MaxPreps is pleased to announce that the
University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.) Cubs have officially been named to the 13th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard, which is in its thirteenth year honoring football.
This is one of the most prestigious team awards in all of high school sports and it is an exclusive honor reserved for 100 of the top teams nationwide. In order to be eligible, a team must win a state championship and be highly ranked in the MaxPreps National Rankings. For football, only 50 of the country's best are invited and with nearly 17,000 competing varsity teams, this puts the Cubs ahead of 99.9 percent of their opponents!
In order to be eligible, the team not only had to be nationally ranked, but also had to win a state championship. Beating De La Salle 45-19 on Friday, Dec. 8 in the
LHSAA Division II state championship contest marked the completion of an incredible 13-0 season — and earned University Lab an invitation to the Tour of Champions.
Photo By Kenneth P. Steib
University Lab's defense kept the championship game close, for a half, before the Cubs offense exploded for four second half scores, allowing the Cubs to claim their fourth state football championship. Leading 17-10, the Cubs exploded for a couple of quick third quarter scores. University Lab's Mike Hollins took a Statue of Liberty play 31 yards for a touchdown. Then, following a three and out, Michael Martin returned the punt 54 yards for a score to put the Cubs up 31-13 late in the third quarter.
De La Salle unsuccessfully faked a fourth quarter punt, and Hollins cashed in a short time later with a 24-yard run that put University Lab up 38-13 with about nine and a half minutes remaining in the contest. Martin added a 2-yard scoring run for the final Cubs points.
Cubs signal caller John Gordon McKernan completed 12 of 22 passes for 105 yards and scored on a 2-yard run that gave University Lab a 17-7 advantage in the second quarter. Hollins ran for 129 yards on 20 carries and scored on runs of 7, 31 and 24 yards to garner University Lab's Most Outstanding Player honors.
University Lab opened playoff competition with a first round Bye. Then the Cubs kicked in the door to the Final Four with a 35-9 win over Teurlings Catholic. University Lab bumped St. Charles Catholic from state championship contention with a 34-14 semifinal win to set up the championship bout with De La Salle.
Chad Mahaffey's club opened the season with a 35-0 blanking of Mandeville. Then, following a 35-16 triumph over Southern Lab, the Cubs reeled off another 11 wins to claim their second state title in four years. University Lab outscored its competition 556-124 on the year and posted four shutouts. The Cubs held 10 foes to 14 points or less and conquered three state championship football teams during their 13-0 campaign. University Lab outscored Zachary (5A champion), West Feliciana (3A champion) and Catholic-B.R. (Division I champion) by a combined 123-48.
Having won all 13 games in 2017, University Lab set itself up for some rather high rankings come season's end. Not only are the Cubs the top team in
MaxPreps' Louisiana Division II Rankings, University Lab is the best team in all of
Louisiana. Mahaffey's club is ranked No. 38 in
MaxPreps' National Rankings!
These incredible season achievements have earned the University Lab Cubs an invitation to the 13th Annual Tour of Champions. Please join us in the gymnasium for a pep rally as we celebrate with the football team, coaching staff, students and fans on Monday, Feb. 26 at 2:15 p.m.
For more information about the Tour of Champions, please visit the
MaxPreps Tour of Champions site.
