Redemptorist running back Jeremy Hill runs wild in scrimmage

LSU commitment overpowers Denham Springs; Regular season begins for schools in MAIS.

Redemptorist senior running back Jeremy Hill gave strong indication as to why LSU recruited him so heavily, as he ran roughshod over Denham Springs in a preseason football scrimmage.

Jeremy Hill

Photo by Tom Lemming

Hill, who committed to LSU last September, carried 18 times for 259 yards and three touchdowns, including scoring jaunts of 62 and 45 yards. There was no final score kept in the scrimmage at Denham Springs.

"We wanted their best," Denham Springs coach Dru Nettles said. "That's why we schedule them….Jeremy Hill is a fantastic back and put on a good display."

Hill wasted no time in establishing his authority, as he rushed seven times for 65 yards on the Wolves' first possession. He capped the 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a 5-yard touchdown run.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Hill found the end zone again on Redemptorist's next drive. The Wolves took only two plays to score, with Hill scampering for a 62-yard touchdown.

Hill is ranked second behind Kenny Hilliard, another LSU commitment, on Tom Lemming’s Top 25 Big Backs in the 2011 recruiting class.

Redemptorist’s first-team offense scored on four of its first six possessions. The Wolves belong to Class 3A of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, while Class 5A Denham Springs is a member of the highest classification.

The regular season doesn't begin until Sept. 3, but Denham Springs will return to action Thursday, Aug. 26, when it competes in the Ascension-Livingston Challenge Jamboree.

MAIS season opens
Louisiana schools belonging to the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools kicked off their regular seasons with varying results last weekend.

Silliman Institute was no match for defending MAIS Class 2A champion Brookhaven (Miss.), as it fell, 56-20. Silliman Institute quarterback J.Q. Austin managed to throw a pair of touchdown passes to Jason Palermo, who also scored on a 1-yard run.

Oak Forest Academy found far better results at Centreville Academy, where it came away with a 14-6 victory. Oak Forest quarterback Chris Gill threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Keaton Carter in the first quarter and then scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth period.

Oak Forest's defense limited Centreville to Hunter Travis' 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Alex Rimes led Oak Forest with nine carries for 65 yards.

Baton Rouge Christian was a winner, too, as Demond Singleton rushed 12 times for 207 yards and three touchdowns in the Patriots' 46-30 victory over Wilkinson County Christian (Miss.).

Singleton scored on runs of 46, 40 and 1 yards. Quarterback Stevie DouglasStevie Douglas rushed for 143 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown, and threw a 45-yard scoring pass to Kaelynn Rice. Douglas' five completions in 16 attempts accounted for 144 yards.

Central Private committed six turnovers, including four interceptions, in its 28-6 loss to Cathedral (Natchez, Miss.). Trevor Shepard rushed five times for a team-high 34 yards, while a pair of first-year quarterbacks combined to complete just 2 of 18 passes.

Duo commit to Conference USA teams
Brother Martin senior tackle Jordan Greene and Hahnville wide receiver Derek Howard plan to play in Conference USA next season, although they will be doing so at different schools.

The 6-4, 270-pound Greene committed to Southern Mississippi, while the 6-2, 170-pound Howard pledged his allegiance to Memphis.

Greene rejected offers from Kansas, Tulsa, North Texas, the University of Louisiana at Monroe and McNeese State. Howard's only offer came from Memphis.

Howard was the third Louisiana receiver to commit to Memphis, but St. Augustine's Marc Edwards later changed his commitment to Tulane. As a junior, Howard caught 29 passes for 450 yards and three touchdowns.

West Monroe's Cain establishes deadline
West Monroe senior running back Tyler Cain has set the fifth week of the regular season as his deadline for committing to a college.

"As of right now I'm just waiting and trying to see which schools fit me best," he said. "I plan on deciding by Week 5 where I will be. I just want to be in a school with great academics, a nice campus and I want the offense to fit my style of play."

The 5-8, 180-pound Cain has received offers from Memphis, Tulane, Louisiana Tech and UL Monroe. He's also had overtures from LSU, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Texas A&M and TCU. Cain has visited Tulane, Louisiana Tech, UL Monroe, Mississippi State and TCU and plans to take trips to LSU and Memphis.

The versatile Cain carried 97 times for 967 yards and 11 touchdowns before West Monroe routed Archbishop Rummel in the Class 5A state championship game, 30-0. Cain also caught 15 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns despite missing three games with a sports hernia.

Baseball: Christian Life hires coach
Christian Life has hired Mark Cascio to replace Carlo Maggio as its new head baseball coach. Cascio, 25, coached Catholic of Pointe Coupee for the last three years.

Maggio guided CLA to the Class 1A state title in his only year at the school. He cited health reasons upon resigning and returned to his hometown of Vinton to work in a family business.

Cascio is a 2003 graduate of Catholic High and a 2007 graduate of LSU. CLA athletic director Kerry Wilkerson said, "The fact that he's a Baton Rouge guy who grew up right here near our school and graduated from Catholic High was a plus…."

Cascio compiled a 26-54 record at Catholic High of Pointe Coupee. CLA, which has won four of the last five Class 1A state titles, is coming off a 36-5 season.