By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — Bearcats coaches, players and fans all gathered Monday night at the Ruston Civic Center for the annual banquet to honor the 2024 season and celebrate the continued success of the football program.
“This is enjoyable for the kids, primarily the seniors,” Ruston High School Head Football Coach Jerrod Baugh said. “It’s the opportunity for those guys to get together as a group and really reminisce on this football season along with their football careers.
“Hopefully, it’s an opportunity for them to think about all the things that they got from our football program through the years and their spot in the Ruston High School football program legacy.”
Following a meal and a highlight video by the Bearcat Nation Network, Baugh honored the seniors, spirit groups and the rest of the players and support staff within the program.
Individual awards were then given (listed below), as were the list of all-district, all-area, all-state teams, scholastic awards and letter winners. At the conclusion, senior defensive lineman (and four-year letter winner) Payton Bell led the seniors in gifting Baugh a framed picture as a thank you. The senior football players led the crowd in the Alma Mater.
For senior linebacker Zheric Hill, the banquet is something he has looked forward to each year — and while this is his final one as a Bearcat, he’ll be right down the road playing college football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and still keeping tabs on the football team he dearly loves.
”It’s bittersweet, because these are four years I’ll never forget,” Hill said. “We look forward to this as a team. It’s where you and your brother get to cheer on each other — I can’t believe this is my last one. I hope one day my kids will get to be here and have it all come back around. But I’ll be right down the road (at Louisiana Tech) and I’ll be watching.”
Baugh added how thankful he was for the community response coming out to support the team at the banquet and how the fans have backed the team during the three runs to the state championship game.
”For the past few years in particular, it’s been really good to see fans come out,” Baugh said. “We’ve had a very good turnout. From game to Bearcat Madness and the auctions that we’ve had — turnout has been good. There’s still a lot of excitement with our football program. Hopefully, it will be the same down the road.
”I can’t promise we’ll be in the state championship every year, but I hope that everyone has seen that their support for this football program goes a long way. Our kids are used to seeing this community show up and support them.”
Award winners
Michael Parker Coaches Award: Garrett Taylor, DL
Fred Dean Booster Club Scholarship: Morgan Wells, DL
Greg “Big Coach” Williams Scholarship: Payton Bell, DL
Bearcat Football Club Scholarship: Fabian Stringfellow, DB
Jack Lindsey Memorial Scholarship: Zander Hayes, LB
Chick Childress Defensive MVP: Zheric Hill, LB
Hoss Garrett Offensive MVP: Josh Brantley, QB
Special Teams MVP: Aidan Anding, DB/Returner
Permanent Offensive Captain: Josh Brantley, QB
Permanent Defensive Captain: Zheric Hill, LB
Permanent Special Teams Captain: Jack Elliott, K
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