Division-II 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 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 Archbishop Shaw vs. No. 5 Madison Prep — First-ever meeting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 3 E.D. White vs. No. 7 Leesville — First meeting in at least 20 years, if ever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterfinal outcomes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 1 Archbishop Shaw beat No. 8 John F. Kennedy, 21-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 5 Madison Prep beat No. 13 Istrouma, 14-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 3 E.D. White beat No. 6 Vandebilt Catholic, 23-18</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 7 Leesville beat No. 18 Booker T. Washington (New Orleans), 50-12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest surprise</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No surprises. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Vandebilt Catholic RB [player_tooltip player_id='145332' first='Jaylon' last='Coleman'], 2025 John F. Kennedy QB [player_tooltip player_id='914099' first='Amyne' last='Darensbourg'], 2025 John F. Kennedy WR [player_tooltip player_id='914129' first='James' last='Evans'], 2025 Leesville RB [player_tooltip player_id='710079' first='Xavier' last='Ford'], 2025 E.D. White ATH Ben Guidry, 2025 Madison Prep QB [player_tooltip player_id='291086' first='Tylan' last='Johnson'], 2025 Archbishop Shaw RB [player_tooltip player_id='913900' first='Jasper' last='Parker'], 2025 E.D. White K [player_tooltip player_id='425028' first='Ty' last='Powell'], 2025 Archbishop Shaw QB [player_tooltip player_id='1221203' first='Mason' last='Wilson'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinalists' (recent) history</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Archbishop Shaw — Back-to-back semifinals for the first time since three straight Superdome trips from 2006-08.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madison Prep — First semifinal appearance since its 2020 state-championship run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>E.D. White — Fourth semifinal in five years, seeking first semifinal win since 2021.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leesville — First semifinal appearance since 2018, seeking first semifinal win since 1995.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matchup to watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leesville running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710079' first='Xavier' last='Ford']</strong> is well within striking distance of the state's single-season rushing record as he continues a prolific senior campaign for the Wampus Cats. But next up on the schedule is a typically stingy E.D. White defense that plays soundly and physically in the box with 2026 linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1555355' first='Charlie' last='Diedrich']</strong> in the middle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overall storyline</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top-seeded Archbishop Shaw has felt destined to finally make its first state-championship run since 1987. But no team remaining in the bracket figures to be an easy-out for anyone, and each is writing its own memorable storyline in search of a storybook ending: Madison Prep overcoming early challenges and doubters, E.D. White seeking its first tile since 1969 and Leesville seeking its first-ever behind a record-setting senior running back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->