JOURNAL SPORTS
The 2024 high school football season is nearly here – two games start the local schedule Thursday night, with Benton going to Northwood and Loyola traveling to Monroe to face St. Frederick.
It’s Friday night excitement for the rest of the Caddo-Bossier squads as Week 1 unfolds.
Lots of preparation has taken place as coaches and their staffs developed the teams since last winter. The process intensified with spring practice for nearly every team; but everybody honed in after the 2023-24 school year ended, and since then coaches have focused on tapping into what will make their teams most successful this season.
The third annual Shreveport-Bossier Journal Coaches’ Roundtable begins with a simple question: from the start of summer until now, what have you learned about your team that stands out?
STEPHEN DENNIS, Huntington: “How mentally tough they are, we have challenged them every step of the way this offseason, rather in coaching circuit outside in the cold and mud, or during the summer spent in a metal building with no AC. They have answered the call every-time!! I’m incredibly excited to see how they answer the challenge of the season ahead!!!”
JAMES BRADFORD JR., Green Oaks: “The best thing I’ve learned over the last few months is we have a hungry group of players. They’ve been motivated to compete and take the program to the next level.”
AUSTIN BROWN, Northwood: “We practice better and have a little more depth than I previously thought.”
JOHN SELLA, Loyola: “One of the best things I’ve noticed about this group from end of school, last spring to now is that they’ve started to take ownership of the team and are becoming leaders. It’s not just the coaches having to do everything and hold everyone accountable. The players have taken ownership of that, the locker room, laundry, etc. I’ve also learned they understand sarcasm which is good because it’s like a second language to me.”
REYNOLDS MOORE, Benton: “These guys really care about each other and get along with each other. It’s been really fun to watch them bond and grow as a team.”
GARY COOPER, Booker T. Washington: “The best thing I’ve learned over the last few months is we have a hungry group of players. They’ve been motivated to compete and take the program to the next level.”
STACY BALLEW, Byrd: “Since the spring, we’ve moved a couple kids from one position to another in the secondary. I think we have the kids in the right positions now. I think we’ve learned where our strengths and weaknesses are, and we’re trying to get better. We learned who our starters are – not that it won’t change!”
JEREMY WILBURN, Captain Shreve: “Our kids are resilient and have shown their ability to meet the standards we have within our program. We have been working on these aspects of our team throughout the summer and fall camp.”
COY BROTHERTON, Parkway: “I learned that we have a group of seniors on our football team that are willing to put in the extra work that’s required to be great!”
THEDRICK HARRIS, Woodlawn: “The biggest thing I’ve learned is that they are truly a great group of young men that wants to be a better football team, but more importantly better people. They are finally starting to see that there is a lot more to this world. In terms of Football, I think we’re better up front on both sides and finally have a little depth.”
CLINT WALKER, Plain Dealing: “Our core of players has grown. More of them attended summer workouts and have invested.”
MIKE GREEN, Southwood: “The Southwood kids are building confidence in themselves and what we’re trying to do with our program. Our numbers are up and spring football gave us a chance to teach and get kids to understand that it’s going to be a process., and they’ll have to make room for Southwood, if our kids trust the process.”
ANTHONY JOHNSON, Magnolia Charter: “The best thing that I’ve learned about the team is that they realize that there is no substitute for hard work.”
CHASE THOMPSON, North Caddo: “I learned that we have a group of seniors on our football team that are willing to put in the extra work that’s required to be great!”