Catholic-BR Claims Select Division I State Title in 55-31 victory over Acadiana
by Hunter Bower // GeauxPreps.com Owner
NEW ORLEANS – The Catholic Bears reigned supreme once again as they defeated Acadiana, 55-31, in Friday night’s Select Division I state championship game.
The win gives the Bears their third official state title in school history and first since 2021, finishing the year with a 12-2 overall record. Acadiana earned its third runner-up finish in school history while completing its season with a 11-3 record.
In the first half, Catholic succeeded in thwarting the Rams’s patented veer running attack while eliminating any chance of a passing attack. The Bears, in turn, used their passing game to take full control of the game as senior quarterback Daniel Beale showed out.
The Louisiana-Lafayette commit was awarded Most Outstanding Player honors after throwing for 360 yards on 19 passes and four touchdowns. Beale also added a score on the ground.
Although unable to capitalize on a majority of its sustained drives, Acadiana managed to tack on a score from Ezekiel Hypolite late in the second while accruing 225 yards on the ground. The score, coupled with a 28-yard field goal in the first period helped to reduce the Catholic lead to a 27-10 score headed into the break.
In the second Acadiana used a signature 19-play, nine minute drive that was capped by a Caden Dibetta touchdown to pull to within 10 points of the lead.
However, the Bear offense was just too much scoring on three straight drives to up its double digit lead to a 48-17 score. The Rams used an 82-yard scoring rush from Jonah Gauthier, who earned Most Outstanding Player honors for Acadiana, followed by a 4-yard scamper from Hypolite to close its scoring effort.
In total, Catholic accrued 503 yards on offense while Acadiana compiled 476 in the high-scoring game.
Tailback Barry Remo led the Bears in rushing with 121 yards and three touchdowns on the night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
• 11:37 – CATHOLIC | Barry Remo scored just 26 seconds into the game on a 16-yard run to give Catholic the opening lead, 7-0.
• 5:03 – ACADIANA | Eduar Hernandez, Jr. connected on a 28-yard field goal attempt to shorten the Catholic lead to a 7-3 score.
• 2:05 – CATHOLIC | Daniel Beale called his own number as he rushed five yards in to up the Bears’ lead by a score of 13-3 after a failed XP attempt.
• :28 – ACADIANA | A huge play from quarterback Caden Dibetta eventually allows Ezekiel Hypolyte to complete the short drive with a touchdown from 5 yards, cutting the score to 13-10.
SECOND QUARTER
• 10:48 – CATHOLIC | The Bears upped their lead to a 20-10 score following a 12-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Beale who connected with Caden LeBlanc in the endzone.
• 5:29 – CATHOLIC | Beale threw a beautiful 37-yard touchdown pass hauled in by Bradley Wright sustaining the Bears’ momentum with a 27-10 lead.
THIRD QUARTER
• 2:33 – ACADIANA | Acadiana kicked its patented veer offense into gear using 19 plays and over nine minutes of clock to drive 78 yards capping it off with a score from Caden Dibetta’s 3 yard TD. Catholic lead cut to 27-17.
• :24 – CATHOLIC | Remo’s 16-yard touchdown run helped Catholic pull away from the Rams by 17 points to close out the third period.
FOURTH QUARTER
• 10:45 – CATHOLIC – Remo scored his third touchdown of the night from three yards out to increase the Catholic lead to a 41-17 score.
• 9:49 – CATHOLIC – Beale connected with LeBlanc on a 30-yard touchdown reception adding to the lead.
• 9:07 – ACADIANA – Jonah Gauthier got on the scoreboard for the Rams following an exciting 82-yard touchdown for the fourth score of the game.
• 6:13 – CATHOLIC – Beale threw his fourth touchdown on the night with a three-yard touchdown to Bradley Wright to increase its lead by 31 points.
• 3:20 – ACADIANA – Hypolite capped a nine-play drive by rushing in from four yards out to cut into the lead for the final score of the night.