Top Performers: Jesuit vs. Rummel

An LHSAA ruling forcing Brother Martin to forfeit its first five games of the season because of an eligibility and documentation issue opened the door for a new champion to top the Catholic League for the fourth straight year. And rather than the other recent perennial powers, John Curtis (2016, 2017, 2018) or Archbishop Rummel (2012, 2014, 2015, 2019), retaking the throne, Jesuit closed the season with impressive victories to clinch the highly regard district crown outright for the first time since 2011. First-year coach Ryan Manale, fresh off leading Class 3A De La Salle to a third Division-II runner-up performance in four years, and his Blue Jays put the exclamation on the achievement Friday with a 35-10 roll past Rummel. The defense forced three first-quarter turnovers to build an early lead the team would never let the Raiders to particularly threaten. Here were a handful of the top performers in the game, on each side, with a couple bonus references to other teammates of note. &nbsp; <strong>JESUIT</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136463" first="Jack" last="Larriviere"] (2022)</strong> <strong>6-2, 210 QB</strong> The senior quarterback was among the leaders who helped the Blue Jays seize their opportunities — both in the big picture and with each new possession and short field provided by the Raiders. Larriviere played a role in four of his team’s five touchdowns — three rushing and a beautiful first-quarter pass to the end zone — to help his team get off and running to its start-to-finish lead. &nbsp; <strong>Jace Larsen (2023)</strong> <strong>6-1, 165 WR</strong> That aforementioned pretty scoring strike to stretch the lead to 14-0 late in the first quarter was as well-caught by Larsen as it was thrown by Larriviere. The quick, confident receiver stopped on a dime in the front of the end zone and rose up over tight coverage to snatch the 17-yard touchdown over the shoulder of the defensive back. Larsen is quietly, often-overlooked intriguing pass-catching prospect for the 2023 class in the state. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138365" first="Dominic" last="Logiudice"] (2023)</strong> <strong>6-0, 215 LB</strong> At least one of the Blue Jays’ defensive standouts had to make the list and plenty warrant consideration. Logiudice flew all over the field all night making plays, including helping force one of the Raiders’ first-quarter fumbles. The junior is already one of Jesuit’s top players on that side of the ball, working alongside senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="136618" first="Dennis" last="Dougherty"] (6-1, 230) and behind senior defensive tackle Joseph Barnett (6-1, 240) and was among the top playmakers again Friday. Junior cornerback Nicholas Foley (6-1, 180) snatched the first interception, Barnett hopped on the first fumble and then senior defensive end Parker Peyronnin snatched the one Logiudice helped jar loose. &nbsp; <strong>RUMMEL</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="129078" first="Tyronne" last="Hayes III"] (2022)</strong> <strong>6-3, 185 TE </strong> The versatile prospect is currently slated to be one of McNeese State coach Frank Wilson’s steals out of his hometown New Orleans. Hayes began garnering some attention as an athletic hybrid tight end or wide receiver during his junior season and then 7-vs-7 tournament’s in the spring and has played an even larger and more varied role for his Raiders in his final high school season, working out of the backfield as well as making plays on defense. He was a key component of Rummel’s one touchdown drive — a long march by junior quarterback Casey Avrard and company — which he capped with the short run over the goal line. &nbsp; <strong>Darrius Davis (2024)</strong> The young safety/linebacker was somewhat of the Raiders’ counterpart to [player_tooltip player_id="138365" first="Dominic" last="Logiudice"] in the sense of his constant flying all over the field and being involved one one tackle after another. Davis is one of the intriguing underclassmen gaining early playing time on Rummel’s young roster who may develop into one of the top players to watch during the next couple years in New Orleans.