Division-II Non-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-II Non-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 Franklinton vs. No. 5 Iowa — First meeting in at least 20 years, if not ever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 6 Plaquemine vs. No. 18 Cecilia — Cecilia won a 2007 non-district game, 34-8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterfinal outcomes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 1 Franklinton beat No. 8 Lakeshore, 41-40</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 5 Iowa beat No. 4 Franklin Parish, 42-28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 6 Plaquemine beat No. 14 Opelousas, 35-22</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 18 Cecilia beat No. 7 North DeSoto, 57-40</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest surprise</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reigning champion Opelousas saw its title defense come to a halt against a talented, but still largely overlooked Plaquemine team that took control at home and never let up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Franklinton RB [player_tooltip player_id='1415002' first='Sy' last='Austin'], 2027 Cecilia RB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='934555' first='Braylon' last='Calais'], 2025 Iowa DB [player_tooltip player_id='1596745' first='Cohen' last='Charles'], 2026 Franklinton QB Jacob Crain, 2025 Franklinton WR Conner Magee, 2025 Opelousas QB [player_tooltip player_id='913917' first='Zackeus' last='Malveaux'], 2027 Franklinton DB [player_tooltip player_id='1610253' first='Chakyn' last='McClain'], 2025 Plaquemine RB [player_tooltip player_id='1596887' first='Tyrese' last='Mosby'], 2025 Cecilia QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='145333' first='Diesel' last='Solari'], 2025 Plaquemine QB [player_tooltip player_id='144907' first='Nico' last='Victorian'], 2025 Iowa RB Jonathan Walker Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinalists' (recent) history</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Franklinton —&nbsp;First semifinal since 2015, seeking its first semifinal win since 2010.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa — Second semifinal in three years after making its first-ever appearance in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plaquemine — First semifinal since 2014, seeking its first semifinal win since 1961.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cecilia — Back-to-back semifinals after a 15-year drought.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matchup to watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both Plaquemine and Cecilia are loaded with firepower with quarterbacks <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144907' first='Nico' last='Victorian']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='145333' first='Diesel' last='Solari']</strong> leading dynamic attacks. The game has the potential to break into a shootout with either team capable of scoring at will. But which defense can step up on more pivotal downs, whether getting off the field or snatching a takeaway, could swing the game. The Green Devils' <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1238188' first='Roderick' last='Bingham']</strong> and the Bulldogs' <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913904' first='Brent' last='Gordon Jr.']</strong> are two of the likeliest candidates for big plays on that side of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overall storyline</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The typically wide-open bracket remains such, with all four teams capable of winning and the lowest seed in No. 18 Cecilia seemingly as much a favorite as anyone. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->