Top Performers: Notre Dame vs. Lafayette Christian

All eyes were on [player_tooltip player_id="63550" first="Sage" last="Ryan"] on the eve of his highly anticipated college commitment announcement. And the Lafayette Christian star was just one of the players to rise to the occasion in an anticipated Acadiana area matchup against perennial powerhouse Notre Dame. Here’s more on his and his counterparts’ performances in the Knights’ 42-21 victory. <strong>2021 Recruiting Class</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63550" first="Sage" last="Ryan"] — 5-11, 190 DB — Lafayette Christian</strong> The humble star expresses surprise as to why "ole [player_tooltip player_id="63550" first="Sage" last="Ryan"] from little Lafayette, La." has garnered so much attention in recent weeks. But his three touchdowns on offense and hard-hitting efforts on defense showed at least a portion of why so many eyes in Baton Rouge and Tuscaloosa, Ala., were so fixated on him leading up to his eventual announcement to commit to the home-state Tigers rather than leave for the Crimson Tide. There didn’t seem to be much question where the ball was going on many of Ryan’s snaps in the backfield. And it didn’t matter. He was running through, over, around and away from would-be tacklers all over the field. <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U8EBxS3DzNY" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63708" first="Anthony" last="Richard Jr."] — 6-0, 180 DB — Lafayette Christian</strong> Second time seeing Lafayette Christian face a typically run-focused opponent in a span of four games, and second time watching [player_tooltip player_id="63708" first="Anthony" last="Richard Jr."] snatch a leaping interception. And this pick was the more impressive of that pair, in tight coverage down the sideline on a fresh first down. Southern and Arkansas Tech have offered the Knight’s senior cornerback. But the long, rangy athlete seems to have the ball skills and physicality to warrant more opportunities moving forward. <strong>Brayden Zeigler — 5-11, 205 — Lafayette Christian</strong> Much of the attention goes toward the Knights’ star-studded secondary with four or more Division-I talents or the big front with a few of its own. But the less-heralded Brayden Zeigler seemed to be involved in almost every tackle anywhere remotely near the box. The senior linebacker plugged his gaps all night, whether for sure tackles for minimal gains or finding his way into the backfield to apply pressure. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The LCA MLB Brayden Zeigler has been involved in disrupting so many Notre Dame plays in this half. <a href="https://t.co/f5LJ7gO1cl">pic.twitter.com/f5LJ7gO1cl</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1322336929124331520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Caemon Scott — 5-8, 150 ATH — Lafayette Christian</strong> For as many threats as the Knights’ skill players provide freshman quarterback Ju’Juan Johnson, the three-time state champions consistently go to their diminutive senior speedster to stretch the field vertically. And a pair of huge gains of 68 and 50 yards — the first for a touchdown — did that trick nicely. Scott, who runs a, 11.2-second 100-meter and 22.2-second 200 meter, has picked up a Wisconsin Lutheran football offer along with a handful from college track programs in the past month. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ju’Juan Johnson (<a href="https://twitter.com/JuJuanJohnson2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JuJuanJohnson2</a>) deep downfield to Caemon Scott (<a href="https://twitter.com/Cscotty122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cscotty122</a>).</p> 68 yards for the score. You see why the speedster has started to pick up college offers. <a href="https://t.co/wYElCVB7ET">pic.twitter.com/wYElCVB7ET</a> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1322331128125181952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63665" first="Parker" last="Seilhan"] — 6-3, 205 QB — Notre Dame</strong> The Pioneers had their work cut out for them against a loaded Lafayette Christian defense. But their senior quarterback was the catalyst when they could keep the chains moving. Seilhan’s ability to find seams and pick up chunks of yardage with his legs — whether on designed runs or when his receivers couldn’t get free — accounted for the bulk of Notre Dame’s offensive success. And, when throws were there, Seilhan was able to quickly get rid of the ball in the face of pressure. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Notre Dame picks up its first first down of the drive on a pass interference.</p> Adds another on this nice [player_tooltip player_id="63665" first="Parker" last="Seilhan"] (<a href="https://twitter.com/Ptseilhan3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ptseilhan3</a>) run. <a href="https://t.co/YLBiahT2nS">pic.twitter.com/YLBiahT2nS</a> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1322332665144631304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Joseph Brown — 6-3, 230 — Notre Dame</strong> Seilhan’s big senior tight end was the recipient on a few of those catches. Brown worked hard blocking the Knights’ edge rushers and, when called upon as a receiver, was able to extend and catch the ball away from his body, tuck it in and battle for tough extra yards. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">[player_tooltip player_id="63665" first="Parker" last="Seilhan"] to senior TE Joseph Brown for a Notre Dame gain. <a href="https://t.co/3N6b3Yb1Gv">pic.twitter.com/3N6b3Yb1Gv</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1322333361105502209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>2022 Recruiting Class</strong> <strong>Fitzgerald West — 6-2, 320 DL — Lafayette Christian</strong> The biggest man on the field also might have played one of his most active, impactful games with eight tackles, including a couple big hits behind the line. He also got more involved on the offensive line where he showed some potential on that side of the ball that could open some additional doors if he decided to go that route long-term. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Very next play. Fitzgerald West (<a href="https://twitter.com/Fitztheboss68?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Fitztheboss68</a>) with the monster TFL. <a href="https://t.co/qHyGXcYCc7">pic.twitter.com/qHyGXcYCc7</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1322331884727209984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Darian Riggs — 5-9, 170 ATH — Lafayette Christian</strong> The Knights’ junior has increasingly become the name his highly recruited teammates — and a few other athletes in the Lafayette area — tout most frequently and most loudly as being among their most underrated peers for whom they’re waiting on college to notice. Riggs made plays out of the backfield and as a wide receiver all night once again against Notre Dame, including the game’s first touchdown reception. But none more memorable than an acrobatic leaping catch for another score. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">OH MAN... DARIAN RIGGS.<a href="https://twitter.com/DarianRiggs1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DarianRiggs1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DarianRiggs2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DarianRiggs2</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RandyMoss?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RandyMoss</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YouGotMossed?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YouGotMossed</a> <a href="https://t.co/4phQ0Q2oxA">pic.twitter.com/4phQ0Q2oxA</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1322355404437934080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>B[player_tooltip player_id="63612" first="Rylan" last="Green"] — 5-9, 160 — Lafayette Christian</strong> LSU — among other schools — has discussed with Ryan the opportunity to play a Tyrann Mathieu-like role to capitalize on his instincts and ball skills all over the defense. His younger teammate, Green, is proving himself a similar style of playmaker for the Knights at the moment and did so again against the Pioneers shifting gears seamlessly between one physical play in the box after another, tight coverage in the secondary and a diving interception deep over his shoulder late to help start icing away the victory. <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iRxkJ_HqZ-w" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Jordan Allen — 5-11, 180 — Lafayette Christian</strong> The junior standout’s coverage forced Seilhan to look elsewhere most of the evening and often tuck the ball and run. And when the Notre Dame tried to work the ball out to the perimeter with screens and other quick passes elements, Allen was there to make sure tackles in the open field and contain the threat. He spoke after the game about how much he has continued to learn from Ryan throughout their careers together and, more recently, from LSU star Derek Stingley Jr. and his father Derek Stingley Sr. during offseason training sessions. <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VSEi14yaB2c" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Luke Hoffpauir — 5-10, 190 LB — Notre Dame</strong> The Notre Dame linebacker made one of the top defensive plays of the night with his discipline and awareness on a play just before half. Lafayette Christian sent Ryan out of the backfield to the right to draw defensive attention toward a potential swing out to the flats, then looked back toward a middle screen to Riggs. Instead, the Knights found Hoffpauir waiting to jump the opportunity and bring the interception back to the end zone for some momentum heading into the locker room. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Luke Hoffpauir (<a href="https://twitter.com/HoffpauirLuke?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HoffpauirLuke</a>) is NOT fooled by the [player_tooltip player_id="63550" first="Sage" last="Ryan"] motion out right.</p> Sniffs this out, picks it and takes it to the house for a much-needed Notre Dame score before the half. Pios back within 28-14 with 1:05 left in the second. <a href="https://t.co/MCLgmSMwGx">pic.twitter.com/MCLgmSMwGx</a> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1322344389373472768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Lucas Simon — RB — Notre Dame The junior running back provided Seilhan some help in the Pioneers’ ground game showing enough speed to beat some fast Knights athletes’ attempted angles and get off-tackle for chunks of yards here and there, including his team’s first score midway through the second quarter. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lucas Simon bounces it out to the right and put Notre Dame on the board midway through the second quarter. <a href="https://t.co/rM8E6vMfUh">pic.twitter.com/rM8E6vMfUh</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1322337848335437824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>