6:45 LRN Sportscast

Frank Wilson will serve as the interim head coach of the LSU Tigers and then he’ll leave for an SEC rival. CBS Sports is reporting Wilson will leave his home state to be the running backs coach at Ole Miss. This will be Wilson’s second stint with Ole Miss as he served as the running backs coach for the Rebels  when Ed Orgeron was the head coach there. He also has a relationship with new Ole Miss head coach Pete Goulding. Goulding was the defensive coordinator of the Roadrunners when Wilson was the head coach at UTSA.

The fifth ranked LSU women’s basketball team had another easy win on Tuesday as the Lady Tigers beat Morgan State 91 to 33. LSU is now 12-0 and they have a couple more easy games in front of them before they finally begin SEC play against Kentucky on New Year’s Day.

LSU gymnastics is ranked 2nd in the preseason poll behind Oklahoma. The season begins next month.

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UL-Lafayette plays in its eighth straight bowl game tonight as it takes on the Delaware Blue Hens in the 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, at 7:30 p.m. Cajuns head coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-moe) says the bowl game is one last chance for some of his players to play the game of football.

Cut 16 (20) “…going to play.”

Both teams are 6-and-6. The Cajuns are on a four-game winning streak while the Blue Hens received a bowl berth in their first season on the F-B-S level.

 

Former Ponchatoula star and former LSU Tiger TJ Finley is seeking a seventh-year of eligibility. Finley believes he should get an extra year after an injury shortened season in 2024. This past year at Georgia State, he appeared in seven games and went one and six.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The fifth ranked LSU women’s basketball team cruised to another victory as the Lady Tigers easily defeated Morgan State out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, 91 to 33. Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams each had 14 points. LSU’s next game is Sunday against Texas-Arlington.

After missing the first five games with a calf injury, Saints defensive end Chase Young is quietly putting together a good season. He now has six sacks, three of them have come in the last five games and Coach Kellen Moore says he’s done a great job of being productive after the injury…

Cut 18 (17) “….on this team”

The Saints host the 3-and-11 Jets this Sunday.

 

Some interesting transfer portal candidates at the quarterback position have emerged for LSU. Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is the latest big name to announce he plans to enter the portal. Lagway faced injuries throughout his two years in Gainesville and struggled during a September matchup at Tiger Stadium, where he threw five interceptions.

Other quarterbacks that have announced plans to enter the portal, Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola who threw for two-thousand yards before breaking his fibula. Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt had an injury plagued sophomore season. But in 2024 he led the Sun Devils to the Big 12 Championship.

And then there’s Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss who is seeking a waiver for an extra year of eligibility. He was asked if he gets that year of eligibility, will he return to Ole Miss…

Cut 27 (12) “…go into that”

Speculation is high Chambliss will leave Ole Miss for LSU if he’s granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Saints are 4-and-10 but 3-and-3 in games started by rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. Shough did not make his first start until week nine as he watched Spencer Rattler struggle through the first half of the season. New Orleans head coach Kellen Moore says that sitting Shough at the beginning of the season has allowed him to develop into a better quarterback.

Cut 17 (18) “…advantage of that.”

The Saints will host the Jets this Sunday. New York fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks yesterday after Sunday’s 48-20 loss to Jacksonville.

Jayden Daniels’ season is done. The former LSU star reaggravated his dislocated elbow on December 7th against Minnesota. He did not play this past Sunday and head coach Dan Quinn says it is best that last year’s Offensive Rookie of Year sits the rest of the year.

 

College football personnel expert Austin Thomas is reportedly leaving the LSU program for a third time. According to 2-4-7 sports, Thomas is returning to Ole Miss. He left Lane Kiffin and the Rebels to rejoin the Tigers football program before the 2024 season. At LSU, Thomas helped bring in the nation’s number one transfer portal class last offseason. His decision to leave Ole Miss for LSU prior to 2024 reportedly frayed his relationship with Kiffin. Kiffin has brought his general manager at Ole Miss, Billy Glasscock, with him to LSU. Glasscock was instrumental in bringing highly ranked transfer portal classes to Ole Miss.

The McNeese men’s basketball team rallied from a seven-point deficit last night to beat Houston Christian on their home floor 78 68. Larry Johnson led the way with 22 points and six rebounds. The Pokes are 3-1 in Southland.

Tough loss for Southeastern Louisiana last night as they fell to East Texas A-and-M 70 to 67. A-and-M’s 13 second chance points in the second half were the difference in this game.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints improved to 4-and-10 on the season with Sunday’s 20-17 win over Carolina. New Orleans’ defense came up with a big stop to give its offense the ball with 57 seconds left. Charlie Symth’s 47-yard game-winning field goal sealed the deal. Head coach Kellen Moore says he’s proud of his team’s fight.

Cut 16 (15) “…of our guys.”

The Saints’ final three games are against the Jets, the Titans and Falcons. Those three teams have a combined ten wins, so finishing seven and ten is a possibility for New Orleans.

The fifth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team hosts Morgan State at 11 AM today for the annual field trip game as nearly nine-thousand schoolchildren from the Baton Rouge area will be in attendance. LSU is one of 12 teams still undefeated and lead in the country in scoring, averaging 109 points per game.

 

College football personnel expert Austin Thomas is reportedly leaving the LSU program for a third time. According to 247-sports-dot-com, Thomas is returning to Ole Miss. He left Lane Kiffin and the Rebels to rejoin the Tigers football program before the 2024 season. He helped bring in the nation’s number one transfer portal class last offseason. His decision to leave Ole Miss for LSU reportedly frayed his relationship with Kiffin.

LSU senior cornerback Mansoor Delane and Louisiana Tech junior safety Jakari Foster were both named Associated Press First-Team All-Americans. Delane had two interceptions and 11 pass breakups for the Tigers this season. Foster had seven interceptions, tied for the third most in program history.

Jayden Daniels’ season is done. The former LSU star reaggravated his dislocated elbow on December 7th against Minnesota. He did not play this past Sunday and head coach Dan Quinn says it is best that last year’s Offensive Rookie of Year sits the rest of the year. After taking the Commanders to the NFC Championship game last season, Daniels has only played in seven games for the four and ten Commanders.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

In just his third NFL game, Charlie Smyth from Ireland, kicked a 47-yard field goal with two seconds left to give the Saints a 20-17 win over the Carolina Panthers. Smyth has been with the Saints since joining the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program in 2024. But it wasn’t until New Orleans released Blake Grupe that Smyth got his chance and he is taking advantage of the opportunity…

Cut 17 (17) “…a dream scenario”

The Saints have won two in row and they can make it three straight when they host the Jets this Sunday at noon.

The Pelicans beat the Bulls for a second time this season as Trey Murphy and Jeremiah Fears eached scored 20 points in 114 to 104 win. Zion Williamson returned from a hip injury and scored 18 points off the bench.

 

The LHSAA Prep Classic ended on Saturday with Edna Karr beating district rival Saint Augustine 49-14 to win their second consecutive state championship. Cougars Coach Brice Brown says what they’ve accomplished the last two years is nothing short of incredible…

Cut 13 (16) “…to their character.”

The Cougars have won 27 in a row.

In the first game Saturday, Ouachita Parish won its first state title since 1989 by rallying from a two-touchdown deficit to beat top-seeded Ruston, 21-20. Lions Coach Benyi Lewis says they played their best football of the season in the postseason after suffering through a four-game losing streak…

Cut  14 (15) “…I’ve been around”

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints rallied from a ten-point deficit to beat Carolina for their second win in a row and second win over the Panthers this season. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough orchestrated a seven-play, 78-yard drive to tie the game with just over two minutes to go. New Orleans’ defense got a quick stop and that set up a game-winning 47-yard field goal by Charlie Smyth with two seconds left to win it.

Head Coach Kellen Moore says Shough showed a lot of poise in that game-tying drive.

Cut 16 (12) “…that it was.”

Shough threw for 272 yards and a touchdown. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 32 yards as starting running back Devin Neal left the game with a hamstring injury after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter. The 4-and-10 Saints have a chance at a another win as they host the 3-and-11 Jets this Sunday.

It had to be a fun weekend in Iowa as the Yellow Jackets won their first state championship in high school football by outscoring North Desoto 50-43. Iowa coach and lifelong southwest Louisiana resident, Tommy Johns, can’t say enough about the community support his team received throughout the year…

Cut 19 (11) “…this journley.”

There was also a big party in Ouachita Parish as the Lions won their first state title since 1989 as Ouachita Parish rallied from a two touchdown deficit to beat top-seeded Ruston 21-20. Ouachita Coach Benjy Lewis on the LHSAA Network…

Cut 20 (20) “….what they did”

Running back M-J Dade was the most outstanding player for Ouachita, as he had 147 yards and two touchdowns.

7:30 LRN Sportscast

One of the wildest endings in Prep Classic history occurred last night in the Superdome as St. Charles Catholic came back in the final seconds to beat Shaw 23-21 to win the Division Two select state title. The Comets scored a touchdown with 35-seconds left to get within one point, but Tyler Milioto missed the extra point to tie the game.

However, Milioto got another chance due to a bizarre sequence of plays that included a Shaw player throwing his helmet into the air, thinking they had won, which resulted in a penalty against the Eagles. Also a bad punt by Shaw give Milioto a chance to win it with a 44-yard field. Our own Jeff Palermo had the call on the LHSAA Network…

Cut 30 (13) “….to hero”

It’s the Comets’ fourth state championship.

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Iowa won its first state championship in school history as the Yellow Jackets defeated North Desoto 50-43 to win the Division 2 non-select state title. Sterlington won its second title in a row as the Panthers defeated Jena 34-20.

Today at noon… Ruston is making its fourth straight state championship appearance and is looking to capture its ninth state title in school history. Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh says last season’s 42-0 loss to Central is something that’s motivating the players this season.

Cut 14 (15) “…for this year.”

Ruston will take on Ouachita Parish at noon. The Bearcats beat the Lions 21-14 earlier this season.

Today at 3:30 Edna Karr looks to complete its second undefeated championship season as the Cougars host St. Aug. The Purple Knights are looking for their first state championship since 1979.

6:45 LRN Sportscast December 12

You can start making plans for the fall of 2026 as LSU’s full schedule was released last night and Lane Kiffin will make his return to Oxford on September 19th. The Tigers will kick off SEC play by visiting Ole Miss. The home schedule looks great, with games against Clemson, Texas A&M, Alabama and Texas, but LSU’s final two games are on the road…at Tennessee and Arkansas.

At the LHSAA Prep Classic, the Dunham Tigers won their first state championship since 2004 as the Tigers topped Calvary Baptist 34-17. The nation’s number one quarterback in the Class of 2027, Elijah Haven threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for two scores.

And Haynesville won its 18th state championship as the Golden Tornado denied Mangham its first state title since 1956 by beating the Panthers 39 to 37.

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The LHSAA Prep Classic continues today as Jena will make its first state championship game appearance at 3:30 as it takes on the defending champs in Division 3 non-select, the Sterlington Panthers. KNOE-TV sports Director Aaron Dietrich says Sterlington might have the best running game in the state…

Cut 11 (09) “…that is amazing”

Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough rushed for two touchdowns in last Sunday’s upset win over Tampa Bay. Shough says he always could run the ball and wants to make sure he keeps defenses on their toes.

Cut 19 (15) “…as I can.”

The Saints host the Panthers Sunday. Kickoff is at 3:25.

6:45 LRN Sportscast December 11

LSU’s third leading rusher on the season and one of the state’s most profilic high school quarterbacks says he’s entering the transfer portal. JuJuan Johnson rushed for 151 yards on 38 carries this season. At Lafayette Christian, Johnson set a Louisiana record for total yards with 14,451 and touchdowns 171.

According to LSU, since the hiring of Lane Kiffin, the school has received an additional 15-thousand season ticket requests and a large uptick in corporate partner and donor interest. LSU Economics professor Dek Terrell says Kiffin’s hiring will spark people to buy LSU merchandise this holiday season, but it’s nothing like winning a national championship…

Cut 12 (10) “…over 60-percent”

 

The Prep Classic starts today in the Superdome. Game one is the Division Four non-select state championship between the undefeated Haynesville Golden Tornado and the Mangham Dragons. Spencer Verrett with the LHSAA Network says Haynesville is undefeated, but Mangham is battle-tested.

Cut 4 (09) “…Haynesville team again.”

Also today, Riverside versus Ascension Catholic, and tonigh,t Dunham takes on Calvary Baptist.

An arena football league is coming to Monroe this summer as the Monroe franchise will be part of the Arena League, which is expanding from four to eight teams. League owner Jeff Holmes says their band of football features seven players on the field per side, and there is no kicking…

Cut 14 (07) “….receive the ball”

The team will play at the Monroe Civic Center and there will be a contest to name the team.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Several bowl eligible college football teams chose not to play in a bowl game this season, but despite a disappointing year the LSU Tigers accepted an invitation to the Texas Bowl in Houston. LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson says the Tigers never thought about not playing in a bowl.

Cut 16 (17) “…the right way.”

LSU will play 21st-ranked Houston on December 27th. Several starters for the Tigers will not play, including Garrett Nussmeier, Whit Weeks, and Mansoor Delane. And Wilson is not sure what his future holds after the bowl game, whether he’ll be part of Lane Kiffin’s coaching staff.

Thoughts and prayers go out to LSU great Kevin Faulk, his 30-year-old daughter died unexpectedly last week. It’s the second daughter Faulk has lost at a young age.

The Jena Giants will make their first-ever trip to the state championship game on Friday as they will face Sterlington in the Division Two non-select state championship game. The Giants are 13-and-0 and the top seed. Head Coach Jay Roark says he’s proud of how the defense improved through the season…

Cut 11 (12) “…and getting better”

The Giants will face defending champion Sterlington Friday afternoon at 3:30.

Nice win for the McNeese men’s basketball team last night as the Cowboys defeated Rhode Island 66 to 64. Tyshawn Archie scored the winning bucket on a fade-away jumper with one second left. Archie had a career-high 18 points for the 8-2 Pokes.

 

Also, ULM upended Arkansas Baptist 79-69.