Frustration and disappointment. Those were the first words that came to Matt Standiford’s mind when asked how Lafayette Christian football ended the 2025 season.
“It’s not even about losing the game, it’s how we lost,” Standiford said. “Just knowing that we had a chance to play in a state championship, and that’s what I want for these kids. We went for so long where the kids knew nothing but the dome and now we’ve gone two years without making it.”
Losing 49-47 on a two-point conversion to Dunham in the LHSAA Select Division III semifinals was a hard pill for LCA to swallow. A lot of hurt and what could’ve have been are fueling the Knights this summer heading into the 2026 season.
With some new and returning faces, the Knights will look to leave a lasting legacy this fall that’ll hopefully result in a ticket back to the Superdome.
A reloaded Knight’s roster
After graduating a talented senior class of 13, the Knights still return a pretty loaded roster on both sides of the ball. On the ground, shifting into the centerpiece role is junior running back Caiden Bellard. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 192 pounds, Bellard finished his sophomore campaign with 1,532 rushing yards and 24 total touchdowns serving as LCA’s workhorse.
The three-star prospect is one of the top 2028 backs in Louisiana garnering over 30 DI offers from various Power 4 programs such as LSU, Alabama and Ohio State. Defensively, the Knights also have D1 guys returning in defensive edge and South Alabama commit Josh Wilson. Also returning is senior linebacker Kaleb Simon, who holds an offer from Milsaps College, and recorded over 100 tackles in 2025.
In the secondary, senior defensive back Sky Ryan will return after missing last season with a torn ACL. Watching on the sidelines became the norm for him last season only furthering his desire to get back on the field.
“I remember when I first got hurt, I wanted to be out there so bad, I went to a JV game like a week after I got hurt,” Ryan said. “It got easier as it went on. I was happy to see my teammates winning. Now that I’m through the hardest part, it’s just God’s plan.”
Before his injury, Ryan held offers from Baylor, Southern and Grambling. Since getting back into practices and 7-on-7 showcases, Ryan’s recruitment has picked back up, earning offers from Syracuse, Nicholls and Lamar this summer.
May the best man win
The biggest question heading into the summer for the Knights was: Who’s going to be QB1? Following the graduation of dual-threat quarterback Braylon Walker, the role is up for grabs with two new contenders competing.
“It’s a battle between Ty Hills and Kyzer White, two guys who both played JV for us,” Standiford said. “They both are having a good summer up to this point and what I try to tell them is I didn’t need Braylon to be Ju’Juan (Johnson) and I don’t need them to be Braylon. Everybody brings something different to the table.”
White saw some varsity snaps as a sophomore, bringing a more run-first approach to the quarterback role. Due to ineligibility, Hills wasn’t able to see any action on varsity, also bringing a dual-threat edge, but more of a pocket passer.
“It’s some big shoes to fill, but I think it’s a good competition,” Hills said. “The best man is going to win at the end of the day. We both got our own strengths and we spilt a lot of reps on JV because we had a big quarterback group. But now it’s just the two of us and we’re doing better of commanding the offense.”
Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Lafayette Christian football turns heartbreak into hunger ahead of 2026 season
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