Division-IV Select Preview Notes | LHSAA State Championships
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The LHSAA’s annual Prep Classic football state championship event kicks off Thursday with the two Division-IV matchups kicking off a slate of eight title games in three days. Prep Redzone Louisiana will break down the overall storylines, paths teams took…
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Continue ReadingThe LHSAA’s annual Prep Classic football state championship event kicks off Thursday with the two Division-IV matchups kicking off a slate of eight title games in three days.
Prep Redzone Louisiana will break down the overall storylines, paths teams took to reach the Superdome, programs’ histories and players to watch.
Starting with the Division-IV Select game.
No. 2 Southern Lab (11-1) vs. No. 5 Riverside Academy (12-1)
The Kittens and Rebels weren’t necessarily the favorites to win their respective halves of the brackets, despite the former’s No. 2 seed, but managed to knock off defending champion Ouachita Christian and undefeated and top-seeded Vermilion Catholic, respectively. Both teams have played well, including wins against higher-classification opponents, and bring potential next-level talent into the matchup, led by Southern Lab’s two Power-Five commits.
The Paths
Southern Lab
— First-round bye
— Beat Hanson Memorial, 47-27
— Shut Central Catholic, 35-0
— Beat defending champion, No. 3 Ouachita Christian, 38-34, on late pick-six
Riverside Academy
— First-round bye
— Beat Catholic-Pointe Coupee, 14-12
— Beat district rival St. Martin’s Episcopal for the second time this season, 26-14
— Upset top-seeded, previously undefeated Vermilion Catholic, 34-7
Recent Meetings
The teams played five straight regular seasons from 2017 to 2021 with the Kittens winning three to the Rebels’ two. Southern Lab won the most recent matchup handily, 54-13.
Players to Watch
Southern Lab
2024 QB Marlon Brown Marlon Brown 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Southern Lab | 2024 State LA , 2024 DB Dylan Day Dylan Day 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Southern Lab | 2024 State LA (Miami), 2024 OL Jude Foster Jude Foster 6'4" | 260 lbs | OL Southern Lab | 2024 State LA (Ole Miss), 2026 WR Denim Hunt Denim Hunt 5'8" | 135 lbs | WR Southern Lab | 2026 State LA , 2026 LB Chad Jones Jr. Chad Jones Jr. 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB Southern Lab | 2026 State LA , 2024 DL Ethan Jupiter Ethan Jupiter 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Southern Lab | 2024 State LA , 2024 LB Chase Square Chase Square 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Southern Lab | 2024 State LA , 2024 RB Douglas Thornton Douglas Thornton 5'5" | 150 lbs | RB Southern Lab | 2024 LA Jr.
Riverside Academy
2024 OL/DL Amiree Alexander Amiree Alexander 6'2" | 315 lbs | OL Riverside Academy | 2024 State LA , 2026 QB Brock Bourgeois Brock Bourgeois 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Riverside Academy | 2026 State LA , 2024 DB Jaedon Butler Jaedon Butler 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Riverside Academy | 2024 State LA , 2024 DB Jared Campbell Jared Campbell 6'2" | 165 lbs | DB Riverside Academy | 2024 State LA , 2028 WR/ATH Kenric Johnson Jr., 2025 RB Dedric Lastie Dedric Lastie 5'4" | 140 lbs | RB Riverside Academy | 2025 LA , 2024 OL Noah Trepagnier Noah Trepagnier 6'2" | 260 lbs | OL Riverside Academy | 2024 State LA .
State Championship History
Southern Lab: 7-4
— Wins in 1980, 1982, 1986, 1996, 2015, 2016, 2021
— Losses in 1977, 1984, 2000, 2014
— Forfeits 2014-2016
Riverside 1-4
— Win in 2016
— Losses in 1993, 1998, 2000, 2015