Evangel’s Houston, Karr’s Anderson top LSWA Class 5A football team

Although he didn’t lead his 2025 team to the promised land in New Orleans, Evangel quarterback Peyton “Pop” Houston showed enough talent to earn Outstanding Offensive Player honors on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State team.

Houston was joined by Karr senior Richard Anderson, who was named Outstanding Defensive Player, and Ouachita Parish’s Benjy Lewis, the Coach of the Year honoree.

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The indomitable Houston, an LSU commitment, threw for 3,836 yards and 42 TDs while rushing for 942 additional yards and 12 more scores. The Eagles won District 1-5A, advanced to the LHSAA quarterfinals and finished 9-3 overall under the junior’s guidance.

Karr ran roughshod over opponents in the playoffs to win an LHSAA state title, with Anderson leading the way. The 6-foot-4, 330-pound LSU signee collected 53 tackles, 10 sacks, 22 quarterback hurries, a pair of fumble recoveries and a pick-6 in 2025.

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1A ALL-STATE: Haynesville’s Franklin, Washington top LSWA Class 1A All-State squad

The surprise of the 5A level playoffs was Ouachita Parish (11-4), which finished fifth in salty District 2-5A, but completed the season with a state title after narrowly defeating district rival Ruston in the Superdome. That earned top coaching honors for Lewis after taking a 14-seed to the top of the mountain. The Lions won their first state title since 1989.

Class 5A All-State

Offense

Pos, player, school, ht., wt., cl.

WR Chantz Babineaux, Carencro, 5-11, 200, Sr.

WR Easton Royal, Brother Martin, 5-11, 190, Jr.

TE Ahmad Hudson, Ruston, 6-8, 242, Jr.

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OL Brooks Brown, Ruston, 6-4, 216, Sr.

OL Ty George, West Monroe, 6-3, 330, Sr.

OL O’Ryan Mosley, Terrebonne, 6-3, 305, Sr.

OL Leon Noil, Karr, 6-4, 270, Sr.

OL Blaise Thomassie Catholic-BR, 6-5, 290, Sr.

QB Peyton Houston, Evangel Christian, 5-10, 200, Jr.

RB Malachi Dabney, Destrehan, 5-9, 185, Jr.

RB M.J. Dade, Ouachita, 5-5, 161, Sr.

RB Tre Garrison, Karr, 5-11, 190, Sr.

ATH John Johnson, Karr, 5-11, 190, Sr.

PK Asher Murray, Byrd, 5-10, 176, Sr.

Defense

Pos, player, school, ht., wt., cl.

DL Richard Anderson, Karr, 6-4, 330, Sr.

DL Dylan Berymon, Ouachita, 6-2, 320, Sr.

DL Darryus McKinley, Acadiana, 6-3, 275, Sr.

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DL Ra’Keem Potts, Ruston, 5-10, 224, Sr.

LB Jeffrey Curtis, John Curtis, 5-9, 200, Sr.

LB Damari Drake, Evangel Christian, 6-0, 215, Sr.

LB Dylan Shelmire, Zachary, 6-0, 215, Sr.

LB Xzavier White, Alexandria, 6-1, 240, Sr.

DB Blaine Bradford, Catholic-BR, 6-1, 207 Sr.

DB Julian Burns, Neville, 6-3, 196, Sr.

DB Aidan Hall, Karr, 6-2, 200 Sr.

DB Hayward Howard, Karr, 6-2, 185, Sr.

P Owen Oliver, Terrebonne, 5-10, 185, Sr.

ATH Wydell Clark, Ouachita, 5-9, 155, Sr.

RS Kenny Darby, Airline, 6-0, 175, Sr.

OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Peyton Houston, Evangel Christian

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Richard Anderson, Karr

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COACH OF THE YEAR: Benjy Lewis, Ouachita

Honorable mention

Charley Abraham, Evangel Christian; Quincy Adams, Terrebonne; Cameron Allen, Southside; Jayden Anding, Ruston; Bo Armstrong, Barbe; Isaias Avalos, Acadiana; Cooper Babin, St. Amant; Tadan Bingham, Terrebonne; Jamieon Brown, Lafayette; Romeo Brown, Karr; Tyree Bruer, Bonnabel; Gary Burney, Parkway; Ethan Cabos, Jesuit; Jake Cain, Natchitoches Central; Andre Campbell, Captain Shreve; Geo Carter, Thibodaux; Marvin Causey, Bonnabel; Alvin Celestin, Terrebonne; Mason Coleman, Terrebonne; Emanual Collins, Southside; Montrell Conner Jr., Ouachita; Cody Corales, St. Paul’s; Vashaun Coulon, St. Augustine; Brandon Craig, Haughton; Tyray Darensburg, Chalmette; Trez Davis, West Monroe; Ashton Dawson, Evangel Christian; John Russel Demoss, Catholic-BR; Shawn Devers, Captain Shreve; Colin DiBetta, Acadiana; Ty Dominique, St. Augustine; Derrick Dunbar, Covington; Jeremiah Epps, Airline; Mister Finney, Carencro; Carlos Flemings Jr., Slidell; Cameron Florent, Destrehan; Alex Fontenot, Alexandria; Gabe Ford, Prairieville; Zaiden Foster, Liberty; Eli Fung, Alexandria; Travis Gallien, Acadiana; Tony Gladney, Parkway; Syre Gilmore, St. Augustine; Da’Jean Golmond, Denham Springs; Da’Sean Golmond, Denham Springs; Ian Gray, Byrd; Jelandon Gray, Barbe; Malik Grayson, Neville; Chris Green, Parkway; JaKyrin Griffin, Alexandria; Jordin Griffin, Barbe; Savoy Guidry, Holy Cross; E.J. Hanney, Sam Houston; Graham Harris, Central; Mitch Harris, Archbishop Rummel; Dylan Henry, Mandeville; Da’John Howard, Salmen; Carlin Kinchen, Archbishop Rummel; Braylen Jackson, Airline; Royaun Jackson, Huntington; Quincy Jackson, Bonnabel; Connor Jarreau, Thibodaux; Jake Jarreau, Central; Ethan Johnson, Haughton; Roderick Johnson, Parkway; Jermiah Jones, Thibodaux; Harrison Kidder, Catholic-BR; Ethan Kimmie, Zachary; Micah Levy, East Ascension; Jeremy Lowe, Natchitoches Central; Prentice Mackyeon, John Curtis; Brady McCluskey, Brother Martin; Jabari Mack, Destrehan; DeAndre Mansfield, Ouachita; Kevin Martin, Karr; Brysten Martinez, East Ascension; Van Martinez, Neville; Christian Maxie, Byrd; Brandon Mays, Captain Shreve; Tyrone Morgan, Woodlawn-BR; Jayden Miles, Catholic-BR; Josiah Morgan, Ruston; Damiere Mouton, Southside; Brenton Paul, Denham Springs; Bryon Perrilliat, Riverdale; Jaedon Phillips, Warren Easton; Jamarcea Plater, Captain Shreve; Christian Ponti, West Monroe; Dylan Post, St. Paul’s; Dalen Powell, Ruston; Jayden Reed, Neville; Parker Robinson, Neville; Karsen Sellers, Alexandria; Andrew Shofstahl, St. Paul’s; Albert Simien, Sam Houston; Ke’Rynn Smith, Holy Cross; Owen Smith, Natchitoches Central; Bennett Speer, Evangel Christian; Jackson Speer, Evangel Christian; Jaden Terrance, Archbishop Rummel; Xavier Villamor, Benton; A.J. Washington, Ouachita; Miguel Whitley, St. Augustine; Greg Wilfred, Karr; Kason Williams, Alexandria; Ray’Quan Williams, St. Augustine; Mason Willis, West Monroe; Keithon Womack, Central; Eric Veal, McDonogh 35; J.D. Yates, Airline; Ze’Land Young, Neville; Marques Zenon, Mandeville.

Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana high school football Class 5A All-State team