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.

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.

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

___________________________________________________________

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.

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.

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 27^th. 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.

LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson is preparing to get the Tigers ready to play Houston in the Texas Bowl on December 27th….

Cut 17 (15) “…football team.

Wilson says quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, Mansoor Delane and linebacker Whit Weeks will not play in the bowl game. Nussmeier and Delane are hurt and will get ready for the NFL draft. Weeks is also recovering from a broken ankle, and could forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

Will Wilson be on Lane Kiffin’s staff? Wilson says a decision on that has not been made. Kiffin is expected to bring Ole Miss running backs coach Kevin Smith with him to LSU, leaving Wilson without a spot on Kiffin’s staff.

The Jena High School football team is preparing for its first-ever state championship game appearance. After losing in the semifinals the last two seasons, head coach Jay Roark says it’s nice to get over the hump.

Cut 10 (14) “…than previous years.”

Jena is 13-and-0 and the top seed in Division Two non-select. But they will have to beat defending champ Sterlington on Friday afternoon.

Edna Karr is seeking its eighth championship as the Cougars are trying to go back-to-back. Karr Coach Brice Brown…

Cut 20 (20) “…doing it”

Karr and St. Aug on Saturday afternoon on the LHSAA Network.

LSU’s Frank Wilson will serve as the interim head coach for the Tigers when they play Houston in the Texas Bowl on December 27th. But Wilson’s future with the program is uncertain as he did not provide any clarity when speaking with reporters Tuesday morning…

Cut 9 (13)  “…in that regard.”

Wilson says quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, linebacker Whit Weeks and receiver Aaron Anderson will not play in the bowl game, along with cornerback Mansoor Delane, but defensive tackle Ahmad Breaux is expected to play despite announcing he’s entering the transfer portal.

Eleven Louisiana Tech football players have announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal. But Tech coach Sonny Cumbie says a few of those players have indicated they want to play in the Indy Bowl…

cut 18 (14) “…to their characther”

For the first time ever, the Iowa Yellow Jackets will play in a state championship football game. Iowa head coach Tommy Johns says the team has the Calcasieu Parish town buzzing.

Cut 29 (06)  “…a long time.”

Iowa will play North DeSoto on Friday at noon. The Griffins are the top seed in Division Two non-select. North DeSoto has never won a state title.

Mangham is looking for its first state championship since 1956 as the Dragons will take on Haynesville on Thursday at noon in the Division Four non-select title game. Mangham Coach Scott Wilcher says they are playing for their Richland Parish town.

Cut 15 (08) “…going to do.”

Mangham lost to Haynesville in its last State championship game in 2013 and 2014.

The Pelicans lost their seventh straight yesterday despite a triple double from rookie Derik Queen. New Orleans fell to the Spurs 135 to 132 and Queen had 33 points, ten rebounds and ten assists.

Two LSU players have announced plans to enter the transfer portal. Defensive tackle Ahmad Breaux from Ruston is leaving LSU after two seasons. He appeared in 24 games and recorded 36 tackles. Cornerback Ashton Stamps also says he will put his name in the portal. Stamps was a part-time starter in 2023, a full-time starter in 2024, but dropped behind PJ Woodland and DJ Pickett on the depth chart this season.

The Ragin Cajuns have eight more days to prepare for their bowl game against Delaware in Mobile. Coach Michael Desormeaux’s team is trying to finish the season on a five-game winning streak and U-L Lafayette is looking for its first bowl win in three years…

Cut 17 (14) “…to go do.”

Someone will win their first state championship in high school football on Friday afternoon when Iowa meets North DeSoto in the Division Two non-select state championship GAME. For the Griffins, this is their second-ever appearance in a state title game. Coach Dennis Dunn led North DeSoto to the title game in 2022…

Cut 20 (11) “…for them”

Iowa is making its first state championship game appearance in school history. Yellow Jackets head coach Tommy Johns says winning the time of possession will be critical in this game…

Cut 14 (05) “…track meet.”

All of the state championship games can be seen on the LHSAA Network.

The Pelicans rallied from a 20-point halftime deficit, only to lose to San Antonio 135 to 132. Career night for rookie Derik Queen as the Pelicans center had a triple-double, 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. But he missed a game-winning three-point attempt in the final seconds.

The Saints went on the road and beat the top team in the NFC South yesterday for their third win of the season. New Orleans upset Tampa Bay 24-20. Rookie Quarterback Tyler Shough only threw for 144 yards in the rain, but he had two rushing touchdowns, including a 13-yard run to give the Saints the lead for good in the fourth quarter…

Cut 17 (08) “…get those wins”

Running back Devin Neal got the game ball from Coach Kellen Moore as he rushed for 70 yards including a three-yard TD run to give New Orleans an early lead.

Tulane University is reportedly promoting passing game coordinator Will Hall to head coach. Hall did not have a good run at Southern Miss as he was 14 and 30 as the Golden Eagles head coach from 2021 to 2014.

Jon Sumrall will coach the team when the Green Wave face Ole Miss for a second time this season in a College Football Playoff matchup on December 20^th.

The Prep Football Classic begins Thursday in the Caesars Superdome, and the marquee matchup that day will be the Division 3 select state title game between Dunham and Calvary Baptist. The Tigers are led by one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in the Class of 2027, Elijah Haven. Dunham Coach Neil Weiner says his three-year starter at quarterback has played at a high level since he walked on campus…

Cut 18 (19)  “…everything he does.”

Haven has been named the Gatorade Louisiana player of the year.

The 5^th ranked LSU women’s basketball team scored a season-high 126 points in a 126 to 62 blowout victory over winless UNO.

The LSU men’s basketball team suffered its first loss, an 82-58 defeat to Texas Tech yesterday.

Tulane is in the College Football Playoffs and they will face a familiar opponent in the opening round when the Green Wave visits the Lane Kiffin-less Ole Miss Rebels on December 20^th in Oxford.

The two teams met at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 20th, and the Rebels ran Tulane out of the stadium, winning 45-10. Green Wave Coach Jon Sumrall says things will be different four months later…

Cut 5 (06) “…a better game”

The winner of this game will play Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on January 1^st.

LSU football is headed back to the Texas Bowl, where they’ll play the 21^st ranked Houston Cougars. Houston is 9-3 and 6-3 in the Big 12. The Tigers beat Baylor in the Texas Bowl last year.

Louisiana Tech is in the Independence Bowl and will play future Sun Belt opponent Coastal Carolina on December 30^th in Shreveport.

The Ragin Cajuns will play Delaware in Mobile on December 17^th.

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The Saints avenged a bad loss to the Buccaneers six weeks ago, flipping the script and beating them in Tampa, 24-20, yesterday. Head Coach Kellen Moore says despite being eliminated from playoff contention a week ago, the team put forth a great effort to earn its third win of the season.

Cut 16 (17) “…with the win.”

Saints rookie Q-B Tyler Shough completed 13 of 20 passes for only 144 yards and had one of his passes picked off. However, he also rushed for 55 yards and scored two of the Saints’ three TDs; the other was scored by Devin Neal.

LSU men’s basketball suffered its first loss, losing to 19th-ranked Texas Tech 82-58. The fifth-ranked LSU Lady Tigers dribbled past the UNO Privateers 126 to 62. LSU is 10-and-0.