The #7 ranked Leesville Wampus Cats used a stifling defense and quick strike offense to bounce #18 Booker T. Washington of New Orleans, 50-12, in the LHSAA Division II Select quarterfinals, last Friday night in Leesville.
The Wampus Cats will travel Friday night to visit #3 E.D. White in Thibodeaux. White got by #6 Vandebilt Catholic,23-18, on a last-minute score that followed a blocked field goal try.
Leesville wasted no time scoring against the BTW Lions, as Xavier Ford went 52 yards for a TD on the first play of the night. The all-time Leesville High rushing leader finished the night with 308 yards rushing and five TD’s. He also caught two passes for 49 yards. Ford broke Cecil Collins’s single season rushing record on the evening. He stands at 3301 yards on the year, eclipsing Collins’s record of 3051 yards for a single season.
Leesville sophomore quarterback, Trel Broom, kept BTW guessing as he hit 5 of 10 passes for 105 yards, one TD, and one interception. His 22 yard-TD pass went to freshman Ju-Ju Brown. Freshman running back, Grant Braxton, picked up 83 yards and a touchdown in the second half. Braxton has shined, spelling Ford in the backfield, with 325 yards on only 36 carries. Leesville fans will see plenty of him in the backfield next year.
The Leesville defense limited BTW to 185 yards of total offense; 76 yards passing and 109 yards rushing. The Lions had averaged 33 points in two playoff games. They managed just seven first downs and converted only one of seven third down tries. Leesville had 21 first downs and NO PUNTS, for the second playoff game in a row.
Sophomore linebacker Masyn Williams recorded a safety, had seven tackles and three QB sacks in leading the harassment of the Cat Pack defense. The pressure was relentless.
Leesville will make their third semi-final appearance in the state playoffs when they travel to Thibodeaux Friday, December 6, to face #3 E.D. White in the Division II Select semi-finals. The winner will advance to face, either #1 Archbishop Shaw or #5 Madison Prep for the state title in the Superdome the week of December 12-14.
E.D. White is the Catholic school for the Diocese of Houma/Thibodeaux. They are ranked #3 and play in District 8-4A. The Cardinals finished the regular season 8-2. Their losses were to Jesuit of New Orleans in week 2(22-15) and Lutcher in week 7(27-20). In the playoffs they have recorded wins over #19 Livingston College Prep, 51-14 and #6 Vandebilt Catholic of Morgan City,23-18. The Cardinal defense has recorded four shutouts this year.
Gametime is 7pm at Cardinal Stadium in Thibodeaux. Local radio stations KJAE/93.5 and KVVP/105.7 both have plans to broadcast the game.
The Vernon Parish Journal will break down the two teams in the Friday, December 6 edition.