The Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s select and nonselect format greatly changed the playoff landscape in the state. For some schools, it made the path to the postseason tougher.

Merryville, a Class 1A, is one of the smaller football-playing schools in the Nonselect Division IV, one that also includes Class 2A teams. The way head coach Bart Coody sees it, the Panthers’ path to success will be improving the defense and increasing the roster to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Merryville has allowed an average of 32.5 points a game over the last two seasons.

“We got to get our numbers back up and get better defensively,” head coach Bart Coody said. “We need to stop people at a more proficient rate. I think that’s been what we’ve been lacking the last several years, defensively. And we, you know, most of our guys are playing both ways and all the special teams.”

The Panthers have two dozen players on the roster, but Coody is looking for more.

“We are trying to shake the town and find some more, shake the school, trying to find some more guys that are willing to play,” Coody said. “It’s getting hard to find the kids that want to get out in this heat and play football anymore.”

They lost their leading tackler in second-team all-district linebacker Kade Royer, who graduated, but return seven starters and will switch from the 3-3-stack to the 4-3.

“We’re hoping to have some good edge players,” Coody said. “That’s where we got hurt a lot last year was on the edges.

“Just people using their speed and getting around us. We’ve got to get better there.”

Returning starters include a pair of sophomores on the defensive line in Cole Mirante and Curd Walker, plus senior Hunter Higginbotham, and three senior linebackers in Jerimaya Robinson, Lucas Tucker and Landon Ardoin. After picking off a pair of passes last year, junior Josh Robinson returns at cornerback along with Blaze Brister. A trio of sophomores will fill the open spots in lineman Bobby Daniel, strong safety Caiden Watson and free safety Austin Anderson.

The Panthers return seven on the offensive side, but one of them, quarterback Stellan Mirante, is still recovering from an injury. That has required receiver Josh Robinson to move to quarterback. Mirante and Johnson split time at quarterback last year.

Jerimaya Robinson returns at running back after leading the Panthers in touchdowns (10), plus 553 yards. Ardoin and Anderson will start at receiver while Tucker and Brister will be in the backfield.

“Jerimaya has a nose for the end zone,” Coody said. “He is probably our best pure running back as far as just knowing how to play the position.”

The Panthers return both offensive guards in Hunter Brister and Walker, plus center Storm Flores. They will break in two new tackles in freshman Huck McMillion and sophomore Bobby Daniel.

MERRYVILLE

Mascot: Panthers.

Home stadium: Keener-Cagle Stadium.

District: 4-1A.

Playoff division: Nonselect Division IV.

Head coach: Bart Coody.

Head coach career record: 8-22.

2023 record (Dist.): 3-7 (1-5).

Last time in playoffs (round): 2021 (bi-district)

Returning starters (offense/defense): 8/7

Key players lost: Newly Shrout (OL), Kade Royer (RB/LB), Corbin Cooper (OL), Justyn Printz (OL).

Top returners: Storm Flores (OL), Josh Robinson (QB), Jerimaya Robinson (RB/LB).

Schedule

Sept. 6 at North Central

Sept. 13 at Vinton

Sept. 20 vs. LaSalle

Sept. 26 vs. Pickering (Thurs.)

Oct. 4 at Hemphill, Tx.

Oct. 11 at Basile*

Oct. 18 vs. Oberlin*

Oct. 24 vs. Grand Lake* (Thurs.)

Nov. 1 at Hamilton Christian*

Nov. 7 vs. Elton* (Thurs.)

*District 4-1A game