Three Cedar Creek footballers are being recognized for getting the job done on and off the gridiron.
Carson Riley, Seth Smith and Jed Worthey are among 30 high school seniors who have qualified for the National Football Foundation’s Ark-La-Tex Scholar-Athlete Watch List.
NFF Ark-La-Tex Scholar-Athlete Watch List members must have a 3.2 grade point average or better, must be key players for their teams, and must participate in non-sports extracurricular activities at their schools.
Riley is a senior for the Cougars who has starred on the offensive line as well as at his linebacker position.
“Great character young man,” said Creek head coach Matt Middleton. “Always puts others first. The epitome of a great teammate. Quiet. Reserved but does a lot with his actions. He is an exceptional student.”
Seth Smith is a senior who has started on both the Creek offensive line and defensive line in 2021.
“Hard worker, on and off the field,” said Middleton. “Very involved in a number of things. He will be one of those guys who will be highly successful down the road because of the work ethic he has. He is another 3.5 gpa guy.”
Worthey is a senior who leads the Cougars in rushing and has been an integral part of the stellar Creek defense as well.
“Probably one of our more vocal leaders,” said Middleton. “Got a great background. Comes from a business family. Very active. He is one of those that hops in wherever is needed and does whatever is asked of him. I believe he is pushing a 4.0.”
Middleton acknowledged how impressive it is that Creek has three of the 30 nominees.
“It’s pretty cool,” he said. “Those are three pretty good ones. It is an honor that they are all being recognized. I’ve been blessed to coach these three. They are really good young men. We are blessed to have three of that caliber on one team.”
Annually, after each season, the NFF’s S.M. McNaughton Chapter solicits nominations for its scholarship program, and as many as eight senior scholar-athletes are honored at a banquet in Shreveport.
This Watch List is designed to provide recognition for not just the ultimate scholarship winners, but all of the young men in the Ark-La-Tex, including Louisiana’s entire 318 area code and from Lincoln Parish, who are high-achieving senior football players.
The group of 30 high school seniors named to the National Football Foundation Ark-La-Tex Scholar-Athlete Watch List:
Justin Aaron, DB, Natchitoches Central High School
Caleb Aillet, C, C.E. Byrd High School
Sedric Applewhite Jr., WR/DE, Bossier High School
Tonzaiha Bland, OL/DL, Logansport High School
Caylin Demars, RB, Natchitoches Central High School
Graeme Fidelak, WR, St. Mary’s High School
B.J. Green, DB, Ruston High School
Connor Heard, OL/C, Minden High School
Evan Howe, Linebacker, North DeSoto High School
John Jordan, DB, C.E. Byrd High School
Kelvin Kinney, QB, North DeSoto High School
Gavin LaGrange, OL/DL, St. Mary’s High School
Dqavion Lemons, OL, Southwood High School
Chandler Lytle, LB, Haughton High School
Brayson McHenry, QB, Texas High School, Texarkana
James David Miller, OL/DL, Ouachita Christian High School
Kyle Monroe, QB, Fouke High School
R.J. Moore, WR/K/P, Benton High School
Jake Pieri, DL, Haughton High School
Mitchell Ramsey, RB, Byrd High School
Carson Riley, LB/OT, Cedar Creek High School
Jatareon Robinson, LB, North Webster High School
Davis Sellers, DE/TE, Benton High School
Joshua Sewell, WR. Haughton High School
Seth Smith, OG, Cedar Creek High School
Tre Smith, QB, Red River High School
Tyler Sullivan, WR/DB, Plain Dealing High School
Ryan Todd, DB, C.E. Byrd High School
Tristan Wiley, WR/DB, Ouachita Christian High School
Jed Worthy, CB/TB, Cedar Creek High School
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