JOURNAL STAFF
One thing that becomes fairly obvious in picking a team for post-season honors is that there are plenty of directions to go.
And all of them are good options.
Which record-setting quarterback to choose? Running backs who seemingly came out of nowhere and other running backs who were well established before the season began. A bevy of offensive linemen who are headed to college football next year.
Receivers with mind boggling numbers … linebackers who dominated games as well as MVP votes on their All-District teams … great athletes who made highlights at multiple positions.
So many great choices, but in the case of the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s third annual All-Metro team, so few spots available.
Here’s a good measure of the strength of this team: Three quarterbacks who threw for a combined 12,161 yards were up for consideration but it was Airline quarterback Ben Taylor (4,357 yards, 47 touchdowns). Not only was Taylor named as the All-Metro quarterback, he’s also the Outstanding Offensive Player.
It’s a repeat performance for the top honor for Taylor, who completed a remarkable career by throwing for 12,374 yards (No. 2 all-time in Louisiana) and 135 touchdowns in his career and led the Vikings to the state quarterfinals for the second straight year.
The 10 interceptions by Woodlawn’s Brandon Henderson certainly qualifies him for Outstanding Defensive Player, but that’s a bit of a misnomer because he was a do-it-all player for the Knights. He also averaged 8.7 yards per rush and 25.7 yards per catch and was just as dangerous on special teams.
Byrd’s Stacy Ballew is the Coach of the Year after more than doubling the Jackets’ win total from a year ago. Picked before the season to finish in the bottom half of the standings, Ballew’s Jackets went from 4-7 a year ago to 9-4 this year, which included two playoff wins and an appearance in the quarterfinals.
The double threat of Airline wide receivers – junior Kenny Darby and senior Jarvis Davis – and Calvary deep threat Kolby Thomas make up the receiving corps. Darby caught 100 passes for 1,764 yards and 24 touchdowns while Davis had 89 catches for 1,190 yards and nine scores. Thomas averaged 21.1 yards per catch and had 17 touchdowns.
Jamarcea Plater of Captain Shreve wasn’t even a running back until this year but exploded on the scene in his junior season, setting a school record with 2,234 yards and 29 touchdowns – and also played quite a bit at cornerback. Calvary’s James Simon had a reduced workload but still rushed for more than 10 yards per carry and had his third straight 1,000-yard season. Northwood’s Kyran Johnson ran for 1,390 yards and 13 touchdowns in a breakout season for the Falcons.
The offensive line features three Division I FBS signees in Devin Harper (Ole Miss), Lionel Prudhomme (Arkansas) and Witt Van Hoy (TCU) plus Parkway standout Ethan Plunkett and Loyola’s Jac Ebarb, who started 41 games in his four-year career for the Flyers.
The defensive front features Parkway’s D.D. Oliver (a Yale signee), Huntington’s Jatarian Montgomery (7 quarterback sacks), Calvary’s Ethan Sands (81 tackles) and Byrd’s Darell Cottonham (14.5 tackles for loss).
The linebacking corps was deep as Byrd’s Sam Greer (school-record 136 tackles), Northwood’s Christian Blackmon (85 tackles, 11 for loss) and Parkway’s Mark Copenhaver (78 tackles, 6 sacks) were all named as Defensive MVPs in their district. They are joined by Evangel’s hard-hitting junior Damari Drake (150 tackles).
Joining Henderson in the defensive backfield are Tre Fuller of Captain Shreve (54 tackles, 3 interceptions, Calvary sophomore Braylon Huglon and Huntington’s Tyler Welch (3 interceptions).
Byrd’s Asher Murray is the place kicker (12 field goals, long of 56 yards). Zane Wyss of Captain Shreve is the punter (38.4 yard average) and Parkway’s multi threat Carmaro Mayo is the kick returner.
Calvary, a semifinalist in Division III (select), leads the way with five selections and Captain Shreve and Parkway have four each. Airline and Byrd each have three, Huntington and Northwood have two and Benton, Loyola, Evangel and Woodlawn each have one.
There are eight returning players from last year’s team: Davis, Harper, Simon, Oliver, Sands, Mayo, Taylor and Henderson.
HOW THE TEAM WAS CHOSEN
** The offensive team was limited to 12 total players. Players were chosen at each of the standard offensive positions. Because only a few teams use a tight end, that position was not chosen.
** The defensive team was limited to 12 total players – four each at line, linebacker and back. 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.
2024 JOURNAL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Ben Taylor, Airline
2024 JOURNAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Brandon Henderson, Woodlawn
2024 JOURNAL COACH OF THE YEAR – Stacy Ballew, Byrd
2024 JOURNAL ALL-METRO OFFENSE
WR – Jarvis Davis, Airline, Sr.
WR – Kenny Darby, Airline, Jr.
WR – Kolby Thomas, Calvary, Sr.
OL – Ethan Plunkett, Parkway, Sr.
OL – Witt Van Hoy, Benton, Sr.
OL – Jac Ebarb, Loyola, Sr.
OL – Devin Harper, Calvary, Sr.
OL – Lionel Prudhomme, Captain Shreve, Sr.
QB – Ben Taylor, Airline, Sr.
RB – Jamarcea Plater, Captain Shreve, Jr.
RB – Kyran Johnson, Northwood, Jr.
RB – James Simon, Calvary, Sr.
2024 JOURNAL ALL-METRO DEFENSE
DL – Darell Cottonham, Byrd, Sr.
DL – Jatarian Montgomery, Huntington, Sr.
DL – D.D. Oliver, Parkway, Sr.
DL – Ethan Sands, Calvary, Sr.
LB – Sam Greer, Byrd, Sr.
LB – Damari Drake, Evangel, Jr.
LB – Mark Copenhaver, Parkway, Sr.
LB – Christian Blackmon, Northwood, Sr.
DB – Brandon Henderson, Woodlawn, Sr.
DB – Tyler Welch, Huntington, Sr.
DB – Tre Fuller, Captain Shreve, Sr.
DB – Braylun Huglon, Calvary, Soph.
2024 JOURNAL ALL-METRO SPECIALISTS
PK – Asher Murray, Byrd, Jr.
P – Zane Wyss, Captain Shreve, Sr.
KR – Carmaro Mayo, Parkway, Sr.
BEST OF THE REST
WR – Car’Darrian Devers, Captain Shreve
OL – Jacob Tibett, Calvary; Josh Allen, Airline; Mason Coenen, Byrd
QB – Peyton Houston, Evangel; Abram Wardell, Calvary.
RB – C.J. Dudley, Parkway; Quinton Wilson, Woodlawn.
DL – Korde Sharp, Parkway
LB – Cole Miller, Calvary; Jaydan Gladney, Airline; Jaylen O’Neal, BTW
DB – Carter Ward, Loyola; Justin Thomas, Northwood
KR – Mason Jackson, North Caddo; Julius Moss, Calvary