JOURNAL SPORTS
Four Shreveport-Bossier Class of 2025 football standouts and five others from around north Louisiana will be celebrated tonight at the National Football Foundation S.M. McNaughton Chapter’s annual North Louisiana Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet.
The event, which began in 1981, is at Shreveport’s East Ridge Country Club. An extensive silent auction of college and professional football gear, memorabilia and other items will be conducted during the evening to support the nine $1,000 college scholarships to be presented to the accomplished seniors.
Carter Doyal of Loyola, Jaydan Gladney from Airline, Byrd’s Sam Greer of Byrd and Abram Wardell of Calvary are the four local stars to be celebrated tonight for outstanding academic and athletic accomplishment along with campus and/or community service.
The other elite seniors are Cole Cory of North DeSoto; Landon Hall from Cedar Creek; Christian McGuire of Jonesboro-Hodge; Cooper Russell from Ouachita Christian; and Parker Todd of West Monroe.
Nearly 20 candidates were nominated from around north Louisiana by their head coaches. Nominees have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average, had earned all-district honors last fall, and are involved in extracurricular activities.
One will be designated as the McNaughton Chapter’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year and will be recognized throughout 2025 at the NFF’s College Football Hall of Fame Museum in Atlanta, and will be eligible for the NFF’s national honors.
Another will be presented by KTBS-TV of Shreveport and Johnny’s Pizza as the Johnny’s Pizza/Griffin’s Game Ball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The honor pays tribute to the late iconic Shreveport sportscaster Bob Griffin, who was a longtime McNaughton Chapter board member.
Shreveport businesswoman Toni Goodin, Ruston High School football coach Jerrod Baugh and retired West Monroe High School athletic administrator James Remedies will also be honored tonight.
Goodin is the chapter’s 2025 Distinguished American award winner and is the first woman to receive the prestigious accolade. Remedies is being presented the Contribution to Amateur Football honor. Baugh will receive the chapter’s North Louisiana High School Football Coach of the Year award, which is only presented occasionally for extraordinary merit. Selections are made by the chapter’s board of directors.
A few seats are still available and can be reserved by calling 318-347-4453.