JOURNAL SPORTS

NEW ORLEANS – District 1-1A champion Haynesville brought home Northwest Louisiana’s only state football title from the 2025 LHSAA Prep Classic, but North DeSoto and Ruston came painfully close.

The Griffins, the District 1-4A champions, dropped a wild 50-43 decision in the Non-Select Division II final Friday afternoon to Iowa in a matchup of undefeated teams seeded 1-2 respectively. Two major penalties allowed Iowa to sustain a game-ending 12-play drive chewing up the last 6:45 in the biggest offensive showcase of the three-day event at the Caesars Superdome.

Ruston, the District 2-5A champion and top seed in Non-Select Division I, fell 21-20 to No. 14 Ouachita, the fifth-place team in that district. The Bearcats beat the Lions 21-14 in their regular season meeting.

Calvary was the local team that came home defeated, falling 34-17 Thursday night to Dunham in the Select Division III championship game.

In the opening game of the three-day Prep Classic Thursday, Haynesville finished unbeaten with its first state football championship in 11 years, a 39-37 nailbiter over Mangham.

Results from the Superdome:

2025 LHSAA PREP CLASSIC

Caesars Superdome, New Orleans

THURSDAY’S SCORES

Non-Select Division IV Final

No. 1 Haynesville 39,  No. 2 Mangham 37

Select Division IV Final

No. 2 Riverside 31, No. 5 Ascension Catholic 21

Select Division III Final

No. 5 Dunham 34, No. 6 Calvary 17

FRIDAY

Non-Select Division II Final

No. 2 Iowa 50, No. 1 North DeSoto 43

Non-Select Division III Final

No. 2 Sterlington 34, No. 1 Jena 20

Select Division II Final

No. 1 St. Charles 23, No. 7 Shaw 21

SATURDAY

Non-Select Division I Final

No. 14 Ouachita 21, No. 1 Ruston 20

Select Division I Final

No. 1 Edna Karr 49, No. 3 St. Augustine 14

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