Local football players make LFCA All-State teams
The football season may be long gone, but there are still honors to go around.
Recently, the Louisiana Football Coaches Association released their All-State football teams, and a bevy of players from the parish made the cut.
In Class 5A alone, 14 local stars were honored.
Both St. Amant and East Ascension had six selections, the most of the three 5A teams in the parish.
It makes sense that both teams would finish with the same total. They had nearly identical seasons in 2017.
St. Amant went 9-1 during the regular season, while East Ascension went 8-2. They shared the District 5-5A championship and both teams reached the second round of the playoffs.
For the Gators, they had two LFCA first-team All-State selections in running back Cade Nelson and receiver Grant Alexander.
Nelson rushed for more than 1,600 yards and 26 touchdowns and has earned a plethora of other honors this postseason—including district and Parish Offensive MVP.
In his first year as a starter, Alexander came up with 41 catches for 713 yards and eight touchdowns during the regular season.
St. Amant linebacker Colton King made the second team, while offensive linemen Brandon Thomassie, Beau Gremillion and defensive lineman Johnny Johnson were all honorable mention selections.
Like the Gators, two East Ascension stars made the first team. This honor went to offensive lineman Cameron Wire and all-everything star Jimel London.
Wire is an LSU signee and regarded as one of the best offensive linemen in the state.
London made the first team as a flex player. Offensively, he rushed for over 900 words with 12 touchdowns, and added another two scores as a return specialist.
He was the District 5-5A Co-Offensive MVP, along with Nelson.
London also made the second team as a defensive back. He had three interceptions this past season.
Spartan offensive lineman Falepule Alo and defensive linemen Stanford Knockum and Deshon Hall were honorable mention.
Two players made the LFCA All-State team for Dutchtown.
The Griffins had a great resurgence in 2017, as they went from 3-7 to 6-4 and reached the second round of the playoffs.
Defensive back VanShon Grayson was a second-team selection. Grayson had six interceptions this past season.
Tight end Brandon Davies was an honorable mention pick.
In Class 3A, two Donaldsonville player made the team. That distinction went to receiver Ladarius Jackson and lineman Kadarrion Jones. Both were honorable mention selections.
Jackson and Jones helped spark a Tiger turnaround in 2017 that saw the team up their win total from 4-6 to 7-3. Once in the postseason, they won a playoff game. The eight wins were the most by the program since 2010.
In addition to the All-State team, both players were first-team selections on both the all-district and All-Parish teams.
Jackson was the team's big-play threat through the air in 2017. He finished the regular season with 34 catches for 739 yards and nine touchdowns.
Ascension Catholic had three players make the Class 1A All-State squad.
The Bulldogs had the best season of any team in the parish as they went 8-2 during the regular season and reached the state title game for the first time since 1992.
Two Ascension Catholic players made the first team.
Running back Jai Williams was a first-team selection. Williams rushed for over 1,600 yards and more than 20 touchdowns in 2017.
He was both first-team all-district and All-Parish.
Williams was also an honorable mention All-State selection as a linebacker.
Rodney Blanchard made the All-State first team as a punter. He also made the second team as a kicker.
The Bulldogs' final All-State team member was defensive lineman Charlie Gianelloni. He made the second team.
Gianelloni finished the regular season with over 90 tackles and six sacks. He was a first-team all-district selection, and he was second-team All-Parish.
Drey Trosclair and his coaching staff was named the LFCA Class 1A Staff of the Year.