Featured (Prep)

Madison Prep’s potential path to the semifinals was coming into focus in the final minutes Friday.

The No. 5 Chargers (9-3) had stuffed a fourth-down run to regain possession down two points and had fought and clawed their way well into rival University Lab (10-2) territory, all the way to the 32-yard line with more than a minute to play.

But LSU commit Lamar Brown pounced on a quarterback scramble with a ferocious close not only to the tackle, but to the game and to his crosstown rival’s season.

The top-ranked player in Louisiana rose to the occasion, chasing down the tackle to the outside and swiping his right arm around to jar loose a fumble teammate Bradley Goodson would secure to send the No. 4 Cubs to the Division-II Select semifinals, 32-30.

“It just took what it takes,” Brown said. “No false steps or anything. We knew it was gonna be a hard-fought game. We had a lot of mistakes we’ll have to take over and get back to next week to win and get to the Dome. But just doing whatever for my team, man, and getting this ‘dub’ and all praise to God.”

U-High missed postseason action in 2024 when an eligibility ruling abruptly ended its season, and Brown said he and this year’s team are chasing a state championship for last year’s class as well as themselves.

The 6-foot-4, nearly 300-pound athlete flew around the field — and, when necessary, to the turf — like a man on a mission and playing with purpose.

Madison Prep struck first with junior athlete Landon “Manu” Johnson capping the Chargers’ second possession with goal-line touchdown and two-point runs.

The Cubs answered with a quick throw from Ethan McGlynn to Southeastern Louisiana commit Lawson Dixon, who made defenders miss both early and late on a 58-yard scamper to the end zone to pull within 8-6.

Safety Darius “D.J.” Coleman Jr. snatched and nearly returned an interception all the way to the end zone as the first quarter ended.

U-High nearly missed on the opportunity with a goal-line fumble to start the second quarter. But, instead, Brown dove to the ground through three defenders and two teammates and seized the recovery for a go-ahead touchdown, 12-8.

He went on to add at least two stops behind the line on defense and the late strip-sack to seal the win.

“Man, Lamar played so many snaps tonight both offensively and defensively and even on special teams,” coach Andy Martin said. “Lamar is a special kid, and it’s not just because of his athletic ability. It’s because of what he brings to this team — the unselfishness, the always wanting to be in there but knowing when he can and can’t get in there. And I’m telling you, that kid’s special. That’s all I can say. The plays he makes is something else, but he’s just a special kid.”

The District 6-3A rivals traded leads again on a pair of explosive run plays — 61 yards by Madison Prep junior Harlem Turner, and 46 yards by U-High senior Sage Ingram — and the Cubs added a 27-yard Mason Melancon lead to take a 22-16 edge into the half.

The Chargers reclaimed control during a shutout third quarter in which Turner and J’on Profit each gashed big runs on the go-ahead drive, which the latter cashed in for a 23-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion.

A short field provided by a strip-sack by Louisiana (Lafayette) commit Jordan Pinnock recovered by junior linebacker Kayden Sims-Grassi helped the Cubs scratch their way back onto the scoreboard with another short Melancon kick for a 25-22 lead early in the fourth.

And another fumble forced by junior linebacker Talamesi Albert and recovered by senior defensive back Lorenzo Cooper Jr. set up another U-High score just over a minute later on a 37-yard run by Ingram for his second touchdown.

The Cubs executed a successful onside kick, but fumbled the ball back a couple plays later with junior defensive bck Traven Hayes quickly picking up the loose ball.

Junior quarterback Dylan Reed busted a 64-yard touchdown on third down to pull the Chargers back within 32-30, but U-High managed to stop the two-point conversion for the first time in the game and cling to its narrow edge.

Senior nose guard Malachi Cage and edge rusher Ryan Variste eventually stuffed a fourth-down run to give Madison Prep another opportunity in the final minutes.

But Brown and the Cubs had one final highlight up their sleeves to hold off the Chargers for the second time in four weeks.

Down to the final minute once again, Zachary wouldn’t be denied this time.

Senior quarterback Michael Kirby pulled an inside zone read and powered his way through contact to the 4-yard, go-ahead score with 11 seconds remaining to lift the No. 13 Broncos (9-3) to the 31-27 upset of No. 5 Central (9-3) and onto the semifinals.

“I’m just so proud of that kid and what he’s done as far as his maturation process is concerned as a quarterback this year,” Zachary coach David Brewerton told Louisiana First News’ Chessa Bouche postgame. “That’s a high pressure-packed situation right there and to lead us down the field with one drive left in his senior year, and he got it done.

“We were laughing about it on the sideline before the last play-call. They had all sorts of plays they were talking about calling, and they end up calling inside zone. And I said, ‘You know, Kirby may pull this thing,’ and Kirby’s face got all (lit up) and he smiled. And he pulled it, and he got in there. And, look, he got met at the 2-yard line, and he got in there. So super proud of him and the way these kids fought tonight.”

The thriller was a rematch of the District 4-5A rivals’ similar battle four weeks earlier in which the Wildcats had swarmed and deflected a late Zachary two-point attempt to survive.

This time, the Broncos dug out of an early deficit behind a gutsy performance by Kirby and a second-half defensive shutout and got the last laugh of the night and of the season series.

Zachary advances to the semifinals with a 31-27 win over Central. The Broncos scored the game winning td with 11 seconds left. Here’s my postgame interview with @CoachBrew1 @_ZHSFootball @LAFirstNews @LAFBReport pic.twitter.com/ksIhOQfq5h

— Chessa Bouche (@chessabouche) November 29, 2025

Central built a 21-14 halftime lead with a pair of Marvin Joseph Jr. rushing touchdowns and scoring connection between Max Gassiott and Keithon Womack.

Zachary kept on the Wildcats’ heels with a pair of first-half rushing touchdowns by junior back Jeremey Patton, then took its first lead in the third with a goal-line Kirby run and Boston Bentley field goal.

A pick-six by Central junior Brody Diel early in the fourth quarter, the reigning champions’ only points of the second half, reclaimed a 27-24 advantage.

But Kirby and company eventually pieced together an answer, mounting a long drive to advance to its fourth semifinal in five years.

The Broncos will travel to No. 1 Ruston (10-2) for a 2024 second-round game, 2023 title game and 2022 semifinal — each of which the Bearcats claimed by between 14 and 21 points.

Thanksgiving week practices are becoming a habit in Central.

The reigning champion Wildcats (10-2) exploded past East Ascension (8-4) on Friday to advance to the Division-I Non-Select quarterfinals for the third straight year after having gone a decade without doing so.

Junior quarterback Max Gassiott accounted for more than 400 total yards and five touchdowns in the 46-32 victory, including help leading the late drive capped by junior safety/athlete Marvin Joseph Jr. to double the lead and down the No. 12 Spartans.

“I’m confident in the preparation our team and coaches have put in to be ready for big moments at any given time,” Gassiott said. “I feel the experience of playing in big games throughout the season has helped us great ready for this. Being able to help the team means everything to me, so happy to be a part of this team and program.”

Gassiott finished 19-for-26 (73.1%) for 308 yards, including scoring strikes to senior Keithon Womack and junior Brody Diel and rushed for 104 yards and three end-zone trips with his legs.

East Ascension kept on the Wildcats’ heels deep into the game with another strong playoff performance from veterans such as LSU-committed lineman/tight end Brysten Martinez, running back Jason Blackburn and quarterback Jarrod “J.J.” LeBouef and junior wide receivers Jeremyah Merriweather and Jayden Ursin.

The teams traded scores deep into the third until Central was able to open up its two-touchdown advantage with a pair of long drives and a pair of defensive stops, including Joseph intercepting a pass and breaking up another in the end zone.

“It really took us trusting each other and staying focused,” Joseph said. “We knew it was gonna be a tight game. Even when backed up in the end zone, we knew we had to make those stops and let the offense do their thing. they had several 90-yard drives, and that’s not easy to do, but the offense was on fire all night long, and we knew we could depend on them and they could depend on us. So it was just all about team effort, trust and execution.”

Central will be one of just two No. 5 seeds in Louisiana’s eight playoff brackets to host a game next week, as District 4-5A rival Zachary (8-3) upset No. 4 Denham Springs (8-3) just a few miles away across the Amite River.

The Wildcats survived the No. 13 Broncos, 35-33, in their regular-season meeting with a denied two-point attempt in the final minute on Halloween eve.