NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – It’s a matchup between the top two seeds to determine the Louisiana Division III Non-Select state champion.
Defending champion Sterlington, the No. 2 seed, takes on top-seeded Jena Friday afternoon in the Caesars Superdome as part of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Prep Classic.
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Sterlington enters Friday’s game at 11-2. Last week, the Panthers rolled past St. James – the same team they beat to win the title last season – 63-38 in the semifinal round. Sterlington is bidding to win state for the fourth time in program history.
As for Jena, the Giants are making their first-ever trip to the Superdome to play for a state title. After reaching the semifinals each of the past two seasons, the Giants (12-1) finally broke through with a 30-6 semifinal win against Union Parish.
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JENA 12, STERLINGTON 7 2ND QTR.
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SECOND QUARTER
– Jena into Sterlington territory, but turns the ball over on downs at the Sterlington 25 with 13 seconds to go in the half.
– FUMBLE RECOVERY JENA. Giants get a takeaway late in the half, forcing a fumble, with Elijah Townsend making the recovery at his own 35.
– Jena goes for it on fourth down inside the Sterlington 40 but a pass goes incomplete. Panthers take over with 2:47 left in the opening half.
– Ball goes in and out of the hands of a Sterlington receiver on third down, and the Panthers will punt. Jena takes over and has the ball near the halfway point of the quarter.
– TOUCHDOWN JENA. In just one play after taking over on their second drive, the Giants take the lead on a 74-yard TD pass from John McPhereson to Zadrien Cooper, who catches a pass in double coverage and then gets away from them both to take it to the house. Two-point pass fails. That scoring drive took 13 seconds. (Jena, 12-7 | 8:39, 2nd)
– Sterlington goes for it on a fourth down inside the Jena 30 but a pass falls incomplete. Jena takes over, down by a point with 8:52 left in the opening half.
– TOUCHDOWN JENA. Giants score on their opening drive, also a lengthy one, as they move 74 yards in 15 plays in 5:57, capped by a 10-yard rushing score by Sedrick Wilson. Giants go for two but don’t get it, and Sterlington is still in front. (Sterlington, 7-6 | 11:27, 2nd)
– Both teams had the ball once in the opening quarter. Sterlington had 63 total yards, all rushing, while Jena had 64 total yards – 37 of that rushing.
FIRST QUARTER
– Jena used up the remaining 5:26 off the first-quarter clock. The Giants have the ball at the Sterlington 10 as the quarter comes to an end.
– Jena converts on a third down play and the Giants are into Sterlington territory on their opening series.
– TOUCHDOWN STERLINGTON. Impressive opening drive for the Panthers, who go 63 yards in 14 plays – all runs and taking 6:34 off the clock. TJ Burch finishes it off with a 3-yard plunge, and Jae’lon Bush tacks on the PAT. (Sterlington, 7-0 | 5:26, 1st)
– Sterlington now has a first-and-goal at the 3. The Panthers have used up nearly six and a half minutes on this opening series.
– Sterlington converts on a fourth-and-short. The Panthers are almost to the red zone as we are already five minutes in.
– Sterlington marching on the opening series, as the Panthers are inside the Jena 40.
– A short kickoff, and Sterlington will start at its own 37-yard line.
PREGAME
– Sterlington wins the toss, but in a twist, the Panthers elect to receive the opening kickoff.
– About to get things started here in the Dome. Sterlington wearing all white and Jena wearing all black.
– Live from the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, coming off a wild and epic Division II Non-Select title game. Can this game coming up be just as exciting? We’re about to find out, as Sterlington takes on Jena for the Division III Non-Select championship.
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