4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU football needed a tight end out of the transfer portal, with the starter Mason Taylor heading for the NFL. They got one today as Bauer Sharp from Oklahoma has signed with the Tigers. Sarp led the Sooners in receiving this season catching 42 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns.

To boost NIL efforts at LSU, Kelly announced the one-million dollar match challenge. Kelly says his he and wiis wife will match up to one million dollars in new money donated through NIL for football. The one-million dollars from the Kellys will go to the Tiger Athletic Foundation A-D’s Excellence fund.

For the first time since 1987, the Archbishop Shaw Eagles are state champions in football. Shaw outlasted ED White 28-25. The Michigan signees were the difference, Jacob Washington two touchdown catches and Josh Parker 174 yards rushing and one touchdown.  The Cardinals finish three points shy of winning its first state title since 1969.

Tonight Cecilia is back in the Division Two non-select state championship game after losing last year to Opelousas. The Bulldogs will face top-seeded Franklinton at 7 PM. Cecilia is an 18-seed and head coach Dennis Skains says his team has played at a higher level since the postseason…

Cut 18 (14)   “…the season.”

Edna Karr will go after its seventh state championship tomorrow when it faces Alexandria Senior High in the Division One select state championship game. The Cougars are undefeated and Coach Brice Brown says his team does a lot of things well…

Cut 9 (13) “…(laughs)

Kick off is at noon.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Saints will start Jake Haener at quarterback this Sunday against the Washington Commanders as Derek Carr has been ruled out. When Carr was injured earlier this year, the Saints went with rookie Spencer Rattler as the starter.

College football….LSU offensive tackle Emery Jones has declared for the NFL draft, Tony Franklin has been hired back as the offensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech, and Ragin Cajuns kicker Kenneth Almendares (al-mun-DARE-ez) has been named the Lou Groza winner.

At yesterday’s prep classic, Sterlington beat St. James, 35-28. It was Sterlington’s third title and first since 2021. Coach Lee Doty’s team won the title despite starting 2-and-3…

Cut 29 (11) “….this year”

In other action, South Plaquemine beat Haynesville 20-7, and Vermillion Catholic beat Ouachita Christian, 33-21.

There are three more games at the prep classic today, and it gets started at noon with E-D White facing Shaw. At 3:30, Dunham takes on Catholic High of New Iberia. Dunham has one of the best sophomore quarterbacks in the country in Elijah Haven. Dunham Coach Neil Weiner (WHY-ner) says Haven has all the physical tools, but his poise impresses him….

Cut 19 (19) “…part in that.”

Catholic Panthers quarterback Luke Landry has had a sensational senior season throwing for 26 hundred yards and 37 touchdowns…

Cut 20 (12) “…great feeling.”

The final game of the day is Franklinton against Cecilia.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU offensive lineman Emery Jones has declared for the NFL draft, which means the Tigers will need to replace four starters on their o-line. Jones is expected to be a second or third round pick.

Ragin Cajuns kicker Kenneth Almendares (al-mun-DARE-ez) has been named the Lou Groza winner in college football. Almendares is the first kicker in school history to win the award which goes to the nation’s best kicker. He leads the nation in field goals with 27.

Tony Franklin is back as Louisiana Tech’s offensive coordinator. Franklin’s offenses in Ruston from 2010 to 2012 averaged nearly 36 points a game and in 2012 Tech led the nation in scoring, averaging 51 points a game.

The Saints have announced Jake Haener will start at quarterback this Sunday against Washington. It will be the first career start for the former fourth round pick out of Fresno State. Derek Carr has been ruled out for Sunday’s game.

The three schools that won a state championship in football on Thursday, all won their third title in school history. Vermilion Catholic upended Ouachita Christian 33-21. V-C head coach Brock Prejean…

Cut 30 (07) “…more proud”

South Plaquemines defeated Haynesville 20-7 and Sterlington upset St. James 35 to 28.

E-D White goes for its third state championship at noon when it faces Archbishop Shaw. Cardinals Coach Kyle Lasseigne (Luh-saine) says he purposely arranged a tough non-district schedule to prepare his team for this moment…

Cut 17 (17) “…for this”

Kick off is at noon. Also today….Dunham takes on Catholic of New Iberia and Cecilia faces Franklinton.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU offensive tackle Emery Jones has decided to enter the NFL draft. He becomes the second Tiger offensive lineman to forgo his senior season. The other was Will Campbell.

At the Prep Classic, Vermilion Catholic won its first state title since 2013 as the Eagles defeated Ouachita Christan 33-21. Jon Jon Dartez rushed for 253 yards and two touchdowns and threw for two touchdowns.

Tonight Sterlington takes on St. James in the non-select division three state title game.

Tomorrow in the Prep Classic, Archbishop Shaw will be looking for its first state title since 1987. The Eagles have a talented running back in Jasper Parker. Shaw head coach Hank Tierney…

Cut 13 (12) “…good player”

Shaw will face E-D White at noon tomorrow.

The Saints are unsure who will start at quarterback this Sunday against the Commanders. Derek Carr has an injured non-throwing hand and is in concussion protocol. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi says Carr’s backups, Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler, are sharing snaps with the first-team offense…

Cut 20 (12) “…quarterback situation”

Washington is 8-and-5 and led by former LSU star Jayden Daniels, who is a candidate to be the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Daniels talked this week about his adjustment to the pros…

Cut 19 (11) “…Sunday for real”

The Saints will need to contain Daniels if they’re going to win their fourth in five games since the firing of Dennis Allen. Kickoff Sunday at the Superdome is at noon.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

After waiting three years for his opportunity to be the starting quarterback at LSU, Garrett Nussmeier is not ready to give it up. On Wednesday afternoon, Nussmeier announced that he would return for his fifth and final season at LSU. Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says it’s unsurprising that Nussmeier is staying…

Cut 14 (10) “…coming back”

Nussmeier has thrown for 37-hundred yards this season with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

The Saints are unsure who will start at quarterback this Sunday against the Commanders. Derek Carr has an injured non-throwing hand and is in concussion protocol. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi says Carr’s backups, Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler, are sharing snaps with the first-team offense…

Cut 20 (12) “…quarterback situation”

Kick off is at noon.

 

Ouachita Christian is seeking its ninth state championship today as they will face top-seeded Vermilion Catholic at noon in the Caesars Superdome. The O-C-S Eagles are an 11-seed and Coach Steven Fitzhugh is excited for another chance to bring home a championship trophy to Monroe…

Cut 16 (13) “…what they’ve done.”

V-C and O-C-S played in a state title game in 2022 and Ouachita Chrisian won by two touchdowns.

At 3:30 it’s the division four non-select state championship game, as Haynesville battles South Plaquemines. The Golden Tornado is undefeated and they were runner-ups last season. Haynesville is looking for an 18th championship. The Hurricanes are looking for their first title since 2008.

The final game of the day is top seeded St. James versus Sterlington, a rematch of a semifinal game last year won by the Wildcats. Kick off is at 7.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

He’s coming back. LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier posted a video on his social media pages to announce that he’s returning for his final year of eligibility next season.

Cut 13 (10)  “…is not over.”

Next season will be Nussmeier’s fifth season as a Tiger. This season he’s thrown for 37-hundred yards 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

And the Tigers 2025 SEC schedule was released last night. The league opener will be against Florida on September 13th. The Tigers will visit Ole Miss on October 27th. Alabama November 8th and Oklahoma November 29th. LSU hosts South Carolina and Texas A-and-M in October.

La Tech comes to Tiger Stadium on September sixth and Southeastern Louisiana will be in Death Valley September 20th. The season opener is at Clemson.

The Saints are unsure who will start at quarterback on Sunday against Washington. It could be the injured Derek Carr. If Carr can’t go, Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler will battle it out this week to see who will start. Commanders starting quarterback Jayden Daniels will make his return to Louisiana…

Cut 18 (12) “…for sure”

Today in the Ceasars Superdome, the Prep Classic Kicks off at noon as Ouachita Christian battles Vermilion Catholic. O-C-S has several talented players including Patrick Turpin who has ten touchdown catches and three interceptions on defense…

Cut 17 (16) “….Turpin does it all”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU does not play its bowl game until New Year’s Eve day against Baylor in the Texas Bowl, but it’s still a very busy time for the Fighting Tiger football program. Kelly says he and his staff are balancing game prep, practices which will resume tomorrow and the transfer portal….

Cut 27 (12) “…quite busy”

Kelly says he was at three different upscale restaurants in Baton Rouge last night to meet with recruits out of the transfer portal as the Tigers try to rebuild their roster.

Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta is interested in buying the Saints. Last year, Fertitta attempted to acquire the Washington Commanders. The Houston Business Journal reports Fertitta told Gayle Benson he’d be interested in buying the Saints, but has not sent her an official offer. The Saints are currently not for sale.

St. James is back in the state championship game for a second consecutive season after suffering a heart-breaking loss to Union Parish last season. Wildcats Coach Lavanta Davis is trying to bring home a sixth state title for St James…

Cut 16 (12) “…miscues.”

St. James will play Sterlington tomorrow night in the Division 3 non-select state championship game. Panthers head coach Lee Doty says his team has gotten better every week…

Cut 18 (23)   “…finally got healthy.”

This game will kick off at 7 PM tomorrow. The first game of the day tomorrow is Vermilion Catholic versus Ouachita Christian.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Saints are struggling and if owner Gayle Benson ever wanted to sell the franchise, Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta is interested in buying the franchise. That’s according to a report in the Houston Business Journal. Last year, Fertitta attempted to acquire the Washington Commanders. Fertitta says he’s told Gayle Benson he’d be interested in buying the Saints, but has not sent her an official offer. The Saints are currently not for sale.

LSU back-up tight end Ka’Marreum Pimpton entered the transfer portal after catching six passes for 79 yards this past season. With starter Mason Taylor declaring for the NFL draft, the Tigers will now need to sign at least a couple of tight ends out of the transfer portal.

A couple of college quarterbacks are on the move. Former St. Thomas More standout Walker Howard is leaving Ole Miss and returning home to Lafayette to play for the Ragin Cajuns. Tulane quarterback Darian Meshan is transferring to Duke after leading the Green Wave to a nine-win season.

The Prep Classic kicks off tomorrow in the Caesars Superdome and there are three games on the schedule. At 3:30 PM, Haynesville goes after its 18th state championship as the Golden Tornado face off against second seeded South Plaquemines. Haynesville Coach David Franklin is impressed with the Hurricanes team speed…

Cut 9 (05) “…well coached”

At 7 PM, it’s the Division Three non-select state title game as top-seeded St James takes on sixth seeded Sterlington. Sterlington relies on its ground game. They have two one-thousand yard rushers Hagen Herring and Gaven Evans. Panthers head coach Lee Doty says Herring is averaging ten years a carry…

Cut 19 (20) “…longest run.”

The first game of the day is Vermilion Catholic against Ouachita Christian.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Senator Bill Cassidy breaks his silence over an early primary challenge to his 2026 re-election bid. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Former state legislator and current New Orleans Councilwoman Helena Moreno has announced her candidacy for Mayor of New Orleans. She promises to be a 24-7 mayor that will work to bring safer neighborhoods and improved infrastructure. Current mayor LaToya Cantrell is term limited.

The American Tort Reform Association has ranked Louisiana as the 10th worst Judicial Hellhole in the country. A-T-R-A president Tiger Joyce says Louisiana’s civil justice system allows for lawsuit abuse and large judgments that paralyze businesses. Joyce is disappointed Governor Landry vetoed a bill that would have revised the collateral source doctrine…

Cut 6 (08) “…vetoed that’

The Louisiana Legislature is expected to bring up that bill again next year.

A jaguar gave birth to a cub in the United States for the first time since 2022 and it happened at the Baton Rouge zoo. Zoo director Jim Fleshman says the cub’s arrival is especially significant given its mother’s previous experiences with stillborn litters.

Cut 8 (07) “…spit and vinegar.”

The public will not get a chance to see the baby jaguar cub for at least two months, but the Zoo is taking name recommendations on its Facebook page.

8:30 LRN Newscast

A new study ranks Louisiana as one of the top states for lawsuit abuse. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 1 (33)“…I’m Colleen Crain.”

State Police say two pedestrians were struck and killed by two different vehicles as they were walking in the roadway on U-S Highway 84 near the 84 Quick Stop in Concordia Parish. 67-year-old Carleen Smith of Farmerville and Donnie Free of Ferriday died from their injuries. L-S-P continues to investigate.

When State Treasurer John Fleming announced his candidacy for U-S Senate,  Fleming said incumbent Bill Cassidy has failed the people of Louisiana. Cassidy responded to the comment during yesterday’s conference call with reporters…

Cut 12 (12) “…take that blame”

Fleming says Cassidy failed the people of Louisiana when he voted to convict Trump for inciting a riot on the U-S Capitol in January of 2021.

For the first time since 2022 a jaguar gave birth to a cub in the United States and it happened at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Director Jim Fleschman says This birth draws attention to the critical role zoos play in species conservation and the success of the Jaguar Species Survival Plan.

Cut 9 (07)  “…100 years.”

The public can recommend names for the cub on the Baton Rouge Zoo’s facebook page. The cub will make its public debut in the spring.