By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
It was a very odd statement at the time, early in Week 2 of the season.
Even more odd, considering Neville had just gotten into the end zone for the first time in a 38-14 victory Sept. 12 over a very inexperienced Calvary team.
But in that moment, Cavaliers’ defensive coordinator Mark Miller looked to the future with confidence – extreme confidence. And he told head coach Rodney Guin so.
“The first time they scored, I turned to Rodney and said, ‘we can win a state championship with this defense.’ He looked at me, like, ‘they just scored on you.’ I said, ‘I’m just telling you, those dudes, we can get it done, coach. Put our boys on the line.’”
Thirteen weeks to the day later, there they were, last Friday night in Crowley, in overtime in the Select Division III semifinals, trying to protect a six-point lead as second-seeded Notre Dame took possession at the 10.
Four snaps later – thanks to a fourth-down pass interference call that gave the Pios one more chance from just 2 ½ yards away from the tying TD – the Cavaliers defense faced its destiny.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Miller, moments later.
The Cavs met the moment. More specifically, they met one of the state’s most productive running backs, Notre Dame’s Joachim Bourgeois, squarely on the left side of the defensive front, and dropped him a yard short of the goalline to secure a 34-28 triumph and punch Calvary’s ticket to the state championship game Thursday night at 7 in New Orleans at the Caesars Superdome.
Making it even more remarkable, Calvary made the stop without one of its best defenders, linebacker Jacob Tibbett, who wasn’t on the field. He had blocked a potential game-winning field goal with 31 seconds left in regulation, but began cramping and had to be helped to the sideline.
He had a unique vantage point for overtime.
“I saw it from the ground, in the mud,” he said. After the decisive goalline stand, he was still there for a bit. “Couldn’t get up and run to celebrate. It hurt.”
He soon hobbled around the middle of the soggy field at Gardiner Memorial Stadium as the sixth-seeded Cavs and their fans hugged and shouted and hugged some more.
That Neville game is Calvary’s only loss. They’ve won 11 straight now, handling the rest of their challenging non-district schedule with quality wins over Oak Grove (10-3, a Non-Select Division III quarterfinalist), Franklin Parish (9-3, NS D-II quarterfinalist), and Class 5A Huntington and dominating District 1-2A foe Union Parish 48-0 (the Farmers, 8-6, were a NS D-III semifinalist).
A team with 17 new starters has reached the ‘Dome, a destination that evaded the 2024 team with five All-State players including stars who signed with Texas, Ole Miss and Air Force.
“We lost 30 kids off that team last year – that should have went to the ‘Dome,” said Guin in the aftermath of Friday’s triumph. “To come back and do it with a young, young football team is just special for us.”
Calvary’s offense was almost a total rebuild in the skill positions, save for star receiver Braylun Huglon. So the onus was on Miller’s defense to sustain success for a program that entered the season with a 53-10 record this decade including state championships in 2020 and 2023.
Suffice to say, at 12-1 heading into the state final matchup with fifth-seeded Dunham (also 12-1) and superstar quarterback Elijah Haven Thursday night, it’s worked.
“We’ve played good defense all year,” said Guin. “With the young kids on offense, we knew we had to play good defense. They made it stand up last week (in a 14-7 upset at No. 3 Jewel Sumner). To come on the road and win two weeks in a row is just amazing for our kids to do.”
Especially since before the Jewel Sumner game, Calvary had dropped five consecutive road playoff games (not including the neutral site state championship contests).
The Cavs’ offense had no doubts.
“The defense came through in the clutch like they always do,” said sophomore quarterback Hudson Price, who overcame a rocky start (two interceptions in his first three passes as Notre Dame built a 21-7 first-half lead) and got much-improved protection after halftime.
“The kids are resilient. We didn’t play well in the first half, didn’t coach well. Made some changes at halftime,” said Guin, “and I thought we really dominated the second half.”
As a result, among the 16 teams competing in the three-day Allstate Sugar Bowl Prep Classic beginning Thursday, Calvary is the third-lowest seed to reach the championship round.
“We came a long way,” said senior linebacker Justin Reeves, “and a lot of people have doubted us. It feels good to show people who we are.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com