Throwing it out there
Last week, the list for the All-District 5-5A football team was released, and it was filled from top to bottom with talented Ascension prospects.
The most successful team from the parish was Dutchtown as they finished 8-2 during the regular season and won a share of the district title.
In the playoffs, they made a run to the state quarterfinals before losing to Destrehan 23-7.
With such an impressive year, it's no surprise that the Griffins were the Ascension team with the most first-team selections--seven to be exact.
Two of those selections came from the offensive line as Blake Pacheco made it as a guard, and John Gallman earned the honors as a tackle. Gallman played all three line positions during the year.
When it came to special teams, Brady Bergeron was a first-team selection as a kicker, and Kajuan Coleman also made the first team as a return specialist.
Torrance Mosley joined them as an athlete. The Arkansas commit did everything this year--played running back, receiver, wildcat quarterback and even returned punts and kickoffs.
Defensively, linebacker Davin Manuel and cornerback Tyler Hughes each snagged first-team honors, and head coach Benny Saia was named Co-Coach of the Year along with Catholic's Dale Weiner.
Dutchtown's second-team selections included: Coleman and Mosley at running back, Brennan Newman at tight end, Cameron Joshua at receiver, Hunter Hill at defensive line, Darrell Hardnett at linebacker and Justin Reid at defensive back.
Honorable mention selections included: Brandt Fritsche, Landon Maulden, Hunter Austin, Bergeron as a punter, Hunter Buckland, Travis Goodman, Michael Tadda, Marshall Richard, Alonzo Creighton and Javad Ben.
The team in the parish with the second-most first-team selections was St. Amant with six.
The Gators started the year 6-1 but lost their final three games in heart-breaking fashion. And in the playoffs, they fell to East St. John 19-7 in the opening round.
Receiver Marquise Hampton was St. Amant's lone skill-position player to be named to the first team.
On the offensive line, Turner Simmers made it as a tackle. Simmers didn't give up a sack all year.
The rest of the Gator first-team selections came on the defensive side of the ball. That's no surprise. St. Amant had one of the best defenses in the district this season--only giving up 19 points a game.
Reese LeBlanc earned first-team honors from the defensive line. Linebacker Payton Triche and defensive backs Darion Bartholomew and Jonavon Lewis all joined him.
St. Amant's second-team selections included: running back Evan Matheny, punter Jordan LeBourgeois, defensive lineman Tevin Milan and linebacker Nathan Martinez.
Honorable mention selections included: Tyler Dixon, Ian Watts, Trey Belleu, Hampton as an athlete, Tyler Johnson, Alex Derousselle and Landon Young.
As for East Ascension, they finished 8-2 during the year and earned a No. 3 seeding in the playoffs.
There, they made it to the second round for the first time since 2005. However, their run ended with an upset-loss to Covington.
For the Spartans, Layne Trahan was named first-team all-district quarterback and his favorite target, Chad Hill, was named first-team receiver.
On defense, Dominique Williams earned first-team honors as a defensive lineman, and Deandre Darville did the same from his linebacker position. In fact, Darville was named District 5-5A Defensive Player of the Year.
East Ascension's second-team selections included: running back Joshua Walker, guard Ryan Keller, tackle Sam Hargrave, defensive lineman Devin Simoneaux, linebacker JaLon Watts and cornerback Tyler Green.
Honorable mention selections included: Kade Waguespack, T.J. Miles, Mason Bateman, Adam Bosworth, Trahan as a punter, Kedrick Knowles, Carlton Vallo, Artis Fountain, Jaz Smith, Malik Anderson, Garrin Dunbar and Luke Lambert.