Trio leads CCHS' Class 1A All-State selections

Central Catholic had five players receive Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 1A All-State recognition, including three first-team selections.
Senior running back Stefano Guarisco, junior offensive lineman Thomas Garber and junior defensive back Jalen Johnson were first-team selections, while seniors, defensive lineman T.J. Ruffin and linebacker Tanner Wiggins, earned honorable mention status.
Guarisco finished his senior season with 299 carries for a school-record of 2,728 yards and 39 touchdowns. He finished his career as both Central Catholic’s all-time and single-season rushing leader as well as tops in school history in single-season and career touchdowns.
“His stats kind of speak for what he’s done for the team this year,” Central Catholic Coach Tommy Minton said. “He got a lot of touches, but he was very productive with those touches. He was an excellent football player, and he was also an excellent leader as far as pushing the other kids to their maximum.”
Garber helped paved the way for a Central Catholic offense that rushed for 3,652 yards this season.
“Thomas is a very physical run-blocker for us,” Minton said. “He did a lot of trapping and pulling, and he was a big reason why Stefano gained the amount of yards he did.”
Defensively, Johnson recorded 68 tackles and four interceptions this season.
“Jalen did a good job as a run defender and pass defender for us,” Minton said. “We kind of moved him around, put him where he needed to be in the defensive plan each week. For a defensive back, you can look at the number of tackles he made and also the plays he made in the pass game, so he was always around the football.”
Wiggins had 115 total tackles, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 14 tackles for loss in 2015.
“Tanner was pretty much at the center of all the action on defense,” Minton said. “Very aggressive kid. Ran to the football very well, and probably the leader of our defense if you had to ask me.”
Ruffin had 43 total tackles, two fumble recoveries and seven tackles for loss.
“He was a big cog in the middle of the defense,” Minton said. “He had to endure a lot of double-team blocks all year. He was a big stout defender that other people had to account for with two blockers most of the night. He still was a productive player.”
Central Catholic finished its season with a 10-2 mark and advanced to the Division IV quarterfinals where it fell to eventual state champion Southern Lab.
Shyheim Carter of Class 1A state champion Kentwood was the 1A Offensive Most Valuable Player, while Chris Allen of Southern Lab was the Defensive MVP.
South Cameron’s Mark Delaney was Coach of the Year.
Other representatives from Central Catholic’s district on the first team included Vermilion Catholic’s Tyler Derouen (wide receiver), Hunter Frith (quarterback) and William Noegel (linebacker), and Highland Baptist running back Bronte Griffin.
Honorable mention selections from the Eagles’ district included Ascension Episcopal’s Ronald Leblanc, JaCiery Linzer and Jake Arceneaux, and Vermilion Catholic’s Emile Trahan.
Additional reporting by www.theadvocate.com/sports