High School

Rebel Redemption! Riverside Academy downs Ascension Catholic 31-21 to win Division IV select championship

Quarterback Brock Bourgeois throws two TD passes; Outstanding Player Chris Becnel throws a touchdown and catches one, RB Jayden Obiekwe accounts for two scores; freshman William Rauch kicks fourth-quarter field goal as Rebels avenge 2024 playoff loss and win second state title (first in 2016)

Mike Coppage

Ascension Catholic's Trevin Simon is the state's leading rusher and an all-time record holder
Ascension Catholic's Trevin Simon is the state's leading rusher and an all-time record holder / Louisiana High School Sports

The Louisiana Division IV select championship game features two teams from the southeast area of the state in No. 2-seeded Riverside Academy (11-1) and No. 5 Ascension Catholic (11-2). Check out our preview and prediction here.

Louisiana Division IV Select Football Playoff Bracket

Follow this post, refreshing frequently to receive the latest live update from the game at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, with real-time reporting on scores and key plays.

Pick'Em

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PREGAME

-Things are running behind schedule (3:30 scheduled kickoff) at the Superdome after a high-scoring game in the Division IV non-select final. Will update with estimated start time.

-Ascension Catholic, wearing white pants and white jerseys, about to run out as we get close to start time. Home team Riverside wearing red jerseys with white pants.

First Quarter

-Ascension Catholic and running back Trevin Simon getting the ball first at their own 40.

-Bulldogs convert on 4th-and-2, just like they did on the opening drive last week at Westminster Christian. Simon does the honors for the first down.

-Simon with his 58th touchdown of the season from 42 yards. TOUCHDOWN, BULLDOGS!

-Over 3,800 yards on the year for Simon. Ascension Catholic 7, Riverside 0 10:06 1st Quarter.

-Rebels facing a 4th-and-3 near midfield. 46-yard pass to Jayden Obiewke from Christopher Becnel with the quarterback (Brock Bourgeois) split out to the left. TOUCHDOWN, REBELS! Ascension Catholic 7, Riverside 7 7:25 1st.

-Ascension Catholic will punt it on 4th-and-4. Rebels take over the football around their 40. 5:09, 1st Quarter.

-Riverside facing 4th-and-10 at the Ascension Catholic 47. The Rebels punt it into the end zone for a touchback. Each defense gets a stop. 7-7, 0:56 1st.

-End of 1st Quarter. Ascension Catholic with a 3rd-and-12.

Second Quarter

-Ascension Catholic to punt from its own 16. Nice roll as the ball bounces down to the Riverside 35. Score tied 7-7.

-Rebels with a first down on a pass from Bourgeois to 6-foot-2 Cayden Francois, who only has played in the postseason (injury).

-4th and 3 for the Rebels with 8:38 left in the first half. Ball at the Bulldogs' 45. Complete pass for a first down to Kenric Johnson.

-Bourgeois finds Johnson again, who is uncovered and left all alone. He would've walked into the end zone but went out of bounds with a first down at the Ascension Catholic 10.

-TOUCHDOWN, REBELS! Obiewke runs it in on the direct snap. Riverside 14, Ascension Catholic 7 6:12 2nd.

-Ascension Catholic with a 4th-and-1 with 4:59 left in the half at their own 40. Fernandez keeps it for the first down and fumbles, but an offensive lineman recovers.

-Bulldogs march to the Riverside 30. Simon taking direct snaps, and he completes a pass.

-On 4th-and-3, Simon is wide open coming out of the backfield, but the pass sails too far. Riverside takes over with 41 seconds left in the half.

-Riverside returns the favor as Johnson drops a sure TD. On the next play, Ascension Catholic gets an interception with 15 seconds left in the half.

HALF: Riverside 14, Ascension Catholic 7

-Halftime stats: Riverside with eight first downs to four for the Bulldogs. Ascension Catholic leads in rushing yards: 101 to 82. Passing yards in favor of the Rebels 92-6.

Third Quarter

-Simon needs around 137 yards to reach 4,000 for the season. No player has ever done that in Louisiana.

-TOUCHDOWN, REBELS! Bourgeois rolls right, throws to a wide-open Becnel. 21 unanswered points for Riverside. Rebels 21, Bulldogs 7 9:41 3rd

-Rebels force a punt and quickly score again on a pass from Bourgeois to Becnel. TOUCHDOWN, REBELS! 28-7, Riverside Academy up with 6:00 left in the 3rd Quarter.

-Ascension Catholic drives to the Riverside 1. Fernandez keeps for a first down on 4th-and-2. Simon's block sprung him. Fullback Josh Barber scores. TOUCHDOWN, BULLDOGS! Riverside 28, Ascension Catholic 14 0:56 3rd

Fourth Quarter

-Becnel burns the Bulldogs again in coverage. First down for the Rebels early in the fourth quarter. 32-yard gain. Riverside at the Ascension Catholic 21.

-Goal-line stand by the Bulldogs is under review. QB Bourgeois was stacked up on a fourth down sneak. Ascension Catholic can get the ball with 9:59 left, and they do.

-Bulldogs march into Riverside territory but the clock is their enemy, trailing 28-14 with 7:16 left. 3rd and 8. Greg Fernandez, ladies and gentlemen! The quarterback keeps it for a long gain, and then he scores on a five-yard keeper. TOUCHDOWN, BULLDOGS! Riverside 28, Ascension Catholic 21. Fernandez 45-yard run sets up his own score. 6:14 left

-4th and 2 for the Rebels at the Ascension Catholic 18. Rebels commit a false start. Will be 4th and 7 from the 23 with 2:31 remaining.

-Rebels line up for a 40-yard field goal by freshman William Rauch. Bulldogs take a timeout to try to ice him. It's good! FIELD GOAL, REBELS! Riverside 31, Ascension Catholic 21 2:07 4th.

-Rebels record back-to-back sacks. Timeout, Bulldogs. 4th and 11 1:21 remaining. Fernandez pass incomplete. Riverside will win its second state title.

Postgame

-Riverside will be a force for years to come with only a handful of seniors. The Rebels outgained the Bulldogs 370 to 260.

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Mike Coppage
MIKE COPPAGE

Mike Coppage is a Louisiana-based veteran reporter with decades of experience covering recruiting and high school sports for Scout, Rivals, The Acadiana Advocate and The Daily Iberian. He has been freelancing for High School On SI since 2024.

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