Reaping the rewards

Unfortunately, the 2018 football season has come and gone for all of the parish teams.
In most respects it has been a successful year for Evangeline Parish football, with three of the five teams finding their way into the playoffs. Because of that success, several individual players from around the parish have been selected by their districts for post-season honors.
One of those teams who enjoyed the most prosperity this past year were the Basile Bearcats. Under the tutelage of head coach Kevin Bertrand and his staff, the Bearcats were able to find their way to a 10-win season and a spot in the Class 1A quarterfinals, the second time Basile has done that in the past four seasons.
Because the Bearcats finished second in their district, they were able to pick up five first team selections and four second team placements. Leading the way for Basile was Andre Reed. The senior not only was tabbed as the defensive most Valuable Player in District 4-1A, he was also a pick as a first team running back.
As a linebacker, Reed recorded 98 tackles (four of those for loss), two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception during the regular season. He also collected 898 yards on 74 carries and scored 10 touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball. This is the second year in a row that Reed has been named the district MVP.
Joining Reed on the first team offense were senior offensive lineman Gage Johnson and senior placekicker Abdul Mlingo. Johnson, a mainstay on the offensive front, was a major reason for a Bearcat rushing attack that recorded over 2,000 yards. Mlingo, a valuable weapon on special teams, was 21/25 on extra points and three for five in field goals.
On the defensive side of the ball, Basile added defensive back Dawson Ashford to the first team. The junior gathered 34 tackles, three interceptions, one sack and one fumble recovery. Second team selections for the Bearcats include junior wide receiver Isaiah Ceasar, who was also a defensive back pick, junior defensive lineman Logan David and senior linebacker Jay Pitre.
Head coach Josh Harper and the Sacred Heart Trojans finished the year with an overall record of 7-4 and a first round playoff game in Division IV, the fourth time in a row that they have made it to the post-season.
The Trojans had to overcome a ton of injuries this past year, but were able to fight through those adversities to produce a victorious campaign. Because of their 3-2 record in District 5-1A, Sacred Heart was able to nail down five spots on first team and five spots on second team.
Offensively, Sacred Heart placed senior running back Alec Gotro and senior athlete Wesley Launey to first team positions. Ironically, both Gotro and Launey were interchangeable at the running back/quarterback position throughout the season in the single wing formation utilized down the stretch for the Trojans.
Gotro earned his spot by rushing for 404 yards on 72 carries and scoring seven touchdowns. Launey collected 711 yards rushing, 765 yards passing and was responsible for a total of 19 touchdowns on the year.
First team defensive selections for Sacred Heart included defensive tackle Michael Monier, linebacker Garrett Fontenot and flex player Launey. Monier, a junior, recorded 67 tackles, three sacks and one fumble recovery while the senior Fontenot had 70 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble. At defensive back, Launey added 45 tackles and one force fumble.
Second team selections for the Trojans were senior offensive lineman Bo Jon Armand, senior tight end Cade Manuel and senior wide receiver Drew Bordelon. Defensive second team picks included linebacker Nick Perry and defensive back Gotro.
Honorable Mention recipients for Sacred Heart were senior Jalen Deville, juniors Connor Bordelon and Tyler Perron and sophomores Alex McElwee and Noah Soileau.
A demanding schedule, especially in district, earned the 3-7 Ville Platte Bulldogs their second playoff game in a row. Even though Ville Platte did not pick up a victory in district play, the Bulldogs overall strength of schedule was enough for them to participate in the post-season.
With that strong schedule, Ville Platte earned five spots on the second team in District 6-2A. Making that squad were wide receiver Tyler Jones, offensive lineman Dave Arvie, defensive lineman Travion Ardoin and linebacker Kyle Williams. Jones was also a selection at defensive back.
Honorable mention selections were running back Jahmal Byers, wide receiver Ernest Roberts, athlete Terrian Roy, defensive flex player Trayvence Thomas and offensive lineman Qunicy Bias.
The Pine Prairie Panthers were oh so close to making the Class 3A playoffs. The Panthers were probably one more win away from getting to the post-season for the first time in school history.
With their great play throughout the season, Pine Prairie was able to pick up a first team offensive and defensive slot, as well as a single second team offensive pick and two second team defensive picks.
Earning first team all-district honors on offense was running back JJ Sims. The senior rushed for 1,235 yards on 198 carries and caught 11 passes for 220 yards.
Sims was also the only first team defensive selection for the Panthers. On that side of the ball, he had 94 tackles, one interception and two fumble recoveries.
Second team picks included offensive lineman Jordan Thomas, linebacker Kaleb Matte and defensive back Isaiah Payne. Receiving honorable mention status were defensive back Kyler Carson, linebacker Will Chapelle, defensive lineman Landon Johnson, quarterback Damon Malveaux, defensive end Matthew Derouselle, offensive lineman Shawn Guillory, defensive back Peyton Ledoux and running back Joel Franks.
Despite their 0-10 season, the Mamou Demons continued to improve throughout the year, especially on offense. Mamou earned a ton of respect for their effort from every opponent they faced.
The Demons, along with the Panthers, played in the toughest district in Class 3A, as evidenced by two of those teams still alive in the playoffs. Even so, Mamou found one player on the second team in District 5-3A and also placed five players on the honorable mention list.
Making second team was defensive line Leondre Harrison. Honorable mention selections included tight end Dino Deshotel, wide receiver Kyrian Green, offensive lineman Devon Messer, defensive back Daylon Ardoin and linebacker Parker Granger.