By BRET H. MCCORMICK, Journal Sports
One 2,000-yard passer and two others who pushed that milestone.
Two 1,500-yard rushers and three receivers who caught 50 or more passes.
One player who scored 30 touchdowns and another who was only two behind.
And a whole host of big, physical, athletic linemen paving the way for their star quarterbacks, running backs and receivers.
It was a banner year for offensive standouts in Rapides Parish. Below are the 12 players selected as the top offensive stars for the 2023 football season along with specialists and the best of the rest on the inaugural Rapides Parish Journal All-Parish Football Team.
The team was selected by RPJ contributor Bret H. McCormick and CenlaPreps.com’s LaMar Gafford along with consultation with the parish’s coaches.
Quarterback: Ty Feaster, Sr, ASH (6-2, 190) – Feaster transferred to Alexandria Senior High after being an all-district and Class 1A all-state honorable mention recipient at Glenbrook last season. He showed a tremendous amount of improvement throughout the season, leading the Trojans to the Division I Select quarterfinals. A second-team selection in District 2-5A, Feaster completed 160 of 257 passes (62.3 percent) for a parish-leading 2,306 yards, 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Running Back: JT Lindsey, Jr., ASH (5-11, 190) – Lindsey transitioned from backup to starter with no problem and turned in the most rushing yards by a Trojan during the Thomas Bachman era. A first-team selection in District 2-5A, he finished the season with a parish-leading 1,587 yards on 272 carries for an average of 5.8 yards per carry and scored 23 rushing touchdowns. Lindsey also caught 11 passes for 142 yards and three TDs.
Running Back: Jim Burlew, Jr., Buckeye (5-10, 185) – The Panthers’ workhorse carried the ball a parish-high 316 times on the season for 1,560 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns with only two fumbles while also playing linebacker. He averaged 29 carries, 142 yards and 2.5 touchdowns per game, and had several games where he carried the ball 40-plus times, earning first-team all-district in District 2-3A.
Wide Receiver: TJ Hullaby, Jr., Peabody (6-0, 165) – A first-team all-district selection in District 2-4A, Hullaby led the parish with 58 receptions, 989 yards and 15 receiving TDs. He also played some defensive back, where he had two interception returns for touchdowns and returned three kicks for scores.
Wide Receiver: EJ Scott, Sr., ASH (5-8, 150) – The king of the stop route, Scott was the Trojans’ most consistent receiver throughout the season. He was capable of moving the chains on short and intermediate routes or hitting home runs in the deep passing game. Scott earned first-team all-district in District 2-5A and finished the season with 50 receptions for 697 yards and nine touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories.
Wide Receiver: Haidyn Boone, Jr., Buckeye (5-10, 165) – Boone emerged as the top target for the Panthers as the season progressed and proved to be a home-run hitter, catching 52 passes for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was by far the most productive receiver in District 2-3A, earning first-team all-district and averaging 18.3 yards per catch.
Offensive Line: Gage Vercher, Sr., Buckeye (6-2, 285) – An all-district performer on both sides of the ball as a junior, Vercher played almost exclusively along the offensive line this season. He was the best lineman on a team that rushed for almost 2,500 yards and threw for over 2,000 yards and a first-team selection in District 2-3A.
Offensive Line: Cam Calderon, Sr., ASH (5-10, 245) – The Trojans’ center was the most productive and important member of the ASH offensive line. He helped pave the way for Lindsey to achieve the highest single-season rushing total during Thomas Bachman’s eight seasons as head coach and was a first-team all-district selection in District 2-5A.
Offensive Line: Braylen Dusang, Sr., Menard (6-3, 310) – A two-way starter at offensive and defensive tackle, Dusang was the Eagles’ best lineman on a team that ran the ball 75 percent of the time. He opened gaping holes as an offensive lineman and also made 61 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks and two fumble recoveries on defense, earning first-team all-district on both sides of the football.
Offensive Line: Keenan Taylor, Sr., Pineville (6-1, 260) – Taylor is one of several defensive linemen who made the switch to offense this season, and he became the leader of the Rebels’ offensive line. Described by coach Bryant Bell as “the rock” of the offensive line, he consistently graded out as Pineville’s top lineman.
Offensive Line: Jathen Lachney, Sr., Buckeye (6-1, 300) – The Panthers’ most talented defensive lineman, Lachney focused on offense as a senior due to the Panthers’ style of play. He was a second-team selection in District 2-3A and was pivotal in Buckeye’s ability to rush for nearly 2,500 yards and pass for more than 2,000 yards.
Athlete: Dartavin Depass, Sr., Peabody (6-2, 175) – One of the most unique players in Rapides Parish, Depass was equally as good as a running back and a receiver. The District 2-4A Offensive MVP compiled 1,609 all-purpose yards and scored 30 touchdowns, rushing for 786 yards and 22 TDs while catching 43 passes for 820 yards and 8 TDs.
SPECIALISTS
Placekicker/Punter: Ryan Hicks, Sr., Menard (5-10, 160) – An absolute weapon for the Eagles’ special teams, which were key in their district championship run. A first-team selection at both kicker and punter in District 4-2A, Hicks made seven of his nine field goals on the season and missed just one extra-point attempt. He sent 60 percent of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks and averaged 43 yards per punt.
Return Specialist: Darius Washington, Jr., ASH (5-6, 135) – The Trojans’ No. 2 receiver was absolute dynamite with the ball in his hands. A first-team all-district selection as a receiver and second-team return specialist in District 2-5A, he finished the year with 44 catches for 650 yards and five touchdowns while returning a punt 75 yards for a TD against Bonnabel in the playoffs.
Best of the Rest
Quarterback: Adam Brodnax, Jr., Buckeye; Larry Roberts III, Jr., Peabody
Running Back: Travis Adams, Jr., Tioga; Nate Francis, Sr., Peabody
Wide Receiver: Josh Loyd, Sr., Tioga; Bryce Warthen, So., Buckeye
Tight End: Sebastian Molette, Sr., Pineville; Tanner Townsend, Jr., ASH
Offensive Line: Malik Armstead, Jr., Peabody; Jayden Hagger, Jr., Tioga; Caleb Purl, Jr., ASH; Elias Sellers, Jr., Pineville; Devonte Williams, Sr., Bolton
Athlete: A.J. Butler, So., Northwood; Gavin Hilton, Sr., Menard; Jaylin Johnson, Sr., ASH
TOMORROW: The RPJ All-Parish defense
FRIDAY: Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year