LHSAA Playoffs semifinal primer | Select Divisions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisiana's final 32 football teams are standing one more win from the always-coveted trip to the Caesars Superdome.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sixteen will advance to next week's state championship games, while 16 will head home Friday with semifinal losses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out a few more notes on the four "Select" divisions below, including some top players to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DIVISION-I SELECT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal matchups — Last meeting</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 5 Edna Karr vs. No. 8 Acadiana — More than 20 years ago, if ever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 3 Catholic (Baton Rouge) vs. No. 18 Archbishop Rummel — Catholic won at home, 24-0, in 2022 second round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinalists' (recent) history: </strong>Highest-remaining seed Catholic (BR) boasts the longest active streak with seven straight semifinals. Edna Karr returns after a 2022 quarterfinal loss ended a string of seven straight semifinal runs. Acadiana makes its fourth semifinal in five years after a 2022 quarterfinal loss. And Archbishop Rummel is back for the first time since its 2019 state championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top prospects:</strong> 2025 Edna Karr DL [player_tooltip player_id='710991' first='Richard' last='Anderson'], 2025 Acadiana WR/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='426961' first='Russell' last='Babineaux'], 2024 Catholic (BR) QB [player_tooltip player_id='139258' first='Daniel' last='Beale'], 2024 Edna Karr LB [player_tooltip player_id='421613' first='Tah'j' last='Butler'], 2024 Edna Karr WR [player_tooltip player_id='421614' first='Rahji' last='Dennis'], 2025 Rummel DB [player_tooltip player_id='145357' first='Lennis' last='Finister Jr.'], 2025 Edna Karr WR [player_tooltip player_id='426960' first='TaRon' last='Francis'], 2026 Edna Karr DB [player_tooltip player_id='401932' first='Aiden' last='Hall'], 2026 Acadiana DL [player_tooltip player_id='920606' first='Darryus' last='McKinley'], 2024 Acadiana DL [player_tooltip player_id='421603' first='Dominick' last='McKinley'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overall storyline:</strong> From a seeding standpoint, Division-I select has been one of the more chaotic of the LHSAA's eight division brackets thus far. But looking at the programs in those seeds is a different story. All four have won state championships since 2019, as recently as Catholic's in 2021. Edna Karr and Acadiana set up one of the highest-profile semifinals in the state in a rare matchup, while Catholic and Rummel rekindle longstanding playoff history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DIVISION-II SELECT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal matchups — Last meeting</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 1 St. Thomas More vs. No. 5 Archbishop Shaw — Shaw won at home, 10-0, in 2006 semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 3 Lafayette Christian vs. No. 7 Teurlings Catholic — Lafayette Christian won at Teurlings, 61-3, in Week 7. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinalists' (recent) history:</strong> St. Thomas More and Lafayette Christian will compete in their ninth and seventh straight semifinals, respectively. Teurlings is back for back-to-back years, and Archbishop Shaw returns for the first time since making three straight in 2006, 2007 and 2008.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top prospects:</strong> 2024 St. Thomas More QB [player_tooltip player_id='285278' first='Sam' last='Altmann'], 2025 Archbishop Shaw LB [player_tooltip player_id='912251' first='Sheldon' last='Green'], 2024 Lafayette Christian WR [player_tooltip player_id='144893' first='Trae' last='Grogan'], 2024 Lafayette Christian DL [player_tooltip player_id='285654' first='Melvin' last='Hills III'], 2024 Lafayette Christian QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='139261' first='Ju'Juan' last='Johnson'], 2024 Lafayette Christian DB [player_tooltip player_id='145325' first='Ty' last='Lee'], 2024 Lafayette Christian LB [player_tooltip player_id='421516' first='Sandy' last='Lewis'], 2024 Archbishop Shaw DL [player_tooltip player_id='678290' first='Jayden' last='Scott'], 2024 St. Thomas More RB [player_tooltip player_id='289901' first='Hutch' last='Swilley'], 2024 Teurlings Catholic QB [player_tooltip player_id='144873' first='Preston' last='Welch'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overall storyline:</strong> St. Thomas More and Lafayette Christian are one win each away from a much-anticipated state championship and district rematch. The Cougars will have to face a resurgent Archbishop Shaw program that ousted them from the 2006, and the Knights will have to face another district rival in Teurlings Catholic for a second time this season and a second straight semifinal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DIVISION-III SELECT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal matchups — Last meeting</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 1 St. Charles Catholic vs. No. 4 University Lab —&nbsp;(not including annual scrimmages) U-High won at home, 34-14, in 2017 semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 2 Calvary Baptist vs. No. 3 Isidore Newman —&nbsp;Newman won at Calvary, 31-28, in 2018 quarterfinals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinalists' (recent) history:</strong> University Lab and St. Charles Catholic boast the state's longest active semifinal streaks at 12 and 10 years, respectively. Calvary Baptist got over its recent quarterfinal hump to return to its first semis since a 2020 state title run. And Isidore Newman, which also lost in the quarters last season, will try to finally get over its longstanding semifinal hump that included losses in that round in 2020 and 2021.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top prospects: </strong>2025 Isidore Newman OL [player_tooltip player_id='291165' first='Brett' last='Bordelon'], 2026 University Lab OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='212343' first='Lamar' last='Brown'], 2024 University Lab DB [player_tooltip player_id='144887' first='Tony' last='Burns'], 2024 St. Charles Catholic LB [player_tooltip player_id='285619' first='Kyle' last='Cannon'], 2024 University Lab DB [player_tooltip player_id='139503' first='Marcus' last='Dawson Jr.'], 2025 Isidore Newman QB [player_tooltip player_id='914014' first='Eli' last='Friend'], 2025 University Lab LB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='144905' first='Keylan' last='Moses'], 2025 University Lab QB [player_tooltip player_id='734867' first='Emile' last='Picarella'], 2025 Calvary Baptist RB [player_tooltip player_id='710073' first='James' last='Simon'], 2024 Calvary Baptist WR John Simon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overall storyline:</strong> The only division on the select side in which all top four seeds advanced, the Division-III semifinals pack some well-known programs and heavy-hitting bang for their buck with four teams that have made habits of beating higher-classification opponents this season. The top-half matchup between two foes with a combined three state championships between them the past two years — St. Charles in Division III each of the past two years and University Lab in Division II in 2021 — is one of the best in the state at any level. And the bottom-half brings two high-profile and high-powered programs from opposite corners of the state together for another intriguing showdown loaded with college talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DIVISION-IV SELECT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal matchups — Last meeting</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 1 Vermilion Catholic vs. No. 5 Riverside Academy —&nbsp;Vermilion Catholic won at home, 33-20, in 2020 quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 2 Southern Lab vs. No. 3 Ouachita Christian — Southern Lab won, 38-14, in 2021 state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinalists' (recent) history:</strong> Defending champion Ouachita Christian makes its fifth straight semifinals appearance and aims for its fifth straight title game. Vermilion Catholic was a state runner-up last year. Southern Lab, a 2021 champion, returns to the semis after a quarterfinal exit in 2022. And Riverside Academy returns for the first time since four straight from 2014 and 2017 that included two title game appearances and the 2016 championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top prospects: </strong>2024 Ouachita Christian OL [player_tooltip player_id='675897' first='Ryder' last='Bentley'], 2025 Vermilion Catholic QB [player_tooltip player_id='291147' first='Jonathan' last='Dartez'], 2024 Southern Lab DB [player_tooltip player_id='675891' first='Dylan' last='Day'], 2024 Southern Lab OL [player_tooltip player_id='145362' first='Jude' last='Foster'], 2024 Ouachita Christian DB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='678294' first='Tate' last='Hamby'], 2025 Riverside Academy RB [player_tooltip player_id='1214154' first='Dedric' last='Lastie'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overall storyline:</strong> Top-seeded Vermilion Catholic survived a quarterfinal scare from No. 9 Ascension Catholic and will now try in its quest for back-to-back Superdome trips to handle another notable challenger led by its talented junior running back in No. 5 Riverside. On the bottom half of the bracket, two of the bluest of bloods in the Division-IV Select field, perennial powers Southern Lab and Ouachita Christian meet yet again in a familiar postseason series that most recently included the 2021 title game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->