Playoff Top Performers: Lafayette Christian vs. Newman
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Fans all over Louisiana tuned in last Friday for a second straight year’s semifinal showdown between well-known Division III programs Lafayette Christian and Isidore Newman. And while both rosters included their shares of notable talent, the Greenies’ star junior quarterback…
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Continue ReadingFans all over Louisiana tuned in last Friday for a second straight year’s semifinal showdown between well-known Division III programs Lafayette Christian and Isidore Newman.
And while both rosters included their shares of notable talent, the Greenies’ star junior quarterback Arch Manning Arch Manning 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Newman | 2023 State LA was — as he tends to be — the clear headliner entering the broadcast.
But his counterpart, Knights sophomore Ju’Juan Johnson Ju’Juan Johnson 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH Lafayette Christian | 2024 State LA , stole the show in a dominant 49-7 victory by the Knights to continue their mission to win a fifth straight state championship.
Here were five of the top performers for LCA.
Ju’Juan Johnson Ju’Juan Johnson 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH Lafayette Christian | 2024 State LA (2024)
5-10, 175 QB
Alphabetical order be damned. No top performers list for this contest could have started anywhere other than the young quarterback, who had his best game yet in his biggest game to that point. Johnson completed all 10 of his first-half passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns and ran in another pair to help send the Knights’ rout into full-throttle.
Alex Beard (2023)
5-9, 145 WR
Johnson’s primary target for the offensive fireworks was Alex Beard, who hauled in three of those passes for 164 yards and two scores. The junior wide receiver has come up behind high-profile stars not just at LCA, but in the Lafayette area as a whole and consistently impressed with his route-running and sure hands. And this season, particularly during the postseason run, Beard has flashed big-play ability to blow the top off opposing defenses vertically.
Cowinn Helaire Cowinn Helaire 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Lafayette Christian | 2022 State LA (2022)
5-10, 150 WR
The senior receiver caught Johnson’s third touchdown over the middle to start the second quarter and give the Knights four touchdowns on their first four drives. Lafayette Christian had big shoes, most notably Sage Ryan, on the offensive side of the football. Darian Riggs Darian Riggs 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH Lafayette Christian | 2022 State LA was the biggest known, returning commodity on that side of the ball, but the emergence of Beard and Helaire was critical for the team’s continued success.
Ty Lee Ty Lee 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Lafayette Christian | 2024 State LA (2024)
6-0, 165 DB
On the other side of the ball, the secondary returned Division-I prospects in Jordan Allen Jordan Allen 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Lafayette Christian | 2022 State LA and Brylan Green Brylan Green 5'9" | 165 lbs | DB Lafayette Christian | 2022 State LA , but had to replace Ryan, Anthony Richard Jr. and others. And the emergence of sophomore Ty Lee Ty Lee 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Lafayette Christian | 2024 State LA on the far side of the field from Allen has been big. The young cornerback has the early look of one of the state’s better prospects for the 2024 recruiting class as he continues to develop.
Brayden Zeigler (2022)
6-0, 220 LB
For all the talent and success of the secondary, the Knights’ strength up front and pressure from the front seven have set the tone and given Manning fits each of the past two postseasons. Both last year and last week, senior linebacker Brayden Zeigler made the most of the pass-rushing lanes left as Greenies blockers try to react to LCA’s linemen. He recorded a couple tackles for loss and made a couple more big hits, including one on Manning, and hauled in an interception on a deflected pass.