Southern Lab vs. Riverside Academy | 10 Championship Eye Catchers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southern Lab and Riverside Academy kicked off the LHSAA's annual Prep Classic football state championship weekend with a back-and-forth Division-IV Select matchup provided a strong start to a memorable weekend overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kittens fell behind the Rebels by two scores early, roared back with 27 second-quarter points overcame another second-half swing and scratched out a 42-35 victory on a pair of runs by sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='401971' first='Jerome' last='Harris Jr'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few more notes on 10 of the biggest eye-catching performers from the contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221036' first='Armariyan' last='Asberry'] | 5-11, 205 RB | Southern Lab (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The son of coach Darrell Asberry was named Outstanding Player for his physical running to a 33-yard, two-touchdown performance to help set the tone for the Kittens' deep backfield. His first score put Southern Lab on the board, and his second provided its first lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1202542' first='Marlon' last='Brown'] | 6-1, 190 QB | Southern Lab (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior quarterback was fantastic in his final high school game, completing 11 of his 16 pass attempts for 183 yards and one touchdown, including some well-thrown deep balls, and using his legs well both to extend some of those passing plays and to carry seven times for another 49 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221230' first='Kaden' last='Brumfield'] | 5-10, 160 DB | Riverside Academy (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Brumfield brothers were two of Riverside's defensive standouts in the contest with Kaleb providing three tackles, including one for loss on third down, and Kaden making a leaping, highlight interception of one Southern Lab deep pass and deflecting away another to go along with his four tackles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401971' first='Jerome' last='Harris Jr']. | 5-8, 175 RB | Southern Lab (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore helped provide the explosive exclamation points late on that Southern Lab rushing attack that the younger Asberry had helped establish. Harris finished with a team-high 85 yards and two touchdowns on just eight attempts on some gashing, highlight-reel runs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401952' first='Denim' last='Hunt'] | 5-8, 140 WR/DB | Southern Lab (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another sophomore was among Brown's leading weapons in the passing game with 67 yards on two catches, thanks to a beautiful 57-yarder deep down the sideline, as well as a standout in the secondary with three pass breakups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1202554' first='Ian' last='James'] | 6-0, 170 DB | Southern Lab (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kittens' defense included several standout performances, including multiple at every level of the unit. But a record-setting 94-yard interception return for a touchdown before halftime has to earn some top billing. James' big play helped stretch the lead to 27-14 at the break, and the senior defensive back also recorded five tackles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1372189' first='Kenric' last='Johnson Jr.'] | 5-8, 140 WR/ATH | Riverside Academy (2028)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the Rebels' eighth-graders already playing a big role and playing it well, "Boogie" caught six passes for 124 yards — both game-highs — and also took snaps as a wildcat quarterback and completed a 27-yard touchdown pass for his team's first score. He also served as a primary kick-returner and compiled 61 yards on four opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237618' first='Chad' last='Jones Jr.'] | 5-11, 220 LB | Southern Lab (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another of the Kittens' defensive leaders, the son of former LSU star Chad Jones seemed to live in the Riverside backfield for stretches of the game on his way to eight tackles, including three for loss, a sack and multiple particularly explosive stops. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214154' first='Dedric' last='Lastie'] | 5-4, 135 RB | Riverside Academy (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rebels' star running back finished with 107 yards and three touchdowns against a stout Southern Lab defense, caught five passes for 58 yards and added another 42 yards on kick returns and 16 on punt returns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brennan Maus | 6-0, 175 TE | Riverside Academy (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior scored the game's first two touchdowns on receptions of a combined 70 yards, wide-open down the middle of the field on well-executed played, to provide his team a 14-0 lead early. No other tight end the rest of the weekend came close to that production. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->