Game of the Week is 18 Cecilia (11-3) vs 1 Franklinton (12-1) for the Division II Non Select state championship Friday 13th at 7pm in the Superdome.
Cecilia is the district 5-4A runner up behind Opelousas whom they lost to 28-27. They have defeated Pearl River 50-29, Lutcher 49-41 North Desoto 57-40 and Plaquemine 55-35 in the first four rounds of the playoffs. During the regular season they lost to St Augustine, Central and Opelousas.
Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster and are currently on sale. Search for LHSAA football prep classic. Tickets are $25 and tickets are general admission. Make sure you purchase the ticket for Friday, December 13th. Tickets are good for all three games Friday, with the FHS game being the third and final game.
Notes and Quotes
Franklinton's head football coach, Nick Saltaformaggio is the only football coach in Louisiana history to take three different school's football team to the championship game. He coached East Jefferson to a championship in 2013, Hahnville to a runner up in 2017 and now Franklinton.
West Monroe is looking for a new football coach as their coach resigned after two seasons.
"It played out like our year played out. We just battled and battled and battled and at the end of the day, we just found a way to win. We found a way differently, we played good defense tonight, Jacob (Crain) was phenomenal and our kids were resilient and played phenomenally well."
----Nick Saltaformaggio, Franklinton coach
"It felt great, man. Coach said we was playing for something bigger than us. We were playing for the community; the people of Washington Parish and we were glad to get the job done and glad to see our whole town happy for us."
--Sy Austin, Franklinton sr running back.
"It was very exciting. We've known since we came together that if we did our job right, we will be playing in December. We did our job and now we are heading to the state championship!" --Elisha Hart, Franklinton sr linebacker
“What a season it’s been and now what a game that’s gonna end it this upcoming Friday in the Superdome. It’s been a dream since I was little to be the QB for the Demons and lead this town to the Dome and now it’s finally coming true, it’s been a blessing to play with these guys and play in front of this amazing fan base.
Last Friday against Iowa we were faced with many challenges but we persevered. Iowa was stacking the box and doing a great job to stop the run, so credit to them because no one so far this season has been able to do it. But before the game I told Coach Matt trust me and let me go do my thing and that’s what he had to do.
We were forced to throw the ball but that didn’t stop us, the coaches relied on me and my receivers to go make plays and that’s what we did, throwing for 366 yards and 3 touchdowns, my career high.
Now let’s go win it. Go Demons!”
--Jacob Crain, Franklinton jr. quarterback
I asked FHS principal Shane Smith about Coach Saltaformaggio revitalizing the program and what caused him to offer him the job two years ago.
"Coach Salt has a relentless energy and passion for developing young men. He loves the game of football and loves working at it. He is a winner. The job he did at East Jefferson in four years is the best I have personally witnessed as we were in the district with them. The team was transformed in three years under his leadership. They went on to defeat an extremely talented Karr team. Three or four years later he repeats by taking a Hahnville program that had fallen on hard times to a championship contender. It was a no brainer, I'm so glad he accepted."
---- Shane Smith, FHS principal and former championship football coach.
Last week's results
Franklinton 35 Iowa 29
Cecilia 55 Plaquemines 35
St James 43 Union 36
Alexandria 24 Curtis 13
Karr 21 Catholic 19
Dunham 46 Bunkie 22
South Plaquemines 20 Logansport 14
Vermillion Catholic 33 Kentwood 0
This week's playoff schedule
LHSAA Playoff games of local interest
Non Select Division II
18 Cecilia vs 1 Franklinton
