Logos from Teurlings Catholic and Lafayette Christian
The Division II Select semifinal featured Ju’Juan Johnson and Lafayette Christian Academy and the Teurlings Catholic Rebels. LCA held a 21-14 lead Friday night when the game was postponed until Saturday afternoon, where the Knights continued to produce offensively and hung on to take down the Rebels 42-35 to advance to the state championship where they will battle the Cougars of St. Thomas More.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Teurling won the toss and deferred to the second half, allowing Ju’Juan Johnson to start the game with the football. The five-star LSU commit wasted no time, going 80 yards on seven plays, scoring on a 55-yard touchdown pass to TJ Marzell to put the Knights up 7-0 early.
Teurlings didn’t take long to answer, going on a nine-play, 71-yard drive with Ayden Trahan punching it in to tie the game at 7-7 halfway through the first.
As many expected, the game turned into a shootout as Johnson unloaded another long touchdown pass, this time to Brennan Walker from 65 yards out.
Preston Welch showed he had an arm as well for the Rebels, finding Bradford Cain for a 47-yard strike to tie the game back up at 14-14.
Next Knights possession, Jalen Noel got on his high horse for a 50-yard touchdown run to make it 21-14 at the end of the first quarter.
After inclement weather postponed the game until Saturday, LCA started the resumed game with 3:21 left in the first half at their four-yard line. Johnson led the Knights on a 95-yard touchdown drive before tacking on a two-point conversion to take a 29-14 lead into halftime.
Teurlings started the third quarter by moving the ball by the field before Welch found Jack Purser for the score to make it a 29-21 game, but LCA answered very quickly for another touchdown to return to the two-touchdown lead.
After a couple of punts by both teams, the Knights started moving down the field again behind the running ability of Jalen Noel before Johnson found the endzone again to break the LHSAA career touchdowns record and give the Knights a 42-21 lead in the third quarter.
Teurlings responded with a touchdown drive and then got a quick stop on defense before scoring again, making it 42-35 in the 4th quarter.
LCA got the ball back and was able to run the clock out and secure the 42-35 win after a postponement Friday night to advance to the state championship.
BIG NUMBER: 77
This was no doubt an offensive shootout, with 35 points scored before the postponement Friday night and 42 total points scored on Saturday afternoon as LCA heads to the Superdome once again.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Ju’Juan Johnson
No surprise here, but the state’s touchdown leader was incredible once again to put the Knights back in the state finals to battle STM.
UP NEXT: LCA will head to the Superdome to battle with St. Thomas More in the Division II Select state championship next Saturday.