Select Division III State Championship Preview: St. Charles vs. Dunham

December 7, 2022

by Hunter Bower // GeauxPreps.com Owner

No. 2 St. Charles (10-3) vs. No. 4 Dunham (12-1)

Friday, Dec. 9 | 3:30 p.m. | Caesars Superdome | New Orleans, LA
Tickets | Watch – NFHS Network ($)

Distance To New Orleans: Dunham (74 miles); St. Charles (29 miles)

St. Charles Comets

Head Coach: Wayne Stein (2nd year, 21-3)

State Finals History: 2 state titles – 2021 (DIII), 2011 (3A); 5 runner-up finishes – 2020 (DIII), 2019 (DIII), 2016 (DIII), 2006 (2A), 2005 (2A)

Road To The Dome:

  • Regional: Beat No. 15 Ascension Episcopal, 49-17
  • Quarterfinals: Beat No. 10 Parkview Baptist, 40-21
  • Semi-Finals: Beat No. 3 Notre Dame, 17-10

The Skinny:

• St. Charles hopes to repeat as state champion again this season after taking home the school’s second title a year ago. The Comets are just one of two returning champions (Homer) to participate in the 2022 Prep Classic.

Averages: Scoring 28.0 points per game, allowing 16.2 points per game

Signature wins: Archbishop Shaw (Sept. 2); Lutcher (Sept. 9); Newman (Nov. 4); Notre Dame (Dec. 2)

Players to watch: QB Ayden Authement (5-10, 160); DB Michael Hotard (6-0, 160)

Dunham Tigers

Head Coach: Neil Weiner (9th season, 76-26)

State Finals History: 1 state title – 2004 (1A)

Road To The Dome:

  • Regional: Beat No. 13 M.L. King Charter, 56-21
  • Quarterfinals: Beat No. 5 Calvary Baptist, 50-35
  • Semi-Finals: Beat No. 8 University Lab, 35-28

The Skinny:

• Head coach Neil Weiner leads Dunham to its second state title appearance in program history. The Tigers captured the Class 1A championship in 2004. With a Dunham victory, Weiner would join his father, Dale, as a state championship coach.

Averages: Scoring 39.9 points per game, allowing 15.7 points per game

Signature wins: Southern Lab (Sept. 29); Episcopal (Oct. 13); Calvary Baptist (Nov. 25), University Lab (Dec. 2)

Players to watch: QB Jackson House (6-0, 185); DB/RB Colin Boldt (6-1, 200); QB/DE Jake Rizzo (6-4, 240); OL/DL Braden Augustus (6-1, 290); TE/DE Collin Franta (6-6, 215)

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