By JOHN LENZ, Written for the LSWA

State champion St. Charles Catholic claimed five spots on the first team, but the Louisiana Sports Writers Association recognized the efforts of two other teams for its highest individual honors on the 2011 LSWA Class 3A All-State football team.

The Comets (15-0) completed a wire-to-wire run as the LSWA¹s No. 1 team in the state with a 9-8 victory over Amite in the state championship game. That defense produced two standouts in two-time All-State defensive end LaJaylin Smith (64 tackles, 9 sacks) and junior tackle Taylor Cochran (82 tackles, 13 for loss).

On offense, the Comets rode the efforts of running back Lazedrick Thompson (161-1,583, 18 TDs), often running behind senior offensive lineman Gabriel Alarcon (6-1, 245). Comets kick-return specialist Marcus Hall (3 return TDs) also made the first team.

The Outstanding Player awards were accorded to McMain running back Joshua Rounds on offense and Amite middle linebacker Juwaan Rogers on defense, while Coach of the Year honors went to McMain head coach Kevin Roussell.

Rounds and Roussell were instrumental in McMain¹s best season. Despite nothaving any practice field to call their own, Roussell coached the Mustangs (9-4) to a school record for victories, won the school¹s first district championship, won a playoff game for the first time, and in fact advanced all the way to the quarterfinals before losing to Amite.

Other coaches considered for the 3A honor were St. Charles¹ Frank Monica, Marksville¹s J.T. Dunbar, Patterson¹s Tommy Minton and Eunice¹s Paul Trosclair.

Rounds was the offensive linchpin for that team, finishing the playoffs with 286 carries for 2,222 yards and 34 touchdowns, and 260 total points scored.

Rogers was the hub of an Amite defense that allowed an average of just 5.9 points per game, with six shutouts. Rogers, all-state for the third year in a row, was credited with 151 tackles, eight sacks, six fumble recoveries and two interceptions for the state runners-up.

Rogers was joined on the All-State defense by teammate Reginald Porter, a two-way starter who was District 9-3A MVP at quarterback but earned All-State honors at defensive back after finishing with 46 tackles and six interceptions. He was joined in the secondary by Ricky Gibson, of Marksville, (136 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT); Roderick Ross, of Richwood, (7 INTs, 2 for TDs); and Eric Jenkins, of McMain, (36 tackles, 7 INTs, 2 TDs).

Flanking Rogers at linebacker are Tremaine Lightfoot, of Patterson (118 tackles, 6 forced fumbles); Darian Claiborne, of Port Allen (128 tackles, 12 for loss while also playing quarterback); and Brody Burkhalter, of Parkview Baptist (100 tackles, 5 INTs, 3 for TDs).

Rounding out the defensive line are Burkhalter¹s Parkview teammate, 2010 All-State Defensive MVP Tom Bove (85 tackles, 10 sacks), and Farmerville standout Trae Ford (66 tackles, 6 sacks).

Directing the All-State offense is Donaldsonville quarterback Devon Breaux, a Tulane commitment who led the state in passing with 2,672 yards (158-for-233) and 24 touchdowns. The running back corps also includes Mark Lewis, of Livonia (240-1,962, 33 TDs), along with Thompson and Rounds.

Loranger two-way senior standout Jonathan King (45 catches, 985 yds., 11 TDs) was named all-state at wide receiver with Patterson senior Jaydrick DeClouette (54-866, 18 TDs). Brandon Armand, of Livonia (43-831, 7 TDs), is the tight end.

Joining Alarcon the offensive line are Parkview Baptist junior Thomas Carter (6-2, 275), Livonia senior Xavier Joseph (6-4, 330), Marksville senior Chance Vercher (6-1, 287) and Bossier High senior D¹varciea Small.

Voted to the athlete position is Kendell Beckwith, of East Feliciana, who played quarterback (87-153, 1,086 yds., 6 TDs receiving and 114-776, 8 TDs rushing) and defensive end (42 tackles, 15 for loss, 7 sacks).

The placekicker is Johnathan Wallace, of Rayville (33-of-40 PATs, 27 kickoff touchbacks), and the punter is Justin Nordberg, of Westlake, who averaged 40.0 yards per punt.

2011 LSWA CLASS 3A ALL-STATE FOOTBALL CHART

Offense

Pos. Player   School  Ht. Wt. Cl.

WR Jonathan King  Loranger  6-1 185 Sr.

WR Jaydrick DeClouette  Patterson  6-1 180 Sr.

TE Brandon Armand  Livonia   6-0 220 Jr.

OL Gabriel Alarcon  St. Charles   6-1 245 Sr.

OL Thomas Carter  Parkview Baptist  6-2 275 Jr.

OL D'varciea Small  Bossier   5-9 170 Sr.

OL Chance Vercher  Marksville   6-1 287 Sr.

OL Xavier Joseph  Livonia  6-4 330 Sr.

QB Devon Breaux  Donaldsonville  6-0 180 Sr.

RB Joshua Rounds  McMain   5-11 195 Sr.

RB Mark Lewis  Livonia  6-0 210 Sr.

RB Lazedrick Thompson  St. Charles  6-1 205 Sr.

PK Johnathan Wallace  Rayville  6-0 170 Jr.

ATH  Kendell Beckwith  East Feliciana 6-3 215 Jr.

DEFENSE      CL Ht. Wt.

DL Tom Bove   Parkview Baptist  6-0 270 Sr.

DL Taylor Cochran  St. Charles   6-3 315 Jr.

DL Trae Ford   Farmerville  6-4 320 Sr.

DL LaJaylin Smith  St. Charles   6-0 215 Sr.

LB Juwaan Rogers  Amite   6-0 228 Sr.

LB Darian Claiborne  Port Allen   6-1 214 Jr.

LB Brody Burkhalter  Parkview Baptist  6-1 210 Sr.

LB Tremaine, Lightfoot  Patterson   6-2 215 Sr.

DB Reginald Porter  Amite   6-1 195 Sr.

DB Roderick Ross  Richwood   6-0 190 Jr.

DB Ricky Gibson  Marskville   6-2 182 So.

DB Eric Jenkins  McMain  5-10 170 Sr.

P Justin Nordberg  Westlake  5-9 165 Jr.

KR Marcus Hall  St. Charles  5-9 170 Sr.

OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER: JOSHUA ROUNDS, MCMAIN

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: JUWAAN ROGERS, AMITE

COACH OF THE YEAR: KEVIN ROUSSEL, MCMAIN

HONORABLE MENTION

OFFENSE: WR -- Cebari McGarr, Rayville; Josh Gibson, Amite; Michael Andrade, McMain; Leondre James, Donaldsonville. TE -- Khris Watkins, Jennings. OL -- Jack Mervin, De La Salle; Devin Wiltz, McMain; Ben Myers, Westlake; Cole Reiners, Notre Dame; Devon Johnson, Amite; Jerome Fedison, McMain; Austin Breaux, St. Charles. QB -- Trennon Trosclair, Eunice; Justice Jones, Patterson; Deleyoung Miller, Rayville;  Reginald Porter, Amitre; Omari Jones, McMain. RB -- Matthew McGhee, Avoyelles; Hezekiah Randolph, Parkview Baptist; Dylan Lavergne, Jennings; Dominque Eaglin, Westlake; Trevon Stewart, Patterson; Peyton Dunbar, Marksville; Jeryl Brazil, Loranger; J.T. Brown, Farmerville; Anthony Thomas, De La Salle; Jalen Richardson, Madison; Hezekiah Randolph, Parkview Baptist

DEFENSE: DL -- Jacob Rush, Buckeye; Dexter Charles, Church Point; C.J. Hundley, Notre Dame; Chester Brumfield, Amite. LB -- Trent Norman, Jena; Gabriel Alarcon, St. Charles; Adam Smith, Parkview Baptist; Alex Daigle, Jennings; Hunter Wimberley, Church Point; Jared Dunn, Richwood; R.J. Walters, Rayville; Ladarius Reed, Marksville; Brennan Catalano, Loranger; Adam Smith, Parkview Baptist; Myron Daughtry, McDonogh. DB -- Corbin Hawkins, Marksville; Hayden Pitre, Eunice; Keagan Deville; Jennings; Kenny Johnson, North Vermilion; Christian Cotton, Amite; Jeffrey Hall, St. Charles; Anthony Thomas, De La Salle. 

RET SPE -- Brenton Tolliver, Baker.

ATH -- Jake Dunbar, Marksville.