MANSFIELD, La. – The Mansfield Wolverines football program has transformed from a middling squad to district champions and a quarterfinal contender since Coach Darrell Barbay took the helm in 2022. The turnaround has energized the town and set higher expectations for the 2026 season.
Coach Barbay on rising expectations
“Before I got here, the days of kind of slipping up and sneaking out a win or whatever, I don’t think that’s going to happen anymore,” Barbay said. “I think a lot of people realize what we’ve done here and we’re excited. Our kids have earned that. When we go into a game, we’re going to have to play hard because I think we’ll get everyone’s best effort.”
Players feel the support
Senior offensive lineman Jayden Bryant summed up the community’s impact: “It’s a great feeling. The town supports us so much, so I just want to put on for the town.” Senior running back and defensive back Zayvon Sanders added, “It feels good to be back out here. We’ve been working since day one, since we first got to high school, since freshman year. We just been putting that work in. So hopefully we can continue to grow and do better things when the season comes.” Safety and running back LaVell Claudio echoed the sentiment, “Man, we excited, we’re real excited, man. We got a chance to do something we ain’t did in a long time: potentially, a state run. That’s how I feel about the team.”
New practice facility signals long‑term investment
The Wolverines now practice in a brand‑new open‑air indoor facility, a project funded by the school district and local donors. The structure allows year‑round training regardless of weather and reflects the town’s commitment to its youth athletics.
Staying grounded amid praise
Barbay cautioned against complacency, likening excess praise to drinking too much Kool‑Aid. “A little bit of Kool‑Aid is good, a lot of Kool‑Aid is bad for your tummy. Too much in the news, too much in the paper, too much on social media, it’ll make your stomach hurt a little bit. So, we got to stay grounded,” he said. “We got to do the things that make you good. All the stuff, it’s great publicity and stuff, but that doesn’t win ball games. Being physical and doing the sound things is what makes you good.”
Looking ahead
With the district title secured and a quarterfinal berth already earned, the Wolverines aim to extend their success into the state playoffs. The combination of disciplined coaching, player dedication, and community backing positions Mansfield for what could be its first deep postseason run in decades.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
