LHSAA Playoffs first-round updates | Division-II Non-Select

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisiana's high school football playoffs kicked off this past weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each week, we'll give a quick update of some of the notable outcomes and top performers in each division and potential matchups to watch in the next round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out the Division-II Non-Select first-round capsule below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest upset by seeds:</strong> No. 26 St. Martinville over No. 7 Leesville, 46-40.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other upsets: </strong>No. 22 Northwest over No. 11 Franklin Parish, 42-20; No. 19 Breaux Bridge over No. 14 Eunice, 35-19; No. 17 DeRidder over No. 16 Lakeshore, 28-21.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Closest game:</strong> No. 26 St. Martinville over No. 7 Leesville, 46-40.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest margin:</strong> No. 12 Opelousas over No. 21 Rayne, 57-6.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest surprise: </strong>No. 22 Northwest over No. 11 Franklin Parish, 42-20.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top performers:</strong> 2024 St. Martinville RB [player_tooltip player_id='144884' first='Steven' last='Blanco'], 2025 Opelousas RB [player_tooltip player_id='710072' first='D'Shaun' last='Ford'], 2025 Jennings RB ReJohn Zeno.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other notes:</strong> Despite being one of the lowest seeds to make the 2023 playoffs in any classification, No. 26 St. Martinville went on the road and won a first-round game for the fourth straight year with its 46-40 upset of No. 7 Leesville. The Tigers are now a combined 7-3 in these past four postseasons, including a 2021 semifinal run. Louisiana (Lafayette)-committed running back [player_tooltip player_id='144884' first='Steven' last='Blanco'] helped lead the charge past the Wampus Cats and 2025 star [player_tooltip player_id='710079' first='Xavier' last='Ford'] and now sets up another intriguing running back matchup against ReJohn Zeno and Jennings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Intriguing second-round matchup:</strong> No. 5 West Feliciana vs. No. 12 Opelousas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Most intriguing possible quarterfinal matchup:</strong> No. 4 Lutcher vs. No. 5 West Feliciana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->