By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
Parkway was one play away, on several snaps, last Friday night from reaching the LHSAA football semifinals but Ouachita prevailed. Now the local spotlight is in a familiar location.
Calvary Baptist (11-1) is the lone 2025 Shreveport-Bossier team with the chance to play for a state title – for the third time in six years. This is the third consecutive semifinal game for a still-young program, founded two decades ago.
Not only will we preview the Calvary Baptist-Notre Dame game Friday night in Crowley, but also the other semifinal in Select Division III. I have had the privilege to see all four teams play in 2025 and can share some insight.
The Cavaliers (11-1) are the No. 6 seed while the Pioneers, best known as the Pios, hold a record of 10-2 but are seeded higher at No. 2. They have played some of the best Lafayette-area teams of all classifications and play in a tougher district than Calvary does.
I was surprised but not shocked last Friday when Calvary won 14-7 on the road against one of the most talented teams in south Louisiana, Jewel Sumner.
The Cavaliers are a young team – with 17 new starters — but are always a well-coached team led by I think the coach of the year in Class 2A, Rodney Guin. He is now tied with the legendary Lee Hedges for the most career coaching victories in Shreveport-Bossier history, at 216 in 25 seasons, the first 16 at Haughton. Guin has built a great staff around him and there is an awesome culture at Calvary.
To make it to the Superdome, the Cavs will need another great game from talented junior Braylun Huglon. An All-State cornerback last year, he has played mostly WR this year to exploit his 4.4 speed in the 40.
They’ll need production by running backs Z’Ryan Miles and Delancey Street, behind an O-line that has developed almost two-deep depth while dealing with lots of banged up players through the season.
I am very impressed how young QB Hudson Price has grown up as a first-year starter. The sophomore really has done a great job this year handling the pressure and was a big reason the Cavs won last week with great reads and decisions and some very accurate passing along with a 6-yard TD run.
Three more key players are returning All-State safety Luke Miller (6-0, 195), a big time hitter and excellent leader; and another tone-setter, DE/TE David Weeks (6-0, 220). I believe this will be a close contest and Cavaliers’ kicker Ty Knight may be a pivotal player.
Notre Dame always has a strong run game and the Pios have one of the most productive backs at any level, RB Joachim Bourgeois, who has scored on the first play of SIX games this season. I’ve never heard of that happening before.
Other ballcarriers are William Lavergne, Gabe Menard, and QB Drew LeJeune who is 6-0, 195 and can run. Notre Dame also has a big offensive line this year that can move — usually they are small up front.
Jewel Sumner is the more talented team skill wise compared to Notre Dame but the Pios will be a tougher matchup. This is one of the toughest teams to beat at home, led by one of the best coaches ever, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame coach Lewis “Louie” Cook Jr., who has won 417 games in 41 seasons.
I think both teams will have the chance to score but don’t see a whole lot of points on the board. This one should come down to the wire and could be decided by special teams play.
I am taking Notre Dame only because they are the home team and have a great, great tradition dating back 50 years. But Calvary has something special going. It’s a great matchup.
If Calvary gets to the Superdome for a shot at another state title they will play either Lafayette Christian or Dunham of Baton Rouge.
Dunham is a well-coached team lead by Neil Weiner, and they are built around one big time player. QB Elijah Haven (6-4, 215) reminds me of former Ohio State QB Terrell Pryor (6-5, 220). Dunham is the smaller team size-wise in the trenches — Haven is bigger than most of his lineman. They were one play away from winning the state crown last year.
Lafayette Christian (ask Evangel fans) has Class 5A skill talent and some size to their defense. LCA also has eight seniors who will be playing college football somewhere next year.
They are led by QB/athlete Braylon Walker, a UL Lafayette signee as a cornerback, who at 5-10, 175 can beat you with his legs or arm. They have an LSU signee in WR Brayden Allen (6-2, 195), and an SEC-caliber safety I have seen many times — Luke Green (6-2, 190) one of the best I have seen in Louisiana, and a great get for the Ragin’ Cajuns, who held on to him and signed him Wednesday.
I am going with the bigger, more talented Lafayette Christian team that beat 5A powers Evangel and Central (BR) and blew out Notre Dame in midseason. They are going to be tough to top In the next two weeks – but everybody left is really good.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com
(Lee Brecheen is the longtime publisher of Louisiana Football Magazine, covering all of the state’s high school teams each year since 1997. He’s been tracking high school football and recruiting since 1992. Free content can be found at the website lafootballmagazine.com. Lee hosts a podcast with guests from around the state — The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen, available on YouTube).