Note: This story is also in the Aug. 13 print edition. The Media Day event was Aug. 6.
Head coaches and players from more than 30 area teams participated in the first Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl High School Football Media at Independence Stadium.
Among the teams participating were Glenbrook, Minden, Lakeside and North Webster.
In interviews with local media, the players and coaches discussed how preparations have been going for the 2025 season, which is now just a few weeks away.
Glenbrook
Glenbrook was represented by new Head Coach Greg Tibbitt, junior quarterback Ryan Reagan and tight end Gage White.
Tibbitt, who was previously Glenbrook’s head coach in 2012 and 2013, has settled in since making the most from Arkansas.
“It’s been really good,” he said. “The moving is what it is. The moving is always kind of tough anyway. But the kids have been great. They’ve been hungry, wanting to learn. They’ve worked really hard. We’ve had a new summer so far.”
Because Glenbrook did not have spring training, the Apaches could have started practicing in pads earlier than other parish teams. But Tibbitt said they opted not to.
“We’re kind of doing some things, just helmets only, just kind of going from offense to defense, pretty basic stuff,” he said. “We didn’t do spring football so we were allowed to do a little more this week but it’s kind of been pretty basic stuff, just kind of the continuation of our summer program.”
White said this is the first summer the team has been able to have consistent workouts.
“It’s kind of a change but it feels good,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a good season. Very young team but I think it’s going to be good overall.”
Reagan has taken over at quarterback. He was a second-team All-District 1-1A selection at the flex position on defense last season.
He said adjusting to the quarterback position has been going well.
“We’ve got a lot of young receivers,” he said. “All of our receivers last year were seniors. We’re starting to throw a lot and figure each other out.
“We have a lot of good talent and speed. We really want it. All of us really want it and want to practice hard.”
Glenbrook went 6-4 last season.
Minden
Minden was represented by Head Coach Spencer Heard, senior quarterback Hudson Brown and senior defensive back/receiver Kameron Harris.
Heard said the Crimson Tide is coming off a very good offseason.
“I thought we had really good senior leadership last year and it’s kind of carried over to these guys, these seniors,” he said. “We’ve got about 20 seniors. They saw how those guys led and are basically leading in a similar type fashion which is good.
He saw improvement in his players across the board.
“Guys got bigger, stronger, faster,” he said. “Same with the summer. We had a productive 7-on-7. I think we got a lot better throwing the ball with that through the course of the summer.”
Brown will be a starter for the third straight year. Minden relied mainly on its running game last season, but Brown said he expects the Tide to be able to make more plays, including explosive ones, in the passing game this season.
Heard agreed.
“He’s got a total grasp of what we’re trying to do offensively,” Heard said of Brown. “Got a good arm. Can make all the throws. He operates everything cleanly. Looking for a big year from him.”
Harris was a first-team All-District 1-4A selection at defensive back last season. He saw action at receiver last season and said he feels good about playing a bigger role there this season.
“We utilize him in a lot of ways,” Heard said. “Whether it’s closer to the line of scrimmage (on defense) or utilize his skill as a receiver on offense. So he’s going to be a big part of our success this year.”
Minden went 8-3 last season.
North Webster
North Webster’s representatives were Head Coach Christopher Wilson, senior offensive tackle Hudson Smith and senior defensive back Donte Owens.
Wilson is in his second year as head coach.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” he said. “We’ve got a good group of guys out there and we’re working hard on building a new culture and instilling some different components in our day-to-day life as athletes. It’s boiling over into the practices and the way they treat each other, the way they support each other.
“And overall we’re just having more fun as a program. The kids are having more fun. The coaches are having more fun. And we’re able to see the guys are playing a little bit more looser than they were last year. We’re looking forward to some good things because of that. When the kids like each other, they tend to play harder for each other. So that’s what we’re looking for.”
Smith is the only returning starter on offense and will provide senior leadership. He said the team has kept a good attitude coming off a tough 2024 season and he is looking forward to a turnaround season.
Owens had nine interceptions last season. He is also expected to provide leadership. While still looking for more interceptions, he said he wants to improve as a tackler.
“He’s definitely a ball hawk,” Wilson said. “He had nine interceptions on the year. But as he’s talked to some different college coaches and gaging their interest in him going to the next level they want to see him be a little bit more physical.
“He’s taken that to heart. He’s gained some muscle over the summer. Even in the spring game he’s trying to be more physical and not be so afraid to make the mistake in the tackle game and just kind of sticking his head in and being more active in run support, being a more sure tackler back there in the secondary.”
North Webster went 3-8 last season.
Lakeside
Lakeside was represented by Head Coach John Ware, senior quarterback/defensive back Brock Case and junior running back/linebacker Eric Jones.
Ware is entering his second season as head coach.
He said the his players got good work in during the summer but the Warriors don’t get into specifics until practice officially starts.
“We started out this week without pads on,” he said. “We’ve gone basically a whole week, implementing some things that we don’t get to work on in season and kind of slow down. Lot of learning this week for our guys.”
Last season when Ware took over, Lakeside was coming off a tough season. This year it’s a different story as the Warriors went 9-3 in 2024.
“It’s going good,” Jones said. “We’re excited about the season. Looking good so far. It’s definitely different. We kind of feel like we have higher expectations this year than before last season. It’s exciting. We’re expect to do great things similar to last season and try to do even better.”
Case is entering his third season as the starting quarterback.
“We’ve been working all summer just for next week. (Note: Thursday is first day teams are allowed to practice in pads.) We’ve been working for that moment right there. High expectations. We know what we need to do.
“Coming off that tough season. A lot of everything, it just wasn’t going our way — mentally, just our team mentality, everything. Overall, it wasn’t great.
“Then we had coach Ward come in and it flipped a switch in everybody and had everybody moving different. Everybody started to work real hard and it all started to develop and that development was like a big team bond. It helped us grow. Expectations are high for this season.”