Division-II Select Preview Notes | LHSAA State Championships
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The LHSAA’s annual Prep Classic football state championship event concludes Saturday with Division-II Select, Division-III Select and Division-I Non-Select matchups. Prep Redzone Louisiana will break down the overall storylines, paths teams took to reach the Superdome, programs’ histories and players…
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Continue ReadingThe LHSAA’s annual Prep Classic football state championship event concludes Saturday with Division-II Select, Division-III Select and Division-I Non-Select matchups.
Prep Redzone Louisiana will break down the overall storylines, paths teams took to reach the Superdome, programs’ histories and players to watch.
The Division-II Select game kicks off the three-game schedule.
No. 1 St. Thomas More (13-0) vs. No. 3 Lafayette Christian (11-2)
No state championship matchup has been more highly anticipated for longer than the Lafayette district rivals meeting for a fourth time in two years and providing a rematch of a high-powered thriller of last year’s title game. The Cougars have somehow, some way managed to make the late plays necessary on each occasion to top the Knights, another of the state’s top programs. And whether LSU commit Ju’Juan Johnson Ju’Juan Johnson 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH Lafayette Christian | 2024 State LA , Texas commit Melvin Hills III Melvin Hills III 6'4" | 265 lbs | DL Lafayette Christian | 2024 State LA and company can finally turn that tide has been a topic of discussion and intrigue throughout the past month (or more).
The Paths
St. Thomas More
— First-round bye
— Beat Istrouma, 57-14
— Shut out St. Michael the Archangel, 49-0
— Beat Archbishop Shaw, 69-30
Lafayette Christian
— First-round bye
— Beat Peabody, 54-20
— Beat McDonogh 35, 57-21
— Beat another district rival Teurling Catholic for the second time, 42-35
Recent Meetings
St. Thomas More has won district matchups the past two years, as well as last year’s state title game, 52-48, behind a furious comeback late.
Players to Watch
St. Thomas More
2024 QB Sam Altmann Sam Altmann 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA , 2025 DL Ethan Baer Ethan Baer 5'11" | 205 lbs | DL St. Thomas More | 2025 LA , 2024 DB Brian Broussard Brian Broussard 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB St. Thomas More | 2025 State LA Jr., 2024 DB Peyton David, 2024 Gavin Duplechin Gavin Duplechin 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB St. Thomas More | 2025 State LA , 2024 WR Sanders Foreman Sanders Foreman 5'9" | 180 lbs | WR St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA , 2024 DL Adam Guidry Adam Guidry 6'3" | 200 lbs | DL St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA , 2024 OL Ashton Helaire Ashton Helaire 6'5" | 310 lbs | OL St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA , 2024 LB Hayden Hernandez Hayden Hernandez 6'1" | 205 lbs | LB St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA , 2025 RB Gabe Mocek, 2024 WR Landon Strother Landon Strother 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA , 2024 RB Hutch Swilley Hutch Swilley 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA
Opelousas
2026 OL Kaleb Campbell Kaleb Campbell 6'7" | 305 lbs | OL Lafayette Christian Academy | 2026 State LA , 2024 WR Trae Grogan Trae Grogan 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Lafayette Christian | 2024 State LA , 2025 DB Chris Helaire Chris Helaire 5'9" | 150 lbs | DB Lafayette Christian | 2025 State LA , 2024 DL Melvin Hills III Melvin Hills III 6'4" | 265 lbs | DL Lafayette Christian | 2024 State LA , 2024 OL Trevor Jeffrey Trevor Jeffrey 6'5" | 270 lbs | OL Lafayette Christian | 2024 State LA , 2024 QB/ATH Ju’Juan Johnson Ju’Juan Johnson 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH Lafayette Christian | 2024 State LA , 2024 Ty Lee Ty Lee 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Lafayette Christian | 2024 State LA , 2024 LB Sandy Lewis Sandy Lewis 6'2" | 235 lbs | LB Lafayette Christian | 2024 State LA , 2024 WR Treanders Marzell, 2024 DL Jon Moore-Leday Jon Moore-Leday 5'4" | 230 lbs | DL Lafayette Christian | 2024 LA , 2025 RB Jalen Noel Jalen Noel 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Lafayette Christian | 2025 State LA , 2025 WR Carlos O’Brien Carlos O’Brien 6'1" | 175 lbs | WR Lafayette Christian | 2025 State LA , 2027 DB Sky Ryan Sky Ryan 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Lafayette Christian Academy | 2027 State LA , 2024 LB Sam Taylor, 2025 WR Brennan Walker Brennan Walker 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH Lafayette Christian | 2025 State LA
State Championship History
St. Thomas More: 4-2
— Win in 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022
— Losses in 2015, 2018
Lafayette Christian: 4-2
— Wins in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
— Losses in 2021, 2022