Different Year For WCA
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
A 12-1 season in 2025 brought statewide notoriety to the Westminster Christian Academy football program.
Whether the Crusaders create a sequel to that success story is now perhaps the main issue as WCA returns an equal blend of young players and experience.
Several of the key performers from the Division 1-A non-select semifinal team are back along with a number of new starters that will help head coach Byron Porter compete for another district championship.
Linebackers Jack Hunt, Kyle Horde, lineman Matt Lalande and all-purpose performer Alex Thomas are several of the senior players that return to provide substantive experience for WCA.
Hunt recalls that he and several of his teammates were freshmen when Porter arrived at WCA four years ago and it would be appropriate, Hunt says, if the Crusaders finished that relationship with another deep postseason performance.
“I feel we have a decent shot to do that. We lost some key players, but we have a lot returning. It’s about who’s going to step up,” says Hunt, who will also play a key offensive role at running back.
Horde, a 225-pound linebacker-running back, has committed to Texas State, is another senior who is expected to again help carry the Crusaders at a number of offensive and defensive positions..
While Horde expects to play linebacker in college, he will again play running back and perhaps tight end as WCA redefines the offense.
Horde admits that unlike the previous three seasons, the Crusaders are in a different position now as they have more recognition.
“It feels good for our program now to be one of the teams that is going to be hunted. It’s good to feel like we are chasing championships now,” says Horde.
Lineman Matt Lalande says WCA is introducing some new players into more prominent roles.
“Many of them played in a few games last year, so they have some game experience, so they know what to expect,” Lalande points out.
Porter said the message to his players during the offseason is one of maintaining program stability as he stressed focus and working hard throughout the past several months.
Garrett Noel, a (6-2, 170-pound) sophomore, will start the season at quarterback, with Hunt (210), Horde, Cayden Brown (170) and Jeremyah Harris (160) and Tre Duplechain as running backs.
Lalande (220), Tommerick Hayes (330), Jayden Johnson (240), Marquis Butler (200) and Mark Tyler (300) are linemen who are capable of playing both sides of the ball.
Branson Ray (160), Andre Lemon (185), Wayne Campbell (170) and Malik Milton (170) are capable of playing a variety of positions.
Two seniors — Cameron Redding and Cameron Gray – will be positioned at wide receivers and the defensive backfield along with Tyler Guidry.
Shaun Thomas can play either tight end or quarterback.
This year the punting and placekicking will be handled by Aiden Thomas.
