By BRET H. MCCORMICK, Journal Sports
With Alexandria Senior High’s unbeaten regular season and historic run to the Caesars Superdome, where the Trojans finished as the Division I Select runner-up, the 2024 version of the Rapides Parish Journal’s All-Parish Football Team has a distinctive Trojan feel to it.
ASH landed 11 players on the all-parish team along with all three major award winners.
Senior running back JT Lindsey was selected as the Offensive MVP after rushing for a school-record 2,476 yards with 33 rushing touchdowns and 37 total touchdowns on the season.
The LSU signee was joined by junior teammate Xzavier White as the Defensive MVP. The Trojans’ middle linebacker piled up an astonishing 188 tackles with 15 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and 13 QB hurries.
ASH’s ninth-year head coach, Thomas Bachman, repeated as the parish Coach of the Year after leading the Trojans to a school-record 13 wins along with their first District 2-5A championship, their first trip to the Superdome and their second state runner-up finish in the past five seasons.
Below are the players selected for the all-parish team on both sides of the football based on nominations by parish football coaches and consultation with local sports media members.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Karsen Sellers, So., ASH (6-2, 170) – The Trojans’ first-year signal-caller earned District 2-5A first-team all-district honors after completing 64% of his passes on the season for 1,714 yards with 27 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Running Back: Travis Adams, Sr., Tioga (5-10, 170) – The Indians’ workhorse running back was the brightest spot in a difficult season, carrying the ball 204 times for 1,556 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Running Back: JT Lindsey, Sr., ASH (5-11, 185) – One of the best running backs in the country, Lindsey was the Offensive MVP of District 2-5A and carried the Trojans to the Division I Select state title game, rushing for 2,476 yards on 324 carries. Lindsey averaged 7.6 yards per carry, scored 33 rushing touchdowns and ran for over 200 yards six times on the season. He rushed for 100 or more yards in 13 of 14 games.
Receiver: TJ Hullaby, Sr., Peabody (6-0, 165) – Arguably the top receiver in all of Central Louisiana, Hullaby was Peabody’s most explosive offensive weapon. One of just two returning players from last year’s all-parish offense, the McNeese State commit caught 54 passes for 856 yards with 16 receiving touchdowns and 21 total TDs.
Receiver: Kervin Johnson, Jr., Tioga (6-3, 200) – The Indians’ big-play threat showed flashes of the superstar he might become, catching 49 passes on the season for 733 yards and seven touchdowns.
Receiver: Darius Washington, Sr., ASH (5-6, 135) – Last year’s all-parish return specialist, Washington continued his late-season surge from a year ago and was the Trojans’ leading receiver in 2024 with 59 receptions for 826 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Offensive Line: Malik Armstead, Sr., Peabody (6-2, 230) – The Warhorses’ center earned first-team all-district in District 2-4A after not allowing a sack all season.
Offensive Line: Elias Brazell-Sellers, Sr., Pineville (6-2, 297) – A unanimous selection to the District 2-5A first team, Brazell-Sellers was the Rebels’ best lineman and a powerful run blocker who helped paved the way for Ayden Tate’s 1,000-yard season.
Offensive Line: Jayden Hagger, Sr., Tioga (6-3, 235 lbs) – The best offensive lineman for the Indians, Hagger helped open holes for Travis Adams, Kenny Ponthier and Cace Malone to rush for more than 2,000 yards combined.
Offensive Line: Jakobi Morris, Sr., ASH (6-3, 310) – The Trojans’ right guard was a powerful run blocker for JT Lindsey and was selected to the District 2-5A all-district first team.
Offensive Line: Caleb Purl, Sr., ASH (5-10, 215) – The Trojans’ center was the leader on the offensive line and played much bigger than his size for a unit that was dominant for most of the season.
Athlete: Ayden Tate, Jr., Pineville (5-11, 200) – Tate was the Rebels’ offensive workhorse, playing both tailback and quarterback, and becoming the first Pineville player in more than a decade to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Tate set a school record with 400 rushing yards in the Rebels’ win over Tioga, ran for 100-plus yards in five straight games, and finished the season with 1,075 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line: Ben Good, Sr., Menard (6-1, 240) – The senior defensive end was one of the most productive players on the Eagles’ defense, finishing the season with 59 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Defensive Line: Jordan Mason, Sr., ASH (5-11, 250) – The Trojans’ top defensive lineman and coaches’ all-state selection was a space-eater at nose tackle, taking on double teams and creating lanes for the linebackers to make tackles. Mason finished the season with 59 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Defensive Line: Grayson Thibodeaux, Jr., ASH (6-1, 230) – The junior defensive end was a disruptive force for the Trojans, making 76 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks on the season.
Linebacker: Sam Brocato, So., Menard (5-9, 185) – The Eagles’ star rarely left the field, playing both linebacker and running back. It was on the defensive side of the ball where he excelled, making 93 tackles with three sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
Linebacker: Lamarcus Thirs, Sr., Pineville (5-9, 205) – A first-team all-district selection in District 2-5A, Thirs led the Rebels with 125 tackles on the season, making 15 or more tackles in five games.
Linebacker: Jordan Veal, Sr., Peabody (6-0, 160) – The undersized senior moved from the secondary to linebacker and earned first-team all-district honors in District 2-4A after leading the Warhorses with 106 tackles, including 89 solo, with 10 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and three interceptions.
Linebacker: Xzavier White, Jr., ASH (6-1, 215) – A first-team all-district selection in District 2-5A, White was a tackling machine for the Trojans in 2024. White was selected to the Class 5A coaches’ all-state team after leading ASH with 188 tackles, including 114 solo, with 15 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, adding one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and 13 QB hurries on his way to being named all-parish Defensive MVP.
Safety: Jacob Miranda, Sr., Pineville (6-1, 190) – For the second straight year, Miranda was the Rebels’ best defensive player from his free safety position, making double-digit tackles in each of the team’s final nine games and finishing the year with 120 tackles.
Safety: Kartez Simon, Sr., ASH (5-7, 145) – One of the smallest players on the field for the Trojans may have played with the biggest heart. The senior earned a role as an in-the-box safety and made big play after big play, finishing the season with 79 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two fumbles recoveries and an interception.
Cornerback: Jaden Lewis, Sr., ASH (5-11, 165) – Lewis started the year as the Trojans’ top cornerback before moving around between corner and free safety, making 68 tackles with two forced fumbles and a team-high five interceptions on his way to being selected to the coaches’ all-state team.
Cornerback: Ja’Kyrin Griffin, So., ASH (5-8, 165) – The most versatile member of the Trojans’ defensive backfield, Griffin moved all over the field from cornerback to free safety to strong safety. He finished third on the team with 96 tackles, two tackles for loss, three interceptions, one fumble recovery and a team-high nine pass breakups.
SPECIALISTS
Kicker/Punter: Ethan Bridges, So., Tioga (6-2, 175) – Bridges was a weapon for the Indians on punts, kickoffs and field goals. He kicked 20 touchbacks on the season and had 11 kicks inside the 5-yard line while making seven field goals, including a long of 36 yards, and 45 PATs.
Kick Returner: TJ Hullaby, Sr., Peabody (6-0, 165) – Not only was the McNeese State commitment the Warhorses’ star at receiver, he was also dynamic in the return game, taking two kickoffs back for touchdowns along with one punt.
BEST OF THE REST
Quarterback: Cace Malone, Jr., Tioga; Jake Vaughan, Jr., Menard.
Running Back: Jim Burlew, Sr., Buckeye; Vaughn Darbon, Sr., ASH.
Receiver: Haidyn Boone, Sr., Buckeye; Jimmie Duncan, Sr., ASH.
Tight End: Ryan Reeves, Sr., Tioga; Tanner Townsend, Sr., ASH.
Offensive Line: Dayton Bass, Sr., Pineville; Ryan Desselle, Jr., Buckeye; Tucker Landry, Jr., Tioga; Peter Lofton, So., ASH; Connor Reed, Sr., ASH.
Defensive Line: Peyton Hobbs, Jr., ASH; Elijah Nelson, Sr., ASH; Dailyn Tatum, Jr., Pineville.
Linebacker: Ty Curtis, Jr., Buckeye; Jacob Jeanise, Jr., Menard; Jackson Townsend, So., ASH.
Defensive Back: Corren Coleman, Jr., Peabody; Briant Dearborne, Sr., Pineville; Jay Frazier, Jr., ASH; Jackson Spradling, Sr., Buckeye.
Athlete: A.J. Butler, Jr., Northwood; Ty Sanders, Sr., Pineville; Kolt Vercher, Jr., Buckeye.