Pope John Paul II was rewarded for its season by having four seniors named to District 9-2A’s first team after going 2-2 in district and 5-5 overall.

Running back Ross Macaluso, defensive lineman Bobby Mayfield, linebacker Cory Davis and defensive back Ryan Palmisano all garnered first-team recognition.

Macaluso was the Jaguars’ feature back. He carried the ball 92 times for 618 yards (6.7 yards a carry) and five touchdowns during district play.

(Use arrows above to view more photos)

Mayfield finished with 15 solo tackles, eight assists and six sacks and recovered three fumbles during district competition.

Davis was in on 17 individual stops, while assisting on 10. He recovered three fumbles, while forcing one, and had four sacks.

Palmisano tallied 15 tackles with three assists, one forced fumble and one interception.

St. Thomas Aquinas coach John White was named the Coach of the Year. Falcons’ senior quarterback Raymone Andrews, who was also a first-teamer at defensive back, was the offensive Most Valuable Player. St. Thomas senior linebacker Charles Robert Miller was the defensive MVP.

PJP had a chance to finish in a three-way for first place in district with St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Helena Central, but a 35-7 loss to St. Thomas gave the Falcons the outright district title. The Jaguars’ season ended with an overtime loss to Episcopal of Baton Rouge, 21-20. PJP went for the win and attempted a two-point conversion, but came up short.

St. Thomas’ season concluded in the quarterfinals with a 36-13 loss to John Curtis. It was the Falcons only loss after an 11-1 campaign.

St. Thomas dominated the first team, as the Falcons held 15 of the 28 spots on the first team.

The non-local running backs are St. Helena senior Darin Self and St. Thomas senior Josh Reed.

The wide receivers are St. Helena sophomore Ryan Byrd and St. Thomas senior Blake Brooks.

The tight end is St. Thomas Aquinas senior Ryan Gambel.

On the offensive line, St. Thomas junior Michael Prenger is the center. The guards are St. Thomas junior Cameron Lebleau and St. Helena junior Ahmad Lee. The tackles are St. Thomas senior Matt Gore and St. Helena senior Nyjyrus Gurley.

The first-team kicker is St. Thomas senior Cullen Hughes, the return specialist is Pine senior Daryl Westbrook and the first-team athlete went to St. Thomas junior Brandon Robertson.

Defensively, the non-local first-team linemen are Springfield sophomore Dallas Laurent, St. Thomas senior Brandon Black and Pine junior Brandon Whaley.

The non-local linebackers are St. Thomas seniors Miller and Hughes, while St. Helena Central senior Yadron Williams also garnered recognition.

The non-local defensive backs included St. Thomas seniors Andrews and Russell Pellichino along with Springfield junior Courtney Danzler.

The second team featured several PJP players. The Jaguars held 11 of 29 spots.

Offensively, senior wide receiver Tommy Gritten and juniors tight end Christian Bruhm, guard Michael Felder, tackle Scott Whitehead and kicker James Cousin earned honors.

Defensively, PJP featured two seniors on the second team in linebacker Brad Alfonso and punter Andrew Morse.

The juniors named were linebacker Cousin, lineman Tyler Bolner and back Tyler Lusignan.

Lineman Calvin Durel was the only PJP sophomore to be named to the second team.

The second-team quarterback was St. Helena Central senior Addarius Sopher.

The running backs are St. Thomas seniors Zach Reed and Brandon Lorio. The others included St. Helena senior Yadron Williams and Springfield sophomore Jamar Jones.

The only non-local wide receiver is Springfield junior Darren McKigney.

The second-team center is St. Helena senior Clay Overton.

The non-local second-team guard is Springfield senior Donald Davis.

The non-local tackle is St. Helena senior Fagan Davis III.

Defensively, the non-local second-team linemen are St. Helena senior Jerry Gutter, St. Thomas senior Trey Dicristina and St. Thomas junior Travis Gregory.

The non-local second-team linebackers included St. Helena senior Jarmarcus Lee and Springfield sophomore Cole McKigney.

The non-local backs are St. Helena senior Bryant Barton, St. Helena sophomore Marvin Lee, Springfield junior Antonio Patrick and St. Thomas junior Brandon Robertson.