12 eye-catchers from Alexandria vs. Ruston

Alexandria and Ruston developed into a relative shootout between two of top teams in not only a loaded District 2-5A, but the entire state.   And as the clock ran low and the tension ran high, the home-standing Trojans (8-0, 3-0) came up with a highlight-reel and go-ahead touchdown late and then an eventual fourth-down defensive stop to claim their biggest victory yet in a still-undefeated season, 40-36.     [player_tooltip player_id='914208' first='J.T.' last='Lindsey'] — 5-11, 190 RB — Alexandria (2025)   The senior running back was the tone-setter with one carry after another early in the game and made the most of his opportunities throughout the night to showcase both his burst in space and his balance and strong legs through contact. The LSU commit consistently required multiple defenders to help bring him down and still drove piles forward for extra yards all the way to 136 rushing yards and two touchdowns and 64 receiving yards and another score.   [player_tooltip player_id='1250281' first='Karsen' last='Sellers'] — 6-1, 170 QB — Alexandria (2027)   The Trojans' sophomore starter handled the pressure of facing the highly touted Bearcats — both the magnitude of the matchup and the on-field rush of the stout defense — and delivered possibly his best performance of the season thus far. Sellers completed 12 of his 17 passes for a career-high 241 yards and four touchdowns, including the well-placed, go-ahead score late, and no turnovers. And just as impressive as a couple of his strikes downfield was his poise and mobility in the pocket to elude defenders, allow plays to develop and get the ball out to his weapons.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHyW0mJJhow </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='934573' first='Max' last='Gassiott'] — 5-10, 170 QB — Alexandria (2027)   Alexandria has used both of its sophomore quarterbacks throughout the season with Gassiott working in every third possession for much of the night and posing more of a rushing threat with his quickness and physicality to cut past defenders or run through them. The quarterback combination presented challenges for opposing defenses to prepare for the different looks.   [player_tooltip player_id='920704' first='Jay' last='Frazier'] — 5-7, 150 DB — Alexandria (2026)   and Ja'Kyrin Griffin — 5-8, 165 DB — Alexandria (2027)   The Trojans' standout junior and sophomore defensive backs played big Friday from their closing out on passes, either arriving in time to deflect them or wrapping up secure tackles in space, to their physical play around the line in run support or to help stop a Ruston fake punt shy of the marker.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Dp3_lst0w </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1644675' first='Jakobi' last='Morris'] — 6-3, 310 OL — Alexandria (2025)   Several of Lindsey's biggest runs came behind great blocking by the Trojans' left guard, the biggest player on the line who consistently drove back and sealed off defenders and paved lanes for chunks of yardage in the ground game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1250291' first='Alex' last='Fontenot'] — 6-2, 180 WR — Alexandria (2027)   and [player_tooltip player_id='1644671' first='Tanner' last='Townsend'] — 6-0, 210 TE — Alexandria (2025)   Fontenot is not only the biggest receiver the roster, but bigger than most of the team's tight ends. But the sophomore also showed his speed as a downfield threat with his two catches for 60 yards, including the longest play of the night. Townsend, the senior tight end, added the late highlight on the game-winning touchdown on which he showed the focus to corral a bobbled, ricocheting pass off a defender as they both fell to the end-zone turf. The timely pays to complement leading receiver [player_tooltip player_id='914212' first='Darius' last='Washington'] makes the Trojans' attack all the more potent as the playoffs approach.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNBrA1KUn0w </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='914207' first='Aidan' last='Anding'] — 5-11, 165 DB — Ruston (2025)   The LSU-committed cornerback showed his toughness working back through an injury that sidelined him for the bulk of the first half and coming back to finish the game, including a diving interception in the third quarter on which he showed his speed and ball skills.   [player_tooltip player_id='710083' first='Zheric' last='Hill'] — 6-0, 210 LB — Ruston (2025)   The Louisiana Tech-committed linebacker flew around the field for several big tackles with plays behind the line that included the hit on the wide receiver throwing the trick-play pass that Anding was able to intercept after Hill disrupted the pass.   [player_tooltip player_id='710271' first='Jordan' last='Hayes'] — 5-9, 190 RB — Ruston (2025)   The senior running back was the most consistent playmaker for the Bearcats' offense with 143 yards and three touchdowns with his slippery running (and spinning) through traffic and open-field speed, but also some power through contact on a couple runs near the goal line.   [player_tooltip player_id='1257121' first='Ahmad' last='Hudson'] — 6-7, 225 TE — Ruston (2027)   The sophomore tight end was a go-to target in key moments for Tulane-committed quarterback/athlete [player_tooltip player_id='710076' first='Joshua' last='Brantley'] with catches on a two-point play and multiple third- and fourth-down conversions late.

Alexandria and Ruston developed into a relative shootout between two of top teams in not only a loaded District 2-5A, but the entire state.