First, Metairie Archbishop Rummel won the Metro New Orleans Catholic League championship. Then the Raiders learned that they were the top-seeded team for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state football playoffs that begin this weekend.
Rummel earned that distinction with a hard-fought 18-17 victory over Marrero Archbishop Shaw that also allowed Rummel to finish the regular season at 10-0 and win the District 10-5A title at 4-0.
"We didn't quite expect it when the season started," Rummel coach Jay Roth said of the No. 1 power ranking. "We knew going into the last game it could happen, but you never expect to be that. We played a tough schedule, and we won all our games, so I guess we deserve it. I don't want to be the first No. 1 seed to lose to a 32-seed, so it's a lot of pressure."
Rummel, which ranked second to West Monroe in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Top 10, faced enormous pressure in beating Shaw.
Rummel quarterback Damian Williams threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to a diving Russell Zimmerman on the last play of the game, and freshman Terrance Jones ran in for the game-winning two-point conversion. Williams’ touchdown pass capped a 12-play, 64-yard drive, and Jones’ two-point conversion run came after his receiver was covered on a halfback-option pass.
Rummel will entertain Captain Shreve (6-4) in its bi-district or first-round game.
Defending champ Destrehan barely earns spot
Other No. 1 seeds went to Franklinton (10-0) in Class 4A, Notre Dame of Crowley (10-0) in Class 3A, River Ridge John Curtis (9-0) in Class 2A and St. John of Plaquemine (9-1) in Class 1A.
West Monroe, at 10-0 and ranked first in the LSWA Class 5A poll, drew the second seed and will face New Orleans Brother Martin (5-4) in bi-district play.
Two-time defending Class 5A state champion Destrehan made the playoffs at 26th and must travel to Covington St. Paul’s (9-1).
Franklinton supplanted top-ranked Lutcher and will face 32nd-seeded Baton Rouge St. Michael (6-4) in its first playoff game. Fourth-seeded Lutcher (10-0), which won last year’s Class 3A state title, will play host to New Orleans Warren Easton (4-6).
After defeating eighth-ranked Kaplan, 28-3, No.1-ranked and top-seeded Notre Dame drew New Orleans Carver (5-5). John Curtis begins its quest for a 24th state crown with a home game against Mangham (5-5).
St. John managed to edge Edgard West St. John in overtime, 28-27, for the right to entertain District 8-1A rival Baton Rouge Christian Life (2-8) in its bi-district game. In winning the district title, St. John rallied from a 21-point deficit for the victory. West St. John scored first in overtime, but the extra-point kick was blocked. Josh Johnson responded with a game-tying, 15-yard touchdown catch, and Connor Case provided the winning extra-point kick.
O. Perry Walker penalized again
After winning only three games all season, New Orleans O. Perry Walker must now forfeit them for using of an ineligible player.
Kenny Henderson, the LHSAA’s commissioner, said the infraction centered on a player whose eight semesters of eligibility had been completed. Henderson said a school in the New Orleans area turned in O.P Walker.
Before losing its final game to Warren Easton, 28-20, Walker was listed 30th in the power rankings. The top 32 teams comprise the each classification’s playoff field. Walker had defeated Clark, Helen Cox and Reed while losing to Rummel, Brother Martin, Karr and McDonogh 35.
Walker recently drew LHSAA sanctions for its involvement in a bench-clearing brawl with McDonogh 35. Both teams drew administrative probation for one calendar year and were forced to share the cost of an LHSAA sportsmanship hearing and investigation into the incident. Coaches and players from each team were made to participate in the Star Sportsmanship program and obligated to perform community service within six months.
Swimming: Catholic, St. Joseph's breeze
Baton Rouge Catholic High and St. Joseph’s Academy dominated the Capital City Swim League Championships with team victories of more than 100 points each.
The Catholic boys scored 414 points in overpowering Baton Rouge High (302) and Lutcher (259.17). The St. Joseph’s girls produced 427.5 points to 309.5 for Baton Rouge University High and 214 for Baton Rouge Episcopal.
John Michael Moore of Baton Rouge Parkview Baptist set a city record with a time of 1 minute, 53.64 seconds in the 200-meter individual medley. Moore also won the 100 butterfly in 52 seconds.
Catholic got the day started on a high note, winning the opening race, the boys 200-yard medley relay. Episcopal’s Austin Butler set a city record with a time of 21.20 in the 50 freestyle before winning the 100 freestyle in 47.08.
Other double winners were Joanne Chien of Baton Rouge High and Jarrod Brown of Baton Rouge Redemptorist. Brown won the 200 (1:48.78) and 500 (4:56.99) freestyle. Chien took first in the 50 freestyle (24.07) and 100 backstroke (58.36).
Jesuit, Northshore triumph again
New Orleans Jesuit won its 26th consecutive Metro New Orleans boys championship, while Slidell Northshore claimed its second girls title in a row. Jesuit won two of three relay races and had swimmers finish in the top three in four of eight individual events. Jesuit scored 410 points to 267 for Northshore and 220 for Fontainebleau.
Jesuit’s Brian Carr finished first in the 200 freestyle (1:43.02 for a meet record) and 500 freestyle (4:41.04). Northshore placed in the top three in three of five individual races and won two relays while scoring 401 points to 245 for Fontainebleau and 228 for Mandeville. Mary Jabbia won the 200 individual medley, Colleen Donovan won the 100 freestyle (53.96), and Heather Winn took the 500 freestyle (5:03.96).
