Two public schools in northwest Louisiana are preparing for a trip to New Orleans to play in the Prep Classic. North DeSoto, who is seeking its first state championship in football will play Iowa on Friday at noon. Griffins coach Dennis Dunn believes his team will be well prepared.
“I tell them all the time ‘Be in the moment. Don’t let the moment be in you.’ So the moment won’t be too big for them,” Dunn said.
North DeSoto is the top seed in Division II non-select and the Griffins are a perfect 13-0. Dunn says a selfless attitude has helped his team get to this point.
“Nobody cares who’s got the number of carries, target, number of tackles. I mean all that stuff; they know winning takes care of all that,” Dunn explained.
Haynesville is looking for its 18th state championship in football when they face Mangham in the Division IV non-select state title game on Thursday at noon. This is the third year in a row Coach David Franklin and the Golden Tornado have made it to the state title game, but the last two years they came up short.
“We’re playing a really good team, and that’s going to make it tough. But you know, yes, it’s always fun to go down there, but it’s just it’s more fun to go and win,” Franklin said.
Haynesville is led by four-year starter Isaiah Washington, who has signed to play college football at LSU. Washington starts at quarterback and is a defensive back and Franklin says he’s their leader.
“Just a tremendous athlete, a really good kid that works superhard, has a great personality,” Franklin said.
Haynesville’s last state championship was in 2014 when they beat Mangham.
