Last week, we began to revisit the 2023-24 sports season.
It was a year of ups and downs, but it was one with many memorable moments. The top story was one that started in Covington so many years ago and ended as a dream come true.
Today, we wrap up the two-part series with the Top 10 stories of the 2023-24 season.
All original stories were written by sports editor Joseph Halm unless otherwise noted. Pieces of stories repeated in quotes were how they appeared in The Farmer.
May 1, 2024
The lead: It still doesn’t feel real.
That’s how Daffalyn Duplessis described the last week for her family.
That family includes three sons and a daughter. Her youngest son is Edgerrin Cooper.
The Covington High and Texas A&M product — a 6-foot-2, 229-pound linebacker — was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft. He was the 45th overall pick and the first linebacker selected in the draft on April 26.
His father, Ed Cooper, said sharing draft night with his family was special but still familiar for a group that bonds over sports.
Edgerrin was the highest St. Tammany Parish athlete drafted since Slidell’s Matt Forte went 44th overall in 2008, and there’s good reason why.
Edgerrin was an unstoppable force in his junior season, helping the Aggies rank seventh among Power Five teams in total defense (295.0 y/g) while also boasting top-three season totals in tackles for loss (96.0) and sacks (42.0) as a team. The linebacker led the SEC and ranked fifth among Power Five players with 17.0 tackles for loss on the year. Edgerrin’s team-best 84 total tackles and 8.0 sacks ranked sixth and fourth in the SEC, respectively.
The Covington native tallied at least six takedowns in nine of the team’s 12 games last season, matching his career high with 11 tackles against Alabama and Mississippi State. He had at least one TFL in seven of the eight SEC games, including eight tackles for loss and six sacks through the first three league games last season.
Couple those stats with a 4.51 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and it was no surprise that Edgerrin is headed to Green Bay as the first Covington High draft pick since Mike Williams was a first-round pick in 1975.
Cooper signed his standard four-year rookie contract totaling $8.598 million with a signing bonus of $3.073 million on May 23.
He said it: “It was crazy. It still hasn’t hit me yet. It’s a crazy feeling to say that I’m a professional football player. Just being able to say that means a lot.” — Edgerrin Cooper
Dec. 6, 2023
Original story by Jason Russell.
The lead: The Mandeville football team started its 2023 preseason with high hopes, playing well in a scrimmage against Jesuit. Little did anyone know what was in store for the Skippers as the season progressed.
Mandeville used a late-season surge to jump start a 4-4 start with a five-game winning streak to end the regular season and start the postseason, catapulting the Skippers to a deep playoff run.
That run ended on Dec. 1, as top-seeded Ruston brought the No. 21 Skippers back to earth, topping Mandeville 28-7 in the semifinals of the Division I nonselect playoffs.
It was the lowest scoring output for the Skippers this season, as Mandeville (9-5) scored at least 21 points in all but two of its games this season.
While the Bearcats (13-0) were more physical and dominating in the trenches, several Mandeville players and head coach Craig Jones said the experience will serve the program well in future seasons.
The game against Ruston was essentially never in doubt as the Bearcats’ size in the trenches dominated. Ruston was able to run at will, using running backs Jordan Hayes and Dylone Brooks to pound away at the undermanned Skippers’ defense. Hayes finished with 185 yards on the ground, the same amount of yards Mandeville ended the contest with. Hayes also had two touchdowns, while Brooks finished with 85 yards and a score.
Mandeville could never get anything going on offense, as the Skippers attempted to get running back Nate Sheppard involved, but to no avail. The junior finished with just 69 yards rushing, though 35 yards came on one carry late in the game.
Ruston extended its lead to 21-0 before halftime. Meanwhile, Mandeville had just three first downs at intermission and was in Ruston territory just once, getting to the 11-yard line before missing a 28-yard field goal with less than three minutes left until halftime.
For the game, Mandeville had seven first downs and had to punt seven times. The Skippers’ lone score came midway through the third quarter as quarterback Ben Hendricks found Isaiah Baham on a screen pass that Baham took 34 yards for the score.
He said it: “This season is a program builder. From the beginning, we knew what we had to get done, and the seniors helped establish something that Coach Jones and the underclassmen can take and build on. We plan to take our loss and get back to work as a team and go from there.” — Sheppard
Nov. 15, 2023
The lead: It was a special Saturday in Lafayette for St. Tammany volleyball. In back-to-back matches, Northlake Christian and Hannan swept their way to state titles.
The Wolverines started the celebration with a confident, dominating performance that led NCS to its first state title since 2009. That confidence had eluded the Wolverines during a string of six straight quarterfinal losses, which they snapped with a five-set win over district rival Pope John Paul II two days earlier.
With that streak snapped, NCS calmly knocked off Curtis in five sets in the semifinals to advance to its first state championship match in 14 years.
After two days of five-set thrillers, the Wolverines (35-7) took all the drama out of the Division IV state championship match with a 25-22, 25-8, 25-14 sweep on Nov. 11 for the school’s fourth state title.
Senior setter and Millsaps commitment Abigail Drury (38 assists, 14 digs) and outstanding player selection and Southeastern commitment Abigail Bailey (18 kills, 3 blocks) led the way for NCS. Freshman Evie Burns had 11 blocks as the Wolverines dominated the net and forced Notre Dame out of system time after time.
While NCS ended a long championship drought, Hannan put a bow on a dominant run.
Junior Mia Phillips slammed home the final kill to secure top-seeded Hannan’s 25-20, 25-22, 26-24 victory over No. 2 E.D. White in the Division III state championship match.
But it was more than just a kill. It was a measure of revenge for Hannan (46-3) after the Cardinals beat them in five sets in last year’s semifinals.
It was also Hannan’s fourth state title, with the other three coming in 2018, 2020 and 2021.
Hannan coach Rebekka Bonnaffee has worked hard to mold the Hawks into a family, but two very important contributors played in their final match — senior setter Sarah Kirsch and senior outside hitter Sophia Bonnaffee. The latter is coach Bonnaffee’s daughter.
Sophia Bonnaffee and Kirsch have started since their freshman season and were the driving forces for Hannan. Sophia, who earned Outstanding Player honors, finished with 24 kills and 10 digs. Kirsch had 34 assists. Phillips chipped in with nine kills. E.D. White made the Hawks work for every point, but in each set, Hannan pulled away at the end.
She said it: “It’s huge. I’ve been on the team since 8th grade, and I just remember that we always talked about getting past the quarters. Now, it’s my senior year, so I knew we had to do it. Everyone pushed. We communicated like no other team I’ve seen in the gym. I feel like that trust made it happen.” — Drury
Feb. 28, 2024
Original story by Mike Gegenheimer.
The lead: It was a moment that was years in the making. Five years, to be exact.
Five years of disappointment and frustration. That’s how long it had been since St. Scholastica last hoisted the LHSAA girls soccer state championship trophy — a lifetime for one of the state’s preeminent powerhouses.
But with a 2-1 victory on Feb. 24, the drought officially came to an end as No. 4 SSA defeated No. 11 C.E. Byrd in the Division I state title match at Southeastern’s Strawberry Stadium.
It was the Doves’ first title since 2019 and eighth in school history.
Senior midfielder Lainey Connell opened the scoring in the 46th minute to give the Doves their first lead.
Byrd, who had controlled the majority of offensive possession through the first half, failed to clear a ball from deep in the box, where it bounced directly in Connell’s path. Before any of the Yellow Jacket defenders realized what happened, Connell buried the ball into the back of the net.
From there, SSA (21-2-5) was able to settle into their attack more effectively. Only three minutes later, sophomore Reese Dantin extended the lead with a streaking run through the middle of the field that saw her slot the ball past the Byrd keeper with relative ease.
For scoring what eventually became the game-winning goal, Dantin was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player.
The Doves came into the match on a seven-game win streak and hadn’t lost since Jan. 12 against Division II champion St. Thomas More. During that win streak, they outscored opponents 30-0, including 16-0 through the first four rounds of the playoffs.
And while their win streak continued, their scoreless streak unfortunately ended in the 66th minute. Byrd center midfielder Natalie Dvorakova drove a long free kick into the far upper corner of the goal to cut the SSA lead to 2-1. The Doves didn’t allow a shot the rest of the match.
Dvorakova was the driving force behind just about everything Byrd did offensively. Throughout the night, Dvorakova created space in order to find teammate MyJoi Anderson up top. It nearly worked several times, but the SSA defense did just enough to keep it out the back of the net.
She said it: “Everyone here has walked past trophies their entire time at SSA. Everyone here came here for this experience that we had today. Although all of us had to wait for it, this is what we came to SSA for.” — Connell
May 15, 2024
The lead: Pearl River baseball’s Cinderella run came to an end with a 6-1 defeat to sixth-seeded North Vermilion during a Division II nonselect semifinals game at McMurry Park on May 8.
The 10th-seeded Rebels were making their first semifinals appearance since 2000 and just the third in school history, but Patriots right-hander Isaac Russell held Pearl River to just five hits in 106 pitches during a complete-game performance.
North Vermilion took control with a four-run third inning that turned a one-run lead into a commanding 5-0 advantage. Drake Sticker (3-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk in two innings. Jake Clifton threw three innings of relief, allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Senior John McQueen allowed a run in the sixth.
The Rebels (29-11) avoided the shutout in the seventh as Brady Stevens scored on senior Trey Turnage’s RBI single to set the final score.
While the loss was tough, Pearl River players said the journey — which included setting a single-season school record with 29 wins — was extraordinary.
He said it: “Since the beginning, we felt that we were going to be the team to break the records and make it here. Obviously, it didn’t turn out exactly how we wanted, but we’re happy to get here. Today, the ball fell their way, and it didn’t for us. This was a tough one, but we battled and just came up a little short.” — Turnage
March 6, 2024
Original story by Christoper Dabe.
The lead: Mandeville went ahead for the first time in the fourth quarter but did not make another basket, leaving the third-seeded Skippers on the short end of a 46-39 loss to No. 2 Denham Springs in a Division I nonselect girls basketball state semifinal at the University Center in Hammond.
Senior guard Hannah Benoit scored on a put-back and made a free throw that completed a three-point play for a 37-35 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but Denham Springs (30-4) regained the lead when senior Raegan White made a 3-pointer that sparked a 9-0 run.
Benoit made two free throws with 54.4 seconds remaining, and those turned out to be the final two points for Mandeville, which was making its first semifinals appearance since 2016.
Benoit scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and was among three double figure scorers for the Skippers. Younger sister Alanna Benoit, a sophomore, also scored 12 points with eight rebounds and five steals. Senior Saleigh Berry scored 10 points.
Denham Springs opened with a 7-0 lead, and Mandeville (28-6) drew even for the first time at 32-all when Berry made a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter. Denham Springs junior Taylor Smith followed with a 3-pointer, and Hannah Benoit made two free throws that drew Mandeville back within one.
Alanna Benoit rebounded a shot at the other end and dribbled the length of the floor for a shot Hannah Benoit rebounded and scored on a put-back as she drew a foul, making a free throw that put Mandeville ahead 37-35 with 4:48 remaining.
Mandeville went nearly three full minutes without scoring another point.
She said it: “It was a struggle offensively tonight. Ball handling kind of hurt us at the end. Really couldn’t make the passes that we needed to out of our flow. We had open looks, couldn’t knock them down.” — Mandeville coach Melissa Weinmunson
Nov. 15, 2023
The lead: Two years ago, Northshore pushed perennial power West Monroe to double overtime before falling in a first-round playoff game.
This season, the 25th-seeded Panthers didn’t need extra time to do something that had never been done before — hand the Rebels a first-round home playoff defeat.
Northshore senior Jackson Fugate blocked a 31-yard field goal attempt with 20 seconds remaining as the eighth-seeded Rebels fell 9-7 in the first round of the Division I nonselect playoffs.
The loss also snapped a streak of 29 consecutive first-round playoff victories for West Monroe that dates back to 1992.
The Rebels took a 7-0 halftime lead as the Panthers battled an injury to quarterback Donovan Weilbaecher. Senior Kyle Williams stepped in under center in the Wildcat formation as the Panthers kept the game within one score.
Weilbaecher, who returned in the second half, connected with Williams for a 24-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter, but the 2-point conversion failed as the Rebels held on to a 7-6 lead.
Ethan Hanrahan booted a 27-yard field goal with 5:26 remaining to give Northshore the lead, but it was far from the end of the drama. The Rebels regained possession at their 13-yard line with 77 seconds remaining and drove nearly the length of the field before Fugate’s block preserved the win.
He said it: “We have some kids on this team that just refuse to lose. It means everything to be here. It’s not about the wins or losses. It’s just about watching them enjoy their success. It was a hard-fought victory. I’m just so happy for those kids. It means a lot to the whole Northshore community, and it’s just very rewarding.” — Northshore coach Bobby Sanders
April 3, 2024
The lead: Salmen super heavyweight Dwayne Coleman began powerlifting as a freshman to get stronger for football season.
The choice worked wonders, and something else happened along the way — the senior fell in love with the sport.
As a freshman, he was disqualified in the deadlift at regionals, meaning he did not qualify for the state meet. Thus, it was the beginning of his redemption journey. Coleman certainly achieved that goal and so much more. On March 23, he set a Louisiana high school powerlifting state record when he squatted 900 pounds at the LHSAA state championships at the Cajundome in Lafayette.
Now a 462-pound senior, Coleman completed his three-squat rotation with a squat of 875 pounds and used a fourth attempt to secure the state record.
Coleman successfully set the record and ended the meet as Louisiana’s strongest high school lifter of all time, based on a three-lift total of 2,005 pounds that included a bench press of 500 pounds and deadlift of 630. He received the Outstanding Lifter award for the 181 pound to super heavyweight weight classes for the Division II boys meet.
After missing his first squat attempt at 845, he hit his second and lifted 875 pounds on his third attempt.
He said it: “I hit the 875, and I was like, this feels like butter. As soon as I got the green light that it was a good lift, I looked at coach and told him that we’re going for the 900. There was no question about it.” — Coleman
Nov. 23 & 29, 2023
The lead: Lucky No. 13 was a common theme throughout the year as St. Scholastica looked to continue its streak of Division II state swimming team titles.
The Doves not only pushed their streak to 13, but they did so in style as the 400-freestyle relay team set a new state record during the LHSAA state meet.
Six of SSA’s eight seniors scored points for the Doves, and the team set five school records along with two state records.
The team of junior Gabby Hall, senior Hadley Mary, freshman McKenzie Douglas and sophomore Emma Mae Smith set a state record in the 400-yard-freestyle relay with a time of 3 minutes, 37.59 seconds. The Doves also set a new state record in the 200-freestyle relay (1:39.77) in the prelims before winning the event with a time of 1:39.82 in the finals. Those swimmers were Hall, Mary, Smith and senior Olivia Graham.
The Doves took the team title with 352 points, more than 100 points ahead of the Willow School (244 points). SSA also had two individual event winners.
Hall won the 100 backstroke (56.46) and was second in the 100 butterfly (56.60). Both were school records, while Smith won the 100 freestyle (52.03) to set a new school record. Smith also finished third (1:56.44) in the 200 freestyle.
In Division IV, Pope John Paul II junior Mady Hill was selected as the Outstanding Girls Swimmer once again, and the PJP II boys won their fourth team title in a row.
The Jaguars had just seven boys competing and made the most of their events by winning all three relays to score 300 points. PJP II took top honors ahead of Episcopal School of Acadiana (241) and Calvary Baptist (210).
Hill helped the PJP II girls place third as the junior won both her individual races in impressive fashion. First, she won the 50-yard freestyle in 24.43 seconds, finishing more than a second ahead of the closest finisher.
After a 10-minute break period, Hill won the 100 butterfly in 57.73 seconds, again finishing well ahead of the other seven swimmers in the final.
He said it: “Nobody wants to be the one that gets dethroned in their senior year. It’s kind of been a running theme of Lucky No. 13. They stepped up to the plate. It was very impressive. We had 14 girls, which is a good roster, but graduating eight seniors is going to be some tough shoes to fill. Those captains, those seniors were very emotional after the win, and they earned it.” — SSA coach Chris Prator
July 10, 2024
Original story by Mike Pervel.
The lead: The Bayou Lacombe Cardinals minor league football team’s playoff run didn’t end with a championship, but it certainly set a new standard.
The Cardinals, founded in 2017, moved to the Next Level Football Alliance this season and made a dynamic run to the league championship game before falling 20-0 to the undefeated North Mississippi Road Warriors on June 29.
After a scoreless first half that saw Markus Conerly and Jashawn Lee record interceptions to keep the Road Warriors at bay, North Mississippi (11-0) took over in the trenches.
The Road Warriors ran the ball 12 straight times to open the second half, highlighted by a Deon’te Shelton 7-yard TD run. On the ensuing drive, North Mississippi’s Caylon McKnuckle hit Robert Fields for a 35-yard TD to make it 14-0. The Road Warriors closed out the scoring with a 60-yard Pick-6 by Deondre Buford.
The Cardinals’ offensive line struggled without starting linemen Darius Revolta and Garrett Schexnaydre, who were out due to injury. Starting quarterback Jervious Epherson (2010 Northshore graduate) was sacked six times. As a result, he struggled, finishing just 12 of 28 for 178 yards with three interceptions.
It was a memorable season for the Cardinals (9-3), as the team had just one playoff win before 2024. Epherson racked up 2,084 yards passing with 25 TDs. Epherson’s go-to receiver, Xavier Chatman (2014 Lakeshore graduate), finished with 1,012 yards receiving and 10 TDs.
The game was a final farewell for two Cardinals who have been with the team since its inception in 2017 — Abe Dawson (40) and Garrett Schexnaydre (35).
He said it: “I’m extremely proud of this team and this organization for getting this far this season. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the league championship, but we still hit a milestone in our team history. We’ll continue to build in the upcoming months toward next season as we move into our community outreach program as an organization.” — Cardinals’ Executive Director Gerrin Narcisse
