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

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The LHSAA's annual Prep Classic football state championship event kicks off Saturday with the two Division-I matchups to close 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-I Non-Select game will kick off Saturday's two-game schedule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 1 Ruston (11-2) vs. No. 14 Ouachita Parish (9-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two teams from the highly competitive District 2-5A will make the long trip south to New Orleans to battle for a state title. Ruston has become the standard-bearer in Division-I Non-Select, making its fourth straight trip to a title game and chasing a potential second title in three years. Ouachita Parish meanwhile has become far-and-away the Cinderella story of the playoffs with its run as a No. 14 seed, but a more-than-capable underdog whose only losses came in close games in league play and who has gained traction in predictions entering this weekend's rematch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Paths</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruston</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— First-round bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Beat Westgate, 51-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Beat Southside, 38-28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Beat Zachary, 21-17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ouachita Parish</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Beat St. Amant, 24-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Beat Destrehan, 21-19</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Beat Parkway, 28-22</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Beat Neville, 14-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Recent Meetings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruston beat Ouachita, 21-14, in this year's regular-season meeting with an early blocked-punt for a touchdown helping the Bearcats play from ahead throughout. Ruston has won the past 10 matchups, but half of those — including the past two — have been decided by a single score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruston</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1356159' first='Jayden' last='Anding'], 2026 DB Miles Brown, 2026 TE [player_tooltip player_id='1237768' first='Cullen' last='Clark'], 2027 LB/DB [player_tooltip player_id='469441' first='Keilan' last='Davis'], 2026 RB Jeremiah Freeman, 2027 RB Kohl Gray, 2026 QB Sam Hartwell, 2027 TE [player_tooltip player_id='469439' first='Ahmad' last='Hudson'], 2026 DL Ra'Keem Potts</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ouachita Parish</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 DL [player_tooltip player_id='401954' first='Dylan' last='Berymon'], 2026 DB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1348505' first='Wydell' last='Clark'] Jr., 2026 QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='283985' first='Montrell' last='Conner Jr.'], 2026 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1247371' first='Macario' last='Dade Jr']., 2026 S/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1348504' first='Orlando' last='Freemont'], 2026 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1751896' first='Dylan' last='Johnson'], 2026 EDGE Jeremy Jones, 2026 DB Deandre Mansfield, 2026 OL [player_tooltip player_id='1737493' first='A.J.' last='Washington'], 2026 WR [player_tooltip player_id='775878' first='Kevon' last='Whitlock']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matchup to watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ouachita Parish's defense has been a top unit during the postseason run, completely disrupting one opposing offense after another with star defensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='401954' first='Dylan' last='Berymon'] at the point of attack and fast, physical playmakers flying around the field. Ruston meanwhile has been without its speedy, home-run threat in sophomore running back [player_tooltip player_id='1845257' first='Dalen' last='Powell'], who suffered an injury in Week 10. The Bearcats have put together an effective run game throughout the postseason nonetheless, but without their biggest, quick-hit and versatile game-breaker from the season. Can Ruston continue its consistency running the football and taking some pressure off its first-year starting quarterback? Or can Ouachita Parish's defense control another game and cap an impressive run by lifting the big trophy?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruston: 9-5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>—&nbsp;Wins in 1925, 2941, 1947, 1951, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1990, 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>—&nbsp;Loss in 1944, 1984, 1998, 2022, 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ouachita Parish: 1-2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>—&nbsp;Wins in 1989</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>— Losses in 1941, 1994</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->