MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / December 22, 1999

BATON ROUGE – District 9-3A champion Lutcher placed three members on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 3A All-State football team released recently.

Selected were wide receiver Kenneth Johnson, defensive lineman Jemelle Cage and defensive back Bernard Riley. The three helped the Bulldogs totheir first outright district title in 16 years and a berth in the regional playoffs with a 9-3 record.

District runner-up and state quarterfinalist St. James placed twomembers on the All-State team, wide receiver Davin Dennis and defensive lineman Brent Phillips.

Lutcher’s Thomas Ricks, Bo Louque and Dwayne Franklin and St. James’Corey Webster, Damon Oubre, Jason Jessie, Ron Becnel and Cedric Vaughn were named to the honorable mention team.

Class 3A state champion Amite swept the outstanding player awards.

Senior Running back C.J. Batiste was the top offensive player after rushingfor 1,036 and 14 touchdowns on 161 carries. Senior linebacker DorsettBuckels was the top defender, recording 120 tackles, including 23 behind the line. Mitch Downey, who led Benton to a 10-0 record and a spot in thesemifinals, was the Coach of the Year.

Johnson had 32 catches for 950 yards and nine touchdowns during the regular season and accounted for 1,242 all-purpose yards. Cage, theDistrict 9-3A Defensive MVP, had 72 solo tackles, 22 assists, 11 sacks and 17 tackles behind the line. Riley intercepted nine passes, recoveredfour fumbles, blocked a kick, had 35 solo tackles and scored four touchdowns on returns. Ricks completed 101 of his 191 passes for 1,841yards, 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions during the regular season. Healso ran 71 times for 179 yards and four touchdowns.

Dennis caught 45 passes for 970 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Wildcats. Webster completed 74-of-146 passes for 1,454 yards, 22touchdowns and six interceptions. He also carried the ball 60 times for201 yards and three touchdowns and punted 30 times for a 31.6 average.Vaughn had eight interceptions, 62 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and seven pass breakups.

Others making the first-team offense were tight end John Boutte of Lake Charles-Boston; offensive tackles Aaron Lips of Independence and Kade Comeaux of Notre Dame; center Rondale Solomon of Cecilia; guards Cody Thomas of Benton and Addaryl Edwards of Amite; quarterback Josh Son of Parkview Baptist; running backs Donnie Brooks of Caldwell and Bobby Rose of Winnsboro; and place kicker Joel Thibodaux of St. Louis.The rest of the first team defense consisted of defensive linemen Shawn Tanner of Independence and Roy Stroud of Benton; linebackers Mike Plaisance of Redemptorist, Mitch Schoffiett of Notre Dame and Maynard Johnny of Karr; defensive backs Shaune Maynard of Jennings, Calvin Hall of Benton and Justin Stroderd of Teurlings; and punter Jason Kelly of Redemptorist. The kick returner was Cedric Gross of Franklinton and theathlete was Willie Dartez of Cecilia.

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