ST. MARTIN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE NAMED GATORADE LOUISIANA FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (December 6, 2024) — In its 40th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Harlem Berry of St. Martin’s Episcopal School is the 2024-25 Gatorade Louisiana Football Player of the Year. Berry is the first Gatorade Louisiana Football Player of the Year to be chosen from St. Martin’s Episcopal School.
Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The award distinguishes Berry as Louisiana’s best high school football player, and he joins an impressive group of alumni that spans CEOs, coaches and star athletes such as Emmitt Smith (1986-87, Escambia High School, Fl.), Peyton Manning (1993-94, Isidore Newman School, La.) and DJ Lagway (2023-24, Willis High School, Texas).
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior running back and free safety rushed for 2,178 yards and 41 touchdowns this past season, leading the Saints (9-3) to the second round of the Division IV Select State Tournament. Berry ran for more than 100 yards in all 12 games and averaged 12.7 yards per carry. Defensively, he recorded 25 tackles, forced three fumbles and blocked a field goal. A three-time First Team All-State selection, he concluded his prep football career with 8,571 rushing yards and 132 touchdowns.
A member of the St. Martin’s Black Student Union, Berry has volunteered locally at Holy Name elementary school and has donated his to multiple community service initiatives through his church. “Harlem has been the best player on that football team since his freshman year,” said Lee Roussel, head coach of Riverside Academy. “His elite speed is what makes him scary with the football. He can impact the game anywhere he lines up.”
Berry has maintained a B average in the classroom. At the time of his selection, he had made a verbal commitment to receive athletic aid to play football at Louisiana State University next fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states across 12 different high school sports – football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field – and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Berry joins recent Gatorade Louisiana Football Players of the Year Ju’Juan Johnson (2023-24, Lafayette Christian Academy), Arch Manning (2022-23, Isidore Newman School), Landry Lyddy (2021-22, Calvary Baptist Academy) and Walker Howard (2020-21, St. Thomas More High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.
As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $5.6 million in grants to winners across more than 2,000 organizations.
To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com or follow us on social media on Instagram at instagram.com/Gatorade, Facebook at facebook.com/GatoradePOY and X(Twitter) at x.com/Gatorade.
HAMMOND, La. – A total of 13 student-athletes agreed to continue their academic and athletic endeavors as members of the Southeastern Louisiana University football program, SLU head coach Frank Scelfo announced on Wednesday’s National Signing Day.
The 2025 Lion signing class includes seven defensive players and six offensive players, adding to a Southeastern roster that just finished 7-5 overall and 6-1 in Southland Conference play, closing out the season by winning six of its final seven games.
“We went into this recruiting period looking not necessarily to fill specific needs, but to find the best players that fit what we do,” Scelfo commented. “We found 13 young men who fit into our program, not only with their play on the field, but as student-athletes who will buy into our culture and be solid academically.”
On the defensive side of the ball, SLU added four defensive linemen in BJ Ausmer (6-3, 230, Ocean Springs, Mississippi), Laramie Guidry (6-6, 235, Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Gabriel Harvey (6-3, 230, Watson, Louisiana) and Etison Pholo (6-2, 275, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada). Southeastern also added defensive backs Carter Byrd (6-1, 190, Gulf Shores, Alabama) and Jakyri Jones (5-10, 190, Monroe, Georgia), as well as linebacker Tanner Spears (6-0, 200, Amite, Louisiana).
The Lions brings in five playmakers on offense in wide receivers Aamir Ellis (6-0, 170, Locust Grove, Georgia) and Kyree Paul (5-9, 165, Baton Rouge, Louisiana), running backs Deantre Jackson (5-8, 165, Marrero, Louisiana) and Calvin “CJ” Smith Jr. (5-11, 210, Boutte, Louisiana) and tight end Lonnie Shinn (6-5, 235, Columbus, Mississippi). Rounding out the Lion offensive haul is powerful offensive lineman Deshawn Feazell (6-2, 330, Moss Point, Mississippi).
“We made a commitment going into this past season to get more athletic on both sides of the ball and it showed,” Scelfo said. “We continued that direction with this class. We were looking to increase our team speed and get longer. We were able to accomplish those goals with the group we signed today.”
Feazell, Guidry, Harvey, Jackson, Jones, and Pholo will all enroll at Southeastern for the spring semester and participate in spring practice, which starts March 11. The Lions will open the 2025 season at Louisiana Tech Aug. 30.
2025 Southeastern Football Signing Class
BJ Ausmer | DE | 6-3 | 230 | Ocean Springs, Miss. | Ocean Springs HS
Carter Byrd | DB | 6-1 | 190 | Gulf Shores, Ala. | Gulf Shores HS
Aamir Ellis | WR | 6-0 | 170 | Locust Grove, Ga. | Locust Grove HS
Deshawn Feazell | OL | 6-2 | 330 | Moss Point, Miss. | Moss Point HS*
Laramie Guidry | DE | 6-6 | 235 | Baton Rouge, La. | Naval Academy Preparatory School/University Lab HS*
Gabriel Harvey | DE | 6-3 | 230 | Watson, La. | Live Oak HS*
Lonnie Shinn | TE | 6-5 | 235 | Columbus, Miss. | New Hope HS
Calvin “CJ” Smith Jr. | RB | 5-11 | 210 | Boutte, La. | Hahnville HS
Tanner Spears | LB | 6-0 | 200 | Amite, La. | Oak Forest Academy
* – Will enroll at SLU for spring semester and participate in spring practice
BJ Ausmer | DE | 6-3 | 230 | Ocean Springs, Miss. | Ocean Springs HS Led the state of Mississippi and ranked 17th nationally with 22 sacks as a senior at Ocean Springs High School … The 2024 Region 4-7A Player of the Year recorded 83 tackles (65 solo), 41 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a blocked field goal and scored two touchdowns for the Greyhounds.
Southeastern head football coach Frank Scelfo on Ausmer: “He can be special as he continues to develop physically. He’s an edge rusher with a lot of production. He fits the mold of successful pass rushers in our league.”
Carter Byrd | DB | 6-1 | 190 | Gulf Shores, Ala. | Gulf Shores HS Finished senior season at Gulf Shores High School with 77 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two pass breakups and an interception … As a junior, totaled 110 stops with five interceptions, 10 pass breakups and seven tackles for loss for the Class 5A state champion Dolphins … High school teammate of current Lion Otto Brewer III.
Scelfo on Byrd: “Carter is an athletic safety. He has great range and length and can really cover the field.”
Aamir Ellis | WR | 6-0 | 170 | Locust Grove, Ga. | Locust Grove HS
Standout performer at both wide receiver and defensive back at Locust Grove High School … Projects as a wide receiver for SLU … Also a standout on Locust Grove track and field team.
Scelfo on Ellis: “Aamir is an outstanding receiver. He’s got great speed and can take the top off the defense. Aamir has really good hands and makes a lot of plays with his ability to rack up yards after the catch.”
Deshawn Feazell | OL | 6-2 | 330 | Moss Point, Miss. | Moss Point HS
Multi-time All-State performer at Moss Point High School … Powerful interior lineman also represented the Tigers on the 8-4A Super 22 Team … Will enroll at Southeastern for the spring semester and participate in spring practice.
Scelfo on Feazell: “We’re excited to get Deshawn here in January for spring practice. He’s a powerful guy who fits what we’re looking for from our offensive lineman from an athleticism stand point. He can pull and get out on the perimeter, but also plays with a lot of strength.”
Laramie Guidry | DE | 6-6 | 235 | Baton Rouge, La. | Naval Academy Preparatory School/University Lab HS
Signed with Navy out of high school and spent the 2024 season at the Naval Academy Preparatory School … First team all-state, all-district and all-metro selection as a senior at University Lab … Started prep career at The Dunham School, where he also excelled on the basketball court … Will enroll at Southeastern in January and participate in spring practice.
Scelfo on Guidry: “We recruited Laramie out of high school and we’re glad to get him to come back to Louisiana. He’s a long defensive lineman that has a lot of tools to build on.”
Gabriel Harvey | DE | 6-3 | 230 | Watson, La. | Live Oak HS
All-district and All-Parish performer at Live Oak High School … Finished with 49 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five sacks as a junior … January enrollee will participate in spring practice.
Scelfo on Harvey: “Gabe came to our camp this summer and really impressed us. He’s athletics and gets around the edge well. Gabe is going to get bigger and stronger in our program.”
Returns to Southeastern after spending the fall at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, where he rushed for 682 yards and eight touchdowns … Played for the Lions in 2023, rushing for 243 yards on the season, including an 81-yard touchdown run in a win at Northwestern State … Had a 40-yard kickoff return in a SLC road win at then-Texas A&M-Commerce and averaged 25.2 yards per kick return as a true freshman … Standout running back at Edna Karr High School … Three-time All-State performer for the EKHS track and field team … Nickname is “The Jet” … Will enroll at SLU in January and participate in spring practice.
Scelfo on Jackson: “We knew what we had in Deantre and we’re glad to get him back now that he’s taken care of what he needed to academically. He adds an element of speed to our running back room and we’re excited to have him rejoin our program.”
Jakyri Jones | DB | 5-10 | 190 | Monroe, Ga. | Georgia Military College/Monroe Area HS
Finished with 55 tackles, five tackles for loss, an interception and three pass breakups in two seasons at Georgia Military College … Recorded 107 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, seven sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions as a senior at Monroe Area High School … Was also a standout on the MAHS basketball team … Will enroll at SLU in January and participate in spring practice. Scelfo on Jones: “Jakyri is a physical player and his skill set jumps out on film. He attacks the football and he’s someone we expect to come in and compete for a starting position in the secondary immediately.”
All-state return specialist and first team all-district 6-4A on offense, defense and special teams in his first season of high school football last season at Istrouma High School … Rushed for 1,365 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023, while also returning six kickoffs or punts for touchdowns and catching three scores … Played multiple positions on the way to leading Istrouma to first trip to state quarterfinals in over two decades as a senior … Expected to be a wide receiver at SLU.
Scelfo on Paul: “Kyree is explosive with the ball in his hands. He played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, cornerback and returned punts and kickoffs at Istrouma. Kyree has a chance to be a really special player here at Southeastern.”
Spent senior season at McCallie High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee … Canada native spent junior season at Clearwater Academy International, where he was teammates with current Lions Evan Aubrey, Isaiah Hayes and Louis Gendron … Started prep career at St. Joseph’s High School in native Ontario … Will enroll in SLU in January and will participate in spring practice.
Scelfo on Pholo: “Etison is a good addition for our defensive line and we can never have enough big guys. He moves well and is athletic, while also playing with power. He’s someone who can hold the point of attack for us.”
Lonnie Shinn | TE | 6-5 | 235 | Columbus, Miss. | New Hope HS
First team All-District as a junior at New Hope High School … Also named team’s offensive MVP … Standout in both football and basketball for the Trojans.
Scelfo on Shinn: “Lonnie is a tall, rangy tight end that fits the mold of we’ve had at that position. He’s athletic and can block, but also can stretch the field with his ability to catch the football.”
Calvin “CJ” Smith Jr. | RB | 5-11 | 210 | Boutte, La. | Hahnville HS Powerful running back at Hahnville High School … Rushed for 264 yards and four touchdowns in first round playoff win over H.L. Bourgeois, earning Friday Night Football and Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club Prep Player of the Week honors … Rushed for over 1,400 yards and 21 touchdowns during the regular season this fall … Also a standout on the HHS track and field team as a sprinter.
Scelfo on Smith: “Calvin is an explosive running back and a sleeper in this class. He’s extremely productive and has a nose for the end zone.”
Tanner Spears | LB | 6-0 | 200 | Amite, La. | Oak Forest Academy
Two-way player recorded 96 tackles, four sacks and three forced fumbles, while also rushing for 10 touchdowns as a senior at Oak Forest Academy … Selected to play in the MAIS All-Star Game … Won the Class 5A 100-meter championship as a junior … High school teammate of current Lion Stiles Guidry … Head coach at OFA was former SLU All-SLC linebacker Drew Misita.
Scelfo on Spears: “Tanner is a multi-sport, multi-positional athlete who can fill a lot of different roles for us. He’s a physical guy who is ready to come in and play for us right away. We had him at our camp and fell in love with his game.”
Support will help fund Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium and the baseball clubhouse project.
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Department of Athletics has received a $1.5 million gift from the James D. Moncus Family Foundation which will provide support for the continued renovation of Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium and the baseball clubhouse project at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park, it was announced Wednesday.
In recognition of the transformational gift, the premium entryway on the West side of Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium will be named the Jim & Ruth Moncus Premium Entry.
“We are extremely grateful and very appreciative of this generous gift from the Moncus family,” Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Bryan Maggard said. “This investment in Louisiana Athletics will play a key role in our continued efforts to transform our facilities which will enhance the experiences for our student-athletes, coaches and fans.”
A native of Houston, Jim Moncus entered the oil and gas industry following service in the United States Marine Corps. He came to Lafayette in 1962, after his first oil and gas job in Casper, Wyoming, ended suddenly. Moncus worked for Lamb Oil for over a decade; in 1974, he founded Devin International, an oilfield equipment company. Moncus held patents for dozens of oilfield tools and procedures – many still being used today – during an almost 50-year career in the industry.
After selling the company in 2008, Jim and Ruth Moncus shifted their focus to continuing their decades-long commitment to philanthropy, creating the James Devin Moncus Family Foundation and investing in local and regional non-profits.
The Moncus Foundation locally invested millions to establish a new city park, further the arts and education, and ensure the very best of health care for the citizens of Lafayette Parish.
Among their many contributions to the University, the Moncus family has established scholarships and endowed professorships. Their longstanding support of the University resonates in many corners of campus, including arts, nursing, sciences and athletics.
“Jim was an avid and enthusiastic supporter of UL Athletics. He enjoyed attending all sporting events and was a loyal Ragin’ Cajuns fan,” said Debbie Spallino of the James D. Moncus Family Foundation. “The Moncus Foundation is very proud to be a part of this exciting time at the University and honored to continue Jim’s legacy of giving back to the community he loved so much.”
The University posthumously honored Mr. Moncus with an honorary Doctor of Nursing practice degree in December 2021, shortly after his death at age 81. His wife, Ruth, a nurse for 35 years, accepted on his behalf. Ruth Moncus has continued her late husband’s philanthropic work through the Moncus Family Foundation; she was a driving force behind the $7 million gift to UL Lafayette from the James Devin Moncus Family Foundation that will enable the Health Sciences Campus’ continued growth and fund an endowment to support the College of Nursing & Health Sciences.
The $1.5 million gift from the Moncus Family Foundation to Athletics is part of the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in the University’s history.
Announced in November of 2021, Together: The Campaign for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette aims to raise $500 million. Among the campaign’s priorities: the renovation and maintenance of training and competition spaces for Ragin’ Cajuns student-athletes.
Athletics projects completed as part of the Together Campaign include Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium, Russo Park, the renovation of E.K. Long Gym, the Donald and Janice Mosing SAPC Auditorium, and the Golf Indoor Teaching Facility at Oakbourne Country Club.
The renovated west tower of Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium will offer premium suites, a luxurious club level, loge boxes, and club seats, providing Ragin’ Cajuns fans new opportunities to engage with the football program and the Ragin’ Cajuns Athletic Foundation (RCAF).
Premium suites will include both indoor and outdoor seating, access to a climate-controlled club area, premium catering, and suite attendants. Loge boxes will feature private outdoor seating and premium parking access, while club seats will offer comfortable outdoor seating with armrests and beverage holders. Both loge box and club seat patrons will enjoy access to the exclusive McElligott Club and its amenities.
The upgrades to Russo Park will significantly enhance the facility’s functionality and appeal, featuring a state-of-the-art clubhouse designed to meet the needs of players and staff. The baseball clubhouse will provide a comfortable and efficient space for team operations and newly renovated coaches’ offices.
The renovations will introduce dedicated indoor hitting and pitching areas in the left field corner, allowing athletes to train year-round regardless of weather conditions. These upgrades are set to elevate the overall experience for the team and coaching staff, positioning Russo Park as a top-tier facility on the national level.
Follow the Ragin’ Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajuns) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Athletics.
More information about Together: The Campaign for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is available at together.louisiana.edu.
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin’ Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
Hurricane Katrina forced many New Orleanians westward to Texas, taking their talents and culture across the Sabine River.
Few probably know that, this year, we’ve experienced an exodus of football talent—much to the delight of a small Historically Black College in Northeast Texas.
Founded in 1864, Texas College, with a current enrollment of 600, has had its share of gridiron success. It was a founding member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in 1920, years before Southern or Grambling joined the conference.
However, recent years haven’t been kind to the Steers from Tyler, Texas. The 2023 season ended with a disappointing 1 win and 9 losses.
Enter Texas College assistant coach Nathaniel Jones, a New Orleans native and football veteran with deep knowledge of local talent. He went to work to turn things around.
The 2024 edition of the Texas College Steers has quickly flipped the script, thanks in part to the addition of 11 freshmen from 10 New Orleans high schools and one from Tangipahoa Parish.
After last Saturday’s 28-7 victory over Sooner Athletic Conference rival Nelson (TX), the NAIA school finished the season with an impressive 8-3 record. The infusion of Crescent City talent is one reason why.
“Everyone that came in wanted to change the culture and turn this thing around,” said Terrill “TJ” Franklin, a defensive back from St. Augustine High School. “We are a different breed; we are hungry, and we like to work.”
Franklin, a psychology major, had 3 interceptions this season, including a 75-yard pick-six in the regular season finale against Nelson.
Coach Jones, who previously served as head football coach at both his alma mater, Edna Karr High School, and St. Augustine High School, knows the area well. He also knows how to sell the small-school experience to a generation that often values large schools and constant media coverage.
“I tell them we’re in the transfer portal era,” Jones explained. “You can come here, make plays, and if the opportunity presents itself, I’ll help you. I’ll be honest—if I think you should move on, I’ll support you. But some kids get lost in the portal. It’s like Neverland.”
Greg Donaldson, a former quarterback at Warren Easton High School in New Orleans, admits he’d never heard of Texas College until Coach Jones approached him. He wasn’t happy when he arrived and was told he’d be playing wide receiver.
But Donaldson has successfully made the switch. In 11 games, he has caught 18 passes for 343 yards and 8 touchdowns—averaging a remarkable 19 yards per reception.
“Quarterback was what I loved to do, but I had to do what was best to help the team,” Donaldson said. “I already knew the plays, so the switch was easy. I just had to transfer my quarterback skills to receiver. I worked on a few additional skill sets to be successful.”
Donaldson is joined by three fellow Easton Eagles: Quarterback Kendrick Connelly, who has completed 90 of 173 passes for 1,374 yards and 13 touchdowns with only 3 interceptions; and special teams contributors Logan Evans and Christopher Isidore.
There are also two former Livingston Collegiate Wolves, Walander Craig and Leonard Bermudez, along with Charon Burton, a defensive end from Booker T. Washington; linebacker Troy Williams from De La Salle; defensive back Joshua Amacker from John F. Kennedy; and wide receiver Kevante Carter from Kentwood, Louisiana.
Coach Jones says the contributions of the New Orleanians go beyond their on-field talent.
“Because of the competition level in New Orleans, these kids are accustomed to competing at a high level, and that helps them when they reach the next level. They’re tough, confident, and hardworking.”
Jones continued, “They’ve come in with the mentality that they are here, and they’re supposed to be here to change the mentality—not just in games but in practice. Their teammates see it and feel it.”
An infusion of New Orleans football talent is nothing new. Former Tulane head coach and New Orleans Saints receivers coach Curtis Johnson often recruited from the Crescent City during his time as an assistant coach at the collegiate level.
When Johnson recruited Marshall Faulk to San Diego State, the Pro Football Hall of Famer was joined by a host of other New Orleanians. Johnson repeated the feat at the University of Miami, where he recruited the likes of Ed Reed, Reggie Wayne, and others.
“You’ve got to give credit to the New Orleans high school coaches,” Johnson said. “Jerry Phillips (Easton), Brice Brown (Karr), Lynaris Elpheage (Kennedy)—I rely on what they tell me about kids, and they’re always honest.”
Perhaps the reason for all this talent lies in the environment.
“There’s just something in that bayou water,” Jones concludes.
The 2024 Indiana football team, despite an unblemished 10-0 record—their first ever in school history—is still viewed by some as a modern-day version of the 1986 basketball movie Hoosiers, in which actor Gene Hackman portrayed a basketball coach leading a determined group of players to the Indiana prep state title. The 2024 football Hoosiers, however, are led by first-year coach Curt Cignetti, whose ambitions are set even higher.
With #2-ranked Ohio State set to host #5 Indiana this weekend, it marks the first time in Hoosier football history that the team finds itself in a top-5 matchup. The last time Indiana reached such elevated rankings was in 1967, when they achieved a #4 ranking. Many prognosticators underestimated Indiana in the preseason, placing them between 51st and 70th nationally.
Mark Deal, a 2013 Indiana State Hall of Fame inductee, serves as the Associate Athletic Director for Alumni Relations at Indiana University. He played (1975–78) and later coached the Hoosiers as an assistant. Deal attends daily practices, offering a former coach’s perspective, and has observed subtle reminders of the quiet inner confidence this team maintains.
“It’s a veteran group, 5th- and 6th-year seniors,” the former Hoosier center explained. “We were picked 17th in the Big Ten (out of 18). Players saw that. It was brought up during media day.”
Deal views Curt Cignetti, the 63-year-old head coach, as the right man for the job. Cignetti, who was named 2023 Sun Belt Coach of the Year at James Madison after compiling a 52-9 record (85.2%) during his tenure, arrived at Indiana to lead a team that had posted a dismal 3-24 Big Ten record and 9-27 overall record in the three seasons prior to his arrival. Cignetti introduced himself bluntly: “It’s pretty simple. I win, Google me.”
“He’s an old-school football coach,” Deal said. “He’s very friendly. He doesn’t blow his own horn on media platforms. He’s the son of a coach. He was a quarterback at West Virginia. He’s best at developing quarterbacks. He coached Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson (at North Carolina State). He’s developed Kurtis Rourke (Indiana’s quarterback).”
The transfer portal has been transformative for the program. Thirty new arrivals—eight starters on offense, eight starters on defense, plus a place kicker, deep snapper, kick returner, and punt returner—are all from the portal. Thirteen players followed Cignetti from James Madison.
“That’s the secret sauce,” Mark Deal continued. “Everybody brings in transfers, but Coach Cignetti has gotten them to buy in—first in the weight room, then on the field. He is very efficient in all aspects. He elevated talent and built it cohesively.”
Four of the team’s top five ground gainers are incoming transfers, and five of the top six receivers are imports. Seven of the coaches came aboard after coaching at James Madison. The leading tackler, Aiden Fisher (98 tackles), and Mikail Kamara, who leads the Big Ten with 9.5 sacks, both hail from James Madison.
“There is a lot of rotation. Everyone stays involved,” Deal explained. “We’re more talented than people realize. All of the running backs are clones. The sum of the parts makes it bigger than the whole.”
Senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke (6-5, 231) is the fourth-ranked passer in the conference with 2,410 yards, 21 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and a completion rate of 71.8%. A transfer from Ohio University, Rourke has accounted for 10,061 career passing yards, 71 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions. He has 44 career starts and overcame a 2022 ACL injury. Possessing smooth mechanics and great eye discipline, he can make all the back-shoulder throws, has consistent footwork and throwing motion, and a compact release. He also makes pre-snap adjustments.
“He’s one of the best in the country,” Deal analyzed Rourke. “He plays the most important position in team sports. If you have a good quarterback, you’ve got a chance.”
The 1967 Indiana team, known as the “Cardiac Kids,” was a surprising squad that finished the season atop the Big Ten with a 9-1 record and captured the nation’s attention, beating both Michigan and Michigan State on the road. They were led by sophomore quarterback Harry Gonso, who was named team MVP.
“On the ’67 squad, we had a mixture of up-and-coming guys, good athletes, and some very cocky, self-confident types,” Gonso laughed. “We played well together.”
The team was coached by John Pont and included lineman Doug Crusan, who was drafted in the first round of the 1968 NFL Draft by the Dolphins. Crusan spent seven years in the NFL, including two Super Bowl appearances, and was part of the 16-0, undefeated 1972 Dolphins squad.
Gonso was an athlete in his own right—so much so that he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers as a catcher. “As a catcher, there’s a lot of activity required—catching, throwing, controlling the game,” Gonso said.
Gonso sees a common thread between the 1967 Hoosiers, coached by Pont, and the 2024 version, with Cignetti at the helm. “Cignetti has remarkable discipline. That can attract good players. There’s a strong sense of team.”
Mark Deal has seen that same camaraderie on the 2024 team. “This group has a lot of togetherness, despite being made up of 30 transfers. Coach Cignetti is ahead of the curve. He’s a smart man. Both he and Coach Pont have smart football minds.”
Dean Kleinshmidt, a former trainer for Indiana and the New Orleans Saints, holds spots in seven Halls of Fame, including the Saints’ Hall of Fame. He was also on staff for the 1967 Hoosiers. He sees similarities between the two teams. “The brotherhood on the 2024 team, the love for one another and the oneness, is striking. There’s a togetherness, no egos, and a common goal.”
Mark Deal played for renowned coach Lee Corso at Indiana. It was a lifetime memorable ride. Included on the 1978 schedule was a trip to Tiger Stadium.
(Photo: Terrill Weil)
“We flew into New Orleans on Friday (September 15), attended the Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks fight at the Superdome,” he recalled. “We were perched in the second balcony. After the fight, we bussed to Baton Rouge and arrived around 1 AM.” Few, if any, coaches would accommodate a team like Corso did. The ’78 LSU Tigers featured quarterbacks David Woodley and Steve Ensminger, and running backs Hokie Gajan and Charles Alexander. LSU won the game 24-17.
“Tiger Stadium was the coolest experience,” Deal smiled. “We played our butts off. It’s the best venue I ever played in. Second best was Ohio State.”
Indiana football has experienced only three winning seasons in the last 29 years and has not won a bowl game since 1951. It’s been a long drought. The team plays in a cozy, intimate 52,000-seat stadium known as “The Rock.” Support has been consistent despite limited success.
“Our second-biggest fanbase is in Chicago,” Deal said. “Our biggest is Indianapolis. I think people within a 250-mile radius attend games. There is a great tradition. People care about Indiana football. We have a strong fanbase.”
Although the Hoosiers have dropped 27 of the last 28 encounters with Michigan, the 2015 win over the Wolverines on November 9 was not celebrated as a huge upset. There was no rushing the field. “It’s an approach: ‘We came, we saw, we won.’ Our fans and players expected to beat Michigan.”
When comparing the overall numbers, Indiana and Ohio State are remarkably similar:
Offensively:
Ohio State (#1 in Big Ten): 454.9 total yards, 38.6 points per game
Indiana (#2): 453.2 total yards, 43.9 points per game
Defensively:
Ohio State (#1 in Big Ten): 250.8 yards allowed, 10.7 points allowed
Indiana leads the Big Ten with a conference-high 31 sacks and 11 interceptions. They also lead the nation by allowing just 72.2 rushing yards per game.
“We’ve gone out and dominated teams, and we’ve had games well in hand by the fourth quarter,” Mark Deal observed. “No exciting last-minute wins. We’ve made defensive plays, crucial field goals, and we’ve run the clock on offense.”
The Hoosiers are double-digit underdogs to the Buckeyes, but there is no pressure. Few outside the locker room expect Indiana to win. If there is any pressure, it may be on the Buckeyes—this is a classic David vs. Goliath matchup.
“We just need to take care of ourselves,” Deal said, outlining the keys to success. “Don’t worry about the logo on the helmets or the color of the uniforms. No turnovers, no pre-snap penalties. We’re good at both. The strength of the team is the leadership and experience. They have taken on the confidence of Coach Cignetti.”
Saturday’s college football results provided a stark comparison.
Watching Tulane and LSU produced drastically different emotions and impressions. These are two teams, two programs, heading in different directions.
Tulane drilled Navy 35-0 while LSU lost to a mediocre Florida squad 27-16.
The difference was obvious.
Start with the obvious. Tulane players love playing for Jon Sumrall. The transition from Willie Fritz to Sumrall could not have gone better. Sumrall is incredibly positive, motivational, enthusiastic and supportive.
Brian Kelly is increasingly negative, is failing to motivate players and his berating of players is coming back at haunt him.
The numbers were clear.
Tulane held Navy to 113 yards and blanked the Midshipmen, on Senior Day, on their home turf. The Green Wave controlled the football to the tune of 35:47 to just 24:53 for Navy.
Tulane committed no turnovers while forcing two by the Midshipmen. Sam Howard was responsible for both turnovers, with an interception and he recovered a fumble.
Makhi Hughes rushed for a pair of scores while Darian Mensah passed for two touchdowns.
It was the second shutout of the season for Tulane and the fourth time that the Green Wave have held opponents under 10 points. The first time Navy was blanked since the 2020 season marked the Wave’s first win in Annapolis since 2001. Tulane had lost five of its last six meetings with the Midshipmen.
Most importantly, the win gave Tulane spot in the American Athletic Conference championship game for a third consecutive year.
Things are simply different with this Tulane team.
The goal annually is to improve weekly. We are seeing that in clear fashion from the Green Wave.
Based on the way Tulane is playing, it is easy to believe that the Green Wave would beat Kansas State and possibly Oklahoma as well if the teams played now.
With eight straight wins, Tulane (9-2) has a date with Memphis before taking on Army in the AAC title game Dec. 6. The hope of making the College Football Playoff remains alive for the Olive and Blue.
That hope is long gone for LSU.
The promise of two weeks ago has disappeared quickly and dramatically. LSU has been exposed as an average team, with a lack of overall talent to compete with the best teams in the SEC, much less the average teams in the conference.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the future of Billy Napier at Florida was in serious doubt. The former Ragin’ Cajuns head coach has since gotten a vote of confidence.
The Gators sure looked confident against the Tigers.
LSU had the ball for 41:43, an incredible number. Yet, the Tigers lost by 11 points.
The site of Kyren Lacy yelling at Kelly was perhaps a tell-tale sign.
Has Kelly lost this team?
The loss to Alabama was embarrassing. The loss at Florida to a mediocre team was equally embarrassing.
The LSU program has regressed. There are no great players on this team.
Will Campbell will get drafted high and Emory Jones could as well. Harold Perkins will get an early round call but he has been out for weeks. Mason Taylor is a good player with an NFL future. Aaron Anderson has stepped up nicely and Garrett Nussmeier will get drafted.
Still, there are no players the likes of Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers or Brian Thomas, Jr.
Daniels covered up for many ills a year ago. The Tigers have no one to cover up for what ails it this season.
The overall talent is simply not good enough to win consistently against good competition.
Now, the questions about the coaching are coming.
LSU won 10 games in each of Kelly’s first two seasons. At 6-4, that is not going to happen this year.
In fact, there is no sure thing that wins ware coming against Vanderbilt or Oklahoma to close out the schedule.
Kelly was hired to win an SEC championship and to compete for and eventually win a national championship. After doing an excellent job in his first year in getting the Tigers to the SEC title game, the enthusiasm has waned, as has the productivity.
The LSU offensive line is vastly overrated. The running backs, outside of Caden Durham, are not good enough. The wide receivers are average.
The entire defense is average, lacking real playmakers.
Those advocating a change in coaches at LSU have this fact staring them in the face – Kelly is under contract through 2031. It would cost approximately $60 million to buy him out.
Kelly’s future at LSU is directly tied to recruiting. Right now, he has a top five class for 2025, if the commitments hold.
Bryce Underwood, the top quarterback prospect in the country, was recently lured by Michigan by a massive NIL offer. Underwood has stuck with LSU but will that be the case moving forward?
Calvary Baptist star lineman Devin Harper may flip his commitment from LSU to Ole Miss.
If that is a sign of things to come, things will get rocky for Kelly.
If it happens and is an exception to the rule, Kelly will withstand the onslaught of criticism and public frustration with his and his team’s performance this season.
In retrospect, LSU was very fortunate to get out of South Carolina with a win. A crucial penalty saved the Tigers in Columbia. LSU was very fortunate to steal an overtime win from Ole Miss, a better football team than the Tigers.
Had those wins not happened, the calls for change would be heard far and wide.
Tulane has clinched a berth in the AAC title game. Louisiana-Lafayette is having a banner season, leading the Sun Belt West Division. Southern University has clinched a berth in the SWAC championship game.
NATCHITOCHES – The 2025 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration has been set for Thursday, June 26-Saturday night, June 28, featuring eight shining stars in state sports history, headlined by West Monroe, LSU and NFL star Andrew Whitworth, pro basketball All-Stars Danny Granger and Vickie Johnson, and coaching greats Danny Broussard, Joe Scheuerman and Dale Weiner.
The LSHOF Class of 2025 also includes LSU gymnastics great and NCAA champion April Burkholder, and George “Bobby” Soileau, an NCAA boxing champion at LSU who won a state crown as a football coach at his alma mater, Sacred Heart High School in Ville Platte.
Three more inductees, from the “contributor” categories, will be announced soon – winners of the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award and the Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism.
The new class will be the focal figures during three days of festivities including seven events – three free of charge — at the Hall of Fame’s home in Natchitoches to culminate the 66th Induction Celebration.
Opportunities to purchase admission for the four ticketed events are available at the LaSportsHall.com website through the www.LaSportsHall.com/Induction25 link.
The 2025 Induction Celebration kicks off Thursday, June 26 with the free Welcome Reception from 5-7 p.m. at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum at 800 Front Street in downtown Natchitoches.
The fun-filled Friday, June 27 slate begins with the midday Celebrity Bowling Bash at Four Seasons Bowling Cener in nearby Alexandria. Friday evening’s big party is the Rockin’ River Fest free concert on the Cane River Lake downtown stage, accompanied by the VIP Taste of Tailgating party, a ticketed event at the adjacent Mama’s Oyster House on Front Street above the concert venue.
Saturday begins with the New Orleans Saints & Pelicans Junior Training Camp, a free event for kids ages 7-17 hosted on the Northwestern State campus from 9-11 a.m. with advance registration required and available on the 2025 Induction link at LaSportsHall.com.
The popular Round Table Lunch showcases the induction class interviewed by iconic Fox Sports announcer and 2020 LSHOF inductee Tim Brando of Shreveport.
The festivities peak Saturday afternoon and evening with the Taste of Louisiana Reception at the Hall of Fame museum from 5-6:45, followed by the Induction Ceremony tipping off promptly at 7 o’clock at the nearby Natchitoches Events Center.
A 40-member Louisiana Sports Writers Association committee selected the 2025 “competitors ballot” inductees in August to complete a three-week process. The panel considered 150 nominees from 27 different sport categories on a 34-page ballot.
The complete 11-person Class of 2024 will swell the overall membership in the Hall of Fame to 503 men and women – athletes, coaches, administrators and sports media members — honored since its founding in 1958.
Whitworth won three state titles and two national high school crowns playing for the late Don Shows at West Monroe, then helped LSU win its first national football championship in 45 years under coach Nick Saban in 2003. “Big Whit” capped a 16-year NFL career, mostly in Cincinnati, by starting at offensive tackle as the Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl LVI, just a couple of days after he received the 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award for his community activism. He made four Pro Bowls.
Granger, a New Orleans native and Grace King High School graduate, averaged 17 points per game in a 10-year NBA career that included a 2009 All-Star Game appearance and a gold medal win with Team USA at the 2010 World Championships.
Johnson, from Coushatta, ranks among the greatest players in Louisiana Tech Lady Techster program history under coach Leon Barmore, and twice was a WNBA All-Star in 13 seasons in the league. She ended her pro career winning the WNBA’s Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award in 2008.
Scheuermann will join his father Rags, a 1990 inductee, to form the fourth father-son combination in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. The others: football greats Dub and son Bert Jones, USA Olympic track stars Glenn “Slats” Hardin and son Billy, and the football family of sons Eli and Peyton Manning, and their father, Archie.
Scheuermann succeeded his dad as baseball coach at New Orleans’ Delgado Community College and last spring eclipsed the late Tony Robichaux of UL Lafayette as Louisiana’s winningest college baseball coach with 1,179 victories in 34 seasons.
Broussard, who will begin his 42nd season coaching basketball at St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette, has averaged 27.5 wins per year while collecting 1,130 victories to rank seventh nationally and second in the state behind 2019 LSHOF and pending 2024 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Charles Smith of Alexandria’s Peabody Magnet. Broussard’s Cougars have won six state titles and been runner-up four more times.
Burkholder was a 14-time All-American gymnast and as a senior won the 2006 NCAA beam title to cap an LSU career that featured a school-record 108 victories, helping to dramatically elevate interest in the Tigers’ program locally as it emerged as a national power. She was twice Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Year.
Weiner retired in 2016 after posting 317 wins, now seventh in state history, in 35 seasons as a high school football head coach. The last 30 were at Catholic, where he built a mediocre program into one of Louisiana’s best as he won 282 games, 9.1 per year, including a 2016 state title. He also coached 18 state championship weightlifting teams with the Bears.
Soileau won four high school boxing state crowns, beginning with his eighth-grade year, and captured the 125-pound NCAA title in 1956 in the heyday of the sport at the state and collegiate levels. He won 159 games in 30 seasons as football coach at Sacred Heart, including a 1967 state championship, and is a 1988 Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame inductee and an inaugural Louisiana High School Boxing Hall of fame inductee.
The 2025 Induction Class will be showcased in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum. The facility is operated by the Louisiana State Museum system in a partnership with the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
The striking two-story, 27,500-square foot structure faces Cane River Lake in the National Historic Landmark District of Natchitoches and has garnered worldwide architectural acclaim and rave reviews for its contents since its grand opening during the 2013 Hall of Fame induction weekend.
The new competitive ballot inductees will raise the total of Hall of Fame members to 394 athletes and coaches honored since the first induction class — Baseball Hall of Famer Mel Ott, world champion boxer Tony Canzoneri and LSU football great Gaynell Tinsley — was enshrined in 1959 after their election a year earlier.
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame already includes 25 Pro Football Hall of Fame members, 18 Olympic medalists (including 11 gold-medal winners), 14 members (including pending 2024 inductees Semoine Augustus and Charles Smith) of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, seven of the NBA’s 75 Greatest Players, seven National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, 45 College Football Hall of Fame members, 10 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, 10 Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinees, nine National High School Hall of Fame members, nine College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, five National Museum of (Thoroughbred) Racing and Hall of Fame inductees. The LSHOF showcases jockeys with a combined 16 Triple Crown victories, six world boxing champions, four NBA Finals MVPs, four winners of major professional golf championships, and three Super Bowl MVPs.
Biographical information on all current Hall of Fame members is available at the LaSportsHall.com website, and a steady stream of info is available at the @LaSportsHall X (formerly Twitter) account.
Anyone can receive quarterly e-mails about the 2025 Induction Celebration and other Hall of Fame news by signing up on the website.
The 2025 Induction Celebration will be hosted by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame. The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors.
For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Foundation President/CEO Ronnie Rantz at 225-802-6040 or RonnieRantz@LaSportsHall.com, or Foundation Director of Business Development and Public Relations Greg Burke at 318-663-5459 or GregBurke@LaSportsHall.com. Standard and customized sponsorships are available.
@LaSportsHall on X (formerly Twitter) Instagram: lasportshall LaSportsHall.com
Eight teams will compete for the 2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Championship
NEW ORLEANS – October 25, 2024 – The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) reveals the eight schools that will compete for the title at the 2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Championship hosted by Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission from November 11-13 at Bossier Parish Community College.
Dillard University (La.), Fisk University (Tenn.), Oakwood University (Ala.), Philander Smith University (Ark.), Southern University at New Orleans (La.), Stillman College (Ala.), Talladega College (Ala.), and Tougaloo College (Miss.) have secured berths. The seeds will be revealed after conference play is completed on November 4.
Talladega (20-7, 13-1 HBCUAC), the defending regular season and tournament champion, is battling Fisk University – last season’s tournament runner-up – and Dillard – the 2023 regular season runner-up – for the 2024 regular season title and top seed. All three schools have one loss. Fisk avenged last season’s championship loss with a five-set victory on Sept. 21. Talladega swept Dillard on Sept. 28 in one of the HBCUAC Crossovers. Dillard swept Fisk on Oct. 18. Talladega hosts Fisk on October 25 with the winner likely clinching the first seed.
The Tornadoes have a deep roster as three players have won Attacker of the Week. Franchesca Rivas and defensive specialist Briyith Echeverri have been recognized as Player of the Week multiple times this season.
Fisk (22-14, 13-1 HBCUAC) also boasts a strong roster as they’ve won a majority of the HBCUAC Player of the Week awards. Trinity Britt has won eight of the 10 Setter of the Week awards and leads the conference in assists and assists per set and ranks eighth in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) with 939 assists. Reagan Jones claimed five Attacker of the Week awards and ranks fifth in the NAIA with 401 kills. Nialah Gupton has claimed multiple Defender of the Week awards and leads the HBCUAC with 470 digs.
Dillard (13-7, 11-1 HBCUAC) has only been taken beyond three sets twice and has only dropped five sets in 12 conference matches. Trenity Pender claimed the most recent Defender of the Week award. The Bleu Devils have one of the most intimidating front rows in the conference. Gabrielle Washington leads the HBCUAC with 1.24 blocks per set. Nya St. Cyr and Cadence Thomas follow at 0.96 and 0.93 blocks per set, ranking in the top five of the conference.
Philander Smith (16-6, 8-4 HBCUAC) in its first season under head coach Mariah Yarbrough has been formidable, winning eight conference matches. All of their losses have been to the top three teams in the conference. Christlove Lature and Essence Wren won Defender and Setter of the Week for September 30-October 6. Lature ranks second in the conference with 4.33 digs per set and third with 325 total digs. Wren ranks second in the conference with 515 assists averaging 8.05 per set. Zarea Winn ranks third with 3.04 kills per set.
Oakwood (10-15, 8-7 HBCUAC) has made significant improvement after finishing seventh in the conference last season, currently ranked fifth. It went 3-2 in the HBCUAC Crossovers. Kamaria Murray earned Attacker of the Week for September 30-October 6. Cameryn Bucknor ranks fifth in the conference with 5.59 assists per set.
Stillman (8-17, 7-8 HBCUAC), who joined the conference this season after competing in the Southern States Athletic Conference the last two seasons, is making strides in its third season since the program was reinstated in 2022. It picked up its first seven victories since the return of the program. Emily Powell won Defender of the Week twice, she ranks fifth in the conference with 4.01 digs per set. Erin Nelson is fifth with 0.47 service aces per set and ranks in the top 15 with 3.43 assists per set.
Tougaloo (7-15, 5-6 HBCUAC) has shown improvement, besting last season’s overall and conference win total by two matches. LaShundria Chatman ranks fifth in the conference with 2.44 kills per set. Kaliyah Shavers is 10th with 2.18. Taylor Cousar is eighth in the conference with 4.59 assists per set. Ke’Ira Collier ranks sixth in the conference with 3.63 digs per set.
Southern University at New Orleans (4-15, 4-8 HBCUAC), in its second season since making its return in 2023, is much stronger. It won its first four matches since 2019. Armoni Harris was the Week 2 Defender of the Week and leads the HBCUAC with 4.44 digs per set. Taszia Adkinson ranks in the top 15 of the conference with 2.03 kills per set. The regular season and tournament champions will earn automatic bids to the 2024 NAIA National Volleyball Championship. The opening round will be November 23 at campus sites. The winners will advance to the National Championship Tournament December 4-10 at Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
Along with competing for the 2024 HBCUAC title, the schools will lead clinics for junior high and high school students at the BHP YMCA and the Lash Family YMCA in Shreveport on Sunday afternoon. The 2024 All-HBCUAC Awards will be presented during the Reception at Eleven Events LLC.
Fans can catch all the action on HBCU-Plus, which can be viewed online or the free app can be downloaded on mobile devices and Smart TVs. For more information on the 2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Championship visit Tournament Central.
-HBCUAC-
About HBCU Athletic Conference The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s track and field, women’s volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.
Eight teams will compete for the 2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Championship
NEW ORLEANS – October 25, 2024 – The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) reveals the eight schools that will compete for the title at the 2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Championship hosted by Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission from November 11-13 at Bossier Parish Community College.
Dillard University (La.), Fisk University (Tenn.), Oakwood University (Ala.), Philander Smith University (Ark.), Southern University at New Orleans (La.), Stillman College (Ala.), Talladega College (Ala.), and Tougaloo College (Miss.) have secured berths. The seeds will be revealed after conference play is completed on November 4.
Talladega (20-7, 13-1 HBCUAC), the defending regular season and tournament champion, is battling Fisk University – last season’s tournament runner-up – and Dillard – the 2023 regular season runner-up – for the 2024 regular season title and top seed. All three schools have one loss. Fisk avenged last season’s championship loss with a five-set victory on Sept. 21. Talladega swept Dillard on Sept. 28 in one of the HBCUAC Crossovers. Dillard swept Fisk on Oct. 18. Talladega hosts Fisk on October 25 with the winner likely clinching the first seed.
The Tornadoes have a deep roster as three players have won Attacker of the Week. Franchesca Rivas and defensive specialist Briyith Echeverri have been recognized as Player of the Week multiple times this season.
Fisk (22-14, 13-1 HBCUAC) also boasts a strong roster as they’ve won a majority of the HBCUAC Player of the Week awards. Trinity Britt has won eight of the 10 Setter of the Week awards and leads the conference in assists and assists per set and ranks eighth in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) with 939 assists. Reagan Jones claimed five Attacker of the Week awards and ranks fifth in the NAIA with 401 kills. Nialah Gupton has claimed multiple Defender of the Week awards and leads the HBCUAC with 470 digs.
Dillard (13-7, 11-1 HBCUAC) has only been taken beyond three sets twice and has only dropped five sets in 12 conference matches. Trenity Pender claimed the most recent Defender of the Week award. The Bleu Devils have one of the most intimidating front rows in the conference. Gabrielle Washington leads the HBCUAC with 1.24 blocks per set. Nya St. Cyr and Cadence Thomas follow at 0.96 and 0.93 blocks per set, ranking in the top five of the conference.
Philander Smith (16-6, 8-4 HBCUAC) in its first season under head coach Mariah Yarbrough has been formidable, winning eight conference matches. All of their losses have been to the top three teams in the conference. Christlove Lature and Essence Wren won Defender and Setter of the Week for September 30-October 6. Lature ranks second in the conference with 4.33 digs per set and third with 325 total digs. Wren ranks second in the conference with 515 assists averaging 8.05 per set. Zarea Winn ranks third with 3.04 kills per set.
Oakwood (10-15, 8-7 HBCUAC) has made significant improvement after finishing seventh in the conference last season, currently ranked fifth. It went 3-2 in the HBCUAC Crossovers. Kamaria Murray earned Attacker of the Week for September 30-October 6. Cameryn Bucknor ranks fifth in the conference with 5.59 assists per set.
Stillman (8-17, 7-8 HBCUAC), who joined the conference this season after competing in the Southern States Athletic Conference the last two seasons, is making strides in its third season since the program was reinstated in 2022. It picked up its first seven victories since the return of the program. Emily Powell won Defender of the Week twice, she ranks fifth in the conference with 4.01 digs per set. Erin Nelson is fifth with 0.47 service aces per set and ranks in the top 15 with 3.43 assists per set.
Tougaloo (7-15, 5-6 HBCUAC) has shown improvement, besting last season’s overall and conference win total by two matches. LaShundria Chatman ranks fifth in the conference with 2.44 kills per set. Kaliyah Shavers is 10th with 2.18. Taylor Cousar is eighth in the conference with 4.59 assists per set. Ke’Ira Collier ranks sixth in the conference with 3.63 digs per set.
Southern University at New Orleans (4-15, 4-8 HBCUAC), in its second season since making its return in 2023, is much stronger. It won its first four matches since 2019. Armoni Harris was the Week 2 Defender of the Week and leads the HBCUAC with 4.44 digs per set. Taszia Adkinson ranks in the top 15 of the conference with 2.03 kills per set. The regular season and tournament champions will earn automatic bids to the 2024 NAIA National Volleyball Championship. The opening round will be November 23 at campus sites. The winners will advance to the National Championship Tournament December 4-10 at Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
Along with competing for the 2024 HBCUAC title, the schools will lead clinics for junior high and high school students at the BHP YMCA and the Lash Family YMCA in Shreveport on Sunday afternoon. The 2024 All-HBCUAC Awards will be presented during the Reception at Eleven Events LLC.
Fans can catch all the action on HBCU-Plus, which can be viewed online or the free app can be downloaded on mobile devices and Smart TVs. For more information on the 2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Championship visit Tournament Central.
-HBCUAC-
About HBCU Athletic Conference The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s track and field, women’s volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.
The Edna Karr Cougars have established themselves as an elite program in Louisiana for many years. However, there remains a hunger in the program which has not won a state title since 2019. That could change in 2024, given the way the Cougars are currently playing.
After remaining unbeaten with a win over Jesuit, Karr has ascended to the No. 1 spot in the Crescent City Sports Top 10 rankings for Week 8.
Neville moves up to a close second after a significant victory over previously unbeaten Ruston, which has now fallen to third. Acadiana ranks fourth, while Catholic of Baton Rouge is fifth. Unbeaten Dutchtown rounds out the top ten.
In 4A, Teurlings Catholic holds the No. 1 spot, bolstered by a strong win over E.D. White Catholic. Franklin Parish is third, followed by West Ouachita in fourth and E.D. White now in fifth. North DeSoto reenters the rankings at No. 10.
University Lab remains at the top in 3A, with unbeaten Bunkie in second. Erath is third, followed by Madison Prep in fourth and St. James in fifth.
In Class 2A, unbeaten Dunham is still No. 1, with Newman in second. Ouachita Christian is third, Calvary Baptist is fourth, and Oak Grove moves up to fifth. Ferriday enters the rankings at No. 10.
Unbeaten Vermilion Catholic continues to lead in 1A, followed by unbeatens Haynesville, St. Edmund, Catholic of Pointe Coupee, and Covenant Christian rounding out the top five.
CCS Statewide Rankings for Week 8
5A
Karr (6-0)
Neville (7-0)
Ruston (6-1)
Acadiana (6-1)
Catholic (BR) (5-1)
Alexandria (7-0)
Mandeville (7-0)
Zachary (5-1)
Archbishop Rummel (6-1)
Dutchtown (6-0) Others: Central, John Curtis Christian, West Monroe, Airline, Hahnville, Covington, Byrd, Southside, Ouachita Parish, Parkway
4A
Teurlings Catholic (7-0)
Lutcher (6-0)
Franklin Parish (6-1)
West Ouachita (6-1)
E.D. White Catholic (5-2)
St. Thomas More (4-3)
Archbishop Shaw (5-2)
Franklinton (6-1)
Cecilia (5-2)
North DeSoto (5-2) Others: Belle Chasse, Lakeshore, Minden, Iowa, Vandebilt Catholic, Plaquemine, Opelousas, Northwood, Istrouma, Leesville, Loyola Prep
3A
University Lab (6-1)
Bunkie (7-0)
Erath (6-1)
Madison Prep (3-3)
St. James (4-2)
Jewel Sumner (6-1)
Jennings (6-1)
Sterlington (4-3)
Iota (6-1)
Amite (5-2) Others: Kaplan, Pine, Westlake, Haynes Academy, Jena, John F. Kennedy, Northwest, Carroll, Bastrop, Crowley
2A
Dunham (7-0)
Newman (4-0)
Ouachita Christian (7-0)
Calvary Baptist (5-2)
Oak Grove (6-1)
Catholic (NI) (6-1)
Episcopal (6-1)
Notre Dame (4-3)
Mangham (5-2)
Ferriday (6-1) Others: DeQuincy, Lafayette Renaissance, South Plaquemines, Baker, Kinder, Northlake Christian, Pope John Paul II, Lakeside, Union Parish, Welsh
1A
Vermilion Catholic (7-0)
Haynesville (7-0)
St. Edmund (7-0)
Catholic (PC) (7-0)
Covenant Christian (7-0)
Ascension Catholic (5-1)
Ascension Episcopal (6-1)
Southern Lab (3-3)
Riverside Academy (4-2)
Kentwood (5-2) Others: Jeanerette, Opelousas Catholic, St. Frederick, Hamilton Christian, Glenbrook, Westminster Christian (Opelousas), North Iberville, General Trass, Delta Charter, Westminster Christian (Lafayette), St. Martin’s Episcopal
