Eye-catchers from record-setting Catholic (BR) vs. Zachary

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Catholic (Baton Rouge) cashed a few early Zachary miscues into a 17-point lead in a blink on a night on which it proved to need little additional help. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The visiting Bears tied or broke at least four offensive records to hold off the Broncos' continued fight in a 73-55 victory to claim the District 4-5A championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few notes on some of the top eye-catchers from the contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='739720' first='Jayden' last='Miles'] — 6-2, 205 RB — Catholic (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore got going early and never slowed down on his way to the record books with six rushing touchdowns to highlight his 23 carries for 179 yards behind <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='546455' first='Erv' last='Smith']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1345158' first='Blaise' last='Thomassie']</strong>, <strong>John Joffrion</strong>, <strong>Caleb Shelton</strong>, <strong>Joshua Shelton</strong> and company. Miles showcased his impressive combination of physical running through contact and burst to the outside, while also catching an 8-yard touchdown pass and throwing a two-point conversion. He scored more points in the game than an individual in program history, one that includes a consistent record of team success and long tradition of standout running backs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1602105' first='Maxwell' last='Maurer'] — 5-10, 190 LB — Catholic (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior linebacker has been a leading playmaker for the Bears each time we've seen them this season and added a fumble recovery and an interception to yet another active tackling performance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1602055' first='Baylor' last='Graves'] — 6-0, 180 QB — Catholic (2026) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overshadowed by the incredible rushing performance, the Bears' enjoyed a record passing night from their junior quarterback with 371 yards and three touchdowns on 18-for-23 (78.3%) efficiency. Graves also rushed six times for 27 yards. Catholic entered the season with the quarterback position as a large unknown, but has received impressive performances throughout the season from both Graves and fellow junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1602040' first='Turner' last='Goldsmith']</strong>, who scored a goal-line touchdown run in the latest win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alex Huffine — 6-1, 175 WR — Catholic (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Huffine joined fellow senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710770' first='Cohen' last='LeBlanc']</strong> to give Graves a pair of explosive weapons to the perimeter. LeBlanc led the way with seven catches for 129 yards, and Huffine added 123 yards on three catches — including a quick receiver screen he torched 88 yards for a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1356164' first='Jayden' last='Vessell'] — 6-2, 205 DL — Catholic (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore defensive end is another consistent defensive playmaker near the line of scrimmage. Vessel is an athlete in the trenches with strong, violent hands as he sheds blockers and a quickness off the ball to contain to the outside or shoot gaps and disrupt plays. While Zachary managed lots of its own success running the ball, the Broncos appeared to largely have to run opposite of Vessel to do so. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='912297' first='DaVekio' last='Ruffin'] — 5-6 RB — Zachary (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Broncos' senior running back had a hell of a game in his own right with 27 carries for 298 yards — 11.0 yards per attempt — and six touchdowns, including 55- and 62-yard breakaways to go with a couple goal-line runs and another two in the red zone behind <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1293560' first='Clifton' last='Webb']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1348521' first='Ian' last='Boyd']</strong>, <strong>Braeden White</strong>, <strong>Keidrick Bailey</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1612728' first='Tayvion' last='Richard']</strong> and company. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tralan Sept — 5-9, 175 WR — Zachary (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The speedy senior was a spark from his two kick returns for 66 yards to his seven receptions for 110 yards, including a diving catch of a 38-yard shot down the center of the field and a quick swing, through some contact and into the end zone for the team's lone passing touchdown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291087' first='Caleb' last='Gonzales'] — 5-10, 180 QB — Zachary (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing from immediately from behind, the Broncos continued to battle their way back to the Bears' heels back to within three points early in the second quarter and within 11 points twice late. The senior quarterback completed 12 of his 21 passes (57.1%) for 178 yards, a touchdown and an interception against the reigning Division-I Select champions and rushed for another 5-yard score in the fourth quarter on which he was knocked out of the game at the end of a physical run to the goal line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->