Entering the playoffs as a number 14 overall seed, the Ouachita Parish Lions ran the table as a Cinderella team to win their first state championship since 1989 and they did so against their District 2-5A foes in Ruston to do it.
“It feels great, but we don’t want to base it off the history because 1989, none of us were born or thought about.”
Ouachita Parish WR Wydell Clark Jr.
“It feels good to say that we were the best class to come through Ouachita and make a statement.”
Ouachita Parish RB Marcello Dade Jr.
This game was one for the books as the Lions were able to edge out the Bearcats 21-20 for the Division I Non-Select State Championship.
“The game tonight was really representative, especially in the second half of our football team this year.”
“You gotta play 24 minutes in discomfort, championships aren’t won in comfortable situations.”
Ouachita Parish HC Benjy Lewis
The regular season matchup was only decided by a touchdown with Ruston winning 21-14, but this time, it was the Lions that just were able to come up on top in this battle between two North Louisiana powers.
Ruston kicker Joaquin Ramos, who has been a good field goal kicker for the Bearcats and made two field goals in this game, had an opportunity to win the game with a 52 yard field goal attempt. However, the kick fell short and the celebration begun for Ouachita Parish.
Early on, the Bearcats had a hot start jumping to a 14-0 lead. Sam Hartwell got the scoring started with a four yard rushing touchdown on the opening drive and then, five star TE Ahmad Hudson takes a short pass and turns it into a 59 yard touchdown.
Despite the slow start, it did not phase the Lions as they got on the scoreboard with a 27 yard touchdown run from Macario Dade to cut it within half at 14-7.
A Ramos 37 yard field goal gave the Bearcats a little breathing room going into halftime at 17-7.
In the second half, both defenses were making it tough on the offenses to get anything going, but the Lions finally got a spark when Montreal Connor hit Wydell Clark on a 49 yard pass, which led to a two yard touchdown run from Macario Dade to pull the Lions within a score at 17-14.
Ruston would tack on another field goal to make it 20-14 and with 6:41 left in the game, the Lions’ dynamic big playmaker Clark made an incredible catch jumping up and catching a jump ball over a defender to give the Lions their first lead at 21-20.
The Bearcats had an opportunity to retake the lead late in the fourth quarter. On a big fourth down play, Ruston’s offense dialed up a play to their five star tight end as the 6’8, 230 pound recruit was on the verge of another huge highlight play throwing a defender off his back while navigating to the other side of the field to the Ouachita 11 yard line, but then, Wydell Clark makes another game changing play by knocking the ball out of Hudson’s hands allowing the Lions to recover the ball with 1:21 left to play.
Still with three timeouts, the Bearcats forced a punt and that led to the final sequence of the game with Ouachita being able to hold on.
Ahmad Hudson was named Ruston’s Most Outstanding Player for the Bearcats after finishing with six catches for 179 yards and a touchdown. Sam Hartwell finished the game completing 10/14 passes for 184 yards and one touchdown plus 71 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground.
Macario Dade was named Ouachita’s Most Outstanding Player with 21 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Wydell Clark was just as deserving too with a lot of impactful plays finishing with four grabs for 108 yards and one touchdown. Montreal Connor was efficient completing 11 of 17 passes for 184 yards and one touchdown to no interceptions while adding another 55 yards on the ground.
Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh and the Bearcats have made the Superdome four straight years in a row and even though the team has only won one of those games, he knows that this senior class has left their mark and are not going to be defined by a game.
“One game, win or loss, doesn’t define a team. We need to look back and enjoy this season for what it was and it was a great accomplishment.”
Ruston HC Jerrod Baugh
For Ouachita head coach Benjy Lewis, this state championship was earned after playing the likes of St. Amant, Destrehan, Parkway, and Neville just to get to this point. Going through two of your district rivals in the two most important games of the season was extra validation for the Lions.
“I hope it says in future days, months, weeks and years that it teaches us all a valuable lesson of dealing with dire, challenging circumstances. I also hope it serves as an example to even other kids growing up as to the fact that these big things are able to become realities in the east side of Ouachita Parish.”
Ouachita Parish HC Benjy Lewis
Check out the photos taken by Billy Metcalf!
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