NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - Getting down to the Caesars Superdome has become routine for Ruston in recent years.
This will be the fourth straight season the Bearcats have made it to the “Big Easy” for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Prep Classic. They’re hoping to bring back their second state title in that span while ending a miracle playoff run for Ouachita Parish in Saturday afternoon’s Division I Non-Select championship game.
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The Bearcats have played in the last three Division I Non-Select title contests, winning the second one in 2023. That was their first championship since 1990, and overall, Ruston has won nine state titles.
Saturday, the Bearcats (11-2) seek title number 10. They came into the playoffs as the top seed, and have done their part. Ruston won all three of its playoff games at home, including a 21-17 decision against Zachary in last week’s semifinal round.
Now, the Bearcats have a rematch with their District 2-5A rival, which has taken a very unconventional route.
Ouachita Parish (10-4) started the season 5-0 before dropping four straight games, including a 21-14 decision to Ruston on Oct. 10. The Lions came into the playoffs as the No. 14 seed, but have won three straight postseason games on the road, including a quarterfinal win against No. 3 seed Destrehan and a 14-7 win last week at Neville, the No. 2 seed.
Now, Ouachita Parish is in its first Prep Classic since 1994 and determined to win its first title since the Lions claimed their lone championship in 1989.
Follow AllSportsPeople correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from New Orleans.
Scroll down for live score and game updates from kickoff to the postgame. Refresh this page for the latest.
RUSTON 17, OUACHITA PARISH 7 HALF
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HALFTIME
- Ruston had exactly 200 yards of total offense in the first half (104 rushing, 96 passing). Ouachita with 172 total yards (85 rushing, 87 passing).
SECOND QUARTER
- Ouachita faces a fourth-and-1 at the Ruston 15 and decides to go for a 32-yard field goal. But the kick sails wide right, and Ruston holds with nine seconds left in the half.
- Ruston flagged for another pass interference penalty, and Ouachita has the ball inside the Bearcat 25 with about 30 seconds left.
- Ouachita QB Montreal Connor with a couple of completions, and the Lions are near the Ruston 40 going into the final minute of the half.
- FIELD GOAL RUSTON. Bearcats get into the red zone before going backward. But Joaquin Ramos comes on to kick a 37-yard field goal, and the Ruston lead is back in double digits. (Ruston, 17-7 | 1:51, 2nd)
- TOUCHDOWN OUACHITA. Lions get on the board, as Macario Dade breaks away from a pile of Ruston defenders and springs free for a 27-yard score. Lions finish off an 8-play, 80-yard march. (Ruston, 14-7 | 6:44, 2nd)
Ruston 14, Ouachita 7.
— Louisiana vs. All Y’all (@LAvsAllYall) December 13, 2025
2Q, 6:44.
The Lions are on the board.
Macario “M.J.” Dade Jr. Bookending the long drive. A Ruston PI helped in the process, but OPHS able to start finding success on the ground much of the way downfield. Pic.twitter.com/2sT8m4U1u5
- Ruston seemed to have an interception deep in its own territory, but the Bearcats are flagged for pass interference. Ouachita has the ball inside the Ruston 30.
- TOUCHDOWN RUSTON. Bearcats drive 88 yards in just three plays, ending with a 59-yard TD strike from Sam Hartwell to Ahmad Hudson. (Ruston, 14-0 | 10:45, 2nd)
59 yard TD pass from Hartwell to Ahmad Hudson and the PAT is good. Ruston leads Ouachita 14-0 with 10:45 left in the half pic.twitter.com/ImQDrhai11
— Friday Night Scoreboard Show (@k104scoreboard) December 13, 2025
- Ouachita can't take advantage of that great pass, and the Lions will punt it away.
- Through one quarter, Ouachita has 67 yards of total offense while Ruston has 50.
FIRST QUARTER
- Wow, what a huge play by Ouachita to get out of its own end zone. QB Montreal Connor launches a deep pass from his own end zone, and Seneca Battle comes down with a great catch, covering 46 yards to midfield on third-and-long.
- Ruston goes three-and-out and will punt. But a great kick from Joaquin Ramos, which bounces down to Ouachita's 5 with less than three minutes in the period.
- Ouachita faces a fourth down near midfield and goes for it, but a pass attempt falls incomplete. Ruston takes over at the 50, the same spot the Bearcats started on their last drive, which resulted in a TD.
- TOUCHDOWN RUSTON. Bearcats go 50 yards in nine plays for the game's first score, as QB Sam Hartwell runs a naked bootleg around the left side and in from 4 yards out. Joaquin Ramos adds the PAT. (Ruston, 7-0 | 5:55, 1st)
Ruston 7, Ouachita 0.
— Louisiana vs. All Y’all (@LAvsAllYall) December 13, 2025
1Q, 5:55.
The Bearcats able to force an opening OPHS punt, then grind their way down to the early lead.
Kohl Gray with the longest gain of the possession.
Sam Hartwell the keeper to the end zone. Pic.twitter.com/dGa8uLL8em
- Ruston tailback Kohl Gray rips off a 28-yard run, and the Bearcats are in the red zone, down to the Ouachita 19.
- Ruston will take over right at the Saints' logo at midfield following the punt.
- Not a good start for Ouachita. Lions go three-and-out, with a bad snap on third down, recovered by the quarterback. Ouachita will punt it away.
- A short kickoff, fielded near the Ouachita 25 and returned to the Lions' 30, where they will start.
PREGAME
- Ruston wins the toss and defers to the second half. Ouachita Parish will take the ball to start things off.
- Both teams have hit the field and we're about to get started here in the Dome.
Here we GEAUX Day 3 Ruston vs Ouachita Parish Div I Non-Select #LHSAAPrepClassic pic.twitter.com/OZDtX35Kkg
— Recruit Louisiana™️ (@RecruitLouisian) December 13, 2025
- Live from the Caesars Superdome, it’s the opening game of the final day of the LHSAA Prep Classic. The No. 1 seeded Bearcats of Ruston take on the No. 14 seed, the Lions of Ouachita Parish, who are looking to cap off a miraculous run to the Division I Non-Select championship.
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