JOURNAL SPORTS
Evangel went unbeaten in eight District 1-5A games this season and swept the top individual honors when coaches met to select the all-district team, announced Monday.
Eagles’ junior quarterback Peyton “Pop” Houston and senior defensive tackle Ashton Dawson were the individual standouts selected. There was no coach, or coaching staff, of the year chosen.
Houston averaged 422 yards of total offense and accounted for 48 touchdowns, 38 passing, in the 10-game regular season. Dawson made 91 tackles, 18 for lost yards, including five sacks.
Voting took place at the end of the regular season. No postseason statistics were factored into the selection process.
Among 41 players given first-team all-district recognition, Evangel had 10, district runner-up Parkway 8, and third-place Airline had 7.
Nine first-team selections repeated from that status on the 2024 team.
Combining first and second-team selections, Evangel led the way with 14, one ahead of Parkway, two more than Airline and Captain Shreve, while Natchitoches Central got 10.
Evangel had another 12 players earn honorable mention, while a dozen from Shreve and 11 Airline players were on that list.
2025 COACHES’ ALL-DISTRICT 1-5A FOOTBALL TEAM
Repeat first-team selections from 2024 indicated by *
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
WR – Ethan Johnson, Haughton, Jr.
WR – Gary Burney, Parkway, Jr.
WR – Antonio Gladney, Parkway, Sr.
WR – Shawn Devers, Captain Shreve, Sr.*
WR – Charley Abraham, Evangel, Sr.
TE – Draidyn Davis, Parkway, Sr.
OL – Chris Green, Parkway, Sr.
OL – Jackson Speer, Evangel, Sr.
OL – Deshawn Braggs, Natchitoches Central, Sr.
OL – Royaun Jackson, Huntington, Sr.*
OL – Andre Campbell, Captain Shreve, Sr.
OL – Kyler Reynolds, Benton, Jr.
OL – J.D. Yates, Airline, Sr.
QB – Peyton ‘’Pop” Houston, Evangel, Jr.*
QB – Kaleb Williams, Parkway, Sr.
RB – Brandon Craig, Haughton, Jr.
RB – Jamarcea Plater, Captain Shreve, Sr.*
RB – Christian Maxie, Byrd, Jr.*
Ath – Kenny Darby, Airline, Sr.*
Ath – Owen Smith, Natchitoches Central, Sr.
K – Asher Murray, Byrd, Sr.*
P – Jake Cain, Natchitoches Central, So.
RS – Kenny Darby, Airline, Sr.
Offensive MVP – Peyton “Pop” Houston, Evangel
DEFENSE
DL – Ashton Dawson, Evangel, Sr.
DL – Nick Lopez, Evangel, Sr.
DL – Ian Gray, Byrd, Sr.
DL – Rod Johnson, Parkway, Jr.
DL – Xavier Villamor, Benton, Jr.
DL – Ja’Miran Davis, Airline, Jr.
LB – Damari Drake, Evangel, Sr.*
LB – Mark Copenhaver, Parkway, Sr.*
LB – Braylen Jackson, Airline, Sr.
LB – Bennett Speer, Evangel, So.
DB – Cardelrio Coleman, Evangel, So.
DB – Jaylan Bradley, Airline, Sr.
DB – Dallas Loche, Parkway, So.
DB – Peyton Rayner, Parkway, Sr.
DB – Jeremy Lowe, Natchitoches Central, Sr.
DB – Brandon Mays, Captain Shreve, Sr.
Ath – Jeremiah Epps, Airline, Sr.
Ath – Ethan Mandigo, Evangel, Sr.
Defensive MVP – Ashton Dawson, Evangel
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
WR – DeMarkus Evans, Evangel; Johnny Casey Jr., Evangel; Caiden Starks, Huntington; Case Austin, Benton; KJ Newton, Natchitoches Central; TE – Justin Woodfork, Airline; OL – Daylen Carmouche, Airline; Pat Gray, Parkway; Mason Kinley, Byrd; Dylan Jones, Captain Shreve; Thomas Staton, Parkway; Jeffrey Holden, Natchitoches Central; Andrew Walker, Evangel; QB – Taylor Weathersby, Haughton; Malachi Zeigler, Benton; RB – Damari Drake, Evangel; Collin Deere, Byrd; Kelton Howard, Natchitoches Central; Ath – Justin Whitaker, Huntington; Nate Green, Huntington; K – Trip Thomason, Captain Shreve; P – Tony Aguilar, Huntington; RS – AJ Johnson, Parkway; Gabe Lockett, Captain Shreve.
DEFENSE
DL – Ravion Poland, Parkway; Bryton Shaw, Captain Shreve; Deshun Rogers, Huntington; Austin Sewell, Natchitoches Central; Derail Veal, Captain Shreve; John Thomas Young, Benton; LB – Brady Prine, Parkway; Braydon Cummings, Huntington; LaMelvin Adger, Captain Shreve; Aaron Cassey, Natchitoches Central; DB – Zeus Arthur, Airline; Abraham Anderson, Byrd; Lacedric Allen, Huntington; Malachi Frost, Captain Shreve; Derrick Beaudion, Natchitoches Central; Marquis Scroggins, Huntington; Ath – DeAnthony Thomas, Captain Shreve; Keadre Garner, Airline.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Airline – David “DJ” Allen, Abreion Cooper, Desmian Curry; Chris Hart, Terrence Hays, Preston Hughes, Kang Noh, Cole Shepherd, Kyren Taylor, Joseph Thrash, Chase Williams. Benton – Greg Chambers, Andrew Carroll, Jonathan Hollis, Jaxsin Johnson, Rydon McCormack, Beckett Moore, Madden Raymond, Maddox Tullos. Captain Shreve – Keith Bolton, Michael Brown, Osborne Demery, Jackson Gaskin, Chris Hill, Daylen Hill, Kaleb Law, Brayden McDuffey, Ra’shaun Morrison, Isaiah Moore, Briggs Savage, Michael Wyss. Evangel – Aiden Carter, Seth Collins, Kyron Gordon, Jayden Hicks, Westin Johnson, Kionte’ Mims II, AJ Robinson, Javian Rogers, Jayden Raphiel, Christian Speight, Olly Thomas, Otis Washington. Haughton – Isaac Hennings, Jaden Keith, Sage Kinney, Kyron Turner, Jameson Voigt, Joshua Fisher. Huntington – Joshua Fisher, Harold Jackson, Adrian Johnson, Braylon Wesley. Natchitoches Central – Jerimiah Avist, Dallas Demer, Cemarian McNeal, Kaden Kuykendoll, Imari Speed, Semaj Thomas. Parkway – Braxxton Black, KJ Burts, Josh Coleman, Damian Dacaldacal, Cam Hines, Nate Kemp, Colby Lee.