Louisiana vs. All Y'all: Jerit's Takes from the Superdome

Louisiana’s high school football season is officially in the books.

Edna Karr, Central (Baton Rouge), Archbishop Shaw, Cecilia, Sterlington, Catholic (New Iberia), South Plaquemines and Vermilion Catholic won state championships this weekend in Caesars Superdome.

The memorable title games — a mix of thrilling finishes, dominant showings and all-around storylines — included countless impressive, eye-catching performances by standout student-athletes.

Here are 14 notes from the weekend from a prospect standpoint.

Richard Anderson

Outstanding Player honors at high school state championships skew heavily to players with top offensive statistics. But, for my money, Edna Karr defensive tackle Richard Anderson was the most impressive performer in three days and eight games. The 2026 LSU commit spearheaded a lights-out performance by the Cougars’ defensive front that held Alexandria nearly 40 points shy of its season average.

Anderson’s explosive get-off and quickness at his size are elite. And when opposing blockers are able to stay in front of the athletic big man, he consistently drives them backwards — often two at a time — to still generate pressure up the middle as he collapses the pocket. LSU-signed Alexandria running back J.T. Lindsey rarely had any room to operate as Anderson and other Cougars defenders met him behind the line as soon as he received the handoff.

“Big Rich” finished with seven tackles, six of which came for loss — one for a sack and one for a safety. and the Trojans finished with just 188 total offensive yards in Edna Karr’s 53-8 rout. The margin of victory was the largest-ever in an LHSAA Division I or Class 5A state championship game.

Diesel Solari

Among uncommitted or late-steals of prospects, Cecilia star Diesel Solari was the clear headliner.

The Bulldogs’ senior quarterback and all-around athlete was once again the ring leader of a gritty effort en route to a thrilling 35-32 comeback against top-seeded Franklinton.

Solari showed flashes of both his electric playmaking and toughness, often when Cecilia most needed them, on his way to Outstanding Player honors to wrap his high school career.

The 5-foot-7, 175-pound spark-plug finished with 146 rushing yards — tempered by Franklinton’s two sacks for 22 yards — and two touchdowns on 18 carries and another 69 yards passing, including the 39-yard touchdown to fellow senior Ellis Stewart in the final minutes to help lift the Bulldogs back ahead.

Solari’s potential path to the next level remains uncertain, but his potential as a difference-maker there if given the opportunity is clear.

His burst and quickness are special. He’s a versatile athlete who has played all over the field in all three phases during his high school career. And though a smaller prospect, he has repeatedly proven himself among the toughest athletes in the state.

Braylon Calais

Solari’s sophomore teammate will be one of Louisiana’s most sought-after 2027 prospects over the course of the next two years.

Braylon Calais was one of the biggest skill players on the field in the Division-II Non-Select matchup — if not the biggest when considering his thick build to his 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame.

And he wasted no time showcasing his breakaway speed at his size, as he wound 88 yards to the end zone on his first kick return opportunity, the only touchdown on special teams in the weekend’s eight games.

Calais, another versatile Cecilia athlete, racked up 52 yards and a goal-line score on nine carries, caught three passes for 36 yards and added six tackles and a forced fumble on defense.

Elijah Haven

The highest-profile quarterback of the three-day event was also one of the two or three youngest.

Catholic (New Iberia) and its senior (more below) ultimately won the day, 31-28, but Dunham sophomore Elijah Haven showed many of the traits that have made him one of the nation’s top 2027 prospects early in the recruiting process for the class.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound multisport athlete completed 25 of 37 passes for 300 yards, two touchdowns and an interception — all not including a 31-yard pass as time expired in the first half that appeared to be caught in the back of the end zone, but was ruled out of bounds.

Haven also provided nearly all of the Tigers’ rushing success with 153 yards and two touchdowns on 32 attempts, at times making defenders miss and more often power his way through multiple tacklers for additional yards before the Panthers could finally bringing him down.

A late interception near the goal line will sting, but Haven made few other mistakes or misses. And Dunham wouldn’t have been in that opportunity late or in the Superdome in the first place without his playmaking and general poise throughout the season, the playoff run and the comeback attempt.

Jacob Washington

In a game anticipated to be headlined by the trenches, defenses and run games, Michigan wide receiver signee Jacob Washington earned Outstanding Player honors in probably the top performance of his career considering the stakes.

Archbishop Shaw went to its athletic senior receiver over and over again early on the way to eight catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

Washington’s 35-yard score in the final seconds of the first half was among the most pivotal turning points in the contest which looked in E.D. White’s favor through the first quarter and a half.

And his red-zone score midway through the fourth quarter stretched his Eagles’ lead to double digits and helped tighten their grasp on the program’s first state championship since 1987.

Jasper Parker

Washington’s fellow Michigan signee battled his way back and through an ankle injury and a nasty E.D. White defense to lead the team in total yardage in his final high school game.

Jasper Parker had just seven carries for 37 yards — 5.3 yards per carry — at halftime before exploding in the second half to finish with 174 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries — 9.2 yards per carry — on the afternoon.

The senior running back was tough throughout the contest and, when finally given a little daylight on a play early in the fourth quarter, popped it 62 yards up the sideline, opening up and showing his long speed all the way to the end zone.

Aiden Hall

Anderson’s fellow 2026 LSU commit on the Edna Karr defense deserves a mention for his tone-setting contribution to the Cougars’ huge afternoon.

Junior safety Aiden Hall snatched an early overthrow on the game’s second play from scrimmage and housed it 32 yards to send the hometown school’s team and crowd into an immediate frenzy on which they only continued to build.

TaRon Francis

Edna Karr’s senior LSU signee was the early spark on offense with his 46-yard touchdown reception up the right sideline on his team’s first offensive play.

TaRon “ManChild” Francis finished with 66 yards on three catches, two of which found the end zone — the 46-yarder early and a 22-yarder over a defender late in the third quarter to continue to the purple-and-gold onslaught.

Jackson Firmin, Keithon Womack

Central’s defense had been its calling-card and was excellent once again Saturday.

The Wildcats’ held reigning champion Ruston to an LHSAA title-game record low 90 yards, while also swiping four takeaways on a fumble recovery by Houston signee Dakavius “D.K.” Mays, an interception by sophomore athlete Marvin Joseph Jr. and one of each by sophomore safety Mason Moore.

But the offense appeared to click on all cylinders in eye-popping fashion against the Bearcats’ typically stout defense.

Nicholls State quarterback signee Jackson Firmin earned Outstanding Player honors with his 17-for-28 passing for 233 yards, five touchdowns and one interception and also rushed seven times for 30 yards.

Firmin delivered dimes throughout the contest, including six to junior receiver Keithon Womack for 113 yards and the two touchdowns to bookend the team’s dominant performance.

The first came deep down the right sideline, 59 yards for the game’s first points to help get the Central snowball rolling, and the last came on a 15-yard back-shoulder that Womack caught, broke a tackle and reached for the pylon to drive another stake through the heart of any lingering Ruston hopes.

Firmin’s confidence and swagger helped highlight the offense, including 4-for-5 fourth-down efficiency.

And the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Womack made his case on the big stage as a receiver to watch in Louisiana’s 2026 class.

Jonathan Dartez, Luke Landry

All three of the Lafayette area’s state championships were led by gritty performances by quarterbacks whose play continued to far exceed their physical measureables and college offers list.

Vermilion Catholic quarterback Jonathan Dartez started the weekend with a record-setting 47 carries — the most-ever in an LHSAA title game in any classification — for 253 yards and two touchdowns in his Screaming Eagles’ 33-21 Division-IV Select win against Ouachita Christian.

“Jon-Jon” also completed eight of his 11 passes for 81 yards and two scores.

His ability to find and knife his way through even the slightest seams stood out throughout the contest, and his strength through contact only got stronger as the game progressed as he appeared to wear tacklers down over four quarters and 47 carries far more than he wore down himself.

The 5-foot-8, 170-pound Dartez also recovered an OCS onside kick late, making a leaping grab to help Vermilion Catholic ice away the victory and avoid any additional drama.

Catholic (New Iberia) senior Luke Landry meanwhile not only cherished the opportunity to duel with Haven, he more than held his own in the victory.

Landry finished 19-for-35 for 226 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, plus another 62 rushing yards on 11 attempts — or 79 yards on eight actual runs, when taking out sack yardage.

The 6-foot, 180-pound showed some speed to gain big chunks of yardage when Dunham lost contain, but his mobility and elusiveness in and around the pocket and through the waves of Tigers’ pressure stood out in particular.

Landry repeatedly avoided apparent sacks to slip out and either buy more time or take off and on at least two or three occasions appeared in the process of being wrapped up, only to find a teammate for a last-second dump-off for a nice gain.

Sy Austin

Franklinton senior Sy Austin was among the top running backs in the Superdome this weekend as an under-the-radar member of Louisiana’s loaded senior class at the position.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder carried 30 times for 147 yards and three touchdowns and caught two passes for 19 yards and another for a two-point conversion.

He showed his speed and athleticism throughout the game against a fast and athletic Cecilia team, running by and around and jumping over defenders for big plays to help lead the Demons.

Ja’Juan Jackson

The St. James freshman was another quarterback of note on the weekend with his early look of a prospect to watch for the years to come.

Ja’Juan Jackson handled the pressure of a tough opponent, the big stage and a tight game well aside from a tough mistake late.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound passer, of whom people in the area have started to make early comparisons to a young Lowell Narcisse, completed 12 of his 20 passes for 179 yards and a 27-yard scoring strike to fellow freshman Kamon “Kam” Mitchell down the left sideline.

Jackson also showed some athleticism and poise to navigate the Panthers’ rush and extend plays while keeping his eyes downfield.