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When Jeanerette football left Haynesville High School fresh off its 47-6 loss in the LHSAA Non-Select Division IV semifinals, the Tigers knew they let another chance slip through their grasp.
For some time now, the Tigers have gotten close to making it to the finals. Stepping foot inside the Caesar Superdome materialized the dream they’ve had since the school opened back in 1900s.
In 2026, head coach Clifford Paul and his Tigers are hoping that dream will come true.
“I think we have the potential to get there, the question is going to be how we handle the journey to get to that point,” Paul said. “Haynesville wanted it more than we did last season but I think our kids understand now the value of hard work and what it takes to get there.”
The Tigers faced adversity early on last season after their three-star running back Devin Duhon was injured in the first game against Patterson. Duhon’s season-ending injury thrust Destin Smith into his role as just a freshman and boy did he make the most of his opportunity.
“It felt great for me to just come and show what I could do and show my talent off,” Smith said. “This year I’m trying to build off that and my main thing is improving on my speed and my catching. I’m trying to do anything to send my seniors out with a ring on their fingers.”
Smith rushed for more than 1,000 yards, leading the Tigers rushing attack last season. This fall, with the return of a healthy Duhon, junior quarterback Aaron Tillman and Smith, Jeanerette will have a three-headed monster headlining its backfield. For Duhon, this season is personal for him after watching from the sidelines his entire junior season.
“Not going to lie, it was a pain in the butt and just a learning experience for me to sit and watch because I’ve never done that before,” Duhon said. “Now that I’m back, all I’ve been doing is grinding and grinding and grinding. I’ve stayed in the weight room just trying to get ready for a big season this year.”
Clearing the path for Jeanerette’s backfield will be a big offensive line made up mainly of linemen no shorter than 6-foot-2. The biggest on the line for the Tigers this fall will be 6-foot-6 and 320 pounder, Blair Lewis, who is quickly making a name for himself as one of the best OL in the boot.
The Class of 2029 lineman earned his first Division I offer from USC and not too long after that picked up an offer from LSU after playing his freshman year of ball.
“It means a lot,” Lewis said on his recent offers. “It’s really showing me like all the hard work that I’m putting in is not being unnoticed and that I’m not working for nothing. As I’m getting all of these offers, it’s pushing me to keep going forward and I got to keep working.”
Outside of the Tigers running backs and big offensive line, they’ll have two-way weapons in seniors Kobe Gage and Nysir Jackson. Both will play at wide receiver as well as on defense this fall with Gage finishing with 2,000 all-purpose yards in 2025 and Jackson recently earning his first D1 offer from North Alabama.
With weapons riddled through its roster, Jeanerette is hoping 2026 is the year that they can get over the semifinals hump and to the Dome.
Shannon Belt covers high school sports, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and LSU men's basketball for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Jeanerette football hoping its star playmakers can led to a state title in 2026
Continue reading...
For some time now, the Tigers have gotten close to making it to the finals. Stepping foot inside the Caesar Superdome materialized the dream they’ve had since the school opened back in 1900s.
In 2026, head coach Clifford Paul and his Tigers are hoping that dream will come true.
“I think we have the potential to get there, the question is going to be how we handle the journey to get to that point,” Paul said. “Haynesville wanted it more than we did last season but I think our kids understand now the value of hard work and what it takes to get there.”
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Jeanerette’s championship-caliber ground game
The Tigers faced adversity early on last season after their three-star running back Devin Duhon was injured in the first game against Patterson. Duhon’s season-ending injury thrust Destin Smith into his role as just a freshman and boy did he make the most of his opportunity.
“It felt great for me to just come and show what I could do and show my talent off,” Smith said. “This year I’m trying to build off that and my main thing is improving on my speed and my catching. I’m trying to do anything to send my seniors out with a ring on their fingers.”
Smith rushed for more than 1,000 yards, leading the Tigers rushing attack last season. This fall, with the return of a healthy Duhon, junior quarterback Aaron Tillman and Smith, Jeanerette will have a three-headed monster headlining its backfield. For Duhon, this season is personal for him after watching from the sidelines his entire junior season.
“Not going to lie, it was a pain in the butt and just a learning experience for me to sit and watch because I’ve never done that before,” Duhon said. “Now that I’m back, all I’ve been doing is grinding and grinding and grinding. I’ve stayed in the weight room just trying to get ready for a big season this year.”
Clearing the path for Jeanerette’s backfield will be a big offensive line made up mainly of linemen no shorter than 6-foot-2. The biggest on the line for the Tigers this fall will be 6-foot-6 and 320 pounder, Blair Lewis, who is quickly making a name for himself as one of the best OL in the boot.
You must be registered for see images attach
The Class of 2029 lineman earned his first Division I offer from USC and not too long after that picked up an offer from LSU after playing his freshman year of ball.
“It means a lot,” Lewis said on his recent offers. “It’s really showing me like all the hard work that I’m putting in is not being unnoticed and that I’m not working for nothing. As I’m getting all of these offers, it’s pushing me to keep going forward and I got to keep working.”
Outside of the Tigers running backs and big offensive line, they’ll have two-way weapons in seniors Kobe Gage and Nysir Jackson. Both will play at wide receiver as well as on defense this fall with Gage finishing with 2,000 all-purpose yards in 2025 and Jackson recently earning his first D1 offer from North Alabama.
With weapons riddled through its roster, Jeanerette is hoping 2026 is the year that they can get over the semifinals hump and to the Dome.
Shannon Belt covers high school sports, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and LSU men's basketball for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Jeanerette football hoping its star playmakers can led to a state title in 2026
Continue reading...
