St. Charles linebacker Kyle Cannon named Class 2A’s top defensive player

A trio involved in one of the most dramatic state championship games of the 2023 Prep Classic headline the LSWA’s Class 2A all-state football team.

Calvary quarterback Abram Wardell, who threw two touchdown passes in the final 3 minutes of the Division III select title game to help the Cavaliers rally past St. Charles Catholic and complete their first perfect season earned Outstanding Offensive Player honors in 2A.

A panel of sportswriters from across the state selected St. Charles linebacker Kyle Cannon, who recorded 133 tackles (including 15.5 for loss), five interceptions and two pick-6s, as the 2A Outstanding Defensive Player. The senior earned all-state honors in 2022 and made 19 tackles in this year’s semifinal win against U-High.

The Comets finished 13-1.

Wardell makes his first appearance after completing 78 percent of his throws. The junior was the state’s second-leading passer (regardless of classification) with 3,883 yards this season. He threw for 45 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

Wardell threw a pick in the first game of the season and the last. In 12 games in between, he tossed 40 touchdowns without an interception.

In his 23rd season as a head coach in Louisiana, Calvary’s Rodney Guin earned his first Coach of the Year honor. He led the Cavaliers to a 14-0 record and the thrilling 34-28 triumph in the Superdome. It was Calvary’s second state title under Guin, but the first came during the shortened COVID season of 2020 that featured a title game in Natchitoches.

2023 CLASS 2A ALL-STATE CHART

OFFENSE

WR Jac Comeaux, Dunham, 5-10, 160, Sr.

WR Aubrey Hermes, Calvary, 6-3, 180, Sr.

WR Jaiden Mitchell, Catholic-N.I., 5-8, 140, Jr.

OL Will York, Episcopal, 5-10, 185, Sr.

OL Jimmy Wright, Calvary, 6-2, 246, Sr.

OL Truitt Tietz, Oak Grove, 6-2, 240, Sr.

OL Luke Schultz, Notre Dame, 6-4, 270, Sr.

OL Brett Bordelon, Newman, 6-5, 285, Jr.

QB Abram Wardell, Calvary, 6-0, 190, Jr.

RB Braeden George, Episcopal, 5-11, 185, Sr.

RB James Simon, Calvary, 6-0, 200, Jr.

RB Jeremiah James, Many, 5-11, 196, Sr.

PK Joseph Whitehouse, Pope John Paul II, 6-1, 170, Sr.

ATH Jackson Bradley, Oak Grove, 6-3, 200, Jr.

DEFENSE

DL Ethan Sands, Calvary, 6-2, 260, Sr.

DL Swazy Carheel, Many, 6-3, 235, Sr.

DL Isaiah Joles, Oak Grove, 6-0, 245, Jr.

DL Jaden Breaux, St. Charles, 6-2, 190, Sr.

LB Hutch Grace, Calvary, 6-1, 220, Sr

LB Cooper Scott, Menard, 6-2, 210, Sr.

LB James Harris, Oak Grove, 6-2, 225, Sr.

LB Kyle Cannon, St. Charles, 6-1, 220, Sr.

DB Drew Bourgeois, Dunham, 5-8, 160, Sr.

DB Landon Sylvie, Calvary, 5-11, 170, Sr.

DB Tylen Singleton, Many, 6-2, 210, Sr.

DB Landon Ferrell, Oak Grove, 6-2, 195, Sr.

P Ryan Hicks, Menard, 6-0, 165, Sr.

KR Kaden Foster, St. Charles, 5-10, 160, Sr.

ATH Kameron Williams, General Trass, 6-2, 215, Sr.

OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER: ABRAM WARDELL, CALVARY

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: KYLE CANNON, ST. CHARLES

COACH OF THE YEAR: RODNEY GUIN, CALVARY

Honorable mention

Peyton Peebles, Ascension Episcopal; Decareyn Sampson, Avoyelles; Preston Barnes, Avoyelles; Braylun Huglon, Calvary; Heath Gross, Calvary; John Simon IV, Calvary; Drew Desormeaux, Catholic-New Iberia; Shawn Basey, D’Arbonne Woods; Elijah Haven, Dunham; Logan Sorrel, Dunham; Malachi Jackson, Dunham; Chase Cresson, Episcopal; Chris Reed, Ferriday; Desmen Jefferson, Ferriday; Jay’shaun Johnson, Franklin; Joseph Landry, Houma Christian School; Micah Callais, Houma Christian School; Ray Levi, Lake Arthur; Ryan Hubbard, Lakeview; Kaine Olivier, Loreauville; Trace McHugh, Loreauville; Rowen Guthikonda, Loyola; Jalen Mcgraw Boley, Mangham; Robert Natt, Mangham; Braylon Dusang, Menard; Drake Aldredge, Menard; Gavin Hilton, Menard; Eli Friend, Newman; Peter Loop, Newman; Robert Kerrigan, Newman; Will Loerzel, Newman; Kameron Casnave, Northlake Christian; Jackson Casanova, Notre Dame; Sam Kirsch, Notre Dame; Jay Freeman, Oak Grove; JT Layton, Oak Grove; Seth Ray, Oak Grove; Tamarques Pritchard, Oak Grove; Deekota Johnson, Oakdale; Derrick Green, Oakdale; Ruffin George, Oakdale; DeSean Deville, Oberlin; Kenneth Boston, Rayville; Latavious Murphy, Rayville; Alex Phillips, South Plaquemines; Jy’heim Williams, South Plaquemines; Brady St. Pierre, St. Charles; Daniel Joseph, St. Charles; Jeremiah Wills, St. Charles; Tyler Milioto, St. Charles; Kohen Rowbatham, St. Thomas Aquinas; Kabari Davis, Vidalia; Ayden Miller, Welsh; Hayden VanNess, Welsh; Jonovan Begnaud, Welsh; Troy Pattum, Welsh; Jake Jones, Winnfield.