Road To The Dome: LHSAA Class 2A Semifinals Preview

by Jace LeJeune and Lee Brecheen

28 teams are down and there are only four more left to go. Four teams remain standing and all four of these teams have one goal in mind. That goal is to be one of nine teams in the end holding a state championship trophy. For Louisiana football fans, this is the most wonderful time of the year. It is our version of “March Madness”. This year, we got you covered as for the next couple of weeks, we will go through all of the matchups from 1A all the way to 5A private and public each and every week leading up to the All-State Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Prep Classic from December 13th-14th. Louisiana Football Magazine’s recruiting expert Lee Brecheen and editor Jace LeJeune give their insight on which teams will survive and continue their march to the State Championship. Today, we preview the Class 2A public division semifinal playoff matchups. This week, we will find out which teams will be battling it out for the Class 2A state championship.

#1 Ferriday Trojans (11-1) vs. #5 Amite Warriors (9-4)

Game Preview: The Ferriday Trojans and the Amite Warriors face off in a rematch of the Class 2A semifinals from a season ago. However, unlike last season when the eventual Class 2A state champion Warriors defeated the Trojans 44-20, it is the Trojans that enter this year's matchup as the favorite. The Trojans, under head coach Stanley Smith, are having one of their most dominant seasons in recent memory. After the team's opening loss to Class 5A opponent Alexandria, the Trojans have now outscored opponents an incredible 678-88 points including an impressive 40-21 victory over the Kinder Yellow Jackets in the quarterfinals last week. The Warriors, under head coach Zephaniah Powell, are catching their rhythm after trying to adjust losing the likes of Ishmael Sopsher (Alabama), Devonta Lee (LSU), Amani Gilmore (Kentucky), and other key seniors from last year's state championship run. The Warriors won seven of its last eight games and are playing great defense in the playoffs posting two shutouts against the Welsh Greyhounds and most recently against the Loreauville Tigers in the Class 2A quarterfinals by a final score of 26-0. Featuring a defensive backfield, which includes Miami commit Daran Branch and SEC recruit Kevin Bickham, that side of the football makes the Warriors a tough team to throw the football against. However, the Warriors will face a big test facing an explosive Trojans offensive attack led by star senior quarterback Kobe Dillon. The Warriors are looking to continue their quest for a state championship repeat while the Trojans are trying to get back to the Superdome for the first time since 1984.

Jace's Pick: Ferriday

Lee's Pick: Ferriday

#2 Many Tigers (10-3) vs. #6 Kentwood Kangaroos (9-4)

Game Preview: The Many Tigers, under head coach Jess Curtis, have been in this position many times before, but it has not been since 2014 when the Tigers played in the Super dome, and in that season, the team went on to win the state championship. The Tigers are looking to break through the drought against the defending Class 1A state champion Kentwood Kangaroos, which has moved up to Class 2A. The Tigers have been red hot after starting the season at 0-3 winning an incredible ten games in a row. The Tigers have the formula to win the state championship as the team has a physical offensive line along with two running backs in Terrence Williams and Shamorian Wiseman, who are both big, bruising backs that both weigh over 220 pounds. Also, the Tigers can rely on depth and numbers having dress close to 100 players. However, what separates this particular Many squad from others in the past is that the team has found ways to win the close games including in the playoffs coming from behind to defeat East Feliciana in the second round of the playoffs. If there is a team that has the athletes to challenge the Tigers, it would have to be the Kangaroos, led by head coach Jonathan Foster. Even though the Kangaroos lost Trey Palmer (LSU), Edward Magee (Southeastern), Kendall Wilkerson (UL), and others, the talent is still there including Tulane commit Cornelius Dyson, senior wide receiver Radarrian Robbins, and linebacker Bry'ce Cooper. If there is an advantage the Kangaroos would hold, it would be the team's experience in big games as Coach Foster is already looking for his third state championship as the head of the Kentwood football program.

Jace's Pick: Many

Lee's Pick: Many

Jace's State Championship Prediction: Ferriday vs. Many

Lee's State Championship Prediction: Ferriday vs. Many

Win-Loss Records For Class 2A Picks (At Conclusion of Quarterfinals):

Jace: 22-6

Lee: 19-9

Hey football fans. Like our recruiting interviews, stories, and other content on our website? Click on our website daily to view articles on recruits, coaches, and so much more at our website: https://www.lafootballmagazine.com/. Also, we have exciting news that for the third straight year, we will have our North and South LA issues and both are now out! Both issues will continue to cover all the Louisiana s as well as all the high schools in state, but there will be 16 pages that will focus on North Louisiana as well as South Louisiana. For more information, please check the following link to where you can find the magazine in a store near you. Also, below are the two covers as well as where you can order both magazines on our website.

Store Link: https://www.lafootballmagazine.com/news/2019-louisiana-football-magazine-north-and-south-editions-now-available-in-stores-near-you/

North Cover South Cover

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