New Orleans Teams Ready for Challenge in Louisiana High Football Quarterfinals – Crescent City Sports

Survival and advancement is the name of the game, and New Orleans area programs do that well.

Before the quarterfinals, 19 teams from the metropolitan area are still on the straight but bumpy road to Caesars Superdome. Of the 64 games played this weekend, 15 will feature one team from the region and three will feature two teams from the New Orleans metro.

Four No. 1 seeds in the quarterfinals are from the New Orleans region: Archbishop Shaw (Select Division II), Edna Karr (Select Division I), Franklinton (Non-Select Division II) and St. James (Non-Select Division III) . ).

Here are five games featuring New Orleans-area teams to keep an eye on in the quarterfinals, regardless of round or venue:

No. 10 Destrehan (9-3) @ No. 2 Airline (11-0), Non-Select Division I
Two of the best offenses in the state meet in Bossier City.

Destrehan’s passing attack is led by quarterback Jackson Fields and one of the state’s best wide receiver corps that includes LSU players Phillip Wright, Jabari Mack and Greg Wilfred. In the running game, sophomore halfback Malachi Dabney has surpassed 200 yards rushing in three of the last six games and has surpassed 100 yards rushing in two additional games. Last week, he rushed for 270 yards and six touchdowns in a 63-21 win over Northwood-Shreveport in the second round.

The carrier has the best passing attack in the state. Senior Ben Taylor has thrown for nearly 4,000 yards, with 44 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also has the top two wide receivers in terms of yardage: LSU’s Kenny Darby (1,634 yards, 23 touchdowns) and Jarvis Davis (1,190 yards, nine touchdowns).

No. 5 Archbishop Rummel @ No. 4 Catholic-Baton Rouge, Select Division I
These two teams have found a way to meet in the playoffs year after year. This will be their 10th meeting and eighth in the postseason, with Catholic leading the all-time series 5-4.

The game features two of the best running back units in the state. Rummel’s offense is led by senior Norman Taylor and sophomore Coryan Hawkins. Catholic’s backcourt includes seniors Rylan Parker and Jeremy Fisher, but the breakout star was sophomore Jayden Miles, one of the top prospects in the country.

The game will be broadcast on 106.1 The Ticket as part of Ken Trahan’s Original Prep Football Report, with play-by-play from Trahan. LHSCA Director Eric Held and Jefferson Parish Constable Jason Ura will provide analysis, while Matt Sims will report from the field.

No. 8 Lakeshore (9-3) @ No. 1 Franklinton (10-1), Non-Select Division II
Franklinton defeated Lakeshore 35-28 in a thrilling match earlier this season, a game that effectively decided the district championship, which the Demons ultimately won.

Franklinton head coach Nick Saltaformaggio is no stranger to deep playoff runs. He led East Jefferson to its first and only state championship in 2013 and led Hahnville to a second-place finish in the state in 2018. Quarterback Jacob Crain is one of the most underrated players in Louisiana, while running back Sy Austin has run for 1,636 yards and 23 touchdowns this season.

Lakeshore head coach Brent Indest is one of the best in the state. He led Catholic-New Iberia to a state title in 2017 and hopes to bring the Titans back to the Dome. The Titans’ Wing-T offense has plenty of options in the backfield, including Shawn Brown, Dylan Cusachs, Oudry Gros and Kato Pichon.

No. 8 John F. Kennedy (7-4) @ No. 1 Archbishop Shaw (9-2), Select Division II
Although Archbishop Shaw is the favorite to win the Select Division II state title, John F. Kennedy will pose a significant challenge to the Eagles’ title aspirations. Shaw defeated Kennedy 20-13 in last year’s quarterfinals.

Kennedy has been one of the top programs in the New Orleans area for the past three seasons and is making its third straight quarterfinal appearance. The Cougars are led by quarterback Amyne Darensbourg and wide receivers James Evans, Kingston Jones, Nahun Lalin and Jonathan Strowder. The defense is anchored by linebackers Calvin Sparrow and Ernest Lyons.

Shaw’s offense has been explosive in recent weeks, averaging 53.4 points per game over the last five contests. The Eagles also boast one of the best running backs in the country, Michigan’s Jasper Parker, who has been outstanding all season. On defense, Shaw has allowed just 9.6 points per game since September 27th.

No. 6 Vandebilt Catholic (9-2) @ No. 3 ED White (9-2), Select Division II
These two long-time arch-rivals will meet for the second time this season. ED White won the previous encounter on November 8th 21:14.

Vandebilt Catholic is led by running back Jaylon Coleman, a four-year starter and the school’s all-time leading rusher. As a Liberty player, he hopes to lead the Terriers to their first win over ED White since 2016 and to the semifinals.

ED White’s Veer offense is led by quarterback Grant Barbera, fullback Carter Douglas and running backs Landon Babin and Ben Rodrigue. The Cardinals’ defense has been dominant with four shutouts this season.

Other games involving teams from the metropolitan region:

• No. 24 Chalmette (9-3) @ No. 1 Neville (10-1), Non-Select Division I
• No. 9 Pine (9-3) @ No. 1 St. James (8-2), Non-Select Division III
• No. 7 Mangham (9-3) @ No. 2 South Plaquemines (9-3), Non-Select Division IV
• No. 8 St. Thomas More (8-3) @ No. 1 Edna Karr (10-0), Select Division I
• No. 19 John Curtis Christian (6-5) @ No. 6 Teurlings Catholic (10-1), Select Division I
• #5 Bunkie (11-0) @ #4 Jewel Sumner (10-1), Select Division III
• No. 7 Catholic-New Iberia (9-1) @ No. 2 Newman (9-0), Select Division III
• No. 7 Riverside Academy (8-2) @ No. 2 Ascension Catholic (10-1), Select Division IV
• #13 Southern Lab @ #12 Kentwood, Select Division IV
• No. 11 Ouachita Christian (10-1) @ No. 3 Covenant Christian (11-0), Select Division IV