Eye-catchers from Haynesville vs. Mangham state championship

Haynesville's climb back over the championship hump was anything but easy, but the Golden Tornado came up with the timely plays to survive Mangham and end a decade-long title drought.   The traditional power bent, but didn't break with a pair of defensive touchdowns and a late fourth-down stop in the red zone to seal the 39-37 victory and turn their third straight Caesars Superdome appearance into their first win since 2014.   Here's a look at some of the eye-catching standouts from the Division-IV Non-Select finale.     [player_tooltip player_id='1673797' first='Isaiah' last='Washington'] — 6-2, 175 QB/DB — Haynesville (2026)   The LSU signee earned his team's Outstanding Player honors with a pair of touchdown runs on offense and a long pick-six on defense. He finished with 87 yards on seven carries, including a 54-yard dash in the first quarter; plus a game-high 14 tackles and about 80-yard interception return on a pivotal play late in the second quarter.   [player_tooltip player_id='1618310' first='Ethan' last='Henderson'] — 5-10, 170 RB/LB — Haynesville (2028)   The sophomore running back and linebacker was the primary complement to Washington in keeping the Golden Tornado lighting up the scoreboard. Henderson was the first player in the game to find the end zone, scooping up a fumble and dashing 25 yards to pay dirt, then added a pair of rushing touchdowns on offense in the first half as well. He finished with 96 yards and two scores on six carries and wrapped up six tackles.   L'Travious Brooks — 5-11, 175 DB/ATH — Haynesville (2027)   The junior safety was another of the Golden Tornado's top defensive playmakers in particularly, ripping out the fumble that Henderson returned for the early touchdown and closely following Washington with 12 tackles. He also rushed five times for 13 yards as another of the consistent presences in the offensive attack.   Yasin Meadors — 5-10, 190 RB/EDGE — Haynesville (2026)   Another versatile standout who provided an important two-way performance to the winning effort, Meadors carried eight times for 72 yards and wrapped up six tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage.   Dakota Davis — 5-10, 255 OL/DL — Haynesville (2026)   The senior was among the standouts on the Golden Tornado's offensive line that helped paved the way for 282 yards and four scores on 34 carries and also finished with four tackles, including one behind the line on defense.   Willie Randolph — 5-5, 155 RB — Mangham (2026)   The Dragons set division records with 484 rushing yards and 31 first downs, and the explosive senior back helped headline that effort en route to his team's Outstanding Player selection. Randolph finished with a game-high 203 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.   Colby Casey — 6-0, 175 QB — Mangham (2028)   The sophomore quarterback had a strong day on the big stage with 9-for-16 passing for 83 yards and a well-timed and -placed touchdown pass to tight end Blake Pierce and two-point play to Ty Wilcher, plus 29 carries for 133 yards and two scores. Whether extending pass plays or making plays in the run game, he was elusive and poised with the ball in his hands.   Reginald Roberson — 5-11, 165 DB — Mangham (2026)   The Northwestern State signee put his Dragons on the board with a 97-yard kick-return touchdown and filled the stat sheet on defense with a team-high eight tackles, including a team-high five solo stops, and a fumble recovery.   Kenneth Mitchell — 5-10, 175 RB/WR — Mangham (2029)   Mitchell joined Randolph and Casey as a major contributor in the prolific rushing performance. He, like his aforementioned teammates, showed impressive elusiveness and balance to slip past and break tackles for big yards after contact all the way to 137 yards on 14 rushes and 36 yards on five catches.

Haynesville's climb back over the championship hump was anything but easy, but the Golden Tornado came up with the timely plays to survive Mangham and end a decade-long title drought.