NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - Ouachita Parish capped off one of the more improbable runs in the recent history of Louisiana high school football.
The Lions, the No. 14 seed entering the Division I Non-Select playoffs, knocked off the top three seeds to win state. Their latest conquest was the No. 1 seed, Ruston, as Ouachita got a go-ahead touchdown pass with 6:41 left as the Lions claimed their first state title since 1989 with a 21-20 win for the Division I Non-Select title Saturday afternoon at the Caesars Superdome.
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Ouachita quarterback Montreal Connor passed for 184 yards, including a 30-yard TD to receiver Wydell Clark with 6:41 remaining that tied the score at 20-all. Kameron Gayle then added the go-ahead PAT.
Ruston appeared to be driving for a potential go-ahead score in the final minutes, but fumbled the ball to the Lions (11-4). The Bearcats got one more opportunity and moved down the field in the closing seconds to attempt a 52-yard field goal, but the kick was well short.
It was the fourth straight year the Bearcats (11-3) have played in the Division I Non-Select title contests, but have won only once in that span, 2023.
Ouachita Parish started the season 5-0 before dropping four straight games, including a 21-14 decision to Ruston on Oct. 10. The Lions came into the playoffs as the No. 14 seed, but have won three straight postseason games on the road, including a quarterfinal win against No. 3 seed Destrehan and a 14-7 win last week at Neville, the No. 2 seed.
The Lions, in their first Prep Classic since 1994, had 369 yards of total offense. Tailback Macario Dade, named the game's MVP, ran for 147 yards on 21 carries and two TDs, while Clark caught four passes for 108 yards.
Ruston finished with 367 total yards. Quarterback Sam Hartwell passed for 184 yards and a TD while adding 71 yards rushing and another score. Tight end Ahmad Hudson, named his team's MVP, caught six passes for 179 yards and a TD.
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OUACHITA PARISH 21, RUSTON 20 FINAL
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POSTGAME
- Ouachita Parish tailback Macario Dade is named the MVP. Dade rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns.
- What a run by Ouachita Parish. The Lions entered the postseason as the No. 14 seed, but knocked out the top three seeds, including No. 1 seed Ruston, to win state for the first time since 1989.
FOURTH QUARTER
- The kick is well short. Ouachita Parish has just won the state championship.
- Quick sideline route to the 35-yard line with four seconds left. Ruston is going to try a game-winning 52-yard field goal.
- Ruston is in Ouachita territory at the 43 with eight seconds left.
- Ruston called for a false start with 27 seconds left as the Bearcats got out to their own 40.
- Punt bounces into the end zone for a touchback. Ruston has the ball at its own 20 with 46 seconds left and no time outs.
- Ruston stops Ouachita on third down and the Bearcats call their final time out with 57 seconds left. Punting situation coming up.
- Ouachita has a third-and-10 at its own 34 with 1:05 left. Ruston calls its second time out.
- Ahmad Hudson made an incredible catch-and-run and was inside the Ouachita 15 before the Lions' Wydell Clark knocked the ball loose, and Ouachita's Dylan Johnson makes the recovery at his own 11 with 1:21 left.
- OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS. OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS. RUSTON JUST GOT A FIRST DOWN AND WAS IN FIELD GOAL RANGE, BUT THEY FUMBLE IT TO OUACHITA ON THAT PLAY. What a crazy sequence of events.
- Ruston has a fourth-and-3 from its 46, and the Bearcats are going for it with 1:38 left.
- Ruston faces a third-and-2 at its 47 but commits a false start penalty. Clock is running with nearly two minutes to go.
- Ruston has the ball near its own 40 with less than four minutes left.
- TOUCHDOWN OUACHITA PARISH. A big-time throw from Montreal Connor, and an equally marvelous grab in the end zone from Wydell Clark for a 30-yard TD, and the PAT by Kameron Gayle, gives the Lions their first lead on the day. (Ouachita, 21-20 | 6:41, 4th)
- HOLY MACKEREL. WHAT A THROW AND WHAT A CATCH FOR A OUACHITA TD. THE LIONS ARE ON THE VERGE OF TAKING THE LEAD.
- Ouachita forces a punt, and the Lions break off a long return to inside the Bearcats' 15, but it is called back due to an illegal blindside block. But the Lions still have solid field position inside the Ruston 45.
- Ruston's defense holds off Ouachita, including stuffing a pass play on fourth-and-goal. Bearcats take over with 9:22 remaining.
- Ouachita is now inside the Ruston 10, threatening to take the lead for the first time today.
- Through three quarters, Ouachita has 284 yards of total offense (133 rushing, 151 passing). Ruston has 241 total yards (112 rushing, 129 passing).
THIRD QUARTER
- Ouachita gets a good kickoff return of its own, as Orlando Freemont goes 21 yards to the Ruston 47. Lions are inside the 35 as we head to the final quarter.
- FIELD GOAL RUSTON. Bearcats advance into the red zone before the drive stalls. Joaquin Ramos does come on to kick a 38-yard field goal, his second on the day, and thus far, his two field goals have been the difference. (Ruston, 20-14 | :46, 3rd)
- Ruston responds on the ensuing kickoff, as Davis Demoss brings it back 36 yards to the Ouachita 37.
- TOUCHDOWN OUACHITA PARISH. Lions go 97 yards in 9 plays, ending with a 3-yard run from Macario Dade. The Lions are hanging tough against the top-seeded Bearcats, who now lead by just three. (Ruston, 17-14 | 3:33, 3rd)
- Montreal Connor with a 49-yard strike to Wydell Clark down to the Ruston 3, and Ouachita has a chance to make this a one-score game.
- Ouachita QB Montreal Connor with a huge completion on third down to get the Lions some breathing room, out to around their own 25.
- Ouachita forces Ruston to punt, but Bearcat P Joaquin Ramos releases a good kick, which is downed at the Lions' 3 with exactly eight minutes to go in the period.
- Ruston takes the ball to start the second half.
HALFTIME
- Ruston had exactly 200 yards of total offense in the first half (104 rushing, 96 passing). Ouachita with 172 total yards (85 rushing, 87 passing).
SECOND QUARTER
- Ouachita faces a fourth-and-1 at the Ruston 15 and decides to go for a 32-yard field goal. But the kick sails wide right, and Ruston holds with nine seconds left in the half.
- Ruston flagged for another pass interference penalty, and Ouachita has the ball inside the Bearcat 25 with about 30 seconds left.
- Ouachita QB Montreal Connor with a couple of completions, and the Lions are near the Ruston 40 going into the final minute of the half.
- FIELD GOAL RUSTON. Bearcats get into the red zone before going backward. But Joaquin Ramos comes on to kick a 37-yard field goal, and the Ruston lead is back in double digits. (Ruston, 17-7 | 1:51, 2nd)
- TOUCHDOWN OUACHITA. Lions get on the board, as Macario Dade breaks away from a pile of Ruston defenders and springs free for a 27-yard score. Lions finish off an 8-play, 80-yard march. (Ruston, 14-7 | 6:44, 2nd)
- Ruston seemed to have an interception deep in its own territory, but the Bearcats are flagged for pass interference. Ouachita has the ball inside the Ruston 30.
- TOUCHDOWN RUSTON. Bearcats drive 88 yards in just three plays, ending with a 59-yard TD strike from Sam Hartwell to Ahmad Hudson. (Ruston, 14-0 | 10:45, 2nd)
- Ouachita can't take advantage of that great pass, and the Lions will punt it away.
- Through one quarter, Ouachita has 67 yards of total offense while Ruston has 50.
FIRST QUARTER
- Wow, what a huge play by Ouachita to get out of its own end zone. QB Montreal Connor launches a deep pass from his own end zone, and Seneca Battle comes down with a great catch, covering 46 yards to midfield on third-and-long.
- Ruston goes three-and-out and will punt. But a great kick from Joaquin Ramos, which bounces down to Ouachita's 5 with less than three minutes in the period.
- Ouachita faces a fourth down near midfield and goes for it, but a pass attempt falls incomplete. Ruston takes over at the 50, the same spot the Bearcats started on their last drive, which resulted in a TD.
- TOUCHDOWN RUSTON. Bearcats go 50 yards in nine plays for the game's first score, as QB Sam Hartwell runs a naked bootleg around the left side and in from 4 yards out. Joaquin Ramos adds the PAT. (Ruston, 7-0 | 5:55, 1st)
- Ruston tailback Kohl Gray rips off a 28-yard run, and the Bearcats are in the red zone, down to the Ouachita 19.
- Ruston will take over right at the Saints' logo at midfield following the punt.
- Not a good start for Ouachita. Lions go three-and-out, with a bad snap on third down, recovered by the quarterback. Ouachita will punt it away.
- A short kickoff, fielded near the Ouachita 25 and returned to the Lions' 30, where they will start.
PREGAME
- Ruston wins the toss and defers to the second half. Ouachita Parish will take the ball to start things off.
- Both teams have hit the field and we're about to get started here in the Dome.
- Live from the Caesars Superdome, it’s the opening game of the final day of the LHSAA Prep Classic. The No. 1 seeded Bearcats of Ruston take on the No. 14 seed, the Lions of Ouachita Parish, who are looking to cap off a miraculous run to the Division I Non-Select championship.
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