Rivals High - Neville v. St. Louis

The defending Louisiana 4A champion Neville High (Monroe, La.) continued their quest to once again capture the title. Standing in their way were the Saints of St. Louis Catholic (Lake Charles, La.). After a back and forth hard fought game though, is was the Tigers that prevailed with a 20-16 win to advance to the quarterfinals.

"It was a good football game, we knew it was going to be a close game, they are the type of team that will grind the football out and stay on the clock," Neville Head Coach Mickey McCarty said.

Both teams traded punts on their opening possessions. Both teams possess solid kicking games in USC commitment Kris Albarado of St. Louis and Neville's Reagan Wise going head to head.

In their second possession the Saint's running back Dillon Berlin would go to work, grinding out first down after first down and busting free for a 30 yard scamper, eventually punching it in on a fourth and short situation later in the possession, giving St. Louis a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.

Neville would answer two possessions later as quarterback John Diarse would lead the Tiger offense down the field evening the score at seven with 7:56 remaining in the game.

St. Louis would strike again just before the half to take a 13-7 lead into the half. Berlin punched in his second score of the half, but the PAT attempt by Harrison Flynt was blocked by Arkansas commitment Demarcus Hodge.

Neville recovered the second half on-side kick and after a long 23 yard run by Osha Ceaser, Diarse again struck, this time from 21 yards out to again give the Tigers the lead, 14-13.

The Saints would briefly regain the lead as Harrison Flynt connected on a 41 yard field goal late in the fourth quarter.

Both teams would then trade punts again until early in the fourth quarter when Diarse connected with Taylor Stokes to put the Tigers in the red zone. Senior running back Charles Jones would punch it in from 11 yards out, the two-point conversion attempt was no good, giving the final score.

St. Louis end their best season in over 20 years with a 10-2, 4-0 record, while Neville will advance to play Teurlings Catholic (9-3, 4-2).