For good reason, Leesville was the talk of Vernon Parish this past football season as Xavier Ford led the Wampus Cats to the semifinals for the just the third time in school history.
The Wampus Cats will be rebuilding after losing a talented class of 20 seniors, but other programs Pickering and Rosepine want to make sure Leesville isn’t the only program to talk about as the regular season kicks off this week.
Rosepine gets an early Thursday kickoff as they host Westlake.
Leesville and Pickering will start at home as well Friday.
The Wampus Cats welcome in Sam Houston while Pickering entertains Gueydan.
LEESVILLE
One doesn’t replace running back Xavier Ford and his 8,592 career yards and 120 career touchdowns.
But one important facet to remember about 2024 Leesville is that the passing game complemented the run well.
That nucleus still remains as quarterback Trel Broom threw for more than 2,000 yards with Michael Davis as his top target.
While coach Robert Causey likely won’t turn to air raid offense and abandon the run, it’s possible the passing game takes center stage early while young running backs and offensive line find their way.
The defense might need some protection early this season as well with just two returning starters back (linebacker Jacob Pajina and Masyn Escoffery Williams).
It’ll be a tough haul in the opener against a Class 5A Sam Houston squad that won 56-41 this past season.
But fans will likely get a more accurate measure of what this version of the Wampus Cats will look like the next few weeks against Tioga, Many and Pineville.
PICKERING
Pickering snapped its 23-game losing streak against Gueydan in the opener this past season, and the Red Devils made sure to put a fork in it by winning a total of four games.
Pickering won its final three games this past season, all by big margins against Pine Prairie, Ringgold, and Plain Dealing.
John Daughtery is still bringing this program back in his third season, and the Red Devils won’t be competing for district honors or the playoffs as they continue to customize their schedule.
Guys like Braden Ford, Xavier Mitchell, Hunter Noel, Mariano Bunch and Matthew Blankenship have started each season of Daughtery’s tenure, and they’ll aim to build on last season’s success.
Another win against a Gueydan bunch who is coming off a two-win season would set the tone again for Pickering.
ROSEPINE
Rosepine has just four wins in the last two seasons combined, including just one this past season.
But promoted offensive coordinator David Weldon takes the helm and says the Eagles have already taken steps forward.
The Eagles will likely go as far as running back Barrett Coody will take them, and the offensive and defensive lines return three-year veterans Theodore Wogoman and Patrick Gibson.
The Eagles do return most of their pieces and picked up some athletes from other sports as well.
A six-win Westlake team that won last year’s matchup 50-6 is a tough way to start. Things won’t get much easier against the likes of Grand Lake and Kinder, but the Eagles have time to find their way before a three-game district slate to end the season.