PJPII one of nine locals in playoffs

by Ron Brocato

By Ron Brocato, Sports
Clarion Herald

Pope John Paul II, one of the surprises in Select Division III football, has an opportunity to advance to the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.

But to do so, the No. 11 needed a victory over No. 6 Episcopal in Baton Rouge on Nov. 22. Both entered the game with 8-2 records.

Coached by Philip Pigott, the Jaguars earned their seeding via victories over Class 5A Riverdale (49-40) and 3A St. Patrick of Biloxi, Mississippi (35-7) and by finishing second in their district.

A road victory over Episcopal would put Pigott’s team in the higher bracket against the winner of No. 14 De La Salle at No. 3 Calvary Baptist on Nov. 28 in Shreveport.

Pope John Paul II is one of nine archdiocesan schools to reach the regional playoff round.

At No. 5, Archbishop Rummel is the highest seed of the local Catholic schools in the Division I playoffs and was scheduled to face No. 12 McDonogh 35 for a berth in the quarterfinal round.

Also contending in D-I are No. 7 St. Paul’s at home against No. 10 Byrd; No. 9 St. Augustine at No. 8 St. Thomas More; and No. 11 Jesuit at No. 6 Teurlings Catholic.

No. 1 Archbishop Shaw leads the Division II field and will host No. 16 Loranger, while No. 12 St. Charles Catholic and No. 22 Archbishop Hannan travel to No. 5 Madison Prep and to No. 6 Vandebilt Catholic, respectively.

St. Charles Catholic was runner-up to Calvary Baptist in the 2023 Division III finals.

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