St. Thomas More defeats Lafayette Christian: Live updates, score of Louisiana high school football Division II select state championship (12/9/2023)

NEW ORLEANS - Lafayette Christian Academy sought revenge on its District 4-4A rival, St. Thomas More.

But Saturday afternoon in the Caesars Superdome, the Cougars found a way to stymie the Knights once more.

Once trailing 14-0, St. Thomas More rallied with two TDs in the final minute of the first half. The Cougars then broke a 21-all score with a pair of fourth-quarter TDs as they repeated as Division II select state champions with a 35-21 win.

Louisiana's Prep Classic high school football state championships: Game previews, kickoff times 

STM now has won four state titles in a span of five seasons.

Saturday's game was a rematch of an epic Division II select title game from last season, in which St. Thomas More rallied from a 48-38 deficit with 1:46 remaining to win that game, 52-48. 

The two teams combined for 58 first downs and 1,392 yards in last year's title game. They also played a memorable game in the regular season, when the Cougars defeated the Knights, 44-40, in the regular-season finale on Nov. 3.

Louisiana high school football Top 25 rankings (12/7/2023)

Follow Louisiana editor Buck Ringgold (@Buck_SBLiveOkla) for updates from the ground at the Superdome, and refresh this post for the latest. The game is being streamed live and will be available for replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required).

Below is our Live Update Feed created as the contest progresses. Read from the bottom up to follow from the beginning and refresh often for the latest updates throughout the game.

FINAL: ST. THOMAS MORE 35, LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN 21

Refresh for latest.

POSTGAME

-- The Most Outstanding Player for St. Thomas More goes to tailback John Luke St. Pierre, who rushed for 72 yards on 11 carries and scored two TDs.

-- Lafayette Christian's Most Outstanding Player was quarterback and LSU defensive back commit Ju'Juan Johnson. Johnson completed 24-of-41 passes for 270 yards and also rushed for 187 yards on 18 carries with three TDs.

-- LCA had 540 yards of total offense (269 rushing, 271 passing). STM finished with 324 total yards (171 rushing, 153 passing).

-- St. Thomas More repeats as Division II select state champions and has now won four state titles in the past five seasons.

FOURTH QUARTER

-- On a fourth-and-long, STM's Adam Guidry comes up with a sack. Cougars get the ball with 1:30 left, and it appears they will repeat as Division II select state champions.

-- LCA converts on fourth down to stay alive. Knights have the ball at the STM 30 with more than two minutes left.

-- Hutch Swilley gives STM a two-score lead with 4:24 left as he goes in from 5 yards out, taking several LCA defenders with him (St. Thomas More, 35-21 | 4:24 4th)

-- Run from Hutch Swilley gives the Cougars a first-and-goal at the LCA 5 with under five minutes remaining.

-- STM's Landon Strother returns the punt 36 yards down to the LCA 16. Cougars seeking to extend their lead to two scores.

-- LCA faces a fourth-and-15 at its own 24 after an incomplete pass. Knights will punt it right back to the Cougars.

-- Cougars take their first lead of the day with 7:40 left as QB Sam Altmann fakes a handoff and runs in a keeper from a yard out to complete an 11-play, 78-yard drive. Brendan Bourque adds the PAT (St. Thomas More, 28-21 | 7:40 4th)

-- Third-and-goal for the Cougars at the 1-yard line. STM will take its first time out of the half to discuss things.

-- STM running back Hutch Swilley runs the ball to the Knights' 5. First-and-goal for the Cougars.

-- Cougars are at the LCA 35, where they have a first down. Ten minutes and counting.

-- LCA had 472 yards of total offense through three quarters. STM had 267 total yards.

-- STM gets a first down at its own 35 on a keeper from Sam Altmann as the fourth quarter commences.

THIRD QUARTER

-- Cougars get the ball back anyway as they pressure Ju'Juan Johnson into throwing an incomplete pass. Thirty seconds and counting in the quarter.

-- LCA faced a third down inside the Cougar 25, but the STM defense apparently forced a fumble from QB Ju'Juan Johnson. However, after a review, it was determined that it was an incomplete pass, so the Knights face a fourth down.

-- We are square again. STM tailback John Luke St. Pierre goes in from 6 yards out and the Cougars add the PAT to tie it (21-21 | 3:02 3rd)

-- Roughing the passer penalty on LCA gives STM a first-and-goal at the Knights' 6.

-- Cougars already on the prowl again, as they have the ball inside the LCA 30 near the four-minute mark.

-- On a fourth-and-short from the STM 5, Knights' QB Ju'Juan Johnson runs in a keeper from 5 yards out for his third TD on the day, completing a 5-play, 69-yard drive. LCA adds the PAT (Lafayette Christian, 21-14 | 5:39 3rd)

-- Knights get the ball back following a punt and Ju'Juan Johnson just broke off a 59-yard keeper down the sidelines before being taken out of bounds inside the STM 20.

-- LCA had a fourth-and-short inside the STM 20 and Ju'Juan Johnson attempted to surge forward but was stopped by several Cougars. STM forces the turnover on downs three minutes into the second half.

-- Play has resumed, and the Knights are on the move. They have a first down inside the STM 30.

-- Play has been stopped for several minutes as Knights' receiver Carlos O'Brien was down with an injury. Appeared to be something with his lower leg. He is being carried off the field, and several of his teammates have come over to him to offer him support.

-- STM got the ball to start the second half but was forced to punt. LCA takes over and is already in Cougars' territory.

HALFTIME

-- STM QB Sam Altmann is 10-of-17 passing for 104 yards and has been picked off once. Receiver Sanders Foreman has caught seven passes for 82 yards.

-- LCA QB Ju'Juan Johnson was 12-of-22 passing for 144 yards. He has thrown two picks, including a costly one at the end of the first half. Johnson also rushed for 86 yards on 10 carries and both Knights' TDs.

-- LCA had 297 yards of total offense in the first half (153 rushing, 144 passing). STM had 167 yards (63 rushing, 104 passing).

-- A stunning turn of events here in the Superdome as St. Thomas More has scored two touchdowns inside the final minute of the first half to make this a brand-new ballgame.

SECOND QUARTER

-- Again, Brody Latiolais returns an interception 80 yards for a TD on the final play of the first half. Brendan Bourque adds the PAT to tie it up at halftime (14-14 | :00 2nd)

-- Holy mackerel. On the final play of the first half, STM linebacker Brody Latiolais picks off a pass at his own 20 and races in untouched for an 80-yard pick-six.

-- Knights have the ball at the STM 40 with 10 seconds left.

-- LCA gets past midfield with 25 seconds and the clock is running.

-- STM finally gets on the scoreboard with 49 seconds left until halftime as John Luke St. Pierre runs it in from 2 yards out. Cougars get the PAT (Lafayette Christian, 14-7 | :49 2nd)

-- Cougars on the move once more; they are down to the Knights' 10.

-- STM holds as a fourth-down pass goes incomplete.

-- Knights drop a sure touchdown pass, and LCA faces another fourth down at the STM 30.

-- Knights face a fourth down near their own 35 and decide to go for it. Gamble pays off as Ju'Juan Johnson, after scrambling to find an open receiver, finds Brayden Allen for a first down just beyond midfield.

-- Once again, the Knights' defense holds and forces another field goal attempt. And once again, a 31-yard attempt doinks off the right upright. Still 14-0 LCA early in the second.

-- STM already driving deep into LCA territory again. Cougars inside the Knights' 20 as second-quarter action gets under way.

FIRST QUARTER

-- Knights march down the field and scores again. And it's Ju'Juan Johnson with his second TD on the day, taking a keeper up the middle from 21 yards out. PAT is good (Lafayette Christian, 14-0 | :12 1st)

-- Drive stalls for STM, which then attempts a 31-yard field goal. But the kick bounces off the right upright, and the Knights hold serve with 3:21 left in the quarter.

-- Cougars are driving inside the LCA 20, seeking to match the Knights' TD on the previous series.

-- LCA quickly marches downfield and scores the game's first points as Ju'Juan Johnson takes a keeper 25 yards around the left side. Knights add the PAT (Lafayette Christian, 7-0 | 5:35 1st)

-- They just reviewed the interception and the play stands. LCA has the ball at its own 21 nearly four minutes in.

-- Lafayette Christian advanced to the STM 35 before turning the ball over on downs. But the Knights get the ball right back as Chris Helaire intercepts a pass. So far, both teams have committed a turnover and a turnover on downs.

-- St. Thomas More picked off a pass on the game's first series and had the ball inside the Knights' 30. But the Cougars failed to convert on a fourth down, and the Knights get the ball back.

-- Lafayette Christian won the toss, and will receive the opening kickoff.

PREGAME

-- Lafayette Christian wearing blue helmets, white jerseys and white pants. St. Thomas More in shiny silver helmets and maroon jerseys and pants with silver numerals.

-- Getting ready for what should be, on paper, a great game between crosstown foes Lafayette Christian and St. Thomas More.

Photo of St. Thomas More WR Landon Strother by Brad Kemp, The Acadiana Advocate