Select Division II State Championship Preview: St. Thomas More vs. Lafayette Christian

December 7, 2022

by Hunter Bower // GeauxPreps.com Owner

No. 1 St. Thomas More (12-1) vs. No. 6 Lafayette Christian (10-3)

Thursday, Dec. 9 | Noon | Caesars Superdome | New Orleans, LA
Tickets | Watch – NFHS Network ($)

Distance To New Orleans: Lafayette Christian (134 miles); St. Thomas More (143 miles)

St. Thomas More Cougars

Head Coach: Jim Hightower (47th year, 459-134-1)

State Finals History: 3 state titles – 2020 (DII), 2019 (DII), 2016 (DII); 2 runner-up finishes – 2018 (DII), 2015 (DII)

Road To The Dome:

  • Regional: Beat No. 16 Helen Cox, 55-0
  • Quarterfinals: Beat No. 8 Madison Prep, 56-34
  • Semi-Finals: Beat No. 4 E.D. White, 38-7

The Skinny:

• St. Thomas More is playing in its fourth championship in five years and is looking to add a fourth title under legendary coach Jim Hightower. The Cougars defeated Lafayette Christian, 41-34, during the regular season for the District 4-4A title.

Averages: Scoring 43.2 points per game, allowing 21.5 points per game

Signature wins: Brother Martin (Sept. 16); Teurlings Catholic (Oct. 21); Lafayette Christian (Nov. 4); E.D. White (Dec. 2)

Players to watch: QB Sam Altmann (6-3, 185); RB Hutch Swilley (5-10, 185); WR Christian McNees (6-1, 190); Hayden Hernandez (6-2, 190) ; Brody Latiolais (5-9, 175); Austin Hollier (6-0, 230)

Lafayette Christian Knights

Head Coach: Trev Faulk (2nd season, 20-5)

State Finals History: 4 state titles – 2020 (DIII), 2019 (DIII), 2018 (DIV), 2017 (DIV); 1 runner-up finish – 2021 (DIII)

Road To The Dome:

  • Regional: Beat No. 11 McDonogh #35, 46-8
  • Quarterfinals: Beat No. 3 De La Salle, 70-49
  • Semi-Finals: Beat No. 2 Teurlings Catholic, 68-46

The Skinny:

• The Knights advanced to the state finals for a sixth consecutive season having won in four of their last five appearances. Trev Faulk is the third head coach to lead Lafayette Christian to the annual Prep Classic.

Averages: Scoring 38.1 points per game, allowing 27.2 points per game

Signature wins: Acadiana (Sept. 2); Jesuit (Sept. 16); De La Salle (Nov. 25); Teurlings Catholic (Dec. 2)

Players to watch: QB JuJuan Johnson (6-0, 175); Alonzo Ryes (5-9, 170); Trae Grogan (6-2, 200); Dolyal Bickham (5-10, 205); Miles Hills (5-11, 200)

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