Redstick Bowl set

Zachary High School will host the 10th annual U.S. Army Redstick Bowl, which will feature more than 90 of the Capital Area's top senior football players competing one last time. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Rough Riders' head coach is Neil Weiner while St. Michael's Eric Held is the head coach of the Black Knights. Each team will feature nearly 50 players from all five classification of schools located in the Capital. Weiner will have four Zachary players on his team: quarterback Mason Pace, fullback La'Darrius Vessell, linebacker Byron Stevens, and defensive lineman Taylor Mayeaux. The St. Michael's players on Held's roster are defensive tackle Logan Patty, wide receiver Sonny Adams, and offensive lineman Chase Krause.

"I think it is going to be a lot of fun," Weiner said. "I think our community will get really excited about it and show up for a good crowd. It's good for our four kids playing to get one more game in the stadium."

Headlining the Black Knights are Woodlawn dup of quarterback Kendall Barnes and receiver Jamaal Lofton, Parkview defensive standouts Tom Bove and Brody Burkhalter, Dutchtown defensive back Jacolby Bureau, McKinley offensive lineman Garrick Mayweather, and Episcopal running back Michael Henry.

"The thing I'm impressed with is the skill guys we've got on offense at receiver and running back," Held said. "It's 'wow, do we really have these guys on our team?' Because it is a who's who of athleticism. It is exciting. It will be fun to be around these guys and to see how they get along with each other. That's the thing you like to see with the all-star game."

For the Rough Riders, top players include Livonia running back Mark Lewis and offensive lineman Xavier Joseph, Donaldsonville athlete Devon Breaux, who is committed to Tulane, Scotlandville offensive lineman Blaine Poydras and quarterback [/db]Kimani Smith[/db], Denham Springs offensive lineman Austin Loup, and Central linebacker/defensive end Zach Hetrick.

"I think we have some good kids," Weiner said. "Just from talking with the coaches of the players we selected, they are proud of their kids and that is always a good thing. They are glad to put their name on them. We have a big offensive line. And the running back from Livonia, Mark Lewis, is really, really good. That should be fun to see. Devon Breaux, the quarterback from Donaldsonville, led the state in passing and the wide outs we have, I think we have some good players."

Weiner will also serve as offensive coordinator for the Rough Riders and the rest of the staff includes Scotlandville's Ken Hilton (defensive coordinator, defensive line, Livonia's David Brewerton (running backs), Zachary's Jason Davis (offensive line), Port Allen's Josh Reed (wide receivers), Central's Frank Fresina (linebackers), and Zachary's Carl Worsham (defensive backs).

For the Black Knights, the offensive coordinator is University head coach Chad Mahaffey and Dutchtown's Chris Daigle is the defensive coordinator/defensive backs. Other members of the staff include St. Michael's David Neubauer (offensive line), Woodlawn's Marcus Randall (running backs), St. Michael's Paul Varnado (defensive line), and Redemptorist's Jonathan Lane (linebackers).

The defenses have to play a 4-2-5, cover three at all times, except for in short yardage situations they can play man. On offense, teams can do whatever they want.