In a contrast of styles in which the Sterlington Panthers want to methodically move the ball down the field with their option attack while the St. James Wildcats want to attack the field quickly with their explosive weapons, both ways of moving the football definitely worked against each other in the first half of the Division III Non-Select State Championship Game.
The first half of play featured nothing but dominant offensive drives as both the Wildcats and Panthers finished each possession with a touchdown over the first 24 minutes of play.
However, in the second half, it was the Panthers’ defense that stepped up and helped them seal the deal. Trailing 35-28 with only 33 seconds left, St. James’ QB Ja’Juan Jackson’s pass was intercepted by Tomarion Burch to preserve the third state championship in program history for Sterlington.
Offensively, the Panthers relied on their ground and pound approach with 341 yards rushing and five rushing touchdowns in the game led by the trio of Hagen Herring, who was named the Division III Non-Select State Championship MVP with 15 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns, David Hickman (10 carries for 62 yards and 2 TDs including the game winning score), and TJ Burch (9 carries for 46 yards and 1 TD).
Head Coach Lee Doty’s defense did a great job of making adjustments in the second half by only allowing one second half touchdown while also forcing four punts, a turnover on downs, and the game sealing interception.
The St. James offense kept pace with the Panthers in the first half scoring on their first three possessions. Ninth grade quarterback Ja’Juan Jackson finished the game completing 12 of 20 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Kani King Young helped the young talented quarterback running the football with 12 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite the offensive playmakers, the MVP for St. James came on the defensive side of the football with Nolan Zenon winning the award off of a whopping 23 total tackles including a force fumble.
On the opening drive, the Panthers went down the field and scored as Hagen Herring took the option pitch 28 yards to put Sterlington up 7-0 after a 12 play, 67 yard drive.
St. James responded and then some as not only Kani King Young scored from eight yards out, but King Young also scored on the two point conversion to give the Wildcats a 8-7 lead.
Sterlington got the ball back and had a second straight 12 plus play drive that took over 65 yards. The drive was capped off with an 18 yard touchdown run from David Hickman to retake the lead at 14-8.
Ensuing drive, the Wildcats have retaken the lead with a 14 yard run from Jakias Villanueva to make it a 15-14 game.
The first half see saw battle continued as it was Sterlington’s turn to take the lead when TJ Burch finished a 55 yard drive to make it 21-15.
A muffed kickoff that put St. James at their own 10 yard line did not seem to slow down the Wildcats with this explosive offense marching down the field. Freshman quarterback sensation Ja’Juan Jackson connected with Kamon Mitchell for a 27 yard touchdown to tie the game at 21.
The score at halftime would be knotted at 21. In the second half, it was Sterlington’s defense that finally forced a punt. Their offense would carry the momentum from their defense with their fourth straight scoring drive. Once again, Hagen Herring scored this time from 43 yards out for the fifth different lead change of the ball game at 28-21.
After punting the ball on the previous drive to start the second half, the Wildcats’ offense found their groove back scoring on an 80 yard drive that was punched in by King Young for his second rushing touchdown of the game to tie it at 28 a piece.
After four flawless drives, Sterlington’s offense finally makes a mistake with Nolan Zenon forcing a fumble, which was recovered by the Wildcats halfway in the third quarter.
The Panthers defense was able to stand up to the swing of momentum and force the Wildcats to punt for the second time in three possessions.
Sterlington got the ball back as the third quarter wounded down to a close and took the lead again to start the fourth quarter at 35-28 with Hickman’s second rushing touchdown.
With a seven point lead, Sterlington was trying some trickery with a fake punt. The pass almost worked for the Panthers with Travis Adams completing the pass to Aidan Parker, but Parker could not keep his footing as he was marked one yard short of the first down mark.
St. James got the football back with a chance to tie the game, but on fourth down, Jackson’s pass was incomplete and gave the ball back to Sterlington with 2:44 remaining in the game.
The Wildcats defense was able to prevent Sterlington from running the entire clock and got a minute and 16 seconds as well as 92 yards for a chance to tie or win.
That would lead to the final sequence, which was a game clinching interception.
For the second straight season, the St. James Wildcats (10-4) come up just short of winning the state championship under head coach LaVanta Davis, but with a lot of young players on this team, they are certainly not going anywhere in 2025 and beyond.
“We’re extremely grateful for the opportunity to come and compete for the state championship. We don’t take those things for granted. I want to commend my young team. I think we did well in spurts, but kudos to Coach Lee Doty and his staff. They do an excellent job in all three phases.”
St. James Head Coach LaVanta Davis
The Sterlington Panthers end their season at 11-4 overall and with their third ever state championship. Head Coach Lee Doty was coaching all three state title teams with the last two as head coach.
“You know, what a year. I can’t begin to describe the ending of this and how it feels and how rewarding it is for me to be doing it with these guys and how rewarding it is for me to be doing it with this team and overcame so much adversity this year.”
“This is awesome. I told the guys that we’re gonna enjoy this one, and I want them to be able to spend time with their families and enjoy it.”
Sterlington Head Coach Lee Doty
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