5A District 5: Players Playoff Spotlight

LHSAA, 5A District 5 Players Playoff Spotlight - Catholic High School LB, [player_tooltip player_id="138357" first="Harold" last="Lawson"] and Woodlawn High School RB, [player_tooltip player_id="136799" first="Amani" last="Givens"] With the time change and season change also comes the change from regular season football to playoff football and all of the excitement, fan fair and nail-biting plays and situations that come along with playoff football here in Louisiana. Beginning this week with round 1 all competing teams are playing and eyeing for a trip “To The Dome” to win a state championship. The two highlighted players in this article will be doing what it takes to will victories for their teams and bring home a state championship. Catholic High School [player_tooltip player_id="138357" first="Harold" last="Lawson"] #56, 5’ 11”, 200 lbs. Junior Linebacker has totaled over 50 tackles this year for the Bears defense. This is quite an accomplishment because Lawson missed a few games due to an injury sustained against Lafayette Christian. However, that has not stopped him! He is smart, instinctive, fast to the ball, and fills the hole hard. With the playoffs here and the ultimate goal of winning a state championship Lawson stated that the focus is to continue to get better as a team, work out the kinks and gelling to make a playoff push. The Bears secured a 1st round playoff bye and Lawson and team used the extra time to get better, go harder in practice and to maintain the focus on taking things serious. Additionally, Lawson added that he wants to make sure that he does not let his team down and importantly the seniors and sending the seniors off in the right way is important. The Bears will take on St. Augustine at home <u>on 11/19/2021, 7:00 pm</u> at Memorial Stadium. Woodlawn High School Running Back, [player_tooltip player_id="136799" first="Amani" last="Givens"] #5, 5’ 8”, 200 lbs. running back. The senior running back has gained over 900 rushing yards and has racked up 7 touchdowns for this season. The senior running back is quick, explosive and hard to tackle. Givens stated that they faced some adversity earlier during the season but each week it has gotten better and better every week. Givens also stated that it feels great to be able to leave a positive mark on Woodlawn Football by winning a district championship. Givens was injured in a car accident during the summer causing him to spend a week in the hospital. Givens said that going through that experience made him mentally tough for adversity he encountered through the regular season and he is using that mental toughness as he and the panthers gear up for a deep playoff and possible trip to the dome. Givens and the Panthers faced off against Natchitoches Central <u>on 11/12/2021, 7:00 pm</u> at home for their 1st round playoff matchup. The Panthers won 42-14 giving them their first playoff win of the Coach Randall era. Next round the Panthers will travel to 4th seeded Destrehan on Friday, November 19, 2021 at 7:00 pm to take on the Wildcats. Givens and Lawson have both had setbacks due to injury but they have preserved and been relentless in getting better as young men and football players and that effort has shown and been contagious among their teammates. Although Lawson and Givens's teams are district opponents they will play in different divisions for the state playoffs and how sweet for the district if both teams will raise state championship trophies in mid-December. In addition to being outstanding football players, they are also excellent student-athletes, Lawson has a 3.7 GPA, 22 ACT Score and Givens has a 3.8 GPA and 18 ACT Score. [player_tooltip player_id="138357" first="Harold" last="Lawson"] <a href="http://www.hudl.com/profile/11404362">http://www.hudl.com/profile/11404362</a> [player_tooltip player_id="136799" first="Amani" last="Givens"] <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11330157/Amani-Givens">https://www.hudl.com/profile/11330157/Amani-Givens</a>