju’Juan Johnson, Lafayette Christian
Outstanding Defensive Player: Gabe Reliford, Evangel
Coach of the Year: Jimmy Zachery, Opelousas
Honorable mention: Quantravious Bradford, Huntington; Tyler Welch, Huntington; Brandon Henderson, Woodlawn-Shreveport; Andrew Houston, Booker T. Washington; Kenny Thomas, North DeSoto; Chris Addison, Franklin Parish; Jakai Anderson, McDonogh 35; Kaleb Andrus, Tioga; Jason Banks, De La Salle; Paul Boudreaux, Vandebilt Catholic; Kamden Bourg, South Lafourche; Corey Broussard, Cecilia; Bradford Cain, Teurlings Catholic; Wade Cannon, St. Thomas More; Jalan Chapman, Warren Easton; Jackson Cordill, Franklin Parish; Luke Delafield, North DeSoto; Dartavin Depass, Peabody; Greg Donaldson, Warren Easton; Travis Esprit, Opelousas; Jacob Fairchild, Vandebilt Catholic; Izaiah Farley, Leesville; Korey Fontenot, Opelousas; Collin Fontenot, Opelousas; Jonathan Ford, Opelousas; Wallace Foster IV, Warren Easton; Kilas Francis, Shaw; Tavias Gordon, Westgate; Robert Graves, Neville; Jayden Hagger, Cecilia; Jackson Hedrick, Grant; T.J. Hullaby, Peabody; Chase Jacobs, Assumption; K.J. James, Teurlings Catholic; Jacobi Jefferson, Salmen; De’Myrion Johnson, Westgate; Maximus Kadrmas, Tioga; Alfred Kennedy, Assumption; Cleveland Latulas, Westgate; Dy’traevous Lively, Westgate; Charlie Mader, Teurlings Catholic; Tim Maxson, De La Salle; Dameon McCloud, McDonogh 35; Peyton McFarland, McDonogh 35; Brian McMillian, North DeSoto; Damon Narcisse, Salmen; Carson Orgeron, South Lafourche; Jasper Parker, Shaw; Bronson Patt, Cecilia; Santana Price, McDonogh 35; Taylor Quinn, Neville; Ben Ragas, Vandebilt Catholic; Kaileb Rayford, Salmen; Keidrick Richardson, De La Salle; Fred Robertson, Warren Easton; Joel Rogers, West Feliciana; Justin Ross, McDonogh 35; Markel Senegal, Washington-Marion; Kenias St. Romain, DeRidder; Tyrese Mosby, Plaquemine; Landon Strother, St. Thomas More; Hutch Swilley, St. Thomas More; John Martinez, St. Michael; Zyrian Taylor, Peabody; Reece Turner, Assumption; Landon Vallee, Grant; Eric Vories, Peabody; Damyren Washington, Booker T. Washington; Jayden Webb, Neville; Javion White, Franklin Parish; Mason Wilson, Shaw; Cody Beall, St. Michael; Landry Wyatt, North DeSoto.