LHSAA Playoffs quarterfinal primer | Division-I Non-Select
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Thanksgiving week brings plenty of traditions and significance — including, in Louisiana’s high school football, the milestone of turkey-day practices meaning a team is preparing for the quarterfinals. Each week, we’ll give a quick update of some of the notable…
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Continue ReadingThanksgiving week brings plenty of traditions and significance — including, in Louisiana’s high school football, the milestone of turkey-day practices meaning a team is preparing for the quarterfinals.
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.
Check out the Division-I Non-Select capsule heading into the postseason’s third round.
Quarterfinal matchups — Last meeting
No. 1 Ruston vs. No. 9 Walker — More than 20 years ago, if ever.
No. 4 Airline vs. No. 21 Mandeville — More than 20 years ago, if ever.
No. 3 Destrehan vs. No. 6 Zachary — Zachary won, 34-13, at home in 2021 semifinals.
No. 7 Dutchtown vs. No. 18 Central (Baton Rouge) — Dutchtown won, 16-13, at home in 2018 Week 2.
Highest seeds remaining: No. 1 Ruston, No. 3 Destrehan, No. 4 Airline, No. 6 Zachary and No. 7 Dutchtown.
Lowest seeds remaining: No. 9 Walker, No. 18 Central (Baton Rouge) and No. 21 Mandeville.
Biggest second-round upset by seeds: No. 21 Mandeville over No. 5 St. Amant, 42-21; and No. 18 Central (Baton Rouge) over No. 2 Neville, 17-16.
Other second-round upsets: Only two upsets.
Closest second-round game: No. 18 Central (Baton Rouge) over No. 2 Neville, 17-16; and No. 4 Airline over No. 13 Southside, 36-35.
Closest game thus far: No. 18 Central (Baton Rouge) over No. 2 Neville, 17-16, in second round; and No. 4 Airline over No. 13 Southside, 36-35, in second round.
Biggest second-round margin: No. 7 Dutchtown over No. 10 Chalmette, 48-7.
Biggest margin thus far: No. 7 Dutchtown over No. 26 South Lafourche, 42-0, in first round.
Biggest second-round surprise: No. 18 Central (Baton Rouge) over No. 2 Neville, 17-16.
Biggest surprise thus far: No. 25 Northshore over No. 8 West Monroe, 9-7, in first round.
Top second-round performers: 2024 Cecilia RB Corey Broussard, 2025 Opelousas LB Travis Esprit Travis Esprit 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Opelousas | 2025 State LA , 2025 Cecilia ATH Diesel Solari Diesel Solari 5'7" | 175 lbs | ATH Cecilia | 2025 State LA .
Other notes: The apparent top tier of contenders — No. 1 Ruston, No. 3 Destrehan and No. 6 Zachary — have all advanced, but lowers seeds such as No. 9 Walker, No. 18 Central (Baton Rouge) and No. 21 Mandeville have looked increasingly formidable each week. Two second-round games were decided by a point — Airline’s and Central’s wins — and another — Ruston’s win — by two points. Dutchtown has claimed the bracket’s most convincing victories each of the past two weeks. Ruston, Destrehan, Zachary and Mandeville all have notable history during the past decade-plus of consistent runs to the quarterfinals or farther, including Destrehan’s and Zachary’s state titles. Airline meanwhile returns for the first time since 2019, Central and Dutchtown both for the first time since 2013 and Walker for the first time in school history.
Most intriguing quarterfinal matchup: No. 3 Destrehan vs. No. 6 Zachary.
Most intriguing possible semifinal matchup: No. 6 Zachary vs. No. 18 Central (Baton Rouge).