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Central Catholic High School standout running back Davidyione Bias was supposed to be going to McNeese State University to continue his football career.
However, Central Catholic Coach Tommy Minton said because the COVID-19 pandemic canceled ACT tests and he was unable to get the one point he was lacking, he will head to Southern University of Shreveport, a school that already had been recruiting him.
“He made a good choice,” Minton said. “I think he’s going to do well there, and it’s going to lead to him being able to get some bigger opportunities after his time there is up. I really think his best football’s ahead of him, because he’s so young.
"He’s going to report to college at 17. He doesn’t turn 18 until the end of September.”
At Southern University of Shreveport, Minton said Bias will be a part of the first Louisiana junior college to ever play football.
Bias is projected as a running back in college.
“It means a lot, because it’s going to create a lot of opportunities for me in the future,” Bias said of being able to continue his football career.
In 2019, Bias rushed 193 times for 1,221 yards and 18 touchdowns. He earned first-team All-District 8-1A honors, and he was an honorable mention Louisiana Coaches Association Class 1A All-State selection.
“He’s been a playmaker for us since his freshman year, and we actually even used him as a quarterback in quarterback run-game stuff as a sophomore some,” Minton said.
As he enters college, Bias has several things he wants to improve upon.
“I just want to improve physically and mentally, and I want to get a lot faster and stronger,” he said.
Bias said he also will be looking to take advantage of his time in Shreveport, including academically, to open new doors for himself.

April 2, 1970 — July 1, 2020
Lake Charles — Lisa Derise, born April 2, 1970, in Morgan City, LA, daughter of Herbert Derise Sr. and Carol Landry LeBlanc, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, at the age of 50.
Lisa enjoyed fishing with her late father, cooking, swimming, but most of all, she loved spending time with her family and friends.
Lisa is survived by her mother, Carol LeBlanc (David); son, Gavyn Andrew Derise; siblings, Herbert Derise Jr., (Angel); David LeBlanc Jr.; Morgan LeBlanc; Shonell LeBlanc; niece, Alyssa Derise; and nephew, Trey Derise. She is preceded in death by her father, Herbert Derise Sr.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 6, 2020, at 1 p.m. in Johnson & Brown Funeral Home of Iowa, with Pastor Greg Simien officiating. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. until the service time at 1 p.m.
Words of comfort may be shared at www.johnsonandbrownfuneralhome.com or Facebook: Johnson & Brown Funeral Home.
Johnson & Brown Funeral Home of Iowa is in charge of arrangements.

Walter Benjamin Garman, 79, a native of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and resident of Morgan City, died Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
He is survived by a sister, Lois Valentine of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi; two daughters, Stephanie Garman and Cherie Lucien; two sons, Sterling Garman and Derrick Morrison; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, son, parents and siblings.
Graveside services will be Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Morgan City Cemetery and will be live-streamed on Hargrave Funeral Home website via link.
Hargrave Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The last bill of the Louisiana Legislature’s June special session proved to be a contentious one, as lawmakers on Tuesday approved a measure meant to shield K-12 schools and colleges from lawsuits if a student or teacher contracts COVID-19.
House Bill 59 by Rep. Buddy Mincey, a former school board member, went through several iterations. Originally, it covered any infectious disease, but Mincey reluctantly accepted limiting the bill’s scope to the current pandemic.
But in its final version, the bill actually could create more liability for the state, Rep. Ray Garofalo argued. He said last-minute changes requiring university boards of supervisors and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to set policies for their schools will subject them to lawsuits if the schools or districts fail to follow those plans.
Also on the session’s final day, lawmakers approved:
—House Bill 4: Extends the state’s tax credit program for renovations of historic buildings and caps the amount of credits that can taxpayers can reserve at $125 million annually.
Many lawmakers, including those skeptical of tax incentives generally, consider the historic tax credits to be one of the more effective programs, helping to revitalize older districts in cities and towns across the state while delivering a solid return on investment for taxpayers.
Sen. Bret Allain, who chairs his body’s revenue and fiscal affairs committee, argued unsuccessfully for a cap on the amount that can be redeemed over the next two years, citing the current economic uncertainty.
“Tax exemptions are spending,” he warned. And unlike a spending bill that only applies to the next fiscal year, tax credit programs commit the state to multiple years of spending, he added.
—House Bill 11: Increases the proportion of sales tax collections businesses are allowed to keep as compensation from 0.935 percent to 1.05 percent, while lowering the total amount per month vendors can keep from $1,500 to $1,200.
The changes were billed as a way to boost the cash flow of the smallest businesses while limiting the impact on state finances.