DeSoto Parish football means deep playoff runs, and all three high school football teams have proven that they can be dangerous in the postseason.
That standard won’t change as North DeSoto, Mansfield and Logansport get back on the field to start the 2025 regular season Friday.
Logansport is the lone home team and will host Many, whom the Tigers whipped 46-7 to start the 2024 season.
North DeSoto travels east for a return game at Union Parish and another gut check, one which they passed 33-21 in Stonewall this past year.
Mansfield heads to Minden one year after nearly upsetting the Class 4A Crimson Tide in a double-overtime thriller, ultimately falling 34-33.
NORTH DESOTO
Any time quarterback Luke Delafield is under center, the Griffins will be a state title threat.
Delafield will be starting his fourth and final season, a extremely well-known commodity in Stonewall and around the state.
Fans may have to learn the names of his receivers this year after North DeSoto graduated four of their top five receiving targets from 2024. Gone are the likes of Cole Cory, Eli Procell, Jarred Jackson and Chaz Martinez.
But Dennis Dunn and the Griffins have put this program in a position to reload and not rebuild, so receivers will have a chance to stand alongside tight end Miller Warren as Delafield’s top targets.
One player that doesn’t require an introduction – running back Kenny Thomas. Thomas rushed for more than 1,900 yards and 31 touchdowns in one of the most balanced offenses in the state.
Porter Doyal and Alex Simpson lead a defensive unit that played well most of the season but also surrendered 63 points to West Monroe and 57 points in the quarterfinals loss to eventual state champion Cecilia.
The Griffins played in the Superdome in 2022, the semifinals in 2023, and the quarterfinals in 2024 – and they want to make a return trip to the Dome in Delafield’s final season.
“Each team has its own identity, and we can’t in any way rest on what’s been done before,” said Dunn. “These guys do understand the standard, and they’re working extremely hard to surpass that every day. I think this team has every opportunity to raise the standard.
“We’ve been there. We haven’t won it. That’s the goal,” he said.
Dunn had praise for Delafield, a Northwestern State commit, and Thomas, who has pledged to play at Louisiana Tech.
“Luke is a coach on the field and the fact that he’s remained humble and hungry is a testament to the human being he is. He prefers his teammates over himself.
“I’ve been doing this a long time, and Kenny Thomas is one of the best I’ve been around in terms of the whole package, not only an outstanding athlete but a 4.0 student. When he breaks the line of scrimmage, it can go the distance, quick six. These are two quality young men, great leaders, and they set a tone that you can’t help but buy into and feed off.”
MANSFIELD
Mansfield has won first-round playoff games in each of the past two seasons after not winning a playoff since 2018.
The Wolverines not just want to scratch the playoff win column, they want to go on a run.
Improving upon a six-win regular season will mean Mansfield won’t likely get a juggernaut in the second round like Sterlington and Oak Grove, the teams that ended Mansfield’s last two seasons.
The Wolverines will look to replicate an effort that pushed Class 4A Minden to double overtime in an eventual loss to start the season.
Running back Terrell Pegues is a two-way player and returner that’s one of the best in the state. Lavel Claudio’s skills in the backfield means that the versatile Pegues can line up anywhere on the field, showcasing his pass-catching abilities in addition to his running prowess.
J.J. Howard is expected to be under center after starting the final three games of the season, and Mansfield hopes to build upon a passing attack that will feature receiver Jacoryan Greer.
A young offensive line may necessitate an effective quick passing game.
The defense played much better in the second half of the season, but the Wolverines will be young on that side of the ball.
“I think we’ll be better defensively because we do have those young kids coming up,” said Mansfield coach Darrell Barbay.
“I’m excited about the season. I think we have a chance to be pretty good,” he said. “Our kids have improved, our program’s gotten better. It’s going in the right direction.”
LOGANSPORT
New skill players. That’s the first thing that jumps out about a Logansport bunch that’s trying to continue the success of one of the most consistent Class 1A programs in the state.
Names like Tonashton Bland, Joseph Powell and Jukadynn Carter will be wearing a different purple and gold (they’re all at Texas College) this year.
The void left by these skill players prompted the shift at quarterback to Kollin Magee, allowing former quarterback Keaton Cason to flex at receiver and linebacker.
The last time a Magee was under center, Logansport won a state title (head coach Kevin Magee brought the trophy back to Logansport in 1995). He captured the top prize as a coach in 2016, and the Tigers have been contenders ever since.
Cason joins playmakers like Dillan McClelland and Kaiton Pickett, who had 10 touchdowns this past season.
They’ll have an experienced offensive and defensive lines led by three-year starters Cane McCoy and Aiden Wallace.
Line will be experienced led by three-year starter Cane McCoy and Aiden Wallace.
Two-time district defensive MVP Hunter Martin is set for a third honor in his final season, and
The Tigers’ defense is anchored by all-state linebacker Hunter Martin, two-time District Defensive MVP. It’s a unit that allowed just 20 points combined in five district games, including playing eventual state champion South Plaquemines to its closest playoff contest in the semifinals.
“From year to year, the expectation is that we will play in December. We talk about that, and if you’re playing in December, you have a chance to get to the Superdome,” said Magee. “We had one of the best springs I can remember, we had a really good summer and that creates an atmosphere where the expectations are extremely high.
“We have a good enough core group who have been in a lot of playoff games, and when they step on the field, they expect to win and we are expected to win. Our non-district schedule is really strong. I really like it because it prepares us for hostile environments in the playoffs, so we can settle in and play football when it matters most,” he said.
“This is one of the more positive feelings going into a season I’ve had in the past few years,” said Magee. “Take that with the $25 million of improvements and investment on our campus, the excitement level is very high.”