The Opelousas High Tigers have never won a state championship. In fact, the last time they played for one was in the 1950s, when OHS lost to Minden 7-0 in the 1957 Class 2A state title game. The Caesars Superdome was not even built and the New Orleans Saints did not exist yet.
However, on Friday at noon, Jimmy Zachery’s team has a chance to etch themselves into history. They will play at the Caesars Superdome with a state championship on the line.
Coach Zachery took over his alma mater in 2020. He was given an incredibly different situation to start with. For one, he inherited a program that had not won more than five games in more than a decade. Eight of the previous ten seasons had two wins or less. To top it all off, he took over right at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite all that, his confidence never wavered.
“I told them when I interviewed that I was the right man for the job because it was bigger than football,” said Coach Zachery.
He began to build his program, instilling discipline and working on getting his players to buy into his coaching philosophies and also supporting them off the field and in the classroom.
After an 0-5 COVID-shortened debut, Coach Zachery and the Tigers went to work on improvement. They did so in his second season, finishing 6-6 and winning five of their last seven games, including a playoff win as well.
The 2022 season began with more buzz. The Tigers knew they had the size, skill, and overall talent to compete at a high level. That was reflected, as they won their final nine regular season games, finished 9-1, and earned the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
However, there was one more hurdle that the program would learn it needed to overcome. The Tigers were upset by No. 14 Lakeshore, in a game they felt they let get away by their own mistakes.
And so, Coach Zachery and the group went back to work. They faced a flipped schedule that had eight road games and finished the regular season 7-3, earning the No. 12 seed. This time around, the playoffs were not where they would have a letdown, but rather where they would play their best football of the year.
They handled No. 21 Rayne in the first round with ease. From there, the gauntlet began. The Tigers went on the road and stunned No. 5 West Feliciana 14-0, using a defense that had its confidence growing each week. After that, they took down the defending champions, No. 4 Lutcher, in a 26-10 victory. And finally, last week OHS slayed the final dragon between them and the Superdome, this one being No. 1 overall-seeded North DeSoto in a 28-20 win.
A trip to the state championship is not only a good thing for Opelousas High School. It is also a great event that the community and area can rally around.
“When you hear so much negativity every day… To have a light that shines bright and is good and positive… it is always a blessing and the city is excited,” Coach Zachery added.
Despite all that will go into this special week, the ball will be kicked off at noon on Friday and after that, it will be a football game like all the others this season. In fact, the opponent is one they have already seen. The Cecilia Bulldogs play in the same district as OHS and defeated the Tigers 25-22 when they met about a month ago. That game was one that Coach Zachery and company felt they let get away, committing numerous turnovers and squandering an early lead.
To get over the hump, Opelousas High will have to overcome those obstacles presented by one of the best teams in the state. However, that is what the Tigers have been doing for the entirety of Zachery’s tenure, and he is confident that they can add a state championship trophy come Friday.