Michael Reed fondly remembers his early days as an offensive lineman with the Destrehan Wildcats.
“It’s very much like a family,” Reed said. “I came in as a sophomore on a team that went to state. The older guys took me under their wing. I was the little brother and they showed me the ropes, got me confident for those big games – the games you come to Destrehan to play.”
That mentorship meant plenty to Reed, who has paid it forward since as a leader, not just on the football field but also in the classroom.
“I like to be a leader in the things I do,” Reed said. “Both in academics and football, looking to be a shining light on the fact you can do both, you can excel in both. I like to be vocal and be friends with as many people as I can, invite people into my groups, just being there for anybody.”
Reed was a standout for the Wildcats on the interior offensive line, playing both center and guard. He started for that 2022 undefeated state championship team, as well as Destrehan’s 2023 quarterfinalist and 2024 semifinalist. That time included a 25-game winning streak that spanned the 2022 season until the final game of 2023.
So much of what made that success possible at Destrehan comes down to hard work across the board, Reed said.
“It’s everyone’s work ethic – the coaches, the players, and we hold one another accountable,” Reed said. “If something needs to be fixed, we let them know how to fix it, whether it’s me or anyone else. You don’t put teammates down, you lift them up and help them make that next play. And you stick together during the good and bad times.”
His football playing days are not over: he’s headed to play at Case Western Reserve University.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Reed said of Case Western. “It’s a huge change of scenery, but its a chance to spread my wings at a great academic school. It’s an amazing opportunity.”
Reed will be studying mechanical engineering at Case Western, where he earned a full tuition academic scholarship.
He was a multi-sport athlete at Destrehan, competing on the track and field team. Reed was the vice president of the school’s National Honor Society and a member of its National English Honor Society, Beta Club, Spanish Honor Society, Destrehan ambassadors and Destrehan athletic mentors.
That state championship will always remain an unforgettable memory for Reed, but 2024 brought a sense of great pride as well – this was a team that fought back from adversity.
Destrehan began the season with a 2-3 record and immediately faced a rash of injuries to key players. But after a Week 5 loss to district rival Terrebonne, Reed and the Wildcats stepped up to win nine games in a row, including a trio of playoff victories that spurred Destrehan to the state semifinals.
“It’s nice to talk about, because people always look toward that end goal and kind of forget about the beginning,” Reed said. “We lost in a torrential downpour in Week 1 and had a lot of injuries. Then we played on a Sunday against Bonnabel, and won but didn’t play well. Then, against Alexandria, they pull away in the second half and it was kind of demoralizing.”
For Reed, it was the first truly tough stretch he’d experienced as a Wildcat – the team had lost just once in his first two years as a varsity starter.
“You could feel it at school, some people were openly not happy with our production,” Reed said. “We had to stick together.”
Destrehan beat East St. John. But after a loss to Terrebonne a week later, it was time for a heart to heart between the Wildcats’ coaches and the senior leaders.
“Coach (Marcus) Scott sat us down and talked about leadership, being bought in,” Reed said. “I remember Coach (Clint) Harrison saying that we had to buy in, that once we get rolling, it’ll be like a tsunami.”
A big 46-42 win over Captain Shreve served as the true jumping off point. A win over rival Hahnville also built heavy momentum for a playoff run that saw several truly dominant efforts.
The running game was a powerful factor in the winning streak, with some massive yardage totals posted by running back Malachi Dabney.
Reed and the offensive line paved the way.
The feeling of playing on a dominant line, Reed said, is “something unmatched.”
“When you’re moving people and everything’s working, I don’t think there’s a better feeling in the world,” Reed said. “You get that confidence and you feel like they can’t do anything to stop it. It’s just bully ball. And when you go back and watch the film, and get that pat on the back, you love that feeling.”
