LHSAA State Championships, Day 3: The Massey Ratings (and Jerit's Take)

Louisiana’s high school football state championships wrap up Saturday in the Caesars Superdome.

The Prep Classic event’s third day features a two-game slate of the Division-I Select and Division-I Non-Select matchups:

Here’s the rundown of those title bouts, including players to watch, Massey predictions and other tidbits.

And follow coverage from the sidelines throughout the day.

No. 1 Edna Karr (12-0) vs. No. 2 Alexandria (13-0)

Division-I Select

Saturday, noon

Massey Rankings: No. 1 vs. No. 3

Semifinals: Edna Karr beat Catholic (Baton Rouge), 21-19. Alexandria beat John Curtis, 24-13.

Players to Watch: 2025 Edna Karr DL Corey Adams Jr., 2026 Edna Karr DL Richard Anderson, 2025 Edna Karr LB Arsenio Bolds Jr., 2025 Edna Karr DB Tyrik Brigalia, 2025 Alexandria WR/ATH Jimmie Duncan, 2025 Edna Karr WR TaRon Francis, 2026 Alexandria DB Jay Frazier, 2027 Alexandria DB Jakyrin Griffin, 2026 Edna Karr DB Aiden Hall, 2025 Edna Karr DE/OLB Lyric Hawkins, 2026 Edna Karr DB Hayward Howard Jr., 2026 Edna Karr QB John Johnson Jr., 2025 Alexandria RB J.T. Lindsey, 2025 Edna Karr WR Oliver Mitchell Jr., 2026 Edna Karr OL Leon Noil Jr., 2025 Edna Karr DB Torrence Sanders, 2027 Alexandria QB Karsen Sellers, 2025 Alexandria DB Cartez Simon, 2025 Edna Karr WR/ATH Daejawn Smith, 2025 Alexandria TE Tanner Townsend, 2025 Alexandria WR Darius Washington, 2027 Edna Karr OL Zyion Wesley, 2026 Alexandria LB Xzavier White, 2026 Edna Karr DB Maurice Williams Jr.

Recent History: Edna Karr won a 2023 quarterfinal, 40-34.

Most Recent State Championships: Edna Karr 2019, Alexandria never.

Massey Prediction: Edna Karr (75%), 44-27.

Jerit Thoughts: These two teams have to be considered the state’s top two teams entering the weekend, if incorporating talent and eye-test dynamics and the résumés on the field that include Edna Karr’s dominance of the Catholic League and Alexandria’s wins against Ruston, Neville and John Curtis. Alexandria still doesn’t receive enough credit around the state as a full team — not just phenomenal senior running back J.T. Lindsey — capable of capping its dream season with the one more, all-important win. But Edna Karr, at its best, is the No. 1 team in the state with an absolutely stacked defense and an explosive, big-play offense that is a nightmare for most opponents. The Cougars have hurt themselves at times with miscues and opened the door for teams to lead or hang around longer than they should. And an Alexandria team playing to its standard wouldn’t need too many of those mistakes to take advantage and lift the big trophy. But Edna Karr is the most talented team in the state, well-coached overall and I have a feeling is going to channel the Superdome energy into one of its best performances of the season, as opposed to let its potential jitters lead to additional errors.

No. 3 Ruston (11-2) vs. No. 4 Central (Baton Rouge) (12-1)

Division-I Non-Select

Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Massey Rankings: No. 2 vs. No. 6

Semifinals: Ruston beat Destrehan, 44-7. Central beat Neville, 17-13.

Players to Watch: 2025 Ruston DB Aidan Anding, 2027 Ruston DB Jayden Andring, 2025 Ruston DL Payton Bell, 2025 Ruston QB/ATH Joshua Brantley, 2025 Ruston RB Dylone Brooks, 2025 Central QB Jackson Firmin, 2025 Ruston RB Jordan Hayes, 2025 Ruston LB Zheric Hill, 2027 Ruston TE/WR Ahmad Hudson, 2027 Central DB/RB Marvin Joseph Jr., 2025 Ruston DL Ka’varion Key, 2025 Central DL DK Mays, Central LB/ATH KD Mays, 2025 Ruston OL Sam Nations, 2025 Ruston WR Joran Parker, 2025 Central DB Steven Ranel, 2025 Central DL/TE/FB Deshad Sheridan, 2026 Central DL Scott Smith Jr., 2025 Central OL Jeydon Sparrow, 2025 WR Kylen Thomas, 2025 Central RB Emmanuel Williams, 2025 Ruston DL Kaleb Williams, 2026 Central WR Keithon Womack, 2025 Central K/P Nathan Zimmer.

Recent History: Ruston won a 2019 second-round game, 28-19.

Most Recent State Championships: Ruston 2023, Central 1966.

Massey Prediction: Ruston (98%), 38-7.

Jerit Thoughts: Louisiana’s high school football season looks likely to end on an old-school, physical slugfest of a note. Both Ruston and Central (Baton Rouge) have worked through and grown from their respective adversities at different point this season and arrive to the Superdome with much different backgrounds of competing at this level. The Bearcats are one of the state’s blue-blood football powers and now make their third straight title appearance and seek the first repeat in school history. Meanwhile the Wildcats have thrived in an underdog role to reach the season’s final round for the first time since a 1966 championship. Central has beaten Ruston’s District 2-5A rivals West Monroe and Neville the past two weeks to reach this point. But the Bearcats are peaking at the right time, flat-out dominating good playoff opponents. Central could turn this into another low-scoring, tight battle with a chance to steal a win late, similarly to last week’s trip to Neville. But Ruston is the clear favorite to win and has the potential to start fast, control the contest for four quarters and flex its muscles a bit. As much as I think the Wildcats deserve more respect than they’ve gotten much of the season, I think the Bearcats are going to be tough to beat in this one.