Cavs, Comets last of local Catholic hopefuls

By Ron Brocato

Seven football teams representing the Archdiocese of New Orleans advanced to the quarterfinal round of the LHSAA division playoffs for select schools last week.

Just two survived to fight another day as semifinalists.

De La Salle, the No. 1 seed in Division II, easily advanced to the Nov. 24 semis by eliminating No. 8 Archbishop Hannan, 52-14, at Pan American Stadium.

No. 3 St. Charles Catholic shook off its injury woes in time to defeat No. 11 St. Louis, 42-10, at home.

Meanwhile, four Division I Catholic schools were eliminated, but not without gallant efforts.

The highest seed of the four at No. 5, St. Augustine, lost a defensive battle against No. 4 Catholic High, 7-3, in Baton Rouge.

No. 6 Brother Martin fell short after a see-saw battle against host and No. 3 seed Scotlandville, 35-33.

No. 7 St. Paul’s was eliminated by No. 2 John Curtis, 35-21, in a game whose outcome wasn’t decided until the final period.

And No. 9 Archbishop Rummel, making its second trip to Shreveport in two weeks, came up short to the No. 1 seed, Evangel, 14-7.

The Division II bracket fell true to form. The top four seeds fill the semifinal round bracket.

On Friday, the top-seeded De La Salle Cavaliers will face No. 4 St. Thomas More at Yulman Stadium, and the No. 3 St. Charles Catholic Comets will be in Baton Rouge to test No. 2 University Lab.

St. Thomas More is the defending champion.