Oak Grove beat Grand Lake by a score of 33-7 to win the 1A state title.  Tigers senior running back Ron Craten ran for 191 yards and had 2 touchdowns.

The New Orleans Saints beat the Minnesota Vikings 52-33 in their Christmas Day matchup.  Saints Running Back Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record by scoring six touchdowns on the ground to go along with a career-high 155 yards rushing.  With this win on Friday, New Orleans improved to 11-4 on the season and clinched its fourth straight NFC South title.

The Saints will wrap up the regular season on Sunday as they will be on the road to take on the Carolina Panthers in a division matchup.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram has been named Western Conference Player of the week.  Ingram is averaging 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists through the first three games.

The Ragin Cajuns ended its football season on a high note as they beat UTSA 31-24 to win the First Responder Bowl.  The Cajuns were led offensively by their strong ground game, as running back Elijah Mitchell ran for 127 yards and a touchdown, while Trey Ragas had 98 yards and a touchdown of his own.  Quarterback Levi Lewis had 146 yards passing and 2 touchdowns.

With the victory over UTSA, the Ragin Cajuns finished the 2020 football season with a 10-1 record.

The LSU men’s basketball team returned to action against Nicholls St and grabbed an 86-80 win without Point Guard Javonte Smart to move to 5-1 on the year.  The Tigers were led in scoring once again by freshman Cam Thomas who poured in a career-high 29 points.  Trendon Watford had 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists.  Darius Days added 15 points and 8 rebounds.

LSU shot 55 percent from the floor as a team but struggled from three-point range, as they were 4-15 from behind the arc.  LSU has wrapped up the non-conference schedule and will begin SEC play on Tuesday against Texas A&M.

The New Orleans Saints beat the Minnesota Vikings 52-33 in a high-scoring Christmas Day matchup.  Saints Running Back Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record by scoring six touchdowns on the ground to go along with a career-high 155 yards rushing.  With this win on Friday, New Orleans improved to 11-4 on the season and clinched its fourth straight NFC South title.

The Saints will wrap up the regular season on Sunday as they will be on the road to take on the Carolina Panthers in an NFC South matchup.

Two Louisiana state champion football teams have been determined as Many took down Kinder 16-13 last night to grab the 2A state title and the Catholic High Bears cruise past Byrd 35-12 as they capture the Division I title.

There is also a number of state championship games that have yet to be played.  Today, in 1A, Oak Grove and Grand Lake will face off while De La Salle and St. Thomas More battle it out for the Division II title, and Lafayette Christian and St Charles will face off in the Division III finals.

The New Orleans Pelicans beat the San Antonio Spurs 98-95 to improve to 2-1 on the young season.  New Orleans was led by Brandon Ingram’s 28 point double-double.  Zion Williamson had a double-double as well, as he added 18 points and 11 rebounds.  Ingram is off to a hot start as he is averaging 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists through the first 3 games.

The Pelicans’ next game will be tomorrow night as they take on the Phoenix Suns.

The LSU men’s basketball team returned to action against Nicholls St and grabbed an 86-80 win without Point Guard Javonte Smart to move to 5-1 on the year.  The Tigers were led in scoring once again by freshman Cam Thomas who poured in a career-high 29 points.  Trendon Watford had 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists.  Darius Days added 15 points and 8 rebounds.

LSU shot 55 percent from the floor as a team but struggled from three-point range, as they were 4-15 from behind the arc.  LSU has wrapped up the non-conference schedule and will begin SEC play on Tuesday against Texas A&M.

Green Bay beat the Titans last night, but New Orleans still has a chance to earn the number one seed in the NFC playoffs. For that to happen, the Saints will need to beat Carolina on Sunday in the regular season finale, the Bears would need to defeat the Packers and Seattle would have to knock off the 49ers, which would set up a three-way tie for first place in the NFC. The Saints would win the tie breaker under that scenario. If Green Bay defeats Chicago then the Saints will miss out on the top seed.

The New Orleans Pelicans won their home opener as they defeated the San Antonio Spurs 98-95 last night. Brandon Ingram continued his strong start as he scored 28 points.

The Ragin Cajuns wrapped up a second straight double digit win season on Saturday as U-L Lafayette held off Texas San Antonio 31-24 in the SERVPro First Responder Bowl in Dallas. Elijah Mitchell rushed for 127 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown.
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At the Prep Football Classic in Natchitoches, Catholic High of Baton Rouge won its third state championship in six years as the Bears defeated Byrd 35-12. Landon O’ Connor rushed for two touchdowns, while freshman QB Daniel Beale tossed two touchdown passes.

Many won its first state title since 2014 with a 16-13 win over Kinder. Tylen Singleton’s 23 yard interception return for a touchdown in the 4th quarter was the winning score.

Today at 11 AM it’s the Class 1A state championship game between Grand Lake and Oak Grove. Grand Lake is in Cameron Parish and trying to win the school’s first title despite two devastating hurricanes. Grand Lake Coach Jeff Wainwright says the team has been an inspiration and escape for Cameron Parish residents…
cut 14 (12) “…cheering go”
Oak Grove is the defending one-a champs.

The Pelicans dropped to 1-1 on the season as they lost to Miami 111-98 today. New Orleans trailed by 13 points at halftime but were unable to come back. Zion Williamson had 32 points and 14 rebounds and Brandon Ingram had 28 points, but they didn’t get much help. Josh Hart was the only other double-digit scorer as he had 12 points. New Orleans will host San Antonio on Sunday for its home opener.

The LSU men’s basketball team returns to the court tomorrow for its first game in nearly two weeks as they’ll host Nicholls State. Since beating Sam Houston State, the Tigers have had three games postponed or canceled because of COVID-19. The Bayou Bengals were scheduled to take on Texas Southern tomorrow, but T-S-U can’t play because of COVID issues. The Colonels are also coming off a long lay off as they haven’t played in 25 days. Tip-off is at 1 PM.
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The Ragin Cajuns go after their tenth win of the season Saturday when they take on Texas San Antonio in the Servpro First Responder Bowl in Dallas. U-L Lafayette enters the game as co-champs of the Sun Belt. They were disappointed the conference title game was canceled because of COVID issues with Coastal Carolina, but Coach Billy Napier says his team is now focused on winning this bowl game…
Cut 14 (14) “…right way”
Kick-off is at 2:30 on A-B-C.

Glen Guilbeau for the USA Today Network reports that Cincinnati defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman has emerged as Coach Ed Orgeron’s top choice to replace Bo Pelini as defensive coordinator. The Bearkats are undefeated and ranked 11th in the nation in total defense. Former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason has also been contacted.

The Saints look to win the NFC South today and avoid a three-game losing streak when they host the Vikings for a 3:30 kick-off. Minnesota is 6-8 and need a win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins…
cut 12 (08) “…A-game
New Orleans has lost to the Vikings twice in the playoffs in recent history, both times Minnesota won on the final play.

The Pelicans are also in action today as they face the reigning Eastern Conference Champion Miami Heat. New Orleans looks to build off a season-opening win over the Raptors, while the Heat lost its season opener to the Magic. In the season-opening win versus Toronto, Brandon Ingram had 24 points and 11 assists, while Zion Williamson had 15 points and ten rebounds.

LSU basketball has scheduled a game versus Nicholls at 1 PM.

Glen Guilbeau for the USA Today Network reports that Cincincinnati defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman has emerged as Coach Ed Orgeron’s top choice to replace Bo Pelini as defensive coordinator. The Bearkats are undefeated and rank 11th in the nation in total defense. Former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason has also been contacted.

The Ragin Cajuns will face U-T-S-A tomorrow in the Servpro First Responder Bowl in Dallas. The Roadrunners feature the Conference USA Player of the Year in Sincere McCormick, who has rushed for 13-hundred yards. Cajuns Coach Billy Napier says they must slow down McCormick…
cut 15 (15) “….success”
A win for the Cajuns gives them ten for the season. Kick-off is at 2:30 on A-B-C.

ULM has named Terry Bowden as its new head football coach. Bowden, the son of legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, has won 175 games in 25 seasons as a collegiate coach and had a very successful six year run at Auburn, before it fell apart in 1998. Bowden returned to coaching in 2009 and won 29 games in three seasons at North Alabama. In 2012, he went to Akron and produced one winning season in sevens years at the MAC school. The last two seasons, Bowden has served as a Graduate Assistant at Clemson…
cut 28 (28) “…national championship”
Bowden takes over a program that failed to win a game this past season.

The Pelicans begin a new season tonight as they face the Raptors in Tampa which is the temporary home this season for the Toronto-based franchise. New Orleans fans are excited about Zion Williamson’s second season in the NBA and Williamson is predicting it will be a good one…
Cut 16 (20) “…we’ll figure it out.”
Tip-off is at 6:30.

In college basketball…Louisiana Tech defeated ULM for a second time this season as the Bulldogs defeated ULM 68-57. Cobe Williams and Kalob Ledoux each had 13 points for the Bulldogs who are 7-and-2. The Warhawks fell to 2-and-5.

Northwestern State scored 61 points in the second half but still lost to top-ranked Gonzaga for a second straight night 95-78. Jairus Roberson had 15 points for the Demons.

Former Auburn Coach Terry Bowden will reportedly become the next head football coach at U-L-M. Bowden coached at Auburn from 1993 to 1998, winning 47 games in six seasons. . Monroe News-Star sports reporter Adam Hunsucker says it’s a surprise to see the Warhawks hire a 64-year-old coach…
Cut 9 (12) “..weekend came.”
Bowden also had a successful three-year stint at North Alabama. His last head coaching job was at Akron where he went 32-and-52 in seven seasons. Akron fired Bowden after the 2018 season.

LSU has announced offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and defensive line coach Bill Johnson are retiring as on-field coaches and they will become analysts. So now Coach Ed Orgeron has to find both an offensive and defensive coordinator.

Louisiana Tech is seeking a seventh straight bowl victory when it takes on Georgia Southern in the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl this afternoon. Aaron Allen will make his first start at quarterback since the season opener. Coach Skip Holtz says they are not asking Allen to be a hero…
Cut 18 (18) “…gives you.”

Pelican fans are expecting big things from Zion Williamson as he begins his second NBA season tonight as New Orleans tips off a new season in Tampa against the Raptors. Williamson says getting into the playoffs is the goal…
Cut 16 (20) “…we’ll figure it out.”

LSU has announced offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and defensive line coach Bill Johnson are retiring as on field coaches and they will become analysts. So now Coach Ed Orgeron has to find both an offensive and defensive coordinator.

Tulane freshman Quarterback Michael Pratt threw three interceptions and the Green Wave lost to Nevada 38-28 in the Idaho Potato Bowl.

Louisiana Tech faces Georgia Southern this afternoon in the New Orleans Bowl. Tech has a 5-4 record, while Georgia Southern is 7-5. The Eagles run a triple-option offense and Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz says it’s not easy to get ready for the running attack
Cut 19 (19) “…backside.”
Kick-off is at 2 PM.

The Pelicans begin a new season tonight as they face the Raptors in Tampa which is the temporary home this season for the Toronto-based franchise. New Orleans fans are excited about Zion Williamson’s second season in the NBA and Williamson is predicting it will be a good one…
Cut 16 (20) “…we’ll figure it out.”
Tip-off is at 6:30.

In college basketball…Louisiana Tech defeated ULM for a second time this season as the Bulldogs defeated ULM 68-57. Cobe Williams and Kalob Ledoux each had 13 points for the Bulldogs who are 7-and-2. The Warhawks fell to 2-and-5.

Northwestern State scored 61 points in the second half but still lost to top-ranked Gonzaga for a second straight night 95-78. Jairus Roberson had 15 points for the Demons.

Bo Pelini is out as defensive coordinator. LSU announced last night that Pelini and the school have mutually parted ways with two years left on his contract, which puts his buyout at five-point-two million dollars. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says financial resources might be tight as Coach Ed Orgeron looks for a new defensive coordinator
Cut 4 (10 ) “.which happens”
The athletic department has reported an 80-million dollar loss in revenue due to the pandemic.

Pelini will not be the only coaching change. LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger is reportedly retiring as an on-field coach and will be re-assigned to another position on staff.

Defensive line coach Bill Johnson is also retiring and will become an analyst as well.

A new NBA season tips off tonight as the Nets host the Warriors, while the Clippers are at the Lakers. The Pelicans begin their season tomorrow against the Raptors as that game will be played in Tampa. The temporary home for the Tortonto-based franchise.

But the big story is Zion Williamson beginning his second season in the NBA. Williamson reportedly dropped 25 pounds in the offseason as the number one pick was limited during his rookie season because of a knee injury and conditioning. Williamson says he feels more comfortable this year…
cut 17 (17) “…ready to go”

In college hoopes tonight. Louisiana Tech is at ULM. the Bulldogs beat the Warhawks by earlier this month. Northwestern State faces top ranked Gonzaga again tonight after losing to the Zags last night 95-57.