10 Acadiana vs. Holy Cross eye-catchers
In this article:
Acadiana is heading back to its fourth semifinal in five years after another vintage performance from the perennial power. The No. 8 Wreckin’ Rams grinded out long, physical drives on their way to four rushing touchdowns and swarming and stifled…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAcadiana is heading back to its fourth semifinal in five years after another vintage performance from the perennial power.
The No. 8 Wreckin’ Rams grinded out long, physical drives on their way to four rushing touchdowns and swarming and stifled No. 1 Holy Cross the vast majority of a 28-14 victory in the teams’ Division-I Select quarterfinal at Southeastern Louisiana’s Strawberry Stadium.
Russell Babineaux Russell Babineaux 5'9" | 160 lbs | ATH Acadiana | 2025 State LA — 5-9, 160 WR/ATH — Acadiana (2025)
The Rams’ junior receiver looks better every week in his increased playing time at corner, including a beautifully time and snatched interception in stride with a Holy Cross wide receiver late in the first half this week to highlight an Acadiana defensive effort that held an explosive Tigers offense to a season-low.
Cole Canatella Cole Canatella 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB Holy Cross | 2024 LA — 5-11, 180 QB — Holy Cross (2024)
Even despite the stout and disruptive defensive performance by Acadiana, the Tigers’ senior quarterback managed to complete 11 of his 18 passes for 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Amarion Cooper Amarion Cooper 5'11" | 185 lbs | LB Acadiana | 2025 LA — 6-1, 190 LB — Acadiana (2025)
Back-to-back weeks of the junior outside linebacker making this list, Cooper was making plays right from the opening kickoff as he ran down the Holy Cross returner for a big tackle near the goal line that forced the Tigers to start the game notably backed up. He was involved on multiple other tackles or hurries on defense throughout the contest.
Billy Eaton — 6-1, 190 DL/LB — Holy Cross (2024)
The senior edge rusher had a couple of the Tigers’ standout defensive plays with the pressure he was able to bring, including tripping up a sack.
Dajon Francis Dajon Francis 5'8" | 175 lbs | LB Acadiana | 2025 LA — 5-8, 175 LB — Acadiana (2025)
Another junior linebacker who (as he has much of the season) flew around the box and disrupted the Holy Cross offense, the big highlight for “Pop” came late as he and junior defensive lineman Vallen “Ryland” Charles helped the Rams tighten their stranglehold on the game with back-to-back sacks.
Jonah Gauthier Jonah Gauthier 5'7" | 170 lbs | RB Acadiana | 2025 LA — 5-7, 175 RB — Acadiana (2025)
The junior took the lead of the Rams’ rushing attack with 221 yards, one of the top 30 performances in program history, and three of the team’s four touchdowns — from 29, 5 and 49 yards out, respectively, in the first, second and fourth quarters — behind an upperclassman line of seniors Jackson Hammond Jackson Hammond 6'1" | 275 lbs | OL Acadiana | 2024 State LA and Mike Willis, juniors Braxton Scriber and Kaveni Wilson and sophomore Logan Narcisse.
Amir Hill Amir Hill 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Acadiana | 2024 State LA — 6-1, 185 DB – Acadiana (2024)
The Rams’ versatile, playmaking “star” hybrid safety/linebacker has looked like one of the state’s most underrated seniors all year long from summer 7-on-7 through high-profile preseason scrimmages, regular season and playoff matchups. Hill has good size and length and lives in opposing backfields chasing down passers and ball-carriers.
Ezekiel Hypolite Ezekiel Hypolite 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Acadiana | 2024 State LA — 5-9, 175 RB — Acadiana (2024)
The senior was the biggest complement to Gauthier in the Rams’ rushing attack with about 100 yards of his own, including punching in their third score to stretch the lead to 21-7 before halftime.
Krosse Johnson Krosse Johnson 5'9" | 170 lbs | WR Holy Cross | 2024 State LA — 5-9, 170 WR — Holy Cross (2024)
The Tigers’ senior receiver, who has added another handful of offers during the past month, flashed his track speed early with a catch and long run for a 78-yard touchdown to put the game’s first point on the board.
Dominick McKinley Dominick McKinley 6'5" | 275 lbs | DL Acadiana | 2024 State LA — 6-7, 270 DL — Acadiana (2024)
The Texas A&M commit had another impactful performance helping lead the Rams’ consistent pursuit of Canatella, including a few big tackles at and behind the line to force Tigers drives off-schedule or to a halt.