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Led by juniors James Banks and Rhett Pritchard, five Chalmette High football players were honored as first-team selections to the District 9-5A coaches’ football team.

In addition to the pair of juniors, seniors Hector Fernandez and Joe Jamison as well as junior B.J. Jeansonne earned the top honor from the district’s coaches.

Named to the second team all-district group were senior Devon Charles and sophomore Cody Williams at wide receivers and junior Zack Starks on the offensive line.

Picked to the defensive second team were three defensive linemen – juniors Chris Scallan and Johnquel Jones and sophomore Ruston Pritchard – and junior linebacker Jermaine Brisco.

Getting the honorable mention nod were junior quarterback Craig Sylvera, senior running back Jeffrey Joseph and junior tight end Alex Crowson.

Rhett Pritchard became a two-time first team all-district player as he was picked to the Catholic League all-district last season as a sophomore linebacker as he set a school record for tackles by a 10th grader.

Banks put together the finest performance by an Owl running back since 2003 when Karl Bartholomew as a senior set a school record for all-purpose yards (2,089) including rushing, receiving and kick returns.

In fact Banks kickoff return average of 36.4 yards per return is second all-time in school history to Bartholomew’s ‘03 mark when he averaged 63.4 yards per return from his seven runbacks. Banks recorded 1,350 all-purpose yards this season.

He produced six games of 100 yards rushing or more led by his career best of 201 yards on 27 runs in a thrilling 21-20 win over Live Oak.

For the second straight season, Rhett Pritchard led the team in tackles, this season making 89 stops with 28 solo stops as well as recovering a fumble and a sack. He intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown as well as catching a TD pass as a tight end.

Banks led the team in rushing for the second straight year with 980 yards on 181 carries and he scored 10 times with nine on the ground for 60 points.

As the coaches’ pick for the top kicker, Fernandez benefited greatly this year from the coaching of Aaron Zagory, who kicked collegiate at Stanford. Coach Jason Tucker spoke of his senior kicker, “Hector became a weapon for us. He was most improved on his kickoffs as he placed the ball in good spots to prevent long returns by opposing teams.”

Fernandez booted five field goals and added 20 extra point kicks. In fact the five field goals were the most since 2003 when Justin Pereira kicked a school record eight.

Speaking of Jamison as a receiver, Tucker said, “His play was very important to help us control field position.” The senior pass catcher led the team with 236 yards on 14 grabs and scored twice with the longest at 47 yards.

Returning next season as a senior, Jeansonne averaged 31 yards per punt and really came on at the end of the season with long boots of 47, 43 and 42 yards. He became even better at placing his punts where returners were not able to burn the Owls with long returns.

Charles caught seven passes for 91 yards and scored twice. Williams led the team with 18 catches (230 yards) with a longest of 40 yards.

Starks helped the Owls to their most rushing yards since 2004 and most passing yards since 2002.

Scallan at defensive end made 47 tackles and recovered two fumbles. Jones recorded 45 stops and had eight tackles for losses, while Ruston Pritchard led the team with four sacks and made 46 stops with 22 solos and three tackles for losses.

Brisco was second in tackles with 75 and led the team with 45 solo stops while recovering two fumbles and made eight tackles for losses.

Sylvera had the most passing yards by an Owl quarterback since 2002 as he threw for 676 yards and five touchdowns. In two seasons as a starter, Sylvera has thrown for 1,311 yards and six scores.