Matt Vines

SHREVEPORT – North DeSoto’s Lake Bates is one of nine graduating seniors from North Louisiana football teams to be selected for the 2024 Scholar-Athlete awards presented by the S.M. McNaughton Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.

Bates was chosen as one of nine award winners from a pool of 15 finalists submitted by high school coaches from the 318 area code, which encompasses all of North Louisiana.

All nine winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship and be recognized at the Match 28 Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet on March 28 at the East Ridge Country Club in Shreveport.

One of those nine winners will be designated as the McNaughton Chapter’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year and will be recognized at the NFF’s College Football Hall of Fame museum in Atlanta.

The nine scholarship winners all earned at least first-team all-district honors and carry a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better in addition to participating in non-athletic extracurricular activities.

Bates was one of three North DeSoto players selected to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 4A All-State team after leading the Griffins to the Division III Non-Select semifinals.

He intercepted five passes, scored one defensive touchdown and a kick return touchdown in addition to his 127 tackles.

Bates, who was a 2023 individual wrestling champion, helped North DeSoto to the team’s first-ever team state title this season as he finished runner-up in his weight class.

Joining Bates in this group of nine is Loyola’s Reagan Coyle, West Monroe’s Grant Edmondson, Benton’s Travis Flowers, Calvary Baptist’s Heath Gross, Northwood’s Hutson Hearron, Grant’s Jackson Hedrick, Ruston’s Nate Johnson and Green Oaks’ Delarrious Marshall.

The eight scholarships will be awarded by the McNaughton Chapter with an additional one from KTBS TV of Shreveport and Johnny’s Pizza as the Johnny’s Pizza/Griffin’s Fame Ball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. KTBS honors the memory and legacy of former NFF Board member Bob Griffin, the iconic sportscaster at KSLA and then KTBS for more than 50 years.

Tickets for the March 28 event, which includes a sports memorabilia auction, will help support the chapter’s scholarship fund. Contact chapter secretary Toni Goodin at 318-347-4453 for more information.