No. 1 Westminster Christian falls in Class 1A state football playoffs

Westminster Academy (Opelousas) of Class 1A became the first No. 1 seed eliminated from the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state football playoffs when it lost its regional game to 16th-seeded Delhi Charter (Delhi), 30-20.

The Crusaders opened the scoring on quarterback Thomas Kemp's 2-yard touchdown run at 8:08 of the first quarter. From there, it was downhill for Westminster Christian, which finished its season 11-1. Delhi Charter improved to 9-3.

Delhi Charter took a 14-7 halftime lead, and led the rest of the way, on the strength on Riccie Gray's 11-yard touchdown run and quarterback Will Zeigler's 1-yard scoring run. Gray's first of two touchdowns capped a 19-play, 80-yard drive that didn't include a pass. It was the longest drive Westminster Christian had allowed all season.

Gray finished with 28 carries for a game-high 143 yards. Delhi Charter will visit Ouachita Christian (Monroe) in quarterfinal action this week.



Elsewhere, top-seeded Dutchtown (Geismar) of Class 5A stopped Brother Martin (New Orleans), 38-26, Northside (Lafayette) edged Parkway (Bossier City) in Class 4A, 20-16, Notre Dame (Crowley) defeated Independence in Class 3A, 28-7, and Curtis (River Ridge) routed University High (Baton Rouge) in Class 2A, 42-13.

Effrem Reed powered Dutchtown (12-0) by rushing for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Dutchtown will entertain 24th-seeded Westgate (New Iberia) in the quarterfinals.

Northside will visit Karr (New Orleans) in a battle of 11-1 teams, defending Class 3A state champion Notre Dame (12-0) will entertain Carroll (Monroe) and John Curtis (10-1) will visit District 9-2A rival Riverside Academy (Reserve). John Curtis won the regular-season meeting, 55-24.

Click here to view MaxPreps' Louisiana football playoff brackets.

LSU COMMITS COLLIDE AGAIN
In another rematch, second-seeded Redemptorist (Baton Rouge) of Class 3A will entertain Patterson.

Redemptorist, and Jeremy Hill, won the celebrated regular-season meeting between LSU-bound running backs when Patterson's Kenny Hilliard missed the second half with injuries.



Hilliard, the nephew of former LSU and New Orleans Saints standout Dalton Hilliard, is back at full strength and also playing safety defensively when needed. Kenny Hilliard scored five touchdowns on runs of 9, 20, 10, 2 and 42 yards in leading Patterson to a 49-38 regional victory over Kaplan.

Another player also headed for the Southeastern Conference continued to distinguish himself, as Mississippi State commitment and Haughton quarterback Dak Prescott completed 20 of 37 passes for 478 yards and five touchdowns in a 54-35 victory over Woodlawn (Baton Rouge).