By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
It wasn’t a big surprise that Calvary overpowered visiting Episcopal Friday night to advance to the Select Division III semifinals in defense of last year’s state championship.
But it was quite a well-received shock that unfolded during the evening as the public address announcer at Jerry Barker Stadium updated the game in New Orleans that was producing the Cavaliers’ next opponent.
Third-seeded Calvary (10-2) was in command well before halftime in its 52-10 victory. Down south, so was No. 7 Catholic-New Iberia, which stunned previously unbeaten, No. 2 seeded Newman 31-0.
The Panthers (11-1) forced four turnovers and held the Greenies to 181 total yards. Newman was playing without some injured offensive linemen and struggled to deal with Catholic’s aggressive defense. Previously, the Greenies had scored 24 or more in every game this season.
Catholic scored three touchdowns after intercepting Princeton commit Eli Friend while building a 24-0 halftime lead. As the margin grew and it seemed apparent Newman was being eliminated, so were Calvary’s expectations of a long drive to play the semifinal round.
“That’s what we wanted,” said Cavaliers’ coach Rodney Guin. “Don’t care who we played, we’d rather play at home. It’s a huge deal.”
Despite playing a lower seed, the Cavaliers appear destined for a stiff challenge from the Panthers.
Since a Week 1 14-10 loss to undefeated Vermilion Catholic – the defending Select Division IV champion, back in the semifinals of that division — the Panthers have scored at least 31 points in every game. CHS-NI has outscored its opponents 525-125.
The defense has held six of its last seven opponents to a total of 20 points – 10th-seeded Northlake Christian was the exception, but was blasted 59-22 in a second-round playoff contest. Among the Panthers’ wins: homefield victories over perennial power Notre Dame (42-28, Sept. 26) and Lake Charles College Prep (38-27) the following week.
Second-year coach Matt Desormeaux is 20-4 at CHS-NI, a tradition-rich program. Senior quarterback Luke Landry has thrown for 2,360 yards and 34 touchdowns with only one interception in 12 games.
Calvary senior receiver Kolby Thomas, who has caught 17 of classmate Abram Wardell’s 40 TD passes this season, said the run to the 2023 state title is serving the Cavs well as they anticipate the last step on the path to returning to the LHSAA Prep Classic championship game Friday, Dec. 13 at 3:30 in the Caesars Superdome.
“We did this last year,” he said. “We know how tough it is to prepare.”
The other semifinal pits top-seeded, unbeaten Dunham against No. 5 seed Bunkie, also 12-0. Dunham overcame a 17-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to rally by Lafayette Christian 34-30, outgaining the Knights 131-2 in the final 12 minutes. Bunkie held off Sumner 14-12.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com