And then there were six…it’s time for some local teams to take a turkey leg in tow to practice. Thanksgiving week is the celebration time for the LHSAA quarterfinals.
Six local teams have celebrated advancing to the elite eight of each division. Outside of the 2A-A range of schools in Northwest Louisiana, only Ruston, Airline, and North Desoto remain.
Division III Nonselect
No. 6 Many (10-2) at No. 3 St. James (9-2)
The Many Tigers are still on the path to a fifth consecutive state championship and a repeat of champions. St. James Wildcats are not unfamiliar with the striped cats as they faced each other in the Division III Nonselect semifinals last season. The Tigers have outscored their two playoff opponents 106-0. St. James eliminated North Webster last week 42-12. Can the Tigers do it on the road?
Division III Select
No. 10 Parkview Baptist (10-2) at No. 2 Calvary Baptist (11-0)
The Cavaliers weren’t able to avenge their 2022 quarterfinal exit as Parkview Baptist upset Dunham in the second round. Dunham should have watched out because that’s how the Eagles advanced to the quarterfinals last season. The Cavaliers are looking to not make the same exit as last year in the quarterfinals
Division IV Select
No. 8 Welsh (9-3) at No. 1 Logansport (10-1)
You get the No.1 seed and have a huge target on your back. The Tigers are currently on a 10-game win streak with the only blemish on their record being from undefeated Calvary. The 2A Greyhounds are making their first quarterfinal appearance since 2018 where they reached the state championship and fell to Amite.
No. 5 Jeanerette (9-2) at No. 4 Haynesville (10-1)
Jeanerette has the longest span of reaching the quarterfinals in the state short of Walker who has never been to a quarterfinal according to GeauxPreps.com. The Tigers’ last time they went to the quarterfinals was 1990 (33 years ago). The Tigers have never been to a state championship and will have to take on a Haynesville team that is looking for its 18th state title. The drought for the Golden Tornado has been 9 years in 2014 was the last title.
No. 7 Homer (9-3) at No. 2 Kentwood (9-2)
Homer’s road to a third consecutive state championship just got to be a climb on a bumpy road. Short of playing at SuperDome, Homer will play their first road playoff game since 2021 where they had to travel to White Castle en route to the state championship. The Kangaroos also were eliminated in the quarterfinals by eventual state champion Oak Grove.
Division IV
No. 6 St. Mary’s (8-2) at No. 3 Ouachita Christian (10-1)
The Tigers are going to have to go through the defending state champion Eagles in order to reach the semifinals. The last time the Tigers reached the semis was in 2017. Ouachita Christian has not lost to a Louisiana team this season. The only loss came from Harding Academy in Arkansas.
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