Before the start of the 2022 high school football season, Leesville head coach Robert Causey said he was hoping running back Xavier Ford could be a dependable player.

Ford delivered more than that, running for 2,581 yards and 34 touchdowns in 12 games, helping the Wampus Cats reach the quarterfinals of the playoffs.

For that, Ford is the Offensive MVP of the American Press All-Southwest Louisiana Large Schools team.

Defensive MVP is Iowa defensive lineman Kyron Labove, who led the Yellow Jackets to their first semifinal appearance.

Causey said he was primarily looking to fill a hole in the lineup with Ford.

“We needed a guy that would be dependable, a guy who would play within the scheme, who would finish runs,” he said. “He did all those things. He played within the system. He did what we needed out of the position. He had the discipline to run where he was supposed to go and he finished runs, he got yards after contact.”

Ford missed Leesville’s playoff loss to Iowa with an injury.

Causey said Ford shines off the field too.

“I knew he was a high-character young man,” Causey said. “His productivity is second to the kind of teammate he is. To me, that is his outstanding quality. Twenty years from now his teammates won’t remember the numbers he put up, they’ll remember the kind of person he was. Was he a good teammate? Did he care about them? Was he unselfish? Those are the things I knew he brought to the table. The yards and productivity are a by-product of his personality, his being humble, his being coachable.”

Labove led a dominant Iowa defense, piling up 58 tackles. 14 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Iowa head coach Tommy Johns said Labove combined technique and work ethic to become a star player.

“He is a technician and has a great motor,” Johns said. “He does not stop or take plays off. That’s why he was a district MVP and is one of the best linemen to ever come through here.”

Johns said Labove’s leadership off the field was just as impressive as his play on it.

“Everybody sees how hard he works,” Johns said. “We intentionally put some of our players with him in the weight room because we know he will push them. He is a great person to be around and deserves everything he has gotten. He has worked for it.

“He’s been a pleasure to coach. He is one of the most humble kids you will come across. He is an extremely hard worker who has earned everything he’s gotten.

“His mom has cancer and he brings her to all her doctor appointments and hustles back to practice. He’s been through a lot, and to see him succeed has been great. When you talk to him, he always compliments his teammates first.”

Johns is coach of the year after leading the Yellow Jackets to an 11-2 season, which included a 6-0 record in District 3-3A play and the top seed in the non-select Division II playoffs, where the Jackets beat Abbeville and Leesville before losing to North DeSoto.

Large Schools

Offense

Pos. Player, School Ht. Wt. Cl.

WR Drew Dronet, Sam Houston 5-9 160 So.

Statistics: 63 catches, 973 yds., 7 TDs

WR Jamaal Levi, Barbe 5-7 149 Sr.

Statistics: 48 catches, 679 yds., 11 TDs

WR Grant Evans, St. Louis Catholic 6-4 210 Sr.

Statistics: 59 catches, 828 yds., 8 TDs

OL Damian Reed, Iowa 6-2 280 Jr.

Statistics: 2,665 team rush yds.

OL Terry Evans, Leesville 6-4 255 Sr.

Statistics: 3,926 team rush yds.

OL Jordan Davis, St. Louis Catholic 6-3 280 Jr.

Statistics: 3,747 team total yds.

OL Jeremiah Freeman, LC College Prep 6-4 260 So.

Statistics: 22 pancakes

OL Hanz Lacasse, Iota 6-0 260 Sr.

Statistics: Team 354 rush yds. per game

QB James Reina, St. Louis Catholic 5-9 190 Sr.

Statistics: 1,017 rush yds., 1,802 pass yds., 35 total TDs

RB Xavier Ford, Leesville 5-11 190 So.

Statistics: 2,581 yds., 34 TDs

RB Ronald Young, Iowa 6-1 195 Sr.

Statistics: 1870 yds., 21 TDs

RB ReJohn Zeno, Jennings 5-10 170 So.

Statistics: 1,083 yds., 8 TDs rush.; 334 yds., 5 TDs rec.

PK Landon Daughdril, St. Louis Catholic 5-11 170 Jr.

Statistics: 42/43 XPs, 3 FGs

ATH Gavin Stout, Sam Houston 6-0 160 So.

Statistics: 2,296 yds., 23 TDs

Defense

Pos. Player, School Ht. Wt. Cl.

DL Kyron Labove, Iowa 5-9 240 Sr.

Statistics: 58 tackles, 8 sacks

DL Jayshawn Mabry-Lyles, Leesville 5-9 240 Sr.

Statistics: 82 tackles, 16 tackles for loss

DL K’veion Warren-Williams, DeRidder 6-0 290 Sr.

Statistics: 55 tackles, 6 sacks

DL Blayden Laidlaw, Sulphur 6-0 230 Sr.

Statistics: 50 tackles, 3 sacks

LB Daylon Sibley, LC College Prep 6-0 215 Sr.

Statistics: 120 tackles 5 sacks

LB Ethan Koonce, Westlake 5-11 210 Sr.

Statistics: 152 tackles, 11 TFL

LB Graham Montet, St. Louis Catholic 5-10 200 Jr.

Statistics: 157 tackles, 11 TFL

LB Dayton Boone, Iota 5-9 175 Sr.

Statistics: 111 tackles, 5 forced fumbles, 2 INT, 2 TD

DB Erick Franklin, LC College Prep 5-10 180 Jr.

Statistics: 81 tackles, 6 INT, 9 passes broken up

DB Kristian Ozane, Westlake 6-0 190 Sr.

Statistics: 102 tackles, 3 TFL, 6 offensive TDs

DB Bryant Hammond, DeRidder 6-2 175 Sr.

Statistics: 94 tackles, 5 INT

DB Kandyn Cardova, Barbe 5-10 180 Sr.

Statistics: 84 tackles, 6 PBU, 3 INT, TD

P Matthew Vest, Iowa 5-9 150 Jr.

Statistics: 36.1 avg., 10 inside 20; 36/40 PATs, 4 FG

KR Ronnie Crosby, DeRidder 5-9 185 Sr.

Statistics: Punt retrun TD, 1341 yds., 14 TDs rushing

ATH Tristan Goodly, Westlake 6-0 165 Sr.

Statistics: 50 tackles, 2 INT, 2 kick return TDs, 10 rec. TDs

OFFENSIVE MVP — Xavier Ford, Leesville

DEFENSIVE MVP — Kyron Labove, Iowa

COACH OF THE YEAR — Tommy Johns, Iowa