What a great year for Lincoln Parish’s three high school football programs as Lincoln Prep, Cedar Creek and Ruston all made the playoffs in their respective classifications. The Lincoln Parish Journal was there every step of the way as the Panthers, Cougars and Bearcats made our parish proud.
Now to unveil our inaugural Lincoln Parish Journal All-Parish Team. When you have the kind of success that our parish teams recorded this year, that means there is plenty of talent in Lincoln Parish. Our committee worked diligently to compile a team that has great representation of some of the top players in the state of Louisiana.
Congratulations to these young men and their teammates. The LPJ can hardly wait for 2022.
Lincoln Parish Journal
All-Parish Team
SPECIALTY AWARDS
Offensive MVP: Dyson Fields (Ruston) — Fields used his junior season to begin his legacy as one of the best backs in the south. One of the state’s top running back, Fields rushed for 1,659 yards and 24 touchdowns in the regular season alone helping Ruston earn a share of the District 2-5A title and finish fifth in the postseason Power Rankings. He led the Bearcats to the quarterfinals of the playoffs. He was named the District 2-5A Offensive MVP for his efforts.
Defensive MVP: Carson Riley (Cedar Creek) – Riley was the centerpiece of the Cougars defense that set school records for fewest points allowed per game during the regular season. Riley totaled 89 tackles from his linebacker position with four tackles for loss and two sacks. He spearheaded a defense that allowed only nine points or fewer in seven of its nine regular season games and leading the program to the Division IV playoffs. He was named first team all-District 2-1A.
Special Teams MVP: D’Mitry Payne (Lincoln Prep) – Payne was one of the most electric players in the state and without a doubt one of the most dangerous return men in Louisiana. He returned 27 kickoffs on the year for 1,231 yards and seven – yes seven – touchdowns. He averaged 46 yards per kickoff return and helped lead the Panthers to the Class A state playoffs, including a first-round victory. He was named all-District 1-1A after a performance that LP coach Glen Hall called “special”.
Coach of the Year: Matt Middleton (Cedar Creek) – Let’s face it. This was the hardest award to decide with all three head coaches doing an outstanding job in 2021. We gave Middleton the edge over Ruston’s Jerrod Baugh and Lincoln Prep’s Glen Hall after he took over the program in the late spring and led the Cougars through a minefield of off-the-field obstacles. Creek posted a 6-3 record with the losses coming by 1 point to St. Fredericks, 2 points to Class 2A Jonesboro Hodge and No. 1 ranked OCS (Cougars led with less than two minutes to play). Despite turmoil surrounding the school, Middleton and Co. rallied together for a memorable season that culminated with the first year Cougar Coach earning the District 2-1A Coach of the Year Award.
OFFENSE
QB: Jaden Osborne, Ruston
RB: Dyson Fields, Ruston
RB: Jed Worthey, Cedar Creek
WR: D’Mitry Payne, Lincoln Prep
WR: Ladd Thompson, Cedar Creek
WR: Dawson Willis, Ruston
OL: Imani Marcel, Lincoln Prep
OL: Micah Scheer, Ruston
OL: Seth Smith, Cedar Creek
OL: Jake Smith, Cedar Creek
OL: Jayden Woods, Ruston
Flex: Caden Middleton, Cedar Creek
Flex: Ta’Rell Simmons, Lincoln Prep
Flex: Devian Wilson, Ruston
DEFENSE
DL: Geordan Guidry, Ruston
DL: Quincy Lewis, Cedar Creek
DL: Imani Marcel, Lincoln Prep
DL: Seth Smith, Cedar Creek
LB: Emmanuel Bryant, Lincoln Prep
LB: Brilun Elmore, Ruston
LB: Jadon Mayfield, Ruston
LB: Carson Riley, Cedar Creek
DB: BJ Green, Ruston
DB: D’Angelo Harper, Ruston
DB: Lane Thomas, Cedar Creek
DB: Ta’Rell Simmons, Lincoln Prep
Flex: Bryce Rushing, Cedar Creek
Flex: AJ Thomas, Cedar Creek
Flex: Dennis Williams, Ruston
SPECIALISTS
PK: Brady Beason, Ruston
P: Brady Beason, Ruston
Returner: D’Mitry Payne, Lincoln Prep
To report an issue or typo with this article – CLICK HERE
