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Tag: Vinton HS

  • Louisiana
    Four Touchdowns in a Loss: Brynnum Chaney Left Everything in Vinton

    Four Touchdowns in a Loss: Brynnum Chaney Left Everything in Vinton

    By T-Rohn | Gridiron Gumbo
    Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 · LHSAA Week 8 · District 5-2A · Player feature
    FINAL: Vinton 43, Rosepine 26 · CONFIRMED

    How this story is sourced: Brynnum Chaney’s quotes come from Gridiron Gumbo’s own postgame interview.1 His touchdown count, yardage and season stats are REPORTED by the American Press and are unofficial until the league publishes box scores. Coach quotes, records and the statewide fan-poll honor come from the outlets listed under Sources at the end. Takes are labeled and are Gridiron Gumbo’s own.

    Rosepine senior Brynnum Chaney scored all four Eagles touchdowns in a 43-26 loss at unbeaten Vinton, the American Press reported. Afterward he walked Gridiron Gumbo through the plays, the turnaround and what comes next.

    THE ESSENTIALS

    • Final: Vinton 43, Rosepine 26 (Friday, Oct. 23, at B.S. Walker Stadium, Vinton) · CONFIRMED
    • Chaney’s night (REPORTED): 26 carries, 150 yards, three rushing touchdowns and a 16-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Creek Smith, plus four catches for 39 yards. All four Rosepine touchdowns were his.2
    • Records: Rosepine 7-1, 1-1 District 5-2A · Vinton 8-0, 2-03
    • Next: Rosepine hosts East Beauregard, Friday, Oct. 30 (district), then closes at DeQuincy on Nov. 6.

    Four touchdowns, one loss

    VINTON, La. — Brynnum Chaney scored four touchdowns Friday night, and it still wasn’t enough.

    That’s the kind of night it was at B.S. Walker Stadium: two 7-0 teams, one district race, and a Rosepine senior who wouldn’t let his team go quiet. Vinton won it 43-26 to stay unbeaten, and the American Press said Chaney accounted for every one of the Eagles’ touchdowns. TAKE: Anybody leaving that stadium was talking about No. 9.

    Chaney, a senior who lines up at running back, wide receiver and cornerback for the Eagles (the school’s roster lists him at wide receiver and cornerback; the American Press calls him a running back), found the end zone four times: three runs and a catch.4 TAKE: On a night when Rosepine needed every one of them just to stay in the fight, that’s the number that matters. Gridiron Gumbo’s own play log agrees he scored twice in the third quarter, but the four-touchdown breakdown is the American Press’s count, not an official league stat.

    “It actually wasn’t supposed to go to me”

    Chaney’s first score came in the second quarter, a 16-yard catch from Smith that got Rosepine on the board.4 By his own account, it wasn’t the plan.

    “It actually wasn’t supposed to go to me,” Chaney said. “I just got open and made my play. Me and my quarterback have a good connection — he saw me and he just got it to me.”

    The Eagles knew what they were walking into. Vinton’s defense came in allowing about 143 yards and 6.6 points a game,5 and Chaney didn’t pretend otherwise.

    “We just knew it was a big opponent, a tough matchup,” he said. “We just knew we had to come out and give 100% every play.”

    Brynnum Chaney, wearing white No. 9 for Rosepine, stands at midfield next to an official before the game.
    Brynnum Chaney (#9) at midfield before the Vinton game. Photo: Tori Dixon

    When the game tightened up, the message in the huddle stayed simple: battle. “We just knew it’s a tough defense — one of the best defenses in Southwest Louisiana,” he said. “We just knew we had to battle hard and keep going.” (That “best defenses” line is his opinion. For context, the American Press had Vinton’s first seven wins coming by an average of 42 points.)

    Then came the last play of the first half, which swung things Vinton’s way. It started when Vinton forced a Rosepine fumble on fourth down,2 and with 12 seconds left the Lions took one more shot. Quarterback Michael Lange’s deep ball for Jacob Edison bounced off a Rosepine defender, and Edison scored from 65 yards out for a 22-6 halftime lead, the American Press reported.2

    The halftime adjustment

    Chaney said Rosepine’s coaches changed things at the break. By his account, they adjusted the defensive alignment and told the offense to hold its blocks longer. He described the first play out of the half as a dive up the middle that he bounced outside for about a 50-yard run. That’s his account of the play. It isn’t listed in the American Press scoring summary, and Gridiron Gumbo hasn’t verified the distance.

    What the paper did report is a third-quarter push. Rosepine’s two drives covered 74 and 62 yards, and Chaney finished them with runs of 2 and 4 yards. The Eagles trailed 29-20 with 4:09 to play in the quarter.4

    Vinton’s response was an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped by a Lange keeper, and then Chaney struck again. Late, with Vinton trying to close the door, he said, the offense was running go routes on one drive and he found the open hole and made the play. The American Press lists his fourth-quarter score as a rushing touchdown, and Gridiron Gumbo has not matched his description to a specific snap. It cut the lead to 36-26 before Jaydin Smith’s 46-yard run closed the scoring at 43-26.

    “Grit”

    Asked for his team’s identity in one word, he didn’t hesitate. “Grit,” Chaney said.

    This is the same Rosepine program that went 1-9 a year ago. The American Press said the Eagles had back-to-back 1-9 seasons before this year, and the 7-0 start was their first since 2018. Chaney says the turnaround was built in the summer. “We just worked all summer,” he said. “We knew what we were going to do this year, and we kept on.”

    Rosepine senior #9 smiling after the Vinton game
    Brynnum Chaney (#9) after the game. Photo: Tori Dixon

    Not his first four-touchdown night

    What makes Friday notable is that it wasn’t an outlier. Chaney opened the season with 190 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-20 win over Montgomery.6 The American Press reported he scored four times again against Pickering on Oct. 8, including a 73-yard punt-return touchdown, in a 54-0 win.7 For the Montgomery game, he was a nominee in High School On SI’s Louisiana Athlete of the Week poll, and the site’s next poll named him the winner of that fan vote.8, 9

    The American Press’s Oct. 23 preview credited him with 99 carries for 1,114 yards and 22 rushing touchdowns through Rosepine’s first seven games, plus 12 receptions for 258 yards and three touchdowns.5 Add Friday’s numbers and, by Gridiron Gumbo’s math (unofficial, not a stat the paper printed), he has about 1,264 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns, plus 16 catches for 297 yards and four receiving touchdowns, through eight games.

    The Louisiana Football Coaches Association’s 2025 Class 2A all-district list named him at tight end/wide receiver on offense and as a flex player on defense, and the American Press has him among the area’s small-school rushing leaders.10

    What the coaches say

    Rosepine coach David Weldon said in September that Chaney “ran like a man possessed” in the opener. “If I had 11 Brynnums, I could put him at center and he’d be fine,” Weldon said, adding that “he’s one you could probably put him anywhere and he’s going to succeed for you.”6

    Vinton coach Tyler Lavergne called Rosepine’s running back “extremely talented” before kickoff, then said afterward that the Lions had to play four full quarters for the first time all year. “That was a quality opponent, and a great atmosphere,” Lavergne said.2 Rosepine’s 26 points were the most anyone has scored on Vinton this season, according to the Lions’ MaxPreps schedule.

    Bounce back, then the next level

    How does a team handle its first loss with the playoffs coming? Chaney sounded like a senior who had already turned the page.

    “We’re just gonna bounce back,” he said. “Come back on Monday, prepare, and get ready for the next two weeks — because these two weeks matter for playoffs and rankings.”

    Those two weeks are East Beauregard at home on Oct. 30 and a trip to DeQuincy on Nov. 6.3

    And for the college scouts reading along, he kept his pitch short and physical. “I’m a physical running back, and I’ll do anything to get open and make a play for you,” Chaney said. He sees himself at wide receiver or free safety at the next level, and he doesn’t have one favorite school. He’s open.

    TAKE: Four touchdowns in a loss don’t show up in the standings, and the Eagles will need to share the load as the schedule tightens. But on a Friday night in Vinton, with both teams unbeaten and a district race on the line, Brynnum Chaney made sure people knew his name anyway.

    Rosepine (7-1) hosts East Beauregard next Friday. Vinton (8-0, 2-0) is chasing the District 5-2A title, and our look at that race is in the Vinton recap.

    Related: Two Unbeatens Walked In. Vinton Walked Out 8-0 After a 43-26 Win Over Rosepine · From 0-9 to 7-0: How Rosepine Flipped the Script

    Sources

    1. Gridiron Gumbo postgame interview with Brynnum Chaney and Gridiron Gumbo’s on-site play log (Oct. 23, 2026). Unpublished; the touchdown count above is the American Press’s. ↩ Back to story
    2. American Press game story, “Vinton last undefeated team left in Southwest La.” (Rodrick Anderson, Oct. 24, 2026): https://americanpress.com/2026/10/24/vinton-last-undefeated-team-left-in-southwest-la/ ↩ Back to story
    3. MaxPreps, Rosepine schedule and results (final 26-43; records; Oct. 30 vs. East Beauregard): https://www.maxpreps.com/la/rosepine/rosepine-eagles/football/schedule/ ↩ Back to story
    4. American Press scores and stats, scoring summary (Oct. 23, 2026): https://americanpress.com/2026/10/23/local-prep-football-scores-and-stats-oct-23-2/ ↩ Back to story
    5. American Press preview, “Battle of unbeatens: Rejuvenated programs clash” (Oct. 23, 2026): https://americanpress.com/2026/10/23/battle-of-unbeatens-rejuvenated-programs-clash/ ↩ Back to story
    6. KPLC, “Rosepine running back fuels Week 1 victory with four-touchdown performance” (Ben Rickevicius, Sept. 10, 2026): https://www.kplctv.com/2026/09/10/rosepine-running-back-fuels-week-1-victory-with-four-touchdown-performance/ ↩ Back to story
    7. American Press, Week 7 Thursday games, Rosepine 54, Pickering 0 (Oct. 9, 2026): https://americanpress.com/2026/10/09/week-7-thursday-games-ned-helps-rally-jennings-in-win-over-deridder/ ↩ Back to story
    8. High School On SI, Louisiana Athlete of the Week poll, Aug. 31-Sept. 5 (lists the Montgomery-game nomination): https://www.si.com/high-school/louisiana/vote-who-should-be-the-louisiana-high-school-athlete-of-the-week-aug-31-sept-5-01m1vpddzha7 ↩ Back to story
    9. High School On SI, Louisiana Athlete of the Week poll, Sept. 7-12 (names the prior week’s winner): https://www.si.com/high-school/louisiana/vote-who-should-be-the-louisiana-high-school-athlete-of-the-week-sept-7-12-01m2dm2yzmaf ↩ Back to story
    10. Louisiana Football Coaches Association, 2025 Class 2A District 4 all-district list: https://lfcassoc.org/all-district/2025-2a-4/ ↩ Back to story
    11. American Press, SWLA prep football stat leaders through Week 6 (Oct. 13, 2026): https://americanpress.com/2026/10/13/swla-prep-football-stat-leaders-through-week-6/
    12. MaxPreps Rosepine roster, 2026-27: https://www.maxpreps.com/la/rosepine/rosepine-eagles/football/roster/
    13. MaxPreps game page, final 43-26: https://www.maxpreps.com/la/football/game/rosepine-vs-vinton/10-23-2026/?c=667c2c0b-89ab-41bb-a0c6-e9daf4954ee8

    Photo: Tori Dixon. Written and checked by Gridiron Gumbo; summaries are in our own words, and every outside quote is attributed to the outlet that published it.

    Corrections: Gridiron Gumbo fixes errors promptly and notes changes at the bottom of the story. Spot one? Tell us.

  • Louisiana
    DeQuincy Finally Gets Its District Win, Shutting Out Pickering 41-0

    DeQuincy Finally Gets Its District Win, Shutting Out Pickering 41-0

    By T-Rohn | Gridiron Gumbo
    Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 · LHSAA Week 8 · District 5-2A
    FINAL · CONFIRMED

    REPORTED: Final score per MaxPreps and KPLC; scoring summary, quarter scores and stats per the American Press scores-and-stats page (Oct. 23, 2026); season context per MaxPreps and KPLC; records, schedules and standings per MaxPreps (retrieved Oct. 23–24, 2026). District math, where shown, is Gridiron Gumbo’s own (sources below)

    DeQuincy had not scored more than 24 points all season, and had not shut anyone out. Friday it did both, and it did it on the road.

    THE ESSENTIALS

    • Final: DeQuincy 41, Pickering 0 (Friday, Oct. 23, in Leesville)
    • Records (MaxPreps): DeQuincy 2-6, 1-2 District 5-2A · Pickering 1-7, 0-3
    • Next: DeQuincy at Sacred Heart, Friday, Oct. 30 (non-district) · Pickering vs. Vinton, Friday, Oct. 30 (district)

    The recap

    DeQuincy earned its first District 5-2A win Friday night, beating Pickering 41-0 in Leesville.

    It was the Tigers’ first win since a 24-21 victory over Westlake on Sept. 18, according to their MaxPreps schedule, and their first shutout of the season. MaxPreps’ game recap called it a season-high score and said the Tigers had gone three games without a road win before it, “four tries” in all.

    TAKE (joke): A road trip, a shutout and 41 points, and somewhere in the parking lot an uncle is already explaining how it should have been 48.

    The big night followed a rough month. DeQuincy had lost four straight, scoring a combined 30 points in its previous three games, including district losses to East Beauregard and Vinton. It had allowed at least 21 points in every game before Friday.

    TAKE (joke): Thirty points in three games, then 41 in one night. A roux works the same way: stir, stir, stir, and suddenly it’s dark and everybody is hungry.

    How it unfolded

    The American Press scoring summary shows six DeQuincy touchdowns, all before the fourth quarter, with the Tigers up 20-0 after one quarter, 27-0 at halftime and 41-0 after three.

    • First quarter (20-0): Anyja Roy scored from 44 yards, a 52-yard touchdown run followed, and Roy’s 28-yard run closed the quarter.
    • Second quarter (27-0): Landon Joyce added a 1-yard run.
    • Third quarter (41-0): Quarterback Sley Gardner hit Grant Rainwater for a 48-yard touchdown, and a 3-yard touchdown run followed.

    Roy carried five times for 94 yards and Joyce six times for 60, per the American Press box; one other back ran five times for 132. By our arithmetic from that box, DeQuincy ran for roughly 364 yards on 27 carries, with ten different ball carriers getting a touch. Gardner completed two of his three passes for 67 yards, and both went to Rainwater.

    The Tigers’ preseason message, delivered to KPLC in August by coach Tate Woodard, was about finishing. Friday, they did.

    The district race

    DeQuincy (1-2) finishes district play at home against Rosepine on Nov. 6. Before then the Tigers travel to Sacred Heart on Oct. 30 in a non-district game. Pickering (0-3) hosts unbeaten Vinton the same night.

    Rosepine (1-1) hosts East Beauregard on Oct. 30 before making that trip.

    What others missed

    • The Tigers hadn’t shown this scoring range all fall. Their previous best on MaxPreps was 24 (over Westlake). The 41 is more than they scored over their previous three games combined (7, 20 and 3).
    • A first for the receiver. In the American Press’ Oct. 20 stat leaders through Week 7, Rainwater had 16 catches for 162 yards and no touchdowns. Friday’s 48-yarder appears to be his first touchdown catch of the year (our read of that list).
    • A fix they talked about in August. KPLC reported that DeQuincy was 12 seconds from back-to-back district titles in 2025. Woodard told the station then that the Tigers lost some close games and that “we have to finish.” A road shutout is a long way from that.

    TAKE: Ten ball carriers and one big night don’t make a trend, but they do give DeQuincy something to carry into Sacred Heart on Oct. 30 and a home game with Rosepine on Nov. 6.

    Related: DeQuincy at Pickering: LHSAA Week 8 Preview

    Sources

    Featured image: Gridiron Gumbo illustration. No outside photos.

    Corrections: Gridiron Gumbo fixes errors promptly and notes changes at the bottom of the story. Spot one? Tell us.

  • Louisiana
    Two Unbeatens Walked In. Vinton Walked Out 8-0 After a 43-26 Win Over Rosepine

    Two Unbeatens Walked In. Vinton Walked Out 8-0 After a 43-26 Win Over Rosepine

    By T-Rohn | Gridiron Gumbo
    Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 · LHSAA Week 8 · District 5-2A
    FINAL · CONFIRMED

    REPORTED: Final score per MaxPreps, KPLC and the American Press; scoring summary, stats and coach quotes per the American Press (Oct. 23–24, 2026); records, schedules and standings per MaxPreps (retrieved Oct. 23–24, 2026). District math, where shown, is Gridiron Gumbo’s own (sources below)

    Rosepine scored more on Vinton than anyone had all season, and the Lions still stayed perfect. Now the 5-2A title likely comes down to one Nov. 6 game.

    THE ESSENTIALS

    • Final: Vinton 43, Rosepine 26 (Friday, Oct. 23, at B.S. Walker Stadium, Vinton)
    • Records (MaxPreps): Vinton 8-0, 2-0 District 5-2A · Rosepine 7-1, 1-1
    • Next: Vinton at Pickering, Friday, Oct. 30 (district) · Rosepine vs. East Beauregard, Friday, Oct. 30 (district)

    The recap

    Something had to give when two 7-0 teams met in Vinton on Friday night. It wasn’t the Lions. Vinton beat Rosepine 43-26 to improve to 8-0, its first 8-0 start since 1999 and a third straight win over the Eagles, the American Press reported. With Notre Dame’s win over Lake Arthur, the paper said, Vinton is the lone unbeaten team remaining in Southwest Louisiana; MaxPreps lists Notre Dame, in Crowley, at 8-0 as well.

    TAKE (joke): Two unbeaten teams in one stadium is the football version of two aunts arriving at the reunion with the same potato salad, cher: one pan was always going home full.

    Rosepine’s 26 points are the most anyone has put on the Lions this season; no earlier opponent had topped 13, according to Vinton’s MaxPreps schedule.

    “That was a good statement win,” Vinton coach Tyler Lavergne told the American Press. He added that plenty of good teams start 7-0, but few great ones finish 8-0.

    How it unfolded

    The first quarter was scoreless. Everything below comes from the American Press scoring summary and game story.

    • Second quarter. Quarterback Michael Lange got the Lions on the board with a 20-yard score, and senior Mika Roper added a 7-yard run. Rosepine answered with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Brynnum Chaney, the Eagles’ No. 9. Then came the last snap of the half.
    • The last play of the half. Vinton had forced a fourth-down fumble as Rosepine tried to get within one possession. With 12 seconds left, Lavergne chose to take a shot instead of kneeling. Lange’s deep pass for Jacob Edison was batted by a Rosepine defender and fell into Edison’s hands, and he took it 65 yards to the end zone. Carrier ran in the two-point try, and the Lions went to the break leading by 16.
    • Third quarter. Roper broke an 80-yard touchdown run, his second score. Rosepine answered with drives of 74 and 62 yards, and Chaney scored from 2 and 4 yards. It was 29-20 with 4:09 left in the quarter.
    • Fourth quarter. Vinton put together an 80-yard drive, 11 plays long, that crossed into the fourth and ended on Lange’s 1-yard keeper for a 36-20 lead with 9:30 left. Chaney scored again, and Jaydin Smith’s 46-yard run closed the scoring.

    TAKE (joke): Twelve seconds is not enough time to reheat a plate of boudin or find a clean fork, but it turned out to be plenty for a football game to change its mind.

    Chaney accounted for every Eagles touchdown, three running and one catching, and finished with 150 rushing yards on 26 carries, per the American Press. Vinton did its damage on the ground: 380 rushing yards, led by Mika Roper (17 carries, 164 yards, two touchdowns) and Traylen Carrier (18 for 122). Lange threw three passes and completed one, the 65-yarder.

    REPORTED: According to the American Press, Chaney scored all four Rosepine touchdowns, three rushing and one receiving. This is a single-source report; MaxPreps has no box score for the game.

    Lavergne said it was the first time this season his team played four full quarters, and the first without a running clock. “A lot of positives tonight,” he told the American Press.

    The district race

    Vinton (2-0) and East Beauregard (2-0) share the top of the MaxPreps 5-2A standings and meet Nov. 6 at Vinton. By Gridiron Gumbo’s math, Vinton wins the title outright by beating Pickering (1-7, 0-3) on Oct. 30 and East Beauregard on Nov. 6. (That’s our count, not an LHSAA announcement.) East Beauregard (5-3 per MaxPreps) beat Pine Prairie 40-6 on Friday, KPLC reported, and visits Rosepine on Oct. 30.

    Rosepine (1-1) needs help to earn a share; it hosts East Beauregard on Oct. 30 and closes at DeQuincy on Nov. 6.

    What others missed

    • The closest game of Vinton’s year, by 11 points. Its seven earlier wins came by 28 to 50 points on MaxPreps (40-12 over Elton was the closest). Friday’s 17-point margin is the smallest of the season by a wide gap.
    • They don’t share a playoff pool. Per the American Press, Vinton ranked No. 3 in LHSAA Division IV power ratings and Rosepine No. 4 in Division III before kickoff, and PrepRank (an unofficial tracker) lists the same split. Two teams chasing one district title will be seeded in different playoff pools.
    • Two turnarounds, one field. The American Press’ preview noted Vinton went 2-17 across 2022 and 2023, and that Rosepine, after back-to-back 1-9 seasons, had started 7-0 for the first time since 2018. One of those streaks ended Friday; the other kept going.

    TAKE: the 5-2A title likely runs through a Nov. 6 Friday in Vinton. If Vinton and East Beauregard both win Oct. 30, then by our count everyone else is playing for third.

    Related: Two Perfect Seasons, One Field: Rosepine at Vinton Preview (Both 7-0)

    Sources

    Featured image: Gridiron Gumbo illustration. No outside photos.

    Corrections: Gridiron Gumbo fixes errors promptly and notes changes at the bottom of the story. Spot one? Tell us.

  • Louisiana
    SWLA District Race: Standings and Playoff Picture (through Friday, Oct. 23, 2026)

    SWLA District Race: Standings and Playoff Picture (through Friday, Oct. 23, 2026)

    Through Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 · Records from MaxPreps district standings (retrieved Oct. 24, 2026); Friday scores are Gridiron Gumbo’s confirmed finals

    Three SWLA districts could be decided in the first week of November, and two of them come down to head-to-head games between unbeaten district teams: Vinton-East Beauregard in 5-2A and Notre Dame-Welsh in 7-2A. Here’s where every SWLA district stands after Friday night.

    District 5-2A

    MaxPreps standings, updated Oct. 23, 10:44 p.m. CT. Source

    #SchoolDistOverallNext gameDiv.
    1East Beauregard2-0n/a ‡at Rosepine, Fri. 10/30NS-IV
    2Vinton2-08-0at Pickering, Fri. 10/30NS-IV
    3Rosepine1-17-1vs. East Beauregard, Fri. 10/30NS-III
    4DeQuincy1-22-6at Sacred Heart, Fri. 10/30 (non-district)NS-IV
    5Pickering0-31-7vs. Vinton, Fri. 10/30NS-IV

    What’s at stake

    • Friday: Vinton 43, Rosepine 26; DeQuincy 41, Pickering 0.
    • Vinton vs. East Beauregard, Fri. Nov. 6, at Vinton: both are 2-0. By Gridiron Gumbo math, either team wins the title outright by winning its last two district games (Vinton at Pickering on Oct. 30; East Beauregard at Rosepine on Oct. 30).
    • Rosepine (1-1) hosts East Beauregard on Oct. 30 and closes at DeQuincy on Nov. 6. It can reach 3-1 but needs help to earn a share.

    ‡ East Beauregard’s overall record is not shown here because its Friday non-district game has not been confirmed by Gridiron Gumbo. Its district record (2-0) is not affected.

    District 7-2A

    MaxPreps standings, updated Oct. 24, 1:02 a.m. CT. Source

    #SchoolDistOverallNext gameDiv.
    1Notre Dame2-08-0at Kinder, Fri. 10/30Sel-III
    2Welsh2-07-1at Lake Arthur, Fri. 10/30NS-IV
    3Lake Arthur2-17-1vs. Welsh, Fri. 10/30NS-IV
    4Kinder0-21-7vs. Notre Dame, Fri. 10/30NS-III
    5Basile0-32-6vs. Ville Platte, Thu. 10/29 (non-district)NS-IV

    What’s at stake

    • Friday: Notre Dame 41, Lake Arthur 21; Welsh 44, Basile 0.
    • Notre Dame at Welsh, Thu. Nov. 5: by Gridiron Gumbo math, Notre Dame wins the title outright by beating Kinder (Oct. 30) and Welsh; Welsh wins it outright by beating Lake Arthur (Oct. 30) and Notre Dame.
    • Lake Arthur (2-1) has one district game left, vs. Welsh on Oct. 30. Its only path to a share: beat Welsh, then have Welsh beat Notre Dame (with Notre Dame also beating Kinder), for a three-way tie at 3-1.

    District 3-3A

    MaxPreps standings, updated Oct. 24, 1:12 a.m. CT. Source

    #SchoolDistOverallNext gameDiv.
    1Jennings5-06-2at Winnfield, Fri. 10/30 (non-district)NS-III
    2Iowa3-14-3vs. Washington-Marion, Thu. 10/29NS-II
    3DeRidder3-15-3at St. Louis Catholic, Thu. 10/29NS-II
    4St. Louis Catholic2-23-5vs. DeRidder, Thu. 10/29Sel-III
    5South Beauregard2-34-4at Westlake, Fri. 10/30NS-III
    6Washington-Marion0-41-7at Iowa, Thu. 10/29Sel-II
    7Westlake0-41-7vs. South Beauregard, Fri. 10/30NS-III

    What’s at stake

    • Friday: Iowa 53, Westlake 22; St. Louis Catholic 42, Washington-Marion 35. Thursday: Jennings 41, South Beauregard 14. DeRidder beat Kinder 24-20 in a non-district game.
    • Jennings (5-0) has already clinched at least a share and wins the title outright by beating St. Louis Catholic on Nov. 6 (Gridiron Gumbo math, not an LHSAA announcement).
    • DeRidder vs. Iowa, Thu. Nov. 5: both are 3-1; the game likely settles second place.

    District 3-4A

    MaxPreps standings, updated Oct. 23, 10:44 p.m. CT. Source

    #SchoolDistOverallNext gameDiv.
    1Leesville3-07-1at Jena, Fri. 10/30 (non-district)NS-II
    2Lake Charles College Prep1-07-1at Rayne, Fri. 10/30 (non-district)Sel-II
    3Rayne1-13-5vs. Lake Charles College Prep, Fri. 10/30 (non-district)NS-II
    4North Vermilion0-15-3at LaGrange, Fri. 10/30NS-II
    5LaGrange0-30-8vs. North Vermilion, Fri. 10/30NS-II

    What’s at stake

    • Friday: Leesville 42, LaGrange 0; Lake Charles College Prep 42, North Vermilion 0 (MaxPreps lists it as non-district).
    • Leesville at Lake Charles College Prep, Fri. Nov. 6: the top two in the MaxPreps table. MaxPreps does not mark the game as a district game on either schedule, so the box makes no title math for 3-4A until the alignment is confirmed.

    District 3-5A

    MaxPreps standings, updated Oct. 24, 5:35 a.m. CT. Source

    #SchoolDistOverallNext gameDiv.
    1Southside4-15-3at Acadiana, Fri. 10/30NS-I
    2St. Thomas More4-16-2at Sam Houston, Fri. 10/30Sel-I
    3Barbe4-17-1at New Iberia, Fri. 10/30NS-I
    4Lafayette †2-35-3at Sulphur, Fri. 10/30Sel-I
    5Acadiana2-35-3vs. Southside, Fri. 10/30Sel-I
    6Sulphur2-35-3vs. Lafayette, Fri. 10/30NS-I
    7Sam Houston2-33-5vs. St. Thomas More, Fri. 10/30NS-I
    8New Iberia †0-51-7vs. Barbe, Fri. 10/30NS-I

    What’s at stake

    • Thursday: Acadiana 58, Sulphur 25.
    • Friday: Barbe 59, Sam Houston 29. Southside beat St. Thomas More 17-14 in a game MaxPreps lists as a district game for both teams (final reported by a St. Thomas More sideline reporter on X and listed by MaxPreps).
    • Three teams share the top at 4-1: Southside, St. Thomas More and Barbe each have two district games left. Barbe closes at New Iberia (Oct. 30) and at Southside (Nov. 6); Southside visits Acadiana (Oct. 30); St. Thomas More visits Sam Houston (Oct. 30) and hosts Sulphur (Nov. 6). We are not doing title math here because tiebreakers could decide it.

    † Record is MaxPreps’ and includes a Friday Lafayette-New Iberia result that Gridiron Gumbo has not separately confirmed.

    District 6-2A

    MaxPreps standings, updated Oct. 23, 11:09 p.m. CT. Source

    #SchoolDistOverallNext gameDiv.
    1Port Barre1-01-7at Avoyelles, Fri. 10/30NS-III
    2Avoyelles1-05-3vs. Port Barre, Fri. 10/30NS-III
    3Holy Savior Menard0-10-8at Oakdale, Fri. 10/30Sel-III
    4Oakdale0-12-6vs. Holy Savior Menard, Fri. 10/30NS-III

    What’s at stake

    • Friday: Avoyelles 42, Oakdale 40.
    • Port Barre at Avoyelles, Fri. Oct. 30: both are 1-0. By Gridiron Gumbo math, the winner takes the title outright by also winning its last district game (Avoyelles at Holy Savior Menard on Nov. 6; Port Barre vs. Oakdale on Nov. 5).

    District 5-1A

    MaxPreps standings, updated Oct. 23, 11:09 p.m. CT. Source

    #SchoolDistOverallNext gameDiv.
    1Grand Lake3-06-2vs. Lake Arthur, Thu. 11/5 (non-district)NS-IV
    2Elton1-15-3at Gueydan, Thu. 10/29 (non-district)NS-IV
    3Oberlin0-10-8at Merryville, Thu. 10/29NS-IV
    4Merryville0-24-3vs. Oberlin, Thu. 10/29NS-IV

    What’s at stake

    • Friday: Lakeside 41, Oberlin 7 (non-district).
    • Grand Lake (3-0) finished its district schedule and has clinched first place outright (Gridiron Gumbo math, from Thursday’s box). Elton vs. Oberlin, Thu. Nov. 5: an Elton win clinches second place.

    Also: Lakeside (District 4-2A). The Warriors (5-3, 1-1 per MaxPreps’ 4-2A table, updated Oct. 23, 11:33 p.m. CT) host Red River on Oct. 30 and visit Many on Nov. 6. 4-2A is a north-central district; no title math here.

    How the playoffs work: LHSAA brackets are seeded by power rating within each Select and Non-Select division, so district records are only part of the picture. Standings are unofficial until the LHSAA certifies district champions. “Gridiron Gumbo math” is our own count from MaxPreps standings and schedules, not an LHSAA announcement.

    Corrections: Gridiron Gumbo fixes errors promptly and notes changes at the bottom of the story. Spot one? Tell us.

  • Louisiana
    92 Throws, Zero Picks: Welsh’s Grant Haydel Is Pitching a Shutout Every Friday Night

    92 Throws, Zero Picks: Welsh’s Grant Haydel Is Pitching a Shutout Every Friday Night

    Subhead: The Greyhounds’ senior quarterback is the only passer on either of the American Press’ Southwest Louisiana passing leaderboards without an interception this season. The same arm threw a no-hitter last spring, and he takes it to Basile tonight with Welsh at 6-1.

    By T-Rohn | Gridiron Gumbo | Oct. 23, 2026

    LHSAA Week 8 · Welsh at Basile · District 7-2A

    REPORTED: facts per the American Press and other published sources (see Sources at the end)

    Every quarterback in Southwest Louisiana gets the same talk from his coach: take care of the football.

    In Southwest Louisiana, that same talk gets given about cast-iron pots, deer camps and the last link of boudin.

    Grant Haydel has been listening.

    Through seven games, the Welsh senior has thrown the ball 92 times. Opposing defenses have caught none of them. The American Press stat leaders published Oct. 20 show him at 66 of 92 for 1,180 yards, 13 touchdowns and zero interceptions. He leads the area’s small-school passers at 168.6 yards a game.1

    Here’s what makes the zero stand out. The AP publishes two passing boards each week, one for big schools and one for small schools. Every other quarterback on both lists this week has been picked off at least once. Ten of those 19 have five or more interceptions, and four of them have seven.

    Haydel’s column still reads “0.”

    Grant Haydel, 2026 (through Week 7)
    Completions-attempts66-92
    Completion rate71.7%
    Yards1,180
    Touchdowns13
    Interceptions0
    Yards per attempt12.8
    Yards per completion17.9

    The completion rate and per-throw figures are Gridiron Gumbo’s math from the AP totals.1

    That’s not dinking and dunking, either. Almost 13 yards every time he lets it go. Nearly 18 yards every time somebody catches it. He’s taking shots and not giving the ball away.

    It hasn’t been a hot streak

    You might think a run like that is a couple of lucky Fridays. The numbers say otherwise.

    The AP’s Week 3 table had Haydel at 27 of 44 for 488 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.2 By Week 6, he was 56 of 79 for 1,020 yards and nine touchdowns, still with no picks.3 (The AP’s Week 6 table prints his yardage as “10202.” We read that as 1,020, because the same row lists 170.0 yards a game over six games, and six times 170 is 1,020.) After Week 7, still none.

    Out on I-10 between Lake Charles and Lafayette, the radar guns have picked off more drivers this fall than defenses have picked off Haydel.

    Game by game, from the AP box scores that include Welsh passing stats:

    • Sept. 4, Welsh 51, Abbeville 16: 5 of 8, 155 yards, no interceptions. He threw touchdown passes of 53 yards to Bryson Prudhomme and 20 to Cole Luntsford and ran one in from 10.4
    • Sept. 17, Jennings 47, Welsh 28: 9 of 19, 146 yards, no interceptions. That included a 78-yard touchdown pass to Prudhomme, plus a 10-yard touchdown run. It’s Welsh’s only loss, and even on that night he didn’t throw one to the other team.5
    • Oct. 2, Welsh 44, DeQuincy 7: perfect. The American Press box score has him 8 of 8 for 248 yards and three touchdown passes, including a 44-yarder to Vince Bagala and a 59-yarder to Devanta Castille, all in the first half. (The Jennings Daily News counted 10 of 10 for 281 yards. Either way, he didn’t miss.)6, 7

    The AP didn’t publish Welsh’s individual passing in its boxes for the other four games: wins over Opelousas Catholic (42-0), Vermilion Catholic (49-7), Kinder (54-34) and Washington-Marion (56-13). The zero still holds for those nights, because the AP’s season totals show no interceptions after Week 3, Week 6 or Week 7. The tables also fill in one more game. Subtract his AP Week 6 totals from his Week 7 totals, and Haydel went 10 of 13 for 160 yards and four touchdowns against Washington-Marion. That’s Gridiron Gumbo’s math; the AP didn’t print those numbers itself.

    A pitcher’s habit

    If throwing strikes and not giving anything away sounds like a baseball idea, that’s because it is.

    Around here the calendar has four seasons: football, crawfish, baseball and waiting on football.

    Last spring, Haydel was the ace for a Welsh baseball team that made the Non-select Division IV state championship game for the second straight year. The American Press reported he threw a no-hitter in the state quarterfinals, then came back six days later with a complete-game three-hitter. He struck out nine and walked two in a 2-0 semifinal win over No. 5 Vinton.8 He went into the title game 10-2 with a 1.70 ERA.

    After that semifinal, he explained his approach to the American Press in a way that sounds a whole lot like his football season.

    “So I really just tried to work on throwing a bunch of strikes, commanding the zone, letting them put the ball in play and let my team do the work behind me,” Haydel said.8

    His baseball coach, Caleb Hayes, connected the two sports himself. “I feel like being the quarterback helps him with moments like what we just saw out there, keeping his composure and not riding the roller coaster,” Hayes said.8

    Welsh fell to Mangham 11-7 in the title game and finished 26-9, the AP reported. Hayes said no other Welsh baseball team had reached back-to-back state finals.9 Then their ace went right back to throwing a different-shaped ball.

    Mais, a football is just a baseball somebody left out in the August humidity too long.

    “Sneaky good at everything”

    None of this came out of nowhere. As a junior in 2025, Haydel threw for 1,929 yards and 22 touchdowns and helped Welsh reach the regional round of the playoffs.10

    Welsh football coach Ronnie Courville said back in August, “He is definitely one of the better throwers we’ve had in a while.” He also offered the kind of compliment coaches save for the kids who make everything look easy: “He is really kind of sneaky good at everything.”10

    Haydel isn’t carrying the offense alone, either. Ja’Kyrin Woodard, a senior running back,11, 12 has 121 carries for 1,157 yards and 18 touchdowns through seven games.1 That gives defenses more than one thing to worry about. So does Bagala, who caught 54 passes for 888 yards and 15 touchdowns as Haydel’s top target in 2025.13 He’s now a senior.13, 12

    In August, Haydel said what he expected from this offense. “Explosive is a word that I could use,” he said. He added that the team should be “pretty balanced throwing the ball with all our receivers coming back.”11

    Seven games in, Welsh has scored 324 points and allowed 124.14 “Explosive” holds up.

    Where the shutout goes next

    Welsh (6-1, 1-0 in District 7-2A) plays at Basile tonight.14, 15 The Greyhounds bring a four-game winning streak,16 and the LSWA’s Class 2A poll this week listed them among the teams receiving votes.17

    Then the schedule gets spicy. Welsh goes to Lake Arthur on Friday, Oct. 30, and those two towns don’t need an introduction. The American Press noted that Lake Arthur’s 1994 team was perfect through eight games before Welsh ended the run, 13-8, in Week 9.18 (We dug into that 1994 team, and this year’s Tigers, right here.) Notre Dame visits Welsh on Thursday, Nov. 5.14

    About Welsh and Lake Arthur: the two towns sit close enough that on a still night, each one can smell the other’s concession-stand jambalaya.

    That’s three district games and three more chances for Haydel to keep doing what he’s done all fall: throw strikes and take care of the football. Welsh will take that every week, cher.

    Got stats, a Welsh-Basile score or a photo of your stadium’s scoreboard? Send them to Gridiron Gumbo. (Please, no photos of players.) T-Rohn is keeping score.

    Sources

    1. American Press, Rodrick Anderson, “Southwest La. prep football stat leaders, Oct. 20,” Oct. 20, 2026: https://americanpress.com/2026/10/20/southwest-la-prep-football-stat-leaders-oct-20/ (Haydel 7 games, 66-92-0, 1,180 yards, 13 TD, 168.6 per game, leads small-school passers; every other passer on both boards has at least one interception; Woodard 121-1,157, 18 TD) ↩ Back to story
    2. American Press, “SWLA prep football stats leaders through Week 3,” Sept. 23, 2026: https://americanpress.com/2026/09/23/swla-prep-football-stats-leaders-through-week-3/ (Haydel 27-44-0, 488 yards, 4 TD) ↩ Back to story
    3. American Press, “SWLA prep football stat leaders through Week 6,” Oct. 13, 2026: https://americanpress.com/2026/10/13/swla-prep-football-stat-leaders-through-week-6/ (Haydel 6 games, 56-79-0, 9 TD, 170.0 per game) ↩ Back to story
    4. American Press, “Prep football scores and stats, Sept. 4,” Sept. 5, 2026: https://americanpress.com/2026/09/05/prep-football-scores-and-stats-sept-4/ (Welsh 51, Abbeville 16; Haydel 5-8-0, 155, TD passes to Prudhomme and Luntsford, 10-yard TD run) ↩ Back to story
    5. American Press, “Prep football scores and stats, Sept. 17,” Sept. 18, 2026: https://americanpress.com/2026/09/18/prep-football-scores-and-stats-sept-17/ (Jennings 47, Welsh 28; Haydel 9-19-0, 146, 78-yard TD to Prudhomme, 10-yard TD run) ↩ Back to story
    6. American Press, “Prep football scores and stats, Friday, Oct. 2,” Oct. 3, 2026: https://americanpress.com/2026/10/03/prep-football-scores-and-stats-friday-oct-2/ (Welsh 44, DeQuincy 7; Haydel 8-8-0, 248; scoring summary: three TD passes, including Bagala 44 and Castille 59, all in the first half by the quarter scores) ↩ Back to story
    7. Jennings Daily News, Pat Deshotel, “Hounds fly by Tigers”: https://www.jenningsdailynews.net/sports/hounds-fly-tigers (Haydel 10-for-10, 281 yards, all in the first half vs. DeQuincy; paywalled, preview text only) ↩ Back to story
    8. American Press, Rodrick Anderson, “Haydel blanks Vinton, Welsh advances to title game,” May 13, 2026: https://americanpress.com/2026/05/13/haydel-blanks-vinton-welsh-advances-to-title-game/ (three-hitter, 9 K, 2 BB, 2-0 over No. 5 Vinton; no-hitter in quarterfinals six days earlier; 10-2, 1.70 ERA; Haydel and Hayes quotes) ↩ Back to story
    9. American Press, “Greyhounds fall in state championship game again,” May 14, 2026: https://americanpress.com/2026/05/14/greyhounds-fall-in-state-championship-game-again/ (Mangham 11, Welsh 7; 26-9 record; Hayes quote: no other Welsh team in back-to-back finals) ↩ Back to story
    10. American Press, “Friday night phenoms: Area contenders counting on veteran leaders,” Aug. 25, 2026: https://americanpress.com/2026/08/25/friday-night-phenoms-area-contenders-counting-on-veteran-leaders/ (Haydel 2025: 1,929 yards, 22 TD, regional round; Courville quotes) ↩ Back to story
    11. KPLC, Ryan Blakely, “2026 Two-A-Days: Welsh Greyhounds,” Aug. 19, 2026: https://www.kplctv.com/2026/08/19/2026-two-a-days-welsh-greyhounds/ (Haydel “explosive” and “balanced” quotes; “Senior running back Ja’Kyrin Woodard”) ↩ Back to story
    12. MaxPreps, Welsh football roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/la/welsh/welsh-greyhounds/football/roster/ (Grant Haydel Sr. QB; Jakyrin Woodard Sr. RB; Vince Bagala Sr. WR; Devanta Castille Sr. WR) ↩ Back to story
    13. American Press, “Deep threats: Area’s most dangerous game-breaking WRs,” Aug. 27, 2026: https://americanpress.com/2026/08/27/deep-threats-areas-most-dangerous-game-breaking-wrs/ (Bagala 2025: 54 catches, 888 yards, 15 TD as Haydel’s main target; “breakout junior season,” so a senior in 2026) ↩ Back to story
    14. MaxPreps, Welsh football schedule: https://www.maxpreps.com/la/welsh/welsh-greyhounds/football/schedule/ (6-1, 1-0; 324 points for, 124 against; tonight at Basile; Oct. 30 at Lake Arthur; Nov. 5 vs. Notre Dame; Notre Dame at Welsh listed for Thursday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.) ↩ Back to story
    15. American Press, “Local prep football district standings, Oct. 20”: https://americanpress.com/2026/10/20/local-prep-football-district-standings-oct-20/ (Welsh 6-1, 1-0 in District 7-2A) ↩ Back to story
    16. Jennings Daily News, “Greyhounds travel to take on Bearcats”: https://www.jenningsdailynews.net/sports/greyhounds-travel-take-bearcats (four-game winning streak heading to Basile; paywalled, preview text only) ↩ Back to story
    17. American Press, “LSWA prep football polls, Oct. 19”: https://americanpress.com/2026/10/19/lswa-prep-football-polls-oct-19/ (Welsh 6 points among Class 2A teams receiving votes) ↩ Back to story
    18. American Press, “Rocky road: Unbeaten Lake Arthur faces dangerous portion of schedule,” Oct. 15, 2026: https://americanpress.com/2026/10/15/rocky-road-unbeaten-lake-arthur-faces-dangerous-portion-of-schedule/ (1994 Lake Arthur’s 13-8 Week 9 loss to Welsh; Welsh at Lake Arthur in Week 9) ↩ Back to story
    19. American Press, “Prep football scores and stats, Oct. 16,” Oct. 17, 2026: https://americanpress.com/2026/10/17/prep-football-scores-and-stats-oct-16/ (Welsh 56, Washington-Marion 13)
    20. LouisianaGridiron Gumbo, “Lake Arthur one win from 1994 history”: https://gridirongumbo.com/lake-arthur-one-win-from-1994-history-notre-dame-crowley/ (internal link, not re-previewed)
  • Louisiana
    Held Under 200 Exactly Once: Elton’s Makelin Lemoine, Game by Game, and the Field Where He Once Ran for 396

    Held Under 200 Exactly Once: Elton’s Makelin Lemoine, Game by Game, and the Field Where He Once Ran for 396

    Subhead: The McNeese State commitment leads all of Southwest Louisiana with 1,657 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns in seven games, and he topped 200 yards in each of the first six. Tonight he goes back to Grand Lake, where he ran for 396 yards last season, with first place in District 5-1A on the line.

    By T-Rohn | Gridiron Gumbo | Oct. 22, 2026

    In Elton, the scouting report on the Indians’ offense fits on a napkin: hand it to Makelin Lemoine and watch him go. By now somebody’s aunt has laminated the napkin.

    Everybody knows it, and it hasn’t helped. Before Vinton played Elton in September, Vinton coach Tyler Lavergne told the American Press, “It is going to be a team effort to team tackle (Lemoine).” Elton coach Marcus Lejeune told the same paper his team doesn’t “really throw the ball.”

    So defenses know what’s coming. Lemoine still leads Southwest Louisiana in rushing, big schools and small, with 1,657 yards and 22 touchdowns on 129 carries in seven games, according to the American Press stat leaders published Oct. 20. That’s 236.7 yards a game and almost 13 a carry.

    In Louisiana, knowing what’s coming helps you prepare for exactly three things: a crawfish boil, a second plate at the crawfish boil, and nothing.

    When Oakdale held him to 194 yards on Oct. 15, the American Press noted it was the first time all season he’d been held under 200. He still scored twice in the fourth quarter.

    In Elton, 194 yards is an off night. Most places, it’s a parade permit.

    Seven games, one log

    Here’s Lemoine’s season in one place, built from American Press box scores and stat tables plus MaxPreps results:

    DateOpponentResultLemoine
    Sept. 4BasileW 55-7322 yds, 5 rush TD, plus a 104-yd INT return TD
    Sept. 11at VintonL 40-1223 car, 219 yds
    Sept. 18at MontgomeryW 44-40209 yds*
    Sept. 24DeQuincyW 44-014 car, 224 yds, 5 TD
    Oct. 1at J.S. ClarkW 32-2621 car, 231 yds*
    Oct. 9MerryvilleW 46-69 car, 258 yds, 4 TD
    Oct. 15OakdaleL 28-2433 car, 194 yds, 2 TD

    *Our math: no box score was available, so we worked these out from the change in the American Press’ season totals between stat tables.

    A few lines jump off the page.

    Nine carries, 258 yards. Against Merryville, the American Press box score shows touchdown runs of 49, 65, 81 and 27 yards. That’s almost 29 yards a carry. Most teams would take 29 yards on a whole drive.

    Fourteen carries, 224 yards. Against DeQuincy he scored on runs of 6, 40, 64, 5 and 38. That was the entire workload. Somewhere a fullback is still waiting his turn.

    The opener. The American Press reported that all five of his touchdowns against rival Basile went longer than 50 yards. He added a 104-yard interception return on defense, a few yards shy of the longest return a football field allows. The paper said that night pushed his career touchdown total to 80.

    Even in the losses. In Elton’s two defeats he ran for 219 yards against Vinton, now 7-0 per the American Press standings, and 194 against Oakdale. The American Press called the Oakdale result a “stunner.” The Warriors earned it, and he still found the end zone twice.

    He’s done this before

    In 2025, his first season as Elton’s featured back, Lemoine ran for 2,643 yards and 42 touchdowns on 204 carries, about 13 yards a carry, according to the American Press. The paper reported he went over 200 yards seven times. He also returned a kickoff and an interception for touchdowns and made 64 tackles on defense, per the American Press All-Southwest small-schools team, which named him to its backfield.

    Lejeune explained the jump to the American Press in August: “Last year was his first year at the tailback position since junior high, so he learned. I really think he’s going to be a lot better, a lot more experienced runner.”

    He has been. The American Press had him at 974 yards through four games and 1,205 through five, so he cleared 1,000 in his fifth game this season. McNeese State is paying attention. The American Press and KPLC have both reported his commitment to the Cowboys, and he was the only running back on the American Press’ list of McNeese’s 2027 commitments in July.

    In August, Lemoine gave KPLC his season preview: “Just another season of dominating.” Seven games in, nobody’s filed a complaint.

    Back to Grand Lake

    That brings us to tonight.

    Elton (5-2, 1-0) visits Grand Lake (5-2, 2-0) with first place in District 5-1A on the line, according to the American Press standings published Oct. 20, and MaxPreps lists a 7 p.m. kickoff. Last season, according to the American Press, Lemoine’s best night came against the Hornets: 396 yards and five touchdowns on 22 carries in a 50-35 Elton win. That’s 18 yards a carry.

    Count on it: that game came up in the Hornets’ film room this week. Nobody hears “396” and forgets it. (Our game preview: Elton at Grand Lake.)

    The math from here

    After Grand Lake, MaxPreps has Elton at Gueydan on Oct. 29 and home against Oberlin on Nov. 5. By our math, with three regular-season games left:

    • 2,000 yards: He needs 343, about 114 a game. He’s averaging more than twice that.
    • Last year’s 2,643: He needs 986, about 329 a game, which beats even his 322-yard opener. A playoff run makes it far more realistic.
    • LouisianaThe area rushing title: He leads the next small-school back, Lake Arthur’s Jaydon Prudhomme (1,263), by 394 yards, and the top big-school back, Leesville’s Grant Braxton (1,313), by 344. The big-school race is the tight one: three backs within 44 yards from first to third. We broke it down today: Three Backs, 44 Yards.

    For two seasons, Elton’s favorite show has been watching Lemoine break into the clear. Tonight it goes on the road to Grand Lake. Get there early and keep your eyes on the ball carrier. It won’t be hard to figure out who has it.

    Bring a jacket, a lawn chair and a pot of something brown. If the jacket’s wrong, the gumbo still counts.

    Heading to Grand Lake? Send Gridiron Gumbo your photos from the stands and your best guess at Lemoine’s yardage. Just bragging rights.

    Sources

  • Rosepine at Vinton: Unbeatens Clash for District Title, SWLA Game of the Week

    Rosepine at Vinton: Unbeatens Clash for District Title, SWLA Game of the Week

    CONFIRMEDHeads up: Rosepine (7-0) visits Vinton (7-0) Friday, Oct. 23, in what Gator 99.5 bills as a District Championship Game. Per Gator 99.5, only three SWLA teams remain unbeaten: Rosepine, Vinton and Lake Arthur. It’s 92.9 The Lake’s SWLA Game of the Week, with the pregame show at 6:40 PM CT. Two unbeatens, one gumbo pot. Somebody’s roux gets stirred Friday.

    🎧 Listen Live: Rosepine at Vinton on 92.9 The Lake

    Source: Gator 99.5, Chaston Tavares · Listen Live: 92.9 The Lake official stream

  • Louisiana
    From 0-9 to 7-0: How Rosepine Flipped the Script

    From 0-9 to 7-0: How Rosepine Flipped the Script

    Subhead: In 2024 the Eagles started 0-9. Then came a coaching change, another 1-9 season and a new offensive coordinator with 40 years in the game. Now Rosepine is unbeaten, and Friday it returns to the field where it was shut out a year ago.

    By T-Rohn | Gridiron Gumbo | Oct. 21, 2026

    REPORTED: facts per MaxPreps, American Press, KPLC, KALB and others (sources below)

    Two years ago, a win in Rosepine was rarer than a parking spot at a crawfish boil. Now the Eagles are 7-0, and the town is relearning how to celebrate.

    Mais, it’s been a minute. Somebody check whether the victory bell still rings or if a dirt dauber moved in.

    Looking for Friday’s Rosepine at Vinton preview, with keys to the game and T-Rohn’s pick? Read it here. This story is about how Rosepine got here.

    Rock bottom: 2024

    Rosepine started the 2024 season 0-9, and coach Frank Rosegrant stepped down, the American Press reported.

    David Weldon took over for Week 10, and the Eagles beat East Beauregard 20-6 in his first game to finish 1-9. That offense averaged fewer than seven points a game. The defense gave up 36.8.

    One win, but it came in the last game. In Rosepine, that counted as momentum. Folks talked about it all offseason, mostly at the gas station.

    Year one: 2025

    Weldon’s first full season also ended 1-9, according to MaxPreps and KALB. The Eagles scored 128 points and allowed 376. One of those losses was 27-0 at Vinton on Oct. 23, 2025.

    Back-to-back 1-9 seasons. The faithful kept showing up anyway, the way you keep going back to the diner whose biscuits are only good on Tuesdays.

    Not everybody did. “You could see from the stands that not as many people would show up,” senior lineman Tug Haymon told KPLC in August.

    The hire: Donny Crier

    Then came the move that changed things. Donny Crier joined the staff as offensive coordinator, bringing 40 years of experience and a new playbook, KPLC reported in its preseason Two-A-Days series.

    Weldon, entering his second full season, said leaning on Crier “transformed a lot of our culture.”

    He also made a promise: “The new offense that we have coming, it’s going to be a different year, so mark my words, be excited for this year.”

    Senior running back Brynnum Chaney set the bar in the same story: “10-0. That’s the mindset we’ve had this year.”

    Bold talk from a program that had won two games in two years. Out here, folks answer that kind of confidence with two words: “Show me.”

    The proof: 2026

    They showed them. Here’s Rosepine’s season, per MaxPreps:

    • Sept. 4: Rosepine 48, Montgomery 20
    • Sept. 10: Rosepine 29, Grand Lake 19
    • Sept. 18: Rosepine 50, Basile 6
    • Sept. 24: Rosepine 35, Oberlin 8
    • Oct. 2: Rosepine 59, Delhi 12
    • Oct. 8: Rosepine 54, Pickering 0
    • Oct. 16: Rosepine 47, Plain Dealing 0

    That’s 322 points scored and 65 allowed. Last season it took all 10 games to score 128. This year the Eagles passed that in their fourth game.

    That’s not a turnaround, cher. That’s a pirogue going from sinking in the bathtub to winning the bass tournament.

    The last time Rosepine started at least 6-0 was 2018, when the Eagles went 10-0, according to Cajun Radio.

    The engine

    Chaney has carried much of the load. He ran for 190 yards and four touchdowns in the opener against Montgomery, KPLC reported.

    “If I had 11 Brynnums, I could put him at center and he’d be fine,” Weldon told the station. Chaney said he “could’ve had more than 200.”

    He scored all four Rosepine touchdowns in the 29-19 win at Grand Lake, according to the Cameron Parish Pilot, which called it “a heck of a game all night long.” Through LHSAA Week 6, Cajun Radio had him at 975 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns.

    The defense did its part, too. After giving up 376 points in 2025, the Eagles have allowed 65 in seven games, with back-to-back shutouts of Pickering and Plain Dealing.

    Friday: one year later

    Here’s where the calendar gets cute. Rosepine (7-0, 1-0 District 5-2A) plays at Vinton (7-0, 1-0) on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m., per MaxPreps. That’s one year to the day after the 27-0 loss in Vinton.

    Calendars in Rosepine have been circled, double-circled and laminated.

    For the matchup, the district math and T-Rohn’s pick, see our full preview.

    Whatever happens Friday, the Eagles already did what they promised in August. They gave folks a reason to fill the stands again.

    Bring a seat cushion, a cooler and a solid alibi for where you were in 2024.

    Headed to Vinton Friday? Send Gridiron Gumbo your photos and final-score predictions. T-Rohn will be watching.

    Corrections: Gridiron Gumbo corrects errors promptly and notes the change at the bottom of the story. Spot one? Tell us.

    Sources

    • Gridiron Gumbo, “Two Perfect Seasons, One Field: Rosepine at Vinton Preview (Both 7-0)”: https://gridirongumbo.com/vinton-rosepine-preview-2026/ (full game preview; consistent with records, kickoff and district scenario cited here).
    • American Press, Rodrick Anderson, “Rosepine: Eagles eye turnaround under Weldon,” Aug. 31, 2025: https://americanpress.com/2025/08/31/rosepine-eagles-eye-turnaround-under-weldon/ (2024 0-9 start; Rosegrant stepped down; Weldon took over in Week 10 and beat East Beauregard 20-6; 2024 offense under 7 ppg, defense allowed 36.8 ppg).
    • MaxPreps, Rosepine 2025 schedule: https://www.maxpreps.com/la/rosepine/rosepine-eagles/football/25-26/schedule/ (1-9; 128 PF / 376 PA; L 27-0 at Vinton, Oct. 23, 2025).
    • KALB, “Inside the Huddle: Rosepine Eagles,” Aug. 21, 2026: https://www.kalb.com/2026/08/22/inside-huddle-rosepine-eagles/ (1-9 finish in 2025; 2026 is Weldon’s “second season” as head coach, meaning second full season, since he took over for the final game of 2024).
    • KPLC, “2026 Two-A-Days: Rosepine Eagles,” Aug. 18, 2026: https://www.kplctv.com/2026/08/19/2026-two-a-days-rosepine-eagles/ (Crier hired as OC with 40 years’ experience; Weldon, Chaney and Haymon quotes).
    • MaxPreps, Rosepine 2026 schedule: https://www.maxpreps.com/la/rosepine/rosepine-eagles/football/schedule/ (7-0, 1-0; all 2026 scores; 322 PF / 65 PA; at Vinton Oct. 23).
    • MaxPreps, Vinton 2026 schedule: https://www.maxpreps.com/la/vinton/vinton-lions/football/schedule/ (7-0, 1-0; 340 PF / 46 PA; vs. Rosepine Oct. 23, 7 p.m.).
    • KPLC, Ben Rickevicius, “Rosepine running back fuels Week 1 victory with four-touchdown performance,” Sept. 10, 2026: https://www.kplctv.com/2026/09/10/rosepine-running-back-fuels-week-1-victory-with-four-touchdown-performance/ (Chaney 190 yards, 4 TDs; “11 Brynnums” quote; “could’ve had more than 200”).
    • Cameron Parish Pilot, Jake McCoy, “Second half miscues cost Grand Lake,” Sept. 20, 2026: https://cameronpilot.com/second-half-miscues-cost-grand-lake/ (all four Rosepine TDs by Chaney; “a heck of a game all night long”).
    • Cajun Radio / Chaston Tavares, “SWLA High School Football Week 7 Schedule and Standings,” Oct. 13, 2026: https://cajunradio.com/ixp/149/p/swla-football-week-7-schedule-standings/ (Rosepine last 6-0+ in 2018, 10-0; Chaney 975 yds / 19 TD through Week 6).
    • American Press, “Local prep football district standings, Oct. 20”: https://americanpress.com/2026/10/20/local-prep-football-district-standings-oct-20/ (East Beauregard 2-0 in District 5-2A; Rosepine and Vinton 1-0).
  • Louisiana
    Two Perfect Seasons, One Field: Rosepine at Vinton Preview (Both 7-0)

    Two Perfect Seasons, One Field: Rosepine at Vinton Preview (Both 7-0)

    Rosepine (7-0, 1-0 District 5-2A) at Vinton (7-0, 1-0) | Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, 7 p.m. CT | Vinton High School

    By T-Rohn, Gridiron Gumbo

    Two unbeaten teams, one field, and one Friday night in Vinton. This is the biggest local game of the year so far. Here’s what you need to know before you pull up a lawn chair and fire up the boudin.

    The Basics

    • Rosepine Eagles at Vinton Lions, Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. CT, at Vinton High School. It’s a District 5-2A game. (CONFIRMED: MaxPreps game page and both team schedules)
    • Both teams are 7-0 overall and 1-0 in district. (CONFIRMED: MaxPreps, checked Oct. 19)
    • Vinton has outscored opponents 340-46. Rosepine has outscored opponents 322-65. (CONFIRMED: MaxPreps game-by-game scores)

    How They Got Here

    Vinton (7-0): W 58-13 at Oberlin, W 40-12 vs. Elton, W 55-12 vs. Washington-Marion, W 47-0 at Grand Lake, W 56-6 at LaGrange, W 42-0 at Oakdale, W 42-3 at DeQuincy. (CONFIRMED: MaxPreps) Coach Tyler Lavergne’s Lions have played five of seven on the road and are 2-0 at home. (CONFIRMED: MaxPreps)

    Rosepine (7-0): W 48-20 vs. Montgomery, W 29-19 at Grand Lake, W 50-6 at Basile, W 35-8 vs. Oberlin, W 59-12 at Delhi, W 54-0 vs. Pickering, W 47-0 vs. Plain Dealing. (CONFIRMED: MaxPreps) In Coach David Weldon’s second season, the Eagles have turned around a program that went 1-9 in each of the past two seasons. (CONFIRMED: KALB, Louisiana Football Magazine, MaxPreps)

    Common opponents: Both teams beat Oberlin (Vinton 58-13, Rosepine 35-8) and Grand Lake (Vinton 47-0, Rosepine 29-19). (CONFIRMED: MaxPreps) Scores against common opponents are fun to talk about over a plate lunch. They don’t decide football games.

    Last year: Vinton won 27-0 on Oct. 23, 2025. (CONFIRMED: MaxPreps) These are different teams this season.

    Key Stats and Players to Watch

    • Vinton’s run game by committee: Michael Lange, Jaydin Smith, Traylen Carrier and Mika Roper have each run for more than 300 yards. (REPORTED)
    • Vinton’s defense has allowed 46 points in seven games, about 6.6 a game, with two shutouts. (CONFIRMED: MaxPreps scores) Linebacker Kortlin Kyle was the 2025 District 4-2A Defensive MVP. (CONFIRMED: LFCA all-district list)
    • Rosepine’s Brynnum Chaney (No. 9) ran for 975 yards and 19 touchdowns through Week 6. (REPORTED: one source, SWLA Football Week 7 / American Press. MaxPreps season stats are incomplete.)
    • Rosepine’s defense has allowed 65 points, about 9.3 a game, with two shutouts in its last two games. (CONFIRMED: MaxPreps scores)
    • MaxPreps computer rankings: Vinton No. 2 in Louisiana Division IV Non-Select; Rosepine No. 10 in Division III Non-Select. (CONFIRMED: MaxPreps, Oct. 19. These are MaxPreps’ rankings, not LHSAA power ratings.)

    What’s at Stake

    The district race: East Beauregard is 2-0 in District 5-2A. The winner Friday goes to 2-0 and pulls even with East Beauregard. The loser drops to 1-1. (CONFIRMED: KPLC, MaxPreps) Friday does not settle the title. Both teams still play East Beauregard: Rosepine hosts the Trojans on Oct. 30, and Vinton hosts them on Nov. 6. (CONFIRMED: MaxPreps schedules) Vinton also plays at Pickering on Oct. 30, and Rosepine closes at DeQuincy on Nov. 6.

    The playoffs: MaxPreps lists the two teams in different playoff divisions: Vinton in Division IV Non-Select and Rosepine in Division III Non-Select. (CONFIRMED: MaxPreps) So they aren’t fighting for the same bracket seed. A win over an unbeaten opponent should help either team’s LHSAA power rating, which sets seeding. (TAKE: we have not checked the current LHSAA power ratings or how many points this game is worth.)

    Pride: One of these two programs leaves Friday unbeaten. The other one still has a heck of a season going.

    Keys to the Game

    • For Rosepine: Win early downs and stay on schedule. Vinton’s defense has allowed under a touchdown a game, so long fields work against you.
    • For Vinton: Keep the rotation of backs fresh and win the fourth quarter with depth. Make Rosepine’s offense go the length of the field.
    • For both: Turnovers and special teams. In a game between two defenses this good, a short field can decide it.

    T-Rohn’s Pick

    (TAKE) Both of these teams earned this night, and both towns ought to be proud no matter how it ends. I lean Vinton at home, behind its depth and a defense that has given up 46 points all year. Something like Vinton 36, Rosepine 22. But if Rosepine starts fast like it has all season, throw my pick in the gumbo pot and stir.

    Gridiron Gumbo will be on the sideline in Vinton Friday night with live updates on our Friday Night Gumbo page. Bring a cooler and an appetite.

    Sources: MaxPreps (game page, Vinton and Rosepine schedules, rankings as of Oct. 19, 2026), KPLC, KALB, Louisiana Football Magazine, LFCA all-district lists, SWLA Football Week 7. Records and stats are from public sources. Coaches enter MaxPreps stats.

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  • Louisiana
    High School Roundup: LSWA Polls, District Standings, Stat Leaders and Volleyball (Oct. 20)

    High School Roundup: LSWA Polls, District Standings, Stat Leaders and Volleyball (Oct. 20)

    Pull up a chair, cher — the Tuesday pot is full. Here are the latest polls, district standings, stat leaders and volleyball standings from around Southwest Louisiana, every number checked against the American Press.

    1. LSWA football polls (Oct. 19)

    • Lake Arthur (7-0) moved from No. 9 to No. 8 in Class 2A.
    • LC College Prep (6-1) moved from No. 8 to No. 6 in Class 4A.
    • St. Thomas More (6-1) is No. 6 in Class 5A, up from No. 7.
    • Leesville (6-1) is No. 10 in Class 4A.
    • Receiving votes: Barbe 20 (5A), Iowa 19 (3A), Vinton 15 (2A), Jennings 6 (3A), Welsh 6 (2A), Elton 2 (1A), Rosepine 1 (2A).

    CONFIRMED — Source: American Press

    2. Football district standings (Oct. 20)

    • St. Thomas More is 4-0 and leads District 3-5A. Barbe is 3-1 in district (6-1 overall).
    • Jennings is 4-0 and leads District 3-3A.
    • Vinton, Rosepine and Lake Arthur are all 7-0 overall.
    • Grand Lake is 2-0 in District 5-1A.

    CONFIRMED — Source: American Press

    3. Football stat leaders (Oct. 20)

    • Leesville’s Grant Braxton leads big-school rushers with 1,313 yards and 19 TDs.
    • Sam Houston’s Markeithon Simon has 1,289 rushing yards.
    • LCCP’s Dylan Vital has 1,707 passing yards and 22 TDs.
    • LCCP’s Javon Vital has 808 receiving yards.

    CONFIRMED — Source: American Press

    4. Volleyball district standings (Oct. 20)

    • Sulphur leads Division I, District 3 at 2-0 (20-10 overall).
    • Sam Houston leads Division II, District 3 at 2-0.
    • St. Louis Catholic is 3-0 in Division III, District 1, the district’s only unbeaten team; Iowa is 4-1.

    CONFIRMED — Source: American Press

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