Louisiana Sports Writers Association releases Class 5A all-state team, superlatives

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Acadiana won a second consecutive Class 5A title with standout players on both sides of the ball, but defensive lineman Cameron George ranked among the best.

A 6-foot-2, 240-pound senior, George was named the Class 5A Outstanding Defensive Player on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s All-State football team. The UL commitment showed an ability to defend against the run and pass with 54 total tackles, 11 quarterback sacks, 20 hurries, four pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Acadiana high's Cameron George celebrates his quarterback sack after the play as the Lafayette high Mighty Lions take on the Acadiana high Wreckin' Rams at home on Friday, Nov. 20, 2020.

Other Acadiana players on the all-state team were linebacker Derreck Bercier, defensive back Ian Montz and offensive lineman Justin Babineaux. All are seniors.

Rummel’s Logan Diggs was named the Outstanding Offensive Player. A running back, the Notre Dame commitment averaged 6.6 yards per carry and scored 13 touchdowns – 10 rushing, two receiving and one returning. He totaled 1,077 yards from scrimmage.

Rummel's Logan Diggs runs the ball against Calvary Friday.

His best game came in a Division I quarterfinal loss to Catholic-Baton Rouge, when he scored four of the team’s five touchdowns and rushed for 228 yards in a 42-35 loss.

Alexandria’s Thomas Bachman was named Coach of the Year. The Trojans reached the state title game for the first time in school history and came up short in a 35-34 loss to Acadiana with a failed two-point conversion attempt with little time to play.

The runner-up finish marked the first time a Rapides Parish team advanced that far since 1974.

All-state players from Alexandria were tight end Shield Taylor, quarterback Judd Barton, linebacker Jermain McNeal and defensive back C.J. Kittling. All are seniors.

2020 LSWA CLASS 5A ALL-STATE FOOTBALL CHART

OFFENSE

Pos Player School Ht. Wt. Cl.

WR Chris Hilton Zachary 5-11 175 Sr.

WR Luke Besh Jesuit 6-1 185 Sr.

WR Austin Jackson Brother Martin 5-9 174 Jr.

OL/TE Shield Taylor Alexandria 6-4 235 Sr.

OL Justin Babineaux Acadiana 6-0 225 Sr.

OL Bobby Simpson Byrd 6-0 292 Sr.

OL Emery Jones Catholic 6-5 300 Jr.

OL Mackey Maillho Mandeville 6-8 350 Sr.

QB Judd Barton Alexandria 6-2 185 Sr.

RB Kentravion Hargrove Ruston 5-11 185 Sr.

RB Dylan Sampson Dutchtown 5-10 180 Jr.

RB Logan Diggs Rummel 6-1 190 Sr.

PK Caden Costa Mandeville 6-2 200 Sr.

ATH Jacoby Matthews Ponchatoula 6-1 204 Jr.

DEFENSE

Pos Player School Ht. Wt. Cl.

DL Maason Smith Terrebonne 6-5 315 Sr.

DL Cameron George Acadiana 6-2 240 Sr.

DL Carson Bruno Byrd 6-5 290 Sr.

DL Byron Turner St. Augustine 6-3 235 Sr.

LB Jermaine McNeal Alexandria 5-11 190 Sr.

LB Derreck Bercier Acadiana 5-8 200 Sr.

LB Jake St. Andre Haughton 6-2 220 Sr.

LB Andrew Jones Ehret 6-2 220 Sr.

DB CJ Kittling Alexandria 6-1 180 Sr.

DB Kaine Williams Ehret 6-0 185 Sr.

DB Michael Cerniauskas Catholic 5-11 185 Sr.

DB Ian Montz Acadiana 6-3 180 Sr.

KR Jaylin Lucas Terrebonne 5-9 160 Jr.

P Peyton Todd West Monroe 6-5 210 Sr.

OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER: LOGAN DIGGS, RUMMEL

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: CAMERON GEORGE, ACADIANA

COACH OF THE YEAR: THOMAS BACHMAN, ALEXADRIA

Honorable mention

T.J. Johnson, Alexandria; Andrew Frazier, Pineville; Chavez Brown, Terrebonne; Spencer Boudreaux, Thibodaux; A’avion Pierce, Terrebonne; Dalton Johnson, H.L. Bourgeois; Omiri Wiggins, Acadiana; Trayv’on Culbert, Alexandria; Brian Thomas Jr., Walker; Kendrick Law Jr., Captain Shreve; Landon Ibieta, Mandeville; Kylon Harris, East St. John; Richard Page, Ruston; Thatcher Moorehead, West Monroe; Dylan Dauzart, Alexandria; Cole Jeansonne, Alexandria; Gavin Soniat, East Ascension; Eli Taffi, Destrehan; Luke Alleman, Thibodaux; Garrett Mmahat, Brother Martin; Derome Williams, West Monroe; Markel Linzer, New Iberia; Venzell Thompson, Byrd; William Berry, Byrd; George Hart III, Catholic; Razan Keller, Destrehan; Jaylon Spears, Brother Martin; Marlon Gunn Jr., Scotlandville; Chance Williams, Scotlandville; Jackie Marshall, East St. John; Caleb Phillips, Ruston; Braxton Guilbeau, Southside; Alex Auer, Captain Shreve; Sirlarrius Reed, West Monroe; Jalen Penegar, Ruston; Brock Harvey, West Monroe; Thaos Figaro, Lafayette; Michael Akins, New Iberia; Cade Waites, Benton; Devarrick Woods, Airline; Jerrell Boykins Jr., East Ascension; Christian Mannino, Catholic; Dalton Herbert, Ruston; Oliver Craddock, Lafayette; Caleb Arceneaux, Acadiana; Dylan Gibbs, Destrehan; Kolbe Fields, Rummel; Jason Cooper, West Monroe; Drailun Anthony, Acadiana; Da’Veawn Armstead, Central; Corey Lambert Jr, Brother Martin; Tyler Morton, Destrehan; Elijah Winters, Ponchatoula; Ian Goody, Covington; Austin Patton, Haughton; Kylin Jackson, Zachary; Frank McKevitt, Brother Martin; Arturo Garcia, Brother Martin; Tylie Keasley, St. Augustine; Barryn Sorrell, Holy Cross; Elinus Noel, Curtis; Ardell Reed, Shaw; Caleb Spann, Curtis; Trey LaBranch, Hahnville; Troy Kendrick, Hahnville; Antonio Gayton, West Jefferson; John O’Connor, Mandeville; Michael Nuber, Slidell; Brody Reina, St. Paul’s; Garrett Lauterbach, St. Paul’s; Jacob Frolich, St. Paul’s; Aaron Landry, Ponchatoula; Rickie Collins, Woodlawn-BR; Cole Poirrier, St. Amant; Lanard Harris, Woodlawn-BR.