Catholic (Baton Rouge) senior quarterback
Zack Oliver, a Northwestern commitment, gave the Wildcats a glimpse of what may be to come with his performance in the ninth annual U.S. Army Red Stick Bowl in Baton Rouge.
Oliver rushed for one touchdown and threw for two, including the 13-yard game-winner with four seconds left, to lift the Rough Riders to a 30-27 victory over the Black Knights in an all-star football game featuring players from the Baton Rouge area.
"Zack Oliver is the best quarterback in the state of Louisiana," said Rough Riders coach Terence Williams of Donaldsonville. "He makes plays. He's a leader on the field. He's very smart, football savvy, all that coaching cliché stuff."
Oliver connected with Tekemian Ceaser for the winning touchdown pass after earlier having found Ceaser on a 5-yard scoring toss. Oliver completed 14 of 16 passes overall for 227 yards, in addition to having run for a 1-yard touchdown.
On the game-winning, eight-play drive that covered 80 yards, Oliver completed 6 of 7 passes for 66 yards. He earned his team's Most Valuable Skill Player award.
"I just had to make a play because he throws a real good ball," Ceaser said of Oliver and the last of Ceaser's nine catches for 127 yards.
BAYOU, JEFFERSON PREVAIL
In other south Louisiana postseason action, running back Josh Johnson helped the Bayou to a 31-21 victory over the River in the 11th annual Thibodaux Lions Club Bayou-River Showdown at Nicholls State in Thibodaux, and Jefferson Parish upended Orleans Parish, 20-8, in the Lake Ponchartrain All-Star Classic in New Orleans' Louisiana Superdome.
Johnson carried 18 times for 108 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 52 of the Bayou's 58 yards during its go-ahead drive.
Roderick Johnson of Helen Cox (Harvey) ran for 78 yards and a touchdown, and quarterback
Shawn Hoye of West Jefferson (Harvey) threw for 127 yards and a score to pace Jefferson Parish. McDonogh 35 (New Orleans) wide receiver
Charles Henderson caught five passes for 137 yards and a touchdown for Orleans Parish.
THREE ALL-STATE TEAMS ANNOUNCEDFollowing on the heels of state championships, two players and a coach reaped even more honors on the first three Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-State teams. The LSWA will release the top two classifications at a later date.
For his part in helping Parkview Baptist (Baton Rouge) to its second state title in four years, lineman
Tom Bove was named Class 3A's Outstanding Defensive Player.
Bove registered 50 tackles, with four quarterback sacks among his 12 tackles for losses. Bove and the Eagles held top-seeded Notre Dame of Crowley to 48 yards rushing in the semifinals before limiting highly regarded
Kenny Hilliard to 41 yards in 12 carries in the Eagles' 24-20 championship-game victory over Patterson.
Hilliard, an LSU commitment, still won Outstanding Offensive Player honors for the third consecutive year. He finished the season with 1,804 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns. He set a state career rushing record with 8,603 yards.
Jackie Hamilton of
Carroll (Monroe) received Coach of the Year honors.
In Class 2A, the Outstanding Defensive Player award went to end
Jermauria Rasco of Evangel Christian (Shreveport). Rasco finished with 92 tackles, including 21 quarterback sacks. He recovered an onsideskick late in Evangel's 28-14 title-game victory over John Curtis (River Ridge). The Eagles beat the Patriots in last year's championship game, as well.
Riverside Academy (Reserve) quarterback
Darnell Rachal was chosen as the Outstanding Offensive Player, while Cedric Anderson, of East Feliciana (Jackson) earned Coach of the Year recognition.
Rachal threw for 2,574 yards and 31 touchdowns; Anderson took a first-year school formed from the consolation of Clinton and Jackson high schools to the state semifinals.
Ferrante Dominque earned Class 1A Coach of the Year honors for leading White Castle to its first state championship.
Running back Cedric Skinner, of Oberlin, and linebacker Beau Fitte, of South Plaquemines (Port Sulphur) were named Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively.
TWO COMMIT TO LSUSt. Augustine (New Orleans) offensive tackle
Jonah Austin and Acadiana (Scott) cornerback/running back
Micah Eugene committed to LSU's 2011 recruiting class last week. Austin's high school teammate, Trai Turner, committed to LSU in August.
The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Austin earned All-District and All-Metro honors while helping St. Augustine to the Class 5A state quarterfinals.
Acadiana won the Class 5A state championship thanks in part to Eugene, who rushed for 1,283 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was voted the District 3-5A Most Valuable Player.
"I was waiting for it," the 5-9, 190-pound Eugene said of LSU's offer. "I didn't want to leave home, and I love the facilities, the coaches and the players. I really don't care where I play, cornerback or running back."
