Mitchell Earns MVP To Highlight Class 3A All-State Team
Nobody could deny Elijah Mitchell in his senior season, including the LSWA.
Erath's star running back led the state in rushing yards (2,358) and touchdowns (36), and he's on his way to shine for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns at the collegiate level. Mitchell did everything humanly possible for his team, and he was the clear choice for Offensive MVP in Class 3A.
The Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) put together their All-State team, and the Acadiana area showed up all over the roster. Seven players made it onto the team, and twelve more earned honorable mention.
Mitchell was joined by Jennings' star Travis Etienne Jr. in the backfield too. Etienne and Mitchell combined for over 4,000 yards and 63 rushing TD's in 2016, and they turned heads all season long with their incredible playmaking ability. They're arguably the two best backs in the state in any classification, so it was an obvious decision to include them on the 2A All-State team.
Three players from Iowa (DL Mark Mayes, DB Darius Daniels, KR/WR Andre Sam) and two more from Kaplan (LB Julius Johnson, OL Jerrick Romero) rounded out the roster, and plenty more made the area proud in honorable mention.
South Louisiana is one of the most loaded regions, in terms of talent, in the entire country, so there's no surprise that so many all-state players showed up at the bottom of the boot.
Congratulations to all the players who worked all year long to earn this honor.
LSWA Class 3A All-State team
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
POS PLAYER, SCHOOL | HT | WT | CL |
WR DeVonta Smith, Amite | 6-1 | 160 | Sr |
WR Al’Dontre Davis, Lutcher | 6-0 | 200 | Sr |
WR Kenan Jones, Berwick | 6-4 | 210 | Jr |
OL Nehemayeaux Smith, Marksville | 6-4 | 295 | Sr |
OL Jerrick Romero, Kaplan | 5-9 | 240 | Sr |
OL Prince Pines, University | 6-4 | 310 | Jr |
OL Will Teague, Parkview | 6-1 | 225 | Sr |
OL Jacob Fudge, West Feliciana | 6-2 | 250 | Sr |
QB Jontre Kirklin, Lutcher | 6-0 | 170 | Sr |
RB Travis Etienne, Jennings | 5-11 | 195 | Sr |
RB Elijah Mitchell, Erath | 6-0 | 215 | Sr |
RB Davon Harris, West Feliciana | 5-8 | 165 | Jr |
AT Julien Gums, De La Salle | 5-11 | 212 | Jr |
PK Adam Ieyoub, St. Louis | 5-8 | 180 | Jr |
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
POS PLAYER, SCHOOL | HT | WT | CL |
DL Ishmael Sopher, Amite | 6-5 | 280 | Soph |
DL Shawn Williams, Marksville | 6-0 | 235 | Jr |
DL Jamiran James, De La Salle | 6-2 | 276 | Jr |
DL Mark Mayes, Iowa | 6-3 | 290 | Sr |
LB Julius Johnson, Kaplan | 5-10 | 193 | Sr |
LB Rashaun Preston, Lutcher | 5-11 | 190 | Sr |
LB Josh Paul, De La Salle | 6-2 | 215 | Sr |
LB Xavier Davis, Parkview | 5-9 | 210 | Sr |
DB Darius Daniels, Iowa | 6-0 | 180 | Jr |
DB Dylan Recotta, Lutcher | 5-10 | 170 | Sr |
DB Trent Kavanaugh, Parkview | 6-1 | 215 | Sr |
DB Qway Mingo, Marksville | 6-0 | 175 | Sr |
KR Andre Sam, Iowa | 6-2 | 175 | Sr |
P Shelby Creel, Winnfield | 6-0 | 175 | Sr |
OFFENSIVE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Elijah Mitchell, Erath
DEFENSIVE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Josh Paul, De La Salle
COACH OF THE YEAR: Zephaniah Powell, Amite
HONORABLE MENTION
Nijul Canada, Mansfield; Devonta Lee, Amite; Jaray Jenkins, Jena; Cornell Holmes, Lusher; Jason Dumas, St. James; Parker Fink, Jena; Paul Rogers, Independence; DJ Hardwick, South Beauregard; Elijah Walker, Amite; Ethan Stansell, Loyola; Kamryn Mayers, Albany; Bruce Price, Peabody; Stephen Jackson, Independence; Jamar Washington, Peabody; Derek Turner, West Feliciana; Curtlan Johnson, St. James; Craig Walker, Jena; Jacovian Phillips, Jewel Sumner; ZeAndre Ballard, Marksville; Braylon Victor, Iowa; Marshall Laroque, South Beauregard; Gaige Willis, Northwest; Dontaze Costly, St. James; Kaleb Guillory, Iota; Matthew Rideau, Northwest; Hunter Smith, West Feliciana; Jaquan Lee, Jewel Sumner; Cheyenne Labruzza, Albany; K.D. Willis, Peabody; Juantravious Jones, Marksville; Myron Dokes, Amite; Eli Poche, Lusher; Danquan Edwards, De La Salle; Jeremiah James, De La Salle; Tylin Warden, South Beauregard; DB Joel Whaley, South Beauregard; August Pitre, Northwest; Mac Thibeaux, Kaplan; Josh Carver, Berwick; Mitchell Sanford, Berwick; D.J. Robicheaux, Berwick.