Eye-catchers from Dunham vs. Ascension Catholic

For all the anticipation surrounding Ascension Catholic's and Dunham's prolific offensive stars, the school's Thursday matchup quickly took shape as a low-scoring, physical slug fest between two stout defenses.   But Bulldogs senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='710080' first='Chad' last='Elzy'] Jr. and Tigers sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='642719' first='Elijah' last='Haven'] showed flashes of their brilliance throughout and traded late scores with the outcome in the balance — the latter of which ultimately lifted the home team to a 21-18 victory.   Here are a few notes on 14 players who stood out during the contest.   <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=KCI_gN3IAbU </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='642719' first='Elijah' last='Haven'] — 6-4, 200 QB — Dunham (2027)   Thursday wasn't Haven's and the Tigers' most efficient offensive showing, but they made enough plays to come out on top when the dust settled — including a touchdown throw deep early, a few well-placed quick throws off fun fakes and some shows of both his elusiveness and speed in the open field on the 65 touchdown dash up the sideline that proved the game-winner and strength and toughness on several runs battling through contact for extra yardage.   <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=RgXuqenEBbQ </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='710974' first='Jarvis' last='Washington'] Jr. — 6-4, 180 WR — Dunham (2026)   The tall target served as Haven's primary vertical threat, including the team's first score on which they connected deep down the right sideline and Washington showed some of his awareness and athleticism as he worked through an attempted tackle to dive the final yards to reach the goal line.   <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=WNfFbXKsK9k </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1602031' first='Colin' last='Pecue'] — 5-8, 170 RB — Dunham (2026)   The junior running back provided the most consistent rushing presence for the Tigers throughout the game, including the opening possession of the second half on which they rode him the whole down the field for a touchdown and a lead.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LAvsAllYall/status/1839475982970781863 </div></figure>     Jack Higginbotham — 6-0, 175 LB — Dunham (2025)   The Tigers' defense did well plugging running lanes and making rushing yards between the tackles difficult to come by and bringing pressure to disrupt the timing in the passing game. The senior linebacker was among the players flying around and seeming to consistently make plays near or behind the line, including a fourth down on which he and junior safety [player_tooltip player_id='401983' first='Trevor' last='Haman'] helped lead a host of tacklers. Senior defensive end Harrison Malik and sophomore defensive end Charlie Myers were among other players with highlights behind the line.   <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=gqyx7x-HFhs </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='283986' first='Richard' last='Montgomery Jr.'] — 6-0, 175 DB/ATH — Dunham (2026)   The junior cornerback was sound in coverage — including a late, leaping fourth-down breakup among the highlights — and a sure tackler in space on quick throws to the perimeter. He and sophomore Richard Bonneval were among the consistent playmakers in coverage.   <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=qj4uco-m5_c </div></figure>     Jarone Harris — 5-9, 140 DB — Dunham (2027)   The sophomore cornerback appeared to secure diving interception in the back corner of the end zone earlier in the game, but was ruled out of bounds on the play by an official. But he left no doubt with a diving catch late to regain possession for his Tigers and dash Ascension Catholic's final hopes.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LAvsAllYall/status/1839490184246644799 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='710080' first='Chad' last='Elzy'] Jr. — 5-10, 175 RB — Ascension Catholic (2025)   The Bulldogs' star, who played the bulk of the team's snaps in all three phases, was a wrecking ball through contact who flashed good speed when opportunities arose in space. His biggest highlight of the contest came in the final seconds of the first half when he caught a quick pass and showed a full range of his attributes all the way to a 30-touchdown and lead at the midway mark. A defender took aim for an explosive hit, but instead bounced off as Elzy stood strong, powered over another attempted tackle, spun free and went winding to the end zone.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LAvsAllYall/status/1839469484794343666 </div></figure>     Camille LeBouef — 5-11, 190 QB — Ascension Catholic (2025)   and Johnny Viallon — 5-6, 140 WR — Ascension Catholic (2027)   A particularly consistent downfield passing game eluded both teams, but the Bulldogs manage a few solid gains in the screen game — starting with a well executed play on the game's opening drive on which LeBouef quickly got the ball out to his sophomore weapon who burst between a solid block outside and a free defender inside and off to the races 28 yards for the first points of the night.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LAvsAllYall/status/1839458347004694686 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1345281' first='Joshua' last='Barber'] — 6-0, 245 DL/LB — Ascension Catholic (2026)   and [player_tooltip player_id='1603269' first='Vaughn' last='Blanchard'] — 6-2, 245 DL — Ascension Catholic (2026)   Starting early and starting up front, the Bulldogs defense did a nice job of coming after Haven to help set the tone for the strong defensive performance. The junior linemen, two of the biggest bodies on the Ascension Catholic roster, got to the quarterback on the first Dunham possession of the game and made a few plays at or behind the line during the evening.     Gavin Gregoire — 5-11, 170 DB — Ascension Catholic (2025)   The Bulldogs received disruptive playmaking from their secondary as well with the senior safety a consistent presence in the middle of the field as he broke on plays, quickly shut down potential passing windows and broke up at least two likely completions.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LAvsAllYall/status/1839468149466407316 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1237785' first='Trevin' last='Simon'] — 5-10, 175 DB/ATH — Ascension Catholic (2026)   The junior is a solid complement — and likely heir-apparent — to Elzy as another versatile athlete in all three phases for the Bulldogs, a weapon with the ball in his hands as either a running back or return man and a reliable defensive back who also made a play or two on the ball in the secondary.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LAvsAllYall/status/1839478149832208746 </div></figure>     Jacob Julien — 5-10, 170 DB — Ascension Catholic (2027)   Another eye-catcher in the secondary, the sophomore corner played tight coverage across the field from Elzy much of the night including a couple nicely played balls on throws his way.

For all the anticipation surrounding Ascension Catholic's and Dunham's prolific offensive stars, the school's Thursday matchup quickly took shape as a low-scoring, physical slug fest between two stout defenses.