Matt Vines
STONEWALL – The grandaddy of them all.
After six North DeSoto football players were honored on the coaches’ Class 4A All-State team this past week, three Griffins were selected to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 4A All-State squad with another four honorably mentioned.
The team, selected by sports writers across the state, is considered the most prestigious of all-state teams.
Offensive lineman Gage Caskey, receiver Cole Cory and defensive back Lake Bates represented the Griffins on the LSWA all-state team.
Caskey helped power an unusually balanced offensive attack that produced a pair of 1,000-yard receivers and a pair of 1,000-yard rushers. North DeSoto piled up more than 6,553 offensive yards in just 13 games (279 passing and 225 rushing per game).
Cory finished as the one of top receivers in the state, catching 79 passes for 1,441 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Bates led the Griffins from the defensive backfield, intercepting four passes and making 18 tackles while scoring a defensive touchdown.
Represented on the honorable mention was quarterback Luke Delafield, running back Kenny Thomas, receiver Landry Wyatt and linebacker B.T. McMillian.
Delafield engineered the impressive offensive output from under center, throwing for 3,269 yards on 188-285 passing (66 percent) with 38 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.
Thomas led the Griffins with 1,265 rushing yards with nearly eight yards per carry as he scored 16 rushing touchdowns.
Wyatt was NDHS’s primary deep threat as he caught 44 passes for 1,040 yards and a team-high 17 touchdowns. His emergence as a senior diversified a Griffins’ offense that powered NDHS to a No. 1 seed and a semifinal appearance.
McMillian logged 29 tackles (18 solo) with two interceptions and one defensive touchdown.
North DeSoto finished 11-2 and reached at least the semifinals round for the second straight season.
2023 LSWA CLASS 4A ALL-STATE CHART
OFFENSE
WR Cole Cory North DeSoto 5-9 175 Jr.
WR Parker Fulghum Evangel Christian 6-2 180 Sr.
WR Kylin Wheeler, Rayne 5-11 175 Jr.
OL Gage Caskey North DeSoto 6-0 255 Sr.
OL Ashton Helaire St. Thomas More 6-3 325 Sr.
OL Raymond Howard Archbishop Shaw 6-2 280 Sr.
OL Joseph Milton Opelousas 6-2 282 Sr.
OL Jace Williams, Assumption 6-1 280 Jr.
QB Ju’Juan Johnson Lafayette Christian 5-11 195 Sr.
RB Jaylon Coleman Vandebilt Catholic 5-9 160 Jr.
RB D’Shaun Ford Opelousas 6-1 210 Jr.
RB Xavier Ford Leesville 5-11 190 Jr.
PK Trey Furey Belle Chasse 6-0 175 Sr.
ATH Sam Altmann St. Thomas More 6-3 195 Sr.
DEFENSE
DL Melvin HIlls III, Lafayette Christian, 6-3, 270, Sr.
DL Ted Jackson, West Feliciana, 5-11, 240, Sr.
DL Gabriel Reliford Evangel Christian 6-2 255 Sr.
DL Brody Whatley Neville 6-5 255 Jr.
LB Hayden Hernandez St. Thomas More 6-0 215 Sr.
LB Jamal Jordan Evangel Christian 6-3 215 Sr.
LB Brody Latiolais St. Thomas More 5-11 195 Sr.
LB Brody Robichaux Assumption 5-10 200 Sr.
DB Lake Bates North DeSoto 5-10 180 Sr.
DB Brent Gordon Cecilia, 5-11 180 Jr.
DB Ty Lee Lafayette Christian 6-0 180 Sr.
DB Ja’Corian Norris Tioga 6-2 185 Sr.
P Cameron Ott Assumption 6-1 170 Jr.
KR Ky’ree Paul Istrouma 5-10 175 Jr.
ATH Diesel Solari Cecilia 5-8 170 Jr.
OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER: JU’JUAN JOHNSON, LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN
OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: GABRIEL RELIFORD, EVANGEL CHRISTIAN
COACH OF THE YEAR: JIMMY ZACHERY, OPELOUSAS