MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / July 24, 1999

BATON ROUGE – St. James’ Jeremy Harry received just about every honorpossible during his four year career with the Wildcats, being named all- district, all-River Parishes, all-metro and all-state. But being selected toplay in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association’s All-Star Football game last night may have topped them all.

“I was joyous,” Harry said of learning shortly after the 1998 football season concluded that he had made the team. “It’s something you alwaysdream about.”Harry played four years for the Wildcats, three as a starter. During thattime, St. James won four consecutive district championships, reached thesemifinals three times and played in the 1996 Class 3A state championship game. This past season, Harry was named the District 10-3ADefensive MVP and was selected to the all-state team after recording 78 tackles, including eight sacks and 12 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

“It was fun,” Harry said of playing for the Wildcats. “It was fun playingfootball for coach (Rick) Gaille. He was a really good coach. I will alwaysmiss high school football.”Harry played on the defensive line for three years and saw time at center, the position he played for the West All-Stars. He said the All-Starcoaches made the adjustment easier.

“It’s really not that hard,” Harry said of the switch. “They made theoffense simple to understand.”Harry will attend Kentucky State University this fall where he will major in engineering and play defensive end on the football team.

“It’s going to be challenging but I’m going to stick with it and work as hard as I can,” Harry said.

Harry was coached on the West squad by West St. John coach Laury Dupontand joined on it by West St. John’s Pendarvis Morris and Torrian Thomas.Both Morris and Thomas found out they made the team shortly after helping the Rams to the Class 2A state championship.

Thomas overcame a bad ankle sprain that caused him to miss five games during the season to make a big contribution to the Rams’ playoff run.

“God was on my side,” Thomas said. “I was able to come back for theplayoffs strong.”Thomas played football for the Rams two years, starting both years at linebacker and fullback.

“It was fun,” Thomas said. “I’m going to really miss high school. I miss allmy friends. I wish I had another year to play.”Thomas will have one friend going to college with him, Morris. Both signedto play football with Nicholls State this fall.

“It makes me feel more comfortable,” Morris said of getting to play with a fellow teammate. “We’ve been playing together since Little League.”Morris was a first-team all-state selection this past season, recording 137 tackles, including seven sacks. He also knocked down six passes,intercepted three and returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown.

The two-year starter at wide receiver and defensive back said playing in the All-Star game will help him at the next level.

“It will prepare me for college and I get to meet other players from other schools,” Morris said of the experience.

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