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Post by clubberlang on Apr 19, 2024 16:49:56 GMT -6
Ok here we go! Let’s hear your thoughts!
ASH-good amount of returning players on the roster…JT Lindsey could carry the Trojans to another deep playoff run if the defense can get some stops!
Pineville-The rebels have a new OC on the staff and will from what I’m hearing will “run the ball!” I hope they can get a few wins! We will see…
Tioga-Will always field a competitive team that is coached well and plays hard…QB position will be an issue!
Bolton-Seriously
Menard-Graduated a big class so will be rebuilding for sure…Perkins did a great job in his 1st year…they will come around with time!
Peabody-Coleman did about a good a job as anyone could! Not sure what’s returning for the Warhorses but they will have a few athletes that can play…
Jena-Graduated a lot of seniors! Look for the Giants to get better as the season progresses as they gain experience…they will be ready mid season!
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Post by unbiasedobserver on Apr 19, 2024 20:48:14 GMT -6
Do you want honest thoughts?
If so, ASH will probably be a quarters team again, and nobody else will even be relevant in their respective brackets.
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Post by walkingturtles on Apr 20, 2024 13:06:47 GMT -6
ASH - will be in the dome/semis in 2025/2026. They are loaded but super young. JT is incredible, but brand new OLine with a sopre QB. This year is the growing pains year with defense and young guys.
Pineville - Idk who the new OC is, it don’t matter though, they don’t have the talent. They have routinely lost the recruiting war in Rapides Parish. The star Freshman from this past year has already declared enrollment to ASH next year. Bell is a good coach and great for that community. But he can’t seem to recruit. Pineville Junior has been stomping the rest of the Parish in the middle school leagues, but they get zero of any of the top talent. Perhaps it’s time to fire Carpenter and start over/re-brand.
Tioga - District got easier with replacing Neville with WO and Wossman. However, that near loss to Peabody last year tells me tough storms ahead. The community has a business tax base that’s gonna contribute to great facilities, and the people seem to just want to be good locally, which isn’t hard to do.
Peabody - Coleman has them trending in the right direction. On top of that, Bolton changing up is gonna give them an influx next year of about 450/500 more kids. He will have a little more kids to help with depth. They will be 5A next classification cycle, easily. Tioga might too. Could have a Rapides/Natchitoches Central 5A district soon.
Bolton- They are keeping most of the football kids for this years team, going forward though this is a dead football program. Look for this year and maybe next to be it.
Menard - Private school that doesn’t recruit lol. There are 3rd stringers at ASH that could help them tremendously. Eventually, gonna have to get a few kids, and not hope that the doctors and lawyers happen to have a couple athletes.
Bunkie - Coach Hillman has them trending doing things the right way. I think the Avoyelles parish pendulum has swung back to the Panthers for the time being.
Jena- This is what I call a limited powerhouse. They will dominate during the regular season, great community support. Get exposed in playoffs as one trick pony. They will win district or come in 2nd easily. Get bounced 2/3 round. Live by the splitback, die by it.
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Post by clubberlang on Apr 20, 2024 13:29:25 GMT -6
ASH - will be in the dome/semis in 2025/2026. They are loaded but super young. JT is incredible, but brand new OLine with a sopre QB. This year is the growing pains year with defense and young guys. Pineville - Idk who the new OC is, it don’t matter though, they don’t have the talent. They have routinely lost the recruiting war in Rapides Parish. The star Freshman from this past year has already declared enrollment to ASH next year. Bell is a good coach and great for that community. But he can’t seem to recruit. Pineville Junior has been stomping the rest of the Parish in the middle school leagues, but they get zero of any of the top talent. Perhaps it’s time to fire Carpenter and start over/re-brand. Tioga - District got easier with replacing Neville with WO and Wossman. However, that near loss to Peabody last year tells me tough storms ahead. The community has a business tax base that’s gonna contribute to great facilities, and the people seem to just want to be good locally, which isn’t hard to do. Peabody - Coleman has them trending in the right direction. On top of that, Bolton changing up is gonna give them an influx next year of about 450/500 more kids. He will have a little more kids to help with depth. They will be 5A next classification cycle, easily. Tioga might too. Could have a Rapides/Natchitoches Central 5A district soon. Bolton- They are keeping most of the football kids for this years team, going forward though this is a dead football program. Look for this year and maybe next to be it. Menard - Private school that doesn’t recruit lol. There are 3rd stringers at ASH that could help them tremendously. Eventually, gonna have to get a few kids, and not hope that the doctors and lawyers happen to have a couple athletes. Bunkie - Coach Hillman has them trending doing things the right way. I think the Avoyelles parish pendulum has swung back to the Panthers for the time being. Jena- This is what I call a limited powerhouse. They will dominate during the regular season, great community support. Get exposed in playoffs as one trick pony. They will win district or come in 2nd easily. Get bounced 2/3 round. Live by the splitback, die by it. Curious who will replace Feaster at ASH and Jones at Jena…
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ThePerks
All-District 2nd Team
Posts: 119
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Post by ThePerks on Apr 20, 2024 17:40:27 GMT -6
[/quote] Curious who will replace Feaster at ASH and Jones at Jena…[/quote]
Feaster will be replaced by Sellers.
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Post by walkingturtles on Apr 20, 2024 19:02:38 GMT -6
Curious who will replace Feaster at ASH and Jones at Jena…[/quote] Feaster will be replaced by Sellers.[/quote] Sellers is the real deal. And I mean the real deal.
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Post by warhorsepride on Apr 20, 2024 23:00:38 GMT -6
Peabody-Coleman did about a good a job as anyone could! Not sure what’s returning for the Warhorses but they will have a few athletes that can play… We lost our best player last year in DePass, but bring back a 1st Team All District QB in Larry Roberts III and 1st Team All District WR in TJ Hullaby. I think we basically lost 1 starter at every level of the defense and WR and RB. I think the O-Line is intact. On the Bolton kids moving over, that will start this coming year, not as many as the next few but I know all of the 8th graders not accepted into the new program will be going elsewhere, primarily Peabody, this goes for Sopres too, I believe. Only Juniors and Seniors are allowed to stay and finish without being accepted, if I remember right from when they announced everything a few months ago. So we will see a bump this yea, and probably will be 5A by the next cycle. Tioga and Peabody were basically a wash, and I really don't think that changes this year unless there is massive improvement somewhere, because we both lost our best players and they basically were who decided that game last year. I don't see why either can't win district in the new version and we never know what from our perspective what Franklin Parish has until the season starts but I think they bring back a lot.
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Post by bluebonnetspearman on Apr 21, 2024 8:10:55 GMT -6
Curious who will replace Feaster at ASH and Jones at Jena… Feaster will be replaced by Sellers.[/quote] Sellers is the real deal. And I mean the real deal.[/quote] Careful. A lot of people said the same about his old man 25 years ago. Never happened.
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Post by bhossmac on Apr 23, 2024 6:27:28 GMT -6
Ok here we go! Let’s hear your thoughts! ASH-good amount of returning players on the roster…JT Lindsey could carry the Trojans to another deep playoff run if the defense can get some stops! Pineville-The rebels have a new OC on the staff and will from what I’m hearing will “run the ball!” I hope they can get a few wins! We will see… Tioga-Will always field a competitive team that is coached well and plays hard…QB position will be an issue! Bolton-Seriously Menard-Graduated a big class so will be rebuilding for sure…Perkins did a great job in his 1st year…they will come around with time! Peabody-Coleman did about a good a job as anyone could! Not sure what’s returning for the Warhorses but they will have a few athletes that can play… Jena-Graduated a lot of seniors! Look for the Giants to get better as the season progresses as they gain experience…they will be ready mid season! ASH: Lindsey will be the focal point. Bachman is known as a "spread guy" but the Trojans have been remarkably consistent with their ability to produce 1,500-yard rushers. Lindsey was one last year. He should go over 2,000 yards this year as the OL should be bigger and improved. Senior Vaughn Darbon is another guy who will do some damage in the running game. The young QB, Karsen Sellers, has a chance to be special. He's about 6-1, 165 right now and was the JV starter last year as he sat out for being out of zone. He's the 5th-ranked QB in a loaded 2027 class in Louisiana. The Trojans have weapons on the edge, led by senior Darius Washington. He's small, but he's dynamite. Kirkland Bates and Marquis Butler give the Trojans two bigger targets outside, but watch out for sopre Alex Fontenot. He's another kid who sat out last year but would have been in the 2-deep as a freshman. He's got good size at about 6-1, 170 or so with great hands and route-running ability. There are some question marks on defense as the Trojans lost some playmakers, especially in the defensive secondary. But the DL is deep and talented, led by Elijah Nelson and Ayden Price, as well as Grayson Thibodeaux, who will move back over to defense full time from TE. Xzavier White had a tremendous sopre season at LB and should be the best player on defense, and they need some guys to step up in the secondary, particularly junior Jay Frazier and sopre Jakyrin Griffin. The schedule is going to be extremely challenging, but the Trojans should be a real contender if they can get enough stops on defense. Pineville: I know the Rebels have a new OC, and I'll be curious what the offense looks like. They have to find a QB. They have a few athletes, but I'd try to build around Kalmarion Phillips over the next three years. He's got a chance to be special. It'll be interesting to see if he ends up in the offensive or defensive backfield. Tioga: Weird take on the QB position being an issue since the starter last season was a sopre, but maybe you know something I don't know. He's not McGeehee from a passing standpoint, but he's a really good runner and I imagine they ask him to throw more this year than last year. Peabody: Remember the name TJ Hullaby. He's the best receiver in Cenla, and if he were at ASH would probably have a bunch of offers already. They also return Larry Roberts at QB, and while he's not a big college prospect, he's a very productive high-school QB. The Warhorses lost a good senior class, but they have athletes coming back and should be a dangerous matchup under coach Harry Coleman.
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Post by bhossmac on Apr 23, 2024 6:33:16 GMT -6
ASH - will be in the dome/semis in 2025/2026. They are loaded but super young. JT is incredible, but brand new OLine with a sopre QB. This year is the growing pains year with defense and young guys. Pineville - Idk who the new OC is, it don’t matter though, they don’t have the talent. They have routinely lost the recruiting war in Rapides Parish. The star Freshman from this past year has already declared enrollment to ASH next year. Bell is a good coach and great for that community. But he can’t seem to recruit. Pineville Junior has been stomping the rest of the Parish in the middle school leagues, but they get zero of any of the top talent. Perhaps it’s time to fire Carpenter and start over/re-brand. Tioga - District got easier with replacing Neville with WO and Wossman. However, that near loss to Peabody last year tells me tough storms ahead. The community has a business tax base that’s gonna contribute to great facilities, and the people seem to just want to be good locally, which isn’t hard to do. Peabody - Coleman has them trending in the right direction. On top of that, Bolton changing up is gonna give them an influx next year of about 450/500 more kids. He will have a little more kids to help with depth. They will be 5A next classification cycle, easily. Tioga might too. Could have a Rapides/Natchitoches Central 5A district soon. Bolton- They are keeping most of the football kids for this years team, going forward though this is a dead football program. Look for this year and maybe next to be it. Menard - Private school that doesn’t recruit lol. There are 3rd stringers at ASH that could help them tremendously. Eventually, gonna have to get a few kids, and not hope that the doctors and lawyers happen to have a couple athletes. Bunkie - Coach Hillman has them trending doing things the right way. I think the Avoyelles parish pendulum has swung back to the Panthers for the time being. Jena- This is what I call a limited powerhouse. They will dominate during the regular season, great community support. Get exposed in playoffs as one trick pony. They will win district or come in 2nd easily. Get bounced 2/3 round. Live by the splitback, die by it. A couple of points -- Tioga has actually won the last 2-3 junior high titles, not Pineville. Pineville won before that with a strong group, including JT Lindsey, that is starting at schools all over the area as seniors this upcoming year or were seniors last season. Bunkie is poised for a really good 2024 as they return a lot, including two special athletes in QB Dillon Compton and WR/CB/KR Kyle Johnson (who has offers from what seems like everybody but Bama and LSU). But also watch out for Marksville. They have their two playmakers back in seniors Elidrick Murray and Kyreon Prier, but more important they should get their starting QB, Devin Lavalais, back. Lavalais started as an 8th-grader but got hurt during preseason last year and missed the entire season. He's one of the top athletes in the 2027 class in Louisiana. Putting him at QB and moving Murray and Prier from the backfield to WR is going to allow the Tigers to have a very dangerous offense.
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Post by bhossmac on Apr 23, 2024 6:37:07 GMT -6
Curious who will replace Feaster at ASH and Jones at Jena… Feaster will be replaced by Sellers. Sellers is the real deal. And I mean the real deal.[/quote] Careful. A lot of people said the same about his old man 25 years ago. Never happened.[/quote] I don't know about the old man. Before my time. But Karsen Sellers is the real deal. Not only can he spin it, but his footwork is incredible and he's a very cerebral kid. This will be his team from Day 1. He's that kind of leader. I won't say anything negative about Ty Feaster. He did a very good job last year and improved tremendously throughout the season. But the Trojans will be better at QB in 2024 than they were in 2023. Sellers is tearing up the 7-on-7 leagues (yes, I know it's not "real" football, but the talent does translate at the skill positions), and he's the 5th-ranked QB in a loaded 2027 class.
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Post by lhsaamemes on Apr 23, 2024 8:06:48 GMT -6
Ok here we go! Let’s hear your thoughts! ASH-good amount of returning players on the roster…JT Lindsey could carry the Trojans to another deep playoff run if the defense can get some stops! Pineville-The rebels have a new OC on the staff and will from what I’m hearing will “run the ball!” I hope they can get a few wins! We will see… Tioga-Will always field a competitive team that is coached well and plays hard…QB position will be an issue! Bolton-Seriously Menard-Graduated a big class so will be rebuilding for sure…Perkins did a great job in his 1st year…they will come around with time! Peabody-Coleman did about a good a job as anyone could! Not sure what’s returning for the Warhorses but they will have a few athletes that can play… Jena-Graduated a lot of seniors! Look for the Giants to get better as the season progresses as they gain experience…they will be ready mid season! Attachments:
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Post by lhsaamemes on Apr 23, 2024 8:08:37 GMT -6
Do you want honest thoughts? If so, ASH will probably be a quarters team again, and nobody else will even be relevant in their respective brackets. Attachments:
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Post by AirPowerRaider on Apr 23, 2024 9:21:05 GMT -6
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Post by AirPowerRaider on Apr 23, 2024 9:39:59 GMT -6
From what I heard, only 12 current/returning Bolton kids showed up to Bolton Academy's varsity football interest meeting. Of those, only 4 were on the team in 2023 and only 1 of those had any significant playing time.
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Post by walkingturtles on Apr 23, 2024 14:02:51 GMT -6
Ok here we go! Let’s hear your thoughts! ASH-good amount of returning players on the roster…JT Lindsey could carry the Trojans to another deep playoff run if the defense can get some stops! Pineville-The rebels have a new OC on the staff and will from what I’m hearing will “run the ball!” I hope they can get a few wins! We will see… Tioga-Will always field a competitive team that is coached well and plays hard…QB position will be an issue! Bolton-Seriously Menard-Graduated a big class so will be rebuilding for sure…Perkins did a great job in his 1st year…they will come around with time! Peabody-Coleman did about a good a job as anyone could! Not sure what’s returning for the Warhorses but they will have a few athletes that can play… Jena-Graduated a lot of seniors! Look for the Giants to get better as the season progresses as they gain experience…they will be ready mid season! There is one team/program that can compete on the state level next season and that is ASH, and I don’t believe they will because they lost so much on defense. However the next two years after, they will be a legit contender for a state title. The rest of CenLa, no not at all.
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Post by bigrob on Apr 23, 2024 18:09:44 GMT -6
CenLa is the most sparsely populated region of the state, so it's not surprising that they comparatively have fewer contending teams.
That said, it's kind of appalling just how dire it is in football specifically, and while I know this mostly stuck to Rapides specifically since it's the one CenLa Parish with much of any job opportunity in the parish (outside of Natchitoches Parish if you count it in CenLa), this is especially true with Many (and Avoyelles after Boone's departure) not really picking up the mantle in the lower levels.
Also, I say football specifically because they punch above their weight in other sports in terms of that genuinely state championship level competitive programs, namely in basketball.
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Post by walkingturtles on Apr 24, 2024 7:07:44 GMT -6
CenLa is the most sparsely populated region of the state, so it's not surprising that they comparatively have fewer contending teams. That said, it's kind of appalling just how dire it is in football specifically, and while I know this mostly stuck to Rapides specifically since it's the one CenLa Parish with much of any job opportunity in the parish (outside of Natchitoches Parish if you count it in CenLa), this is especially true with Many (and Avoyelles after Boone's departure) not really picking up the mantle in the lower levels. Also, I say football specifically because they punch above their weight in other sports in terms of that genuinely state championship level competitive programs, namely in basketball. Softball and Baseball as well. But mainly softball. CenLa is a hot bed of softball.
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Post by kamala on Apr 24, 2024 8:26:56 GMT -6
CenLa is the most sparsely populated region of the state, so it's not surprising that they comparatively have fewer contending teams. That said, it's kind of appalling just how dire it is in football specifically, and while I know this mostly stuck to Rapides specifically since it's the one CenLa Parish with much of any job opportunity in the parish (outside of Natchitoches Parish if you count it in CenLa), this is especially true with Many (and Avoyelles after Boone's departure) not really picking up the mantle in the lower levels. Also, I say football specifically because they punch above their weight in other sports in terms of that genuinely state championship level competitive programs, namely in basketball. This is the oldest and most bogus argument of all about Cenla football. Central Louisiana is no more sparse than northeast Louisiana or north central Louisiana or the Mississippi River delta, yet consistently competitive teams come from those places. You ever driven through Haynesville? Or Homer? Or Oak Grove? Or Mangham? Or Olla? Or Columbia? Or Farmerville(Union)? Or Ferriday? Or Vidalia? Or Jonesville(Block)? Or Newellton? Or Tallulah? Or Jena? Or Minden? Or Arcadia? If you blink, you'll miss most of them. Haynesville, Homer, Oak Grove, Mangham, Union, Ferriday, Minden and Tallulah have all won state titles. Several have won multiple state titles. Haynesville has 17!! Oak Grove has 8. Ferriday has 5. The rest have had periods in their history where they were very good at football for short periods of time. Heck, Tallulah has NINE state titles and isn't even a school anymore! They are ALL about as rural as you can get. As rural as Dry Prong or Leesville or Mansura or Buckeye or Montgomery or Lena or Bunkie or Marksville or Oakdale or Pickering. The issue...THE issue...is that football is not, nor will it ever be a priority for most of the schools in Central Louisiana. For many of them, it has never been a priority. ASH, Jena and Many are the only schools that I can think of in Cenla that think in terms of state championships, instead of district championships and winning 7 games a year. Jena and Many are both borderline as Cenla schools anyway. If Bachman ever leaves ASH, they will go back to being content with winning a weak district 8 times in 10 years like they always were in the past. I've heard for 30 years about how "watered down" Rapides Parish schools are because of how many schools there are and how that keeps schools from being good. It's simply not true! Ouachita Parish has 157,000 residents. Rapides has 127,000 residents. Monroe has 47,000 residents. Alexandria has 44,000 residents. West Monroe has 12,500 residents. Pineville has 14,000 residents. Pretty even statistically. Rapides Parish football playing schools are ASH, Bolton, Northwood-Lena, Tioga, Buckeye, Pineville, Peabody, Menard. There is ONE state championship among them...Pineville in 1960. Bolton was runner-up in '74 and ASH was runner-up in '20. That's it! 8 football playing schools for 127,000 residents. One school for every 15, 900 residents. ONE state championship football team. Ouachita Parish football playing schools are Wossman, Carroll, West Monroe, Richwood, Neville, Ouachita Christian, St Frederick's, West Ouachita, River Oaks, Sterlington and Ouachita High School. Of those 11 schools, only 3 have NOT played for a state championship in the Superdome!!! Wossman, West Monroe, Neville, Ouachita Christian, Sterlington, Richwood and Ouachita High School all have multiple trips to the state title game and ALL have won at least one state championship. River Oaks has state titles in the old Louisiana and Mississippi private leagues. 11 football playing schools for 157,000 residents. That's one school for every 14,300 residents. 34 state championship teams if I counted correctly. Stop telling people that Rapides Parish has too many schools to be competitive in football and stop selling the lie that Cenla is "too rural and spread out" to be competitive in football. It's simply not true!! Many and Jena have proven your theory to be bogus in recent years. All it takes is commitment to winning in football. Yall have a good day.
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Post by GUNSLINGER on Apr 24, 2024 9:11:07 GMT -6
CenLa is the most sparsely populated region of the state, so it's not surprising that they comparatively have fewer contending teams. That said, it's kind of appalling just how dire it is in football specifically, and while I know this mostly stuck to Rapides specifically since it's the one CenLa Parish with much of any job opportunity in the parish (outside of Natchitoches Parish if you count it in CenLa), this is especially true with Many (and Avoyelles after Boone's departure) not really picking up the mantle in the lower levels. Also, I say football specifically because they punch above their weight in other sports in terms of that genuinely state championship level competitive programs, namely in basketball. This is the oldest and most bogus argument of all about Cenla football. Central Louisiana is no more sparse than northeast Louisiana or north central Louisiana or the Mississippi River delta, yet consistently competitive teams come from those places. You ever driven through Haynesville? Or Homer? Or Oak Grove? Or Mangham? Or Olla? Or Columbia? Or Farmerville(Union)? Or Ferriday? Or Vidalia? Or Jonesville(Block)? Or Newellton? Or Tallulah? Or Jena? Or Minden? Or Arcadia? If you blink, you'll miss most of them. Haynesville, Homer, Oak Grove, Mangham, Union, Ferriday, Minden and Tallulah have all won state titles. Several have won multiple state titles. Haynesville has 17!! Oak Grove has 8. Ferriday has 5. The rest have had periods in their history where they were very good at football for short periods of time. Heck, Tallulah has NINE state titles and isn't even a school anymore! They are ALL about as rural as you can get. As rural as Dry Prong or Leesville or Mansura or Buckeye or Montgomery or Lena or Bunkie or Marksville or Oakdale or Pickering. The issue...THE issue...is that football is not, nor will it ever be a priority for most of the schools in Central Louisiana. For many of them, it has never been a priority. ASH, Jena and Many are the only schools that I can think of in Cenla that think in terms of state championships, instead of district championships and winning 7 games a year. Jena and Many are both borderline as Cenla schools anyway. If Bachman ever leaves ASH, they will go back to being content with winning a weak district 8 times in 10 years like they always were in the past. I've heard for 30 years about how "watered down" Rapides Parish schools are because of how many schools there are and how that keeps schools from being good. It's simply not true! Ouachita Parish has 157,000 residents. Rapides has 127,000 residents. Monroe has 47,000 residents. Alexandria has 44,000 residents. West Monroe has 12,500 residents. Pineville has 14,000 residents. Pretty even statistically. Rapides Parish football playing schools are ASH, Bolton, Northwood-Lena, Tioga, Buckeye, Pineville, Peabody, Menard. There is ONE state championship among them...Pineville in 1960. Bolton was runner-up in '74 and ASH was runner-up in '20. That's it! 8 football playing schools for 127,000 residents. One school for every 15, 900 residents. ONE state championship football team. Ouachita Parish football playing schools are Wossman, Carroll, West Monroe, Richwood, Neville, Ouachita Christian, St Frederick's, West Ouachita, River Oaks, Sterlington and Ouachita High School. Of those 11 schools, only 3 have NOT played for a state championship in the Superdome!!! Wossman, West Monroe, Neville, Ouachita Christian, Sterlington, Richwood and Ouachita High School all have multiple trips to the state title game and ALL have won at least one state championship. River Oaks has state titles in the old Louisiana and Mississippi private leagues. 11 football playing schools for 157,000 residents. That's one school for every 14,300 residents. 34 state championship teams if I counted correctly. Stop telling people that Rapides Parish has too many schools to be competitive in football and stop selling the lie that Cenla is "too rural and spread out" to be competitive in football. It's simply not true!! Many and Jena have proven your theory to be bogus in recent years. All it takes is commitment to winning in football. Yall have a good day. So then by your argument, what is it that Cenla schools are NOT doing to make the commitment that North schools are?
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Post by walkingturtles on Apr 24, 2024 9:14:46 GMT -6
CenLa is the most sparsely populated region of the state, so it's not surprising that they comparatively have fewer contending teams. That said, it's kind of appalling just how dire it is in football specifically, and while I know this mostly stuck to Rapides specifically since it's the one CenLa Parish with much of any job opportunity in the parish (outside of Natchitoches Parish if you count it in CenLa), this is especially true with Many (and Avoyelles after Boone's departure) not really picking up the mantle in the lower levels. Also, I say football specifically because they punch above their weight in other sports in terms of that genuinely state championship level competitive programs, namely in basketball. This is the oldest and most bogus argument of all about Cenla football. Central Louisiana is no more sparse than northeast Louisiana or north central Louisiana or the Mississippi River delta, yet consistently competitive teams come from those places. You ever driven through Haynesville? Or Homer? Or Oak Grove? Or Mangham? Or Olla? Or Columbia? Or Farmerville(Union)? Or Ferriday? Or Vidalia? Or Jonesville(Block)? Or Newellton? Or Tallulah? Or Jena? Or Minden? Or Arcadia? If you blink, you'll miss most of them. Haynesville, Homer, Oak Grove, Mangham, Union, Ferriday, Minden and Tallulah have all won state titles. Several have won multiple state titles. Haynesville has 17!! Oak Grove has 8. Ferriday has 5. The rest have had periods in their history where they were very good at football for short periods of time. Heck, Tallulah has NINE state titles and isn't even a school anymore! They are ALL about as rural as you can get. As rural as Dry Prong or Leesville or Mansura or Buckeye or Montgomery or Lena or Bunkie or Marksville or Oakdale or Pickering. The issue...THE issue...is that football is not, nor will it ever be a priority for most of the schools in Central Louisiana. For many of them, it has never been a priority. ASH, Jena and Many are the only schools that I can think of in Cenla that think in terms of state championships, instead of district championships and winning 7 games a year. Jena and Many are both borderline as Cenla schools anyway. If Bachman ever leaves ASH, they will go back to being content with winning a weak district 8 times in 10 years like they always were in the past. I've heard for 30 years about how "watered down" Rapides Parish schools are because of how many schools there are and how that keeps schools from being good. It's simply not true! Ouachita Parish has 157,000 residents. Rapides has 127,000 residents. Monroe has 47,000 residents. Alexandria has 44,000 residents. West Monroe has 12,500 residents. Pineville has 14,000 residents. Pretty even statistically. Rapides Parish football playing schools are ASH, Bolton, Northwood-Lena, Tioga, Buckeye, Pineville, Peabody, Menard. There is ONE state championship among them...Pineville in 1960. Bolton was runner-up in '74 and ASH was runner-up in '20. That's it! 8 football playing schools for 127,000 residents. One school for every 15, 900 residents. ONE state championship football team. Ouachita Parish football playing schools are Wossman, Carroll, West Monroe, Richwood, Neville, Ouachita Christian, St Frederick's, West Ouachita, River Oaks, Sterlington and Ouachita High School. Of those 11 schools, only 3 have NOT played for a state championship in the Superdome!!! Wossman, West Monroe, Neville, Ouachita Christian, Sterlington, Richwood and Ouachita High School all have multiple trips to the state title game and ALL have won at least one state championship. River Oaks has state titles in the old Louisiana and Mississippi private leagues. 11 football playing schools for 157,000 residents. That's one school for every 14,300 residents. 34 state championship teams if I counted correctly. Stop telling people that Rapides Parish has too many schools to be competitive in football and stop selling the lie that Cenla is "too rural and spread out" to be competitive in football. It's simply not true!! Many and Jena have proven your theory to be bogus in recent years. All it takes is commitment to winning in football. Yall have a good day. You knocked it out of the park with that one. Rapides Parish junior high programs don’t take it seriously. Youth football is a joke in sense of community buy in and such. Kids aren’t developed seriously as a whole in the parish and they are way behind once they get to high school.
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