Division-I Select Semifinals Preview | LHSAA Playoffs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisiana's final 32 football teams are standing one more win from the always-coveted trip to the Caesars Superdome.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sixteen will advance to next week's state championship games, while 16 will head home Friday with semifinal losses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue to look each week, division by division, at the developing bracket, including notable outcomes, top performers and intriguing matchups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out the latest Division-I Select capsule below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal matchups — Last meeting</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 1 Edna Karr vs. No. 4 Catholic (Baton Rouge) — Catholic won a 2022 quarterfinal, 32-24, at home to keep the Cougars home from the semifinals for the only time in the past decade.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 2 Alexandria vs. No. 19 John Curtis — Meeting for the first time ever. In fact, the Patriots will visit Rapides Parish for the first time at all since 2000.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterfinal outcomes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 1 Edna Karr beat No. 8 St. Thomas More, 42-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 4 Catholic (Baton Rouge) beat No. 5 Archbishop Rummel, 14-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 19 John Curtis beat No. 6 Teurlings Catholic, 31-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 2 Alexandria beat No. 10 C.E. Byrd, 43-32</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest surprise</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 19 John Curtis has the be considered a surprise this year after the program's first losing regular-season record since 1969. The Patriots are the lowest-seeded team to ever reach a Division-I Select semifinal. But the perennial power's track record of making more than 30 consecutive quarterfinal appearances and being a near-lock to reach the semifinals every year since the early 1990s also lessens the surprise level for this particular 19-seed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Catholic (BR) DB [player_tooltip player_id='710081' first='Jacob' last='Bradford'], 2025 John Curtis DB [player_tooltip player_id='1221211' first='Trey' last='Brown'], 2025 Edna Karr WR [player_tooltip player_id='426960' first='TaRon' last='Francis'], 2026 Edna Karr QB [player_tooltip player_id='920629' first='John' last='Johnson'], 2025 John Curtis QB Reggie Johnson, 2026 Catholic (BR) DB [player_tooltip player_id='1602064' first='Harrison' last='Kidder'], 2026 John Curtis LB [player_tooltip player_id='1237787' first='Lane' last='LeCron'], 2025 Alexandria RB [player_tooltip player_id='914208' first='J.T.' last='Lindsey'], 2025 Edna Karr WR [player_tooltip player_id='710768' first='Daejawn' last='Smith'], 2025 Catholic (BR) LB Layton Welch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinalists' (recent) history</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edna Karr — Back-to-back semifinals and ninth in 10 years, seeking first semifinal win since 2020.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Catholic (Baton Rouge) — State-leading eighth-straight semifinal appearance, seeking back-to-back semifinal wins and seventh in the eight trips.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>John Curtis — Second semifinal in three years, getting back on track to their streak of 20-plus prior to 2021 and 2023 quarterfinal losses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matchup to watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are certainly a few, but from a prospect standpoint, it's difficult to not first mention Edna Karr's prolific junior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920629' first='John' last='Johnson']</strong>, having a breakout second season at the helm, and his slew of weapons led by LSU signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='426960' first='TaRon' last='Francis']</strong>, Louisiana Tech signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710768' first='Daejawn' last='Smith']</strong> and Tulane signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214144' first='Oliver' last='Mitchell Jr.']</strong> matching up against a Catholic (BR) secondary that includes LSU signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710081' first='Jacob' last='Bradford']</strong>, fellow senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='740987' first='Cayden' last='Jones']</strong>, 2026 LSU target <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401737' first='Blaine' last='Bradford']</strong> and company hoping to slow down that explosive attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overall storyline</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three of Louisiana's top teams all season and arguably the bluest-of-blood perennial power, but in a rare "underdog" role will square off in the most intriguing overall tandem of semifinals in any division. Top-seeded Edna Karr and reigning champion Catholic (Baton Rouge) are both technically undefeated, following an LHSAA ruling against University Lab forfeit Catholic's lone loss back to Bears' win column. The Cougars are trying to reclaim their championship throne for the first time since four straight from 2016-19. The Bears are trying to repeat despite having replaced key leaders from last year's roster. Fellow-undefeated Alexandria somehow still feels underrated despite its roll through a tough schedule and is looking to keep opening eyes on its way to a historic first title. And John Curtis is trying to continue its historic run as a low seed all the way to familiar territory hosting a trophy in the Superdome.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->