All Ruston Daily Leader Defense

Jadon Mayfield laid it all on the line throughout his final season as a Ruston Bearcat.

Mayfield, a recent signee to play football at Louisiana Tech, capped off an impressive high school playing career as a key leader for Ruston to not only make it back to the Superdome, but break through and win the school’s first state championship and undefeated season (14-0) since 1990.

Mayfield was a big reason why it all came together, showing consistency in the biggest games of the year and using his versatility and toughness to stop opposing offenses in their tracks often.

In the Division I Non-select state championship game against Zachary, Mayfield racked up a game-high 12 total tackles, including two for loss, along with 2.5 sacks. Against West Monroe to clinch a second-straight District 2-5A title, Mayfield had 8 tackles and 1.5 sacks. In the Bearcats’ tight win over Neville, he totaled 11 tackles and a single sack, following up a 15-tackle performance against Lafayette Christian and recordsetting quarterback Ju’Juan Johnson, to whom he was assigned as being a spy on the elusive dual-threat signal caller and LSU signee.

In short, whenever the Bearcats found themselves on the big stage, Mayfield ran into the spotlight and delivered.

He closed his senior year with 116 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and a fumble recovery — earning his second-straight District 2-5A Defensive MVP honor.

Those accomplishments were reason enough for Mayfield to earn the All-Ruston Daily Leader Gridiron Greats Defensive Most Valuable Player for the second straight year.

“Just like I’ve continued to say with Jadon, he’s very deserving of everything he’s received, and he’s worked his way into that,” Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “To be really honest about it, it’s a shame more colleges didn’t see the same thing all the coaches and writers did with him.”

Mayfield, who put up 335 tackles and 13.5 sacks over the last three years while serving as Ruston’s captain of the defense, hopes he’s remembered as just a part of a revival of the Bearcat program.

“I hope they just see that I was a good player that came out of Ruston as far as my legacy,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield wrapped up his high school career last week by signing to play collegiately at home town Louisiana Tech, where he’s expected to make an immediate impact on the Bulldogs’ defensive unit.

As for the rest of the defensive selections, Mayfield is joined by a talented group of linebackers, including his running mate Zheric Hill and Cedar Creek seniors Lawson Lillo and Gray Worthey. Hill put up 114 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a pick-six and a fumble recovery as a junior, while Worthey, a productive two-way player for the Cougars, put up 87 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery.

Lillo, a first team All-District 2-1A selection, went out with a bang in his senior season with 120 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and an interception.

Ruston’s defensive line disrupted opponents all year, led by seniors Ahmad Breaux and Geordan Guidry – signees to LSU and Tulane, respectively. The duo combined for 13 sacks, 109 tackles, and 9 tackles for loss this fall, while wreaking havoc on every team lined up against 14-0 Ruston all season.

Along with the two senior pass rushers, Cedar Creek’s Blake Robinson and Ruston’s Payton Bell earned selections on the defensive line. Robinson, a first team All-District pick, had 54 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks. Bell finished with 38 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.

Ruston and Cedar Creek made up the defensive back selections, with Nate Johnson, Aidan Anding, and Semaj Jones slotting in for the Bearcats, while Noah Durrett represented Creek.

Johnson finished third on the Bearcats in tackles (86) and second in tackles for loss (13) to close out a dependable prep career, while Anding, a newcomer to football, led Ruston in pass breakups (9) to go with 4 interceptions. Jones picked off four passes as well, adding to an impressive ledger of 6 pass breakups, 25 tackles, and a pick-six. Durrett returned all three of his interceptions for pick-sixes – setting a school record – to go with 55 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and a sack.

Jonesboro-Hodge senior DaMarious Burns made it as a kick returner, while Ruston’s Will Fendley earned the punter spot. Ruston defensive back Jacoryian Crowe earned the flex spot to round out the defense.