Playoff Top Performers: Brother Martin vs. Woodlawn (BR)

<p>Brother Martin appeared in danger of its first losing season since 2013.</p>   <p>Instead, the Crusaders stayed their course, took over with suffocating defense and a gashing rushing attack and turned a 5-5 regular season, three-game losing streak and 20-point deficit on their heads.</p>   <p>No. 13 Brother Martin roared back from a dismal start against No. 20 Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) in the opening round of the Division-I select playoffs to score 45 unanswered points in the 45-20 victory.</p>   <p>"The great thing about our guys right there is that we have a lot of young guys, especially on the offensive side of the ball, that I saw their faces and for the first time all year they knew we could come back and make this a game," coach Mark Bonis said. "And they sat there and battled, and I'm really proud of them.</p>   <p>"I just hope we can continue going. Obviously you're hoping you're playing your best football at the end of the season, and tonight was what I thought was our most complete game as a team."</p>   <p>The Crusaders went on to four straight wins and their first state championship game appearance since 1989.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/pj377duoUcU </div></figure>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138282' first='Torey' last='Lambert'] (6-0, 200 RB/ATH | 2023)</strong></p>   <p>No other place to start. The senior running back took over the game with his vision, explosive burst through running lanes and impressive strength and balance through contact. Lambert carried 30 times for 250 yards and three touchdowns to set the tone for a dominant postseason run.</p>   <p>Lambert surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in the playoffs alone and scored 12 touchdowns to help lead the Crusaders.</p>   <p>Seniors Keegan Guillot, Sam Harris, Clay Capitano and Brett Guillory and junior Jaxon Ducre were among the linemen who helped pave the way.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1591261957738618880?s=20&t=AQM7D0uhMHk_Xgn4kvQVTg </div></figure>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138503' first='Clayton' last='Lonardo'] (6-3, 210 ATH | 2023)</strong></p>   <p>The versatile fellow senior was once again the primary complement to Lambert's slicing runs. </p>   <p>Lonardo caught a slant from [player_tooltip player_id='1221235' first='Seth' last='Dazet'] and kept streaking his way to the far pylon for a 46-yard score to put the Crusaders on the board late in the first quarter. He then kept the ball right up the middle on an RPO on Brother Martin's next possession, spinning off a linebacker and continuing to barrel to the 19-yard touchdown early in the second.</p>   <p>He finished with 76 yards on the ground for the game.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1591245471812653058?s=20&t=k6Pb7FlnKCoa0tZZFgS24Q </div></figure>   <p><strong>Brenden Leblanc (6-1, 265 DT | 2023)</strong></p>   <p>The Crusaders weathered the early storm and began having more and more success getting after LSU quarterback commitment [player_tooltip player_id='138486' first='Rickie' last='Collins'] as the game progressed and called for more and more obvious passing situations. And the big senior defensive tackle was consistently in the thick of that pursuit and the Panthers' backfield.</p>   <p>Leblanc is on the shorter, stouter side, but shows quickness off the snap, around and past Division-I college-bound blockers and acceleration to close in on the quarterback or running back behind the line. He had multiple sacks, other pressures and a forced fumble against Woodlawn and finished the season with 89 tackles, including 15 for loss and 11 sacks, two forced fumbles, one recovery and one safety.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1591272029331681280?s=20&t=AQM7D0uhMHk_Xgn4kvQVTg </div></figure>   <p><strong>Bryce Pixley (5-11, 165 DB | 2023)</strong></p>   <p>Several Crusaders could join Leblanc on the list of defensive standouts from the opening-round game. Senior lineman Nicholas Malek recovered Leblanc's forced fumble for a touchdown return. Senior linebacker Rylon Johnson was a tackle machine throughout the season. Sophomore linebacker Jadon Weber showed lots of promise, including a sack against the Panthers. And senior cornerback Gregory Jackson and safety Troy Santa Marina Jr. are leaders in the secondary.</p>   <p>Pixley showcased strong closing speed to help provide his share of big plays on both defense, with a couple breakups, and special teams with his punt coverage and a missed field goal he returned about 25 yards.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1591268044898463744?s=20&t=AQM7D0uhMHk_Xgn4kvQVTg </div></figure>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138486' first='Rickie' last='Collins'] (6-3, 185 QB | 2023)</strong></p>   <p>The LSU-committed quarterback was again a bright spot for the Panthers, particularly during a fiery start. Collins found senior Jamarcus Sewell and sophomore Ryan Brown for Woodlawn's first two touchdowns, then showed his quickness and strength on a 24-yard scamper to the end zone for the third score. He finished with more than 300 yards in his final high school game, 185 passing and 127 rushing.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1591236861137391616?s=20&t=k6Pb7FlnKCoa0tZZFgS24Q </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1591239499769868289?s=20&t=k6Pb7FlnKCoa0tZZFgS24Q </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1591240849291378688?s=20&t=k6Pb7FlnKCoa0tZZFgS24Q </div></figure>

Brother Martin appeared in danger of its first losing season since 2013.