The LaSalle Tigers’ jamboree matchup against rival St. Mary’s last Friday night delivered exactly what early season football should: high energy, mistakes, big plays and a clear picture of what both teams will carry into Week 1.
The Tigers of LaSalle played the Tigers of St. Mary’s in the 8 p.m. time slot of Battle on the Bricks, one of the newest high-caliber high school football jamborees in the state. The event was held at Northwestern State University’s Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches Friday and Saturday, August 28 and 29.
Both teams traded blows and turnovers early, each giving the ball away in the first quarter as they jostled for momentum. St. Mary’s struck first, leaning on the poise of its upperclassmen to score twice early in the contest. LaSalle answered back before the Tigers’ rivals could pull away.
Sophomore Brayden Tannehill delivered the Tigers’ first major spark of the night, ripping off a 40-yard touchdown run that instantly shifted the energy on LaSalle’s sideline. His burst through the second level was the kind of play that reminds everyone why he’s becoming one of LaSalle’s most exciting young weapons.
LaSalle’s defense followed with a statement of its own, coming up with a gritty goal line stand to close out the first half. The stop kept the score at 12-6 and gave the Tigers a surge of confidence heading into the break.
LaSalle found rhythm through the air in the second quarter, stringing together a handful of first downs and showing signs of a balanced attack behind quick strikes from sophomore quarterback Luke Lasiter to senior receiver Alex Richmond. But when the Tigers needed a response most, they turned again to their emerging star. Tannehill delivered another long touchdown, this time a 60-yard sprint that cut through St. Mary’s defense and electrified the home crowd. His two-score performance was the offensive highlight of the night for LaSalle.
Despite LaSalle’s flashes, St. Mary’s depth and experience took control in the second half. The Natchitoches Tigers’ veteran opponents dictated the pace, capitalizing on field position and wearing down LaSalle’s defense as the game wore on. St. Mary’s pulled away for a 34-12 win, a result that underscored how valuable experienced leadership can be in early season matchups.
After the dust settled, LaSalle head coach Hunter Johnson said the jamboree provided exactly the kind of test his young team needed heading into the regular season.
“It was awesome to get one last dress rehearsal against a very quality, veteran 1A program,” Johnson said. “We identified what we need to work on and identified some positives.”
Johnson said St. Mary’s caliber of play gives his staff a strong measuring stick for where the Tigers currently stand.
“In our division of D-IV Non-Select, St. Mary’s is likely on par with what we would see in the second or third round,” Johnson said. “They were a great litmus test for us to see what we need to clean up.”
Johnson said the experience will directly shape how LaSalle approaches practice in the coming weeks.
“The experience from that game allows us to establish a plan to rep out the skill sets all of these young guys need for growth, that way we can strive to get to the level we need and desire to be at,” Johnson said.
Looking ahead, Johnson said he’s ready to move past the preseason and get into meaningful competition.
“We are excited to move on to the actual season and get the out-of-district-slate going now against a Lakeview team we’ve played very often the last few years,” Johnson said.
LaSalle’s pre-season slate was packed with quality opponents, and that experience should pay off quickly as the Tigers open the regular season. With the record sitting at 0-0, the Tigers now turn their attention to Lakeview, where they’ll look to start the season 1-0 at home.
Unlike a typical Friday night season opener, this week’s matchup against Lakeview has been moved up to Thursday night due to a shortage of game officials available to work games across the area this weekend. The change means fans will need to mark their calendars a day earlier than usual to catch the Tigers’ first official game of the season. Kickoff between LaSalle and Lakeview is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at Tiger Stadium in Olla.
The most wonderful time of the year is upon us, and Tiger fans are encouraged to pack the stands to show support for a team that has worked extremely hard these past few months – work that will pay off in front of their proud community Thursday night.
The jamboree in Natchitoches last week showed growth, grit and a rising playmaker in Tannehill. Now it’s time to see how those lessons translate when the games start counting.
