Davon Godchaux motors up recruiting charts

Advocate staff photo by HEATHER McCLELLAND --  Plaquemine High School's Davon Godchaux plays defense against Lutcher High School on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012.

PLAQUEMINE — It’s all about the motor for Davon Godchaux. The Plaquemine High School senior-to-be is no aspiring mechanic. While he works to rev up his “motor” for every play, speculation about where it may take him only grows. On Saturday, Alabama became the 26th school to offer the 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive lineman a … Continue reading →

Leonard Fournette’s father keeps family’s focus on the future

Advocate staff photo by MATTHEW HINTON -- Running back Leonard Fournette III poses with his father, Leonard Jr., at the St. Augustine High School football spring scrimmage at Tad Gormley Stadium on Saturday, May 25, 2013.

For the past five years, Leonard Fournette Jr. has roused his sons at the ungodly time of 4:45 a.m. to drive them from their Slidell home to St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. That’s where Leonard III has blossomed into the nation’s No. 1 running back prospect going into his senior year. And it’s where … Continue reading →

Baton Rouge All-Metro baseball team, Class 3A and below

BEN CHAUVIN, Family Christian Led Family Christian to its second straight Class C state title by compiling a 10-2 record to go along with a .494 batting average with 13 doubles, 7 home runs and 37 runs batted in. BURKE BROUSSARD, University Continue reading →

Davon Godchaux gets scholarship offer from Alabama

Advocate staff photo by HEATHER McCLELLAND -- Plaquemine's Davon Godchaux plays defense against Lutcher on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012.

Plaquemine High School defensive lineman Davon Godchaux said he received a scholarship offer from Alabama on Saturday. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound senior-to-be got the offer while he was in Tuscaloosa, Ala. “It was during (their summer) camp,” Godchaux said. “In fact, it was right in the middle of it. I was excited.” It was the … Continue reading →

Harris-led Texas rallies past Louisiana in Bayou Bowl

BAYTOWN, Texas — Everything was going to plan for the Louisiana All-Stars. Louisiana had an eight-point lead in the third quarter and momentum on its side in the Bayou Bowl. That is when Dulles High School quarterback Robert Harris rode to the rescue. After watching Ricky Fisk lead the Texas All-Stars to just … Continue reading →

Donaldsonville’s Leondre James commits to Tulane

Donaldsonville High School quarterback Leondre James committed to Tulane on Friday after attending a one-day camp hosted by the Green Wave at its practice facility. The 6-foot, 175-pound senior-to-be is being recruited to play wide receiver. At Tulane, he’ll follow in the footsteps of former DHS teammate Devon Breaux, who will be a redshirt freshman … Continue reading →

Fambrough: Where does LHSAA go from here?

There are times I use this column to explain things or to tell a special story. This week I have a confession to make. Writing a column about the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s recent summer meeting and all the factors that went into it has been frustrating. In my own way, I feel a little … Continue reading →

Busy summer ahead for tennis standout Kennan Johnson

Advocate staff photo by BILL FEIG -- Kennan Johnson returns a shot during practice.

Kennan Johnson is set to spend time on tennis courts in Mobile, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn.; San Diego and, if things go her way, the National Tennis Center in New York. A senior-to-be at Ascension Christian who won the Division V, Class 1A and below girls state championship in May, Johnson is the second-ranked girl in Louisiana … Continue reading →

Louisiana team hopes to use speed at Bayou Bowl

Advocate file photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER -- Brusly quarterback Jay Christophe breaks away from St. Charles defenders during a game Sept. 17. Christophe will play for the Louisiana all-stars at the Bayou Bowl in Baytown, Texas.

Louisiana head coach Brett Lemoine isn’t promising a win. But the Neville High-Monroe offensive coordinator believes his team enters the 11th Bayou Bowl as ready as it possibly can be. “I think we got a lot out of these guys, considering we only had five practices,” Lemoine said. “When you put a group together like this, you … Continue reading →

Covington High hires Greg Salter as football coach

COVINGTON — Becoming a head football coach would normally be a daunting task. But when you’re taking over at a place whose stadium bears your grandfather’s name, the load can be even greater. Such is the case for Greg Salter. The eldest of 19 grandchildren of longtime Covington High football coach Jack Salter will take over the … Continue reading →

Future Southland rivals get chance to shine at Bayou Bowl

Advocate staff photo by BRYAN TUCK -- Eunice's Trenon Trosclair rears back to throw during a game against Rayne on Oct. 26. Trosclair, who will play for the Louisiana all-stars in Saturday's Bayou Bowl, will be a safety at Southeastern Louisiana this fall.

For competitive and social reasons, high school athletes are told to relish the chance to play in an all-star game. The chance to make friends is one thing. For Khalil Thomas, Trenon Trosclair and Jeremy Arnold, the 11th Bayou Bowl also is a Southland Conference thing. “We’ve only been together a couple of days, and I … Continue reading →

LHSAA releases football title game schedule

Advocate file photoLouisiana High School Athletic Association Commissioner Kenny Henderson

It took less than a week for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to come up with a plan for its nine football championships after finaliazing its playoff format. The LHSAA announced its schedule and game times for for Dec. 12-14 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans in a press release. Three games will be … Continue reading →

Bayou Bowl football all-star game trims roster, practices

Brusly QB Jay Christophe is chased by St. John's Quinton Alexander as he turns the corner on a keeper.

The 11th Bayou Bowl could also be called Bayou Bowl Light. Teams will have one less day of practice and there will be four fewer players on each roster for the annual Louisiana versus Texas all-star football game set for 7:07 p.m. Saturday at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown, Texas. Players for both the Louisiana squad and … Continue reading →

Baton Rouge All-Metro Baseball: Class 5A-4A

Advocate staff photo by SCOTT THRELKELD -- Catholic's Jordan Romero runs the championship trophy past fans after their 3-2 win over Zachary Sunday, May 12, 2013, during the Class 5A championship at Tulane's Turchin Stadium.

Outstanding Player JORDAN ROMERO Catholic Helped power the 21st-seeded Bears to the Class 5A state title with his defensive play and by hitting .439 with 15 doubles, seven home runs and 42 RBIs. Continue reading →

Alexandria wide receiver D.J. Chark commits to LSU

Photo by The Town Talk -- Pineville's DeEldrick Taylor (left) chases down Alexandria High's D.J. Chark as Chark runs into the end zone Friday, Sept. 21, 2012

In a state stocked with top-flight receiver talent this recruiting cycle, it came as a surprise that LSU’s first in-state receiver commitment came Monday from Alexandria Senior High’s D.J. Chark. Now it will be Chark’s turn to surprise LSU recruiting fans who may suddenly be jittery that his pledge will make it more difficult for the Tigers … Continue reading →

Live Oak names new athletic director, boys basketball coach

Filling two positions on the Live Oak High School coaching staff turned into an inside and out job. First, Principal Tracy McRae selected assistant football coach Vincent Argrave to be the school’s athletic director. And then Argrave was part of the process that led to Woodlawn High assistant Cary Verges being hired as the Eagles’ boys basketball coach. Continue reading →

2012-13 all-metro girls soccer team

Live Oak's Charity Simmons

Overall Most Valuable Player CHARITY SIMMONS Live Oak, Sr. Finished the season with 36 goals and nine assists, leading the Eagles to a Division I playoff berth. Offensive MVP Continue reading →

Finalized first split playoff plan gets mixed reaction

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER --  Dutchtown's head coach Benny Saia: 'My problem with this system is that you’re punishing some people who don’t deserve it.'

Word the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s executive committee finalized its first split football playoff format Thursday has elicited multiple emotions. Some questions linger about the plan and the future even as the LHSAA is set to have five nonselect school football champions and four select school champions in 2013. Notre Dame-Crowley football coach Lewis … Continue reading →

Paul Varnado promoted to St. Michael football coach

New St. Michael the Archangel coach Paul Varnado

St. Michael the Archangel Principal Ellen Lee said she was pleased with the list of applicants who wanted to become the school’s football coach. But as the candidates were interviewed, Lee said it became apparent that the best person for the job already was in place. So Saturday, she announced that assistant head coach Paul Varnado would be the … Continue reading →

LHSAA announces scholarship winners

A group of athletes with ties to Baton Rouge, New Orleans, the Acadiana and Houma-Thibodaux areas are among the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s scholarship program winners. Scholarship winners will be honored during the Louisiana High School Coaches Association’s summer clinic July 23-25 at the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge. Scotlandville’s Orrin Butler (Fox Sports), … Continue reading →

A few minutes with: Ronda Richardson

Advocate staff photo by Heather McClelland --  Ronda Richardson was appointed to be a Louisiana High School Sports Association assistant director during the LHSAA meeting in the LHSAA office in Baton Rouge Wednesday, June 5, 2013.

Ronda Richardson, 51, was introduced as the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s newest assistant director at its summer meetings last week. She begins work Aug. 1. She was LaSalle High’s principal for eight years and previously served on the LHSAA’s executive committee and has 23 years’ experience in education. She joins B.J. Guzzardo and Keith Alexander in … Continue reading →

By running elite camps, Rivals gains upper hand

Woodbridge (Va.) High defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand .AP

NEW YORK — As recruiting coverage becomes more competitive, Rivals.com has come up with a way to help separate itself from the pack. Already one of the most successful and popular spots on the Internet for recruiting news, Rivals.com is now in the business of running camps for highly recruited football prospects. There have … Continue reading →

LHSAA meeting finishes with some tidying up

Advocate Staff Photo by Heather McClelland -- Louisiana High School Athletic Association President Todd Guice, second from right, speaks during the Wednesday session of the this week's LHSAA meeting. On Friday, Guice said he thought the three-day session went great.

It was more like spring cleaning when the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s executive committee ended its summer meeting Friday morning by hearing reports and tying up loose ends. Less than a day after the LHSAA panel finalized the select schools format for its first split football championships set for the fall, topics shifted to less controversial … Continue reading →

LSWA All-State Track and Field Team

Below is the 2013 LSWA All-State Track and Field Team, selected by Bruce Brown in conference with LSWA members. BOYS Running events 100 meters: Chris Lewis, Lakeside, 10.46; Sherman Badie, John Curtis, 10.59; Michael Larkins, Haughton, 10.63; Richard Allen, John Curtis, 10.63; Jeryl … Continue reading →

LHSAA approves select school football plan

Advocate staff file photo by RUSTY COSTANZA --  Parkview Baptist celebrates their 42-7 victory over Notre Dame to win the Class 3A championship in 2012 LHSAA State Farm Prep Classic at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s executive committee approved a select school football playoff plan for the fall that will consist of four divisions at its Thursday afternoon meeting. Central Catholic-Morgan City Principal Vic Bonnaffee proposed leaving the 10 Division I-Class 5A schools together in one division. His proposal, which passed with a voice vote, calls for … Continue reading →

LHSAA holds off on football decision

Advocate staff photo by Heather McClelland School Relations Committee Chairman Mike Boyer makes a presentation during the Louisiana High School Athletic Association meeting Wednesday at the LHSAA office in Baton Rouge.

Decisions were made on two-year sites for some state championship events when the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s executive committee opened its annual summer meeting Wednesday. Possible options for the LHSAA’s looming split football playoffs were discussed. At the behest of LHSAA President Todd Guice of Ouachita Parish High, the executive committee took another night to study … Continue reading →

LHSAA tackles football playoffs, other issues

Advocate staff photo by RUSTY COSTANZA -- Archbishop High School's quarterback Damian Williams runs for a touchdown against Mandeville High School during a Class 5A semifinal playoff game at Joe Yenni Stadium.

While en route to Tuesday’s meeting of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s school-relations committee, Zachary High Principal Wes Watts expressed optimism. It’s the route, however, the LHSAA’s executive committee will take to make key decisions about its split football playoff plan for 2013 that has just about everyone guessing going into Wednesday’s LHSAA summer meeting. Continue reading →

Cleotha Johnigan new Pointe Coupee Central coach

Most high school coaches aspire to coach on a classification higher than Class 1A. Pointe Coupee Central’s Cleotha Johnigan Jr. provides an exception to the traditional coaching rules in several ways. The 40-year-old Johnigan took over as PCC’s football coach last week after spending six seasons as an assistant at the school. “To be honest … Continue reading →

Movie makes itself at home in Joe Yenni Stadium

Advocate Staff Photo by Eliot Kamenitz----The movie When The Game Stands Tall films in Yenni Stadium at East Jefferson High School on Tuesday, June 4, 2013. Jim Caviezel,who portrays legendary Coach Bob Ladouceur is the star of the film. Caviezel stands infront of a scoreboard made up for the movie while he waits to meet the Press.

For decades, Joe Yenni Stadium has been home to many football teams throughout East Jefferson Parish. For these few weeks, it’s home to the De La Salle Spartans of Concord, Calif., and lots of movie cameras. Film crews have taken over the stadium and much of the gym as they continue shooting, “When the Game Stands Tall,” … Continue reading →

Football playoffs highlight LHSAA meetings agenda

Advocate staff file photo by RUSTY COSTANZA --  Parkview Baptist celebrates their 42-7 victory over Notre Dame to win the Class 3A championship in 2012 LHSAA State Farm Prep Classic at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Since January, when Louisiana High School Athletic Association member principals passed a proposal that mandates split football championships, there have been several notable meetings and dates. The next big date looming is Wednesday. That’s when the LHSAA’s executive committee begins its annual three-day summer meeting at the organization’s offices. It also could be the day when the LHSAA board … Continue reading →

LHSAA summer meeting

m Decide whether to go with Proposal 18 as approved by member principals, with five nonselect divisions and two select divisions, or to opt for five nonselect and five select divisions as recommended by school relations committee. Other combinations also could be considered. m Determine which LHSAA-member … Continue reading →

Baseball Jared Poche’s first love

Advocate file  photo by BRYAN TUCK Lutcher's Jared Poche posted an 11-0 record an 0.80 ERA on the way to helping his team win the Class 4A state title.

Lutcher High School has always been known for football. But when Jared Poche decided to give up football before his senior season, the community understood. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Poche was pursuing a dream that turned into a dream season for the Lutcher baseball team. “I always loved playing football, but I don’t love football the way … Continue reading →

Time for football coaches to fill out questionnaires

Now that the spring sports seasons are over, planning for the fall football has begun for coaches, players and yes, even newspapers. The Advocate is asking coaches to fill out its online questionnaire located on our website at theadvocate.com. Click sports and high schools and the form is located on the left side of the high schools … Continue reading →

All-district baseball teams

MAIS District 6-2A Pitchers: Chase Martin, Central Private; Brennan Fucich, Central Private; Colby Shaw, Centreville; Peyton Moody. Silliman Catcher: Tyler Boyd, Silliman. Infielders: Blake Benoit, Central Private; Russ Smith, Bowling Green; … Continue reading →

Sam Houston's Baylee Corbello named Miss Softball again

Advocate staff photo by CATHERINE THRELKELDSam Houston  Baylee Corbello made her biggest pitching contribution in the playoffs because of a preseason rib injury. As a designated hitter she hit. 459.

A preseason rib injury turned Baylee Corbello into only a hitter for most of the season. But when playoffs began, the senior was back at home in the pitching circle, leading Sam Houston High to a third consecutive state softball title. Corbello struck out 16 in an 8-0 shutout win over Mount Carmel Academy in the Class … Continue reading →

Broadmoor looking for coaches in several sports

Advocate staff photo by ELIOT KAMENITZ --- Broadmoor's coach  Terrence Gillette talks with player Shantrell Lumar as Broadmoor plays at  Warren Easton in a  girls basketball playoff game.  âMAGS OUT / INTERNET  OUT/ONLINE OUT/NO SALES/TV OUT/FOREIGN OUT/ LOUISIANA BUSINESS INC./GREATER BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT/225/10/12/IN REGISTER/LBI CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS OUT/  MANDATORY CREDIT THE ADVOCATE/ELIOT KAMENITZ

What will be a year of transition has started with a summer of job openings for Broadmoor High football coach/athletic director Rusty Price. Broadmoor, which moves back to Class 5A this fall for first time in a decade, is seeking applicants to fill four head coaching positions — head baseball, softball, girls basketball, and boys basketball. … Continue reading →

Scobel to make appeal to get his Covington post back

Covington Two days after being told he would not remain the coach of the Covington High football team, Malter Scobel said he was in the process of appealing the decision to the St. Tammany Federation of Teachers. Incoming Principal Roslyn Hanson informed Scobel on Tuesday morning that his five-year tenure at the … Continue reading →

Scobel no longer Covington football coach

C ovington Less than a week into summer break for St. Tammany Parish schools and just three months before the start of football season, Covington High is looking for a new coach. Incoming Principal Roslyn Hanson informed Malter Scobel on Tuesday morning that his five-year tenure at the helm of the Lions … Continue reading →

Class 5A All-State baseball, softball teams

Baseball Pos Player School Cl Stats P Ross Massey Catholic So. 8-1 P Sloan Dieter Barbe Sr. 8-2 P Evan Tidwell Zachary Sr. 10-2 P Brooks Vial Hahnville Sr. 7-2 C Jordan Romero Catholic Sr. .455 1B Kade Granier Destrehan Jr. .411 2B Bryce Laird Covington Sr. .352 Continue reading →