Prep notes: A little quarterfinal history, some statistical leaders and more

Division I nonselect Walker celebrates the biggest milestone with its very first trip to the football quarterfinals this week. But just where do other Baton Rouge teams stand on the list of quarterfinal appearances?

Here are some dates and points to consider:

• Two Division I nonselect teams who play each other, No. 18 Central and seventh-seeded Dutchtown, both are in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2013.

The Griffins lost to Destrehan that year, while Central lost to Covington.

• Though St. Michael won its first playoff game last Friday, the Warriors do have a quarterfinals berth in their playoff history.

In 2014, the second year of select/nonselect split, St. Michael was seeded second among Division II teams and lost to another south Baton Rouge team in the quarterfinals after having a regional bye.

From there, PBS went on to finish as the Division II runner-up to University High, whose head coach at the time was the current Walker coach, Chad Mahaffey.

Also of note, with Opelousas’ win over West Feliciana last week, the Tigers coached by former East Ascension assistant coach Jimmy Zachary, are in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2014.

Back again

St. Michael coach Zach Leger is tied to the Warriors both as a former player and now a coach.

But when eighth-seeded St. Michael travels to Lafayette to take on top-seeded St. Thomas More (11-0) Friday it will be a homecoming of sorts for Leger, who was an offensive lineman for UL.

“I always love going back to Lafayette … it’s a place where I spent five years of my life and I have relatives there,” Leger said. “I am very familiar with STM because I played with guys who played there.

“For me, it’s kind of like going home without actually going home, if that makes sense.”

Statistics and such

After a 461-yard, nine touchdown effort last week vs. Opelousas Catholic, Ascension Catholic’s Chad Elzy Jr. is the state’s top rusher remaining in the playoffs with 2,632 yards and 45 touchdowns.

Other local leaders to note include Catholic High QB Daniel Beale, who has 2,251 yards and 31 TDs. Beale has completed 158 of 265 passes with eight interceptions going into Friday’s game vs. John Curtis.

Parkview Baptist’s Abram Johnston now has 1,928 passing yards with 29 TDs ahead of his team’s game at Calvary Baptist. The Eagles’ Brock Comeaux has 40 catches for 983 yards and 14 TDs.

Dutchtown is known for its tradition of running backs that includes ex-Alabama and NFL player Eddie Lacy. Statistically, the Griffins don’t yet have a 1,000 rusher, but they do have a 1,000-yard passer.

Ethan Aucoin has 1,155 yards passing for DTHS. Lakedrin Harvey leads a balanced Dutchtown rushing attack with 867 yards and 13 TDs.

QB nets high honor

St. James quarterback Brayden Williams surpassed the 2,000 yards passing barrier a couple of weeks ago. The senior garnered a different kind of honor this week.

The school announced that Williams is its 2023-24 Student of the Year on Tuesday. SJHS hosts Many in the Division III nonselect quarterfinals Friday.

Myers nets 300th win

The Dunham School’s Chad Myers picked up his 300th victory as a basketball coach at the school.

Before becoming the Tigers head boys basketball coach a couple of years ago, Myers was the school’s girls basketball coach. Myers coached both Dunham programs to LHSAA tourneys during his career.

Myers coached the boys basketball team to the LHSAA tourney last year. He led the Dunham girls to an LHSAA tourney in 2007.