NEW IBERIA – In their first two full seasons as members of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, Lafayette Renaissance’s football program has accomplished several feats.
During that time frame, the Tigers have won 16 games, posted back-to-back winning seasons, qualified for the playoffs in both years, recorded the school first-ever playoff victory last season on their way to the Division III select quarterfinals.
So besides a deeper playoff run, the only other feat the Tigers haven’t accomplished is winning a district championship.
Lafayette Renaissance is hoping to check that box when they travel to meet No. 1-ranked Westgate at 7 p.m. Friday in New Iberia.
“We came in with these seniors and they’ve done everything we have asked of them and then some,” Lafayette Renaissance head coach Hunter Landry said. “They’ve been working to get to this point. They know what’s at stake. But don’t make the game any bigger than it needs to be.”
Meanwhile, Westgate has a seasoned team ready for the moment.
“This team is battle tested,” Westgate coach Ryan Antoine said. “We had a lot of injuries that we had to deal with over the past few years. When guys like Davian Jackson and Jabori Antoine went down, these are the kids who were freshmen and sophomores who stepped up and played. We knew those guys were battle tested going in.”
LRCA is 6-2 overall, 3-0 in district and ranked No. 8 in Class 4A by the LSWA with a power ranking of No. 7 in Select Division II, but don’t want to make the game bigger than it is.
“It’s a big game just because it’s the next one on the schedule,” Landry said. “It’s a chance for us to go out and compete against a really good team and to play for one of our goals which was a district championship.”
Antoine knows what the experience from a game like this can do for his team down the road.
“You definitely want to make sure you’re going to be ready for the playoffs and get in this type of atmosphere,” Antoine said. “That’s what it’s going to be like Friday. Two good teams playing each other with a lot of implications on the line.
“You want your guys geared up for it. This is what you want to see going into the playoffs for sure.”
The Tigers, who have only lost to Edna Karr and John Curtis this season, have been playing well on both sides of the football during their five-game winning streak. Offensively, the Tigers have been led by senior quarterback Kennan Brown, receivers Ashton Joseph and Shemar Taylor and running back Keith Guillory.
Brown has completed 115-of-166 passes for 1,554 yards, 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while Joseph (39-415, 5 TDs) and Taylor (14-369, 3 TDs) have combined for 53 receptions for 784 yards and eight touchdowns. Guillory has rushed for 694 yards and nine touchdowns on 97 carries.
“When we’re on offense, we have to put some drives together,” Landry said. “We have to make sure every drive end in some sort of kick whether it’s an extra point or a punt.”
Landry believes if the Tigers are going to be successful against Westgate, it will be vital they excel offensively, defensively and on special teams.
“It’s going to come down to all three phases of the game,” Landry said. “We have to slow them down a little bit offensively and make them earn everything and not give up too many big plays.”
Antoine said Westgate’s rushing attack is healthy again after Caemon Crocker missed three games. In his absence, Laiken Hypolite has emerged as a threat.
“He (Hypolite) had a real good game against Carencro and has become a lot more confident as a running back for us,” Antoine said. “I definitely like where we’re at in the run game, but we have to execute, because this is going to be a game where the running game is going to have to be a factor.”
Westgate (8-0), who are led by quarterback Noah Antoine and receiver Cayden Lancelin, are explosive offensively. Antoine has completed 93-of-132 passes for 1,426 yards, 20 touchdowns and one interception, while Lancelin has 27 receptions for 553 yards and nine touchdowns.
“We know they are going to get theirs,” Landry said. “They have some guys that can do some really good things with the ball in their hand. We have to do a really good job of playing assignment football.”
In addition, Landry believes winning the turnover battle will be key.
“Whoever can win that turnover battle should be in a pretty good spot to either win the game or have a chance to win the game,” Landry said.
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