JOURNAL SPORTS
Seventeen remarkable Class of 2026 high school scholar-athletes from north and central Louisiana, including 10 from Shreveport-Bossier, are finalists for $1,000 college scholarships from The National Football Foundation, S.M. McNaughton Chapter to be presented March 4 in Shreveport.
Additionally, seven highly-accomplished area high school coaches have been cited as finalists for the McNaughton Chapter’s Coach of the Year honor, also to be given at the chapter’s annual awards banquet at East Ridge Country Club.
McNaughton Chapter president Toni Goodin made the announcements Thursday following a board meeting. She said nine scholarship winners and the Coach of the Year recipient will be announced later this month.
The scholar-athlete candidates exceeded standards for the annual scholarship grants including a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better, earning at least all-district honors on the football field, and extracurricular involvement.
The group includes 10 from Caddo and Bossier parishes: Abram Anderson of C.E. Byrd, Benton’s Case Austin, Jonathon Baker-Shepard of Plain Dealing, Captain Shreve’s Andre Campbell, Jeremiah Epps of Airline, LaMarcus Harris of Bossier, Loyola’s Hayden Horton, Luke Miller of Calvary Baptist, Von’Travious “Tray” Moore of Booker T. Washington, and Northwood’s Justin Thomas.
More NFF scholar-athlete finalists from the Class of 2026 are Buckeye’s Ty Curtis, Luke Delafield of North DeSoto, West Monroe’s Hunter Fox, Tucker Johnson of St. Mary’s, Micah Moser of Ouachita Christian School, North Webster’s Hudson Smith and Owen Smith of Natchitoches Central.
“We are very proud to recognize these 17 young men as outstanding representatives of their teams, their schools and communities,” said Goodin. “They epitomize the values of academic and athletic excellence along with service and involvement in extracurricular activities.”
Head coaches in the 318 area code were able to nominate seniors for the annual honor.
The McNaughton Chapter’s Coach of the Year candidates are Darrell Barbay of Mansfield, Parkway’s Coy Brotherton, Lee Doty of Sterlington, North DeSoto’s Dennis Dunn, David Franklin of Haynesville, Ouachita’s Benjy Lewis and Scott Surratt of Carthage (Texas).
The McNaughton Chapter has awarded scholarships to senior scholar-athletes since 1981. The Coach of the Year Award has been presented occasionally in the past two decades.
For sponsorship opportunities, chapter membership inquiries and additional information, contact Goodin at 318nffchapter@gmail.com or by calling 318-347-4453.
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