LaSalle Parish was well represented as the football all-district teams were announced last week.
The Jena Giants, who were the District 2-3A Undefeated Champions and advanced to the semifinal round of the playoffs as the Div. III Non-Select number one seed, saw 20 players make their all-district team including the District 2-3A Most Valuable Player for Offense and Defense, along with Jay Roark being named the Coach of the Year.
The LaSalle Tigers, who finished the year 4-6, had 14 players selected to their District 3-1A All-District team.
Jena Giants
The District 2-3A Offensive Most Valuable Player was Jena senior running back Zerrick Jones. Jones, who broke the single season and career rushing record at Jena High School this season, was the most dominate offensive player in the district.
The District 2-3A Defensive Most Valuable Player was Jena senior defensive back De Hammock. Hammock had several interceptions during district play and had many more key pass breakups and tackles to secure his role as the most dominant defensive player in the district.
Jena Head Coach Jay Roark won his fourth consecutive District 2-3A Coach of the Year award for leading the Giants to another undefeated district championship. In fact, Roark has won the title of Coach of the Year seven of the last nine years, all seven of those years when Jena won the district championship.
This year’s senior class has never lost a district football game in all four years of high school.
Players selected to First Team All-District were: Zy Hunter, Wide Receiver; Aiden Palmer, Offensive Line; Hunter Jackson, Offensive Line; Zerrick Jones, Running Back; Jaquarius “Boots” Green, Defensive Line; Colton Sharp, Defensive Line; Jacob Belcher, Linebacker; Triston Mc-Lendon, Linebacker; Dylon Davis, Linebacker; De Hammock, Defensive Back and Return Specialist; and Jacob Pentecost, Flex.
Players selected to Second Team All-District were: Cale Parker, Offensive Line; Cameron Koch, Running Back; William Stevens, Defensive Line; Case Addison, Linebacker; Hunter Spence, Defensive Back.
Players selected to Honorable Mention All-District were: Zach Barker, Quarterback; Tommy DeLaSalle, Offensive Line; Brayden Oakes, Wide Receiver; and Amare Jackson, Defensive Back.
LaSalle Tigers
The LaSalle Tigers may not have had the outcome they were wanting for the 2023 season, but being in a district with several strong teams did not help matters either.
For the first time in many years the Tigers did not make the playoffs but their strong ef fort still landed 14 players on the District 3-1A All-District Team.
Players selected to Second Team All-District were: Kendryk Morrow, Quarterback; Tanner Gagne, Running Back; Jamo Turner, Offensive Line; Canaan Stowe, Defensive Line; Hayden White, Linebacker; Justin Valentine, Defensive Back; Hunter Bradford, Special Teams (Kick Returner).
Players selected to Honorable Mention All-District were: Eli Peppers, Offensive Line; Hayden Doughty, Offensive Line; Matthew Thompson, Offensive Line and Defensive Line; Sean Derr, Wide Receiver; Tuff Street, Defensive Back; Cutler Ganey, Linebacker; and Brodee Barton, Linebacker.
Congratulations to all LaSalle Parish football players upon selections to the All-District teams.
