Division-IV Non-Select Preview Notes | LHSAA State Championships

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The LHSAA's annual Prep Classic football state championship event kicks off Thursday with the three Division-IV matchups, plus a Division-III Non-Select night-cap, kicking off a slate of eight title games in three days.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone Louisiana will break down the overall storylines, paths teams took to reach the Caesars Superdome, programs' histories and players to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Division-IV Non-Select game will continue Thursday's three-game schedule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 1 Haynesville (13-0) vs. No. 2 South Plaquemines (10-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two well-known programs will meet for the first time in 15 years, once again with a state championship on the line. Haynesville is back for the second straight year with a talented and experienced team trying to secure the rural, small-school blue-blood its first title since 2014. South Plaquemines is meanwhile makes its long-awaited return after falling short to the Golden Tornado in that 2009 matchup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Paths</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haynesville </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— First-round bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Beat Montgomery, 61-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Beat Welsh, 30-15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Beat General Trass, 52-20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Plaquemines</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— First-round bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Beat East Feliciana, 21-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Beat Mangham, 42-18</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Beat Logansport, 20-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Recent Meetings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The schools, separated by nearly seven hours, will meet for the first time since the 2009 Class 1A state championship game when Haynesville ended South Plaquemines' bid for a three-peat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haynesville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 K/P [player_tooltip player_id='1601858' first='Eli' last='Bray'], 2025 RB/LB Byruss Burns, 2027 RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='1610176' first='Donnie' last='Critton'], 2026 OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='1596826' first='Dakota' last='Davis'], 2025 DB/WR [player_tooltip player_id='1596587' first='Zykerius' last='Fielding'], 2026 QB/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1237635' first='Isaiah' last='Washington'], 2025 OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='1596597' first='Germerian' last='Williams'], 2025 LB/TE [player_tooltip player_id='914221' first='Keizavion' last='Woods']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Plaquemines </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1602034' first='Dean' last='Ancalade'], 2026 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1602036' first='Josh' last='Barthelemy'], 2026 QB Rod Parker, 2025 LB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1596636' first='Alex' last='Phillips'], 2025 RB Zae'sean Riley, 2025 K Jose Sales, 2025 RB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1596605' first='Jy'Heim' last='Williams'], 2025 LB/RB Trevontae Williams</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matchup to watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haynesville's defense, led by a crew of talented senior leaders such as Mississippi Valley State commit [player_tooltip player_id='914221' first='Keizavion' last='Woods'], has held its 13 opponents thus far to an average of less than 10 points per contest. South Plaquemines brings a talented and versatile offensive group that will be among the best the Golden Tornado has faced. The Hurricanes will need to slow down a disruptive Haynesville front group to give their weapons a chance to connect on some of their explosive-play potential, or they may face the same fate as other's on the top seed's thus-far dominant path. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haynesville: 17-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>—&nbsp;Wins in 1924, 1929, 1936, 1970, 1971, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,&nbsp;2000, 2009, 2013, 2014</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Losses in 1932, 1938, 1972, 1983, 1988, 1989, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Plaquemines: 2-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Wins in 2007, 2008</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Losses in 2009</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->