Hahnville, Pooka Williams ready for challenge at Ruston

It is a battle of traditional football powers in Louisiana.

Hahnville has won six state championships, most recently in 2003.

Ruston has won eight state championships, most recently in 1990.

The two powers hook up this Friday night at Ruston as the seventh-seeded Bearcats host the 10th-seeded Tigers at 7 p.m.

Ruston (8-2) has won five straight games, including a 35-25 victory over 26th-seed East St. John in the opening round of the 5A state playoff. Hahnville (9-2) has won eight straight games, including a 42-21 victory over 23rd-seed Denham Springs in the first round.

East St. John, a District 7-5A rival of Hahnville, is a common opponent. The Tigers blanked the Wildcats 27-0 on Oct. 20 at Reserve.

Hahnville head coach Nick Saltaformaggio, who won a state championship at East Jefferson in 2013, is looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s going to be an interesting place for us to go and compete,” Saltaformaggio said. “It’s going to be two very similar football teams playing. I quit looking at Ruston today on tape because every time I look at them, they’re getting better and better. We’ll have a four-and-a-half hour bus ride to play a historically powerful Louisiana football giant. They are very good.”

Senior Anthony “Pooka” Williams has been special. He rushed 25 times for 305 yards and five touchdowns in the victory over Denham Springs. On the season, he has rushed 184 times for 2,089 yards and 28 touchdowns. He has six catches for 144 yards and a score and he has returned a punt for a touchdown.

“I’m very fortunate to coach the best football player in Louisiana in Anthony “Pooka” Williams, in my opinion,” said Saltaformaggio. “He is a ridiculously talented football player. People ask me how are we going to beat Ruston. It’s very simple. I’m going to turn around and flip the ball to Pooka and they won’t have 11 guys who can tackle him.”

Saltaformaggio continued his praise of Williams.

“He is a Heisman Trophy talent at the next level,” Saltaformaggio said. “He reminds me most of Christian McCaffrey. I’ve coached 36 years. Anthony is the single greatest football player I’ve ever seen. He does things I’ve never seen anybody do. He will play in the NFL one day.”

Quarterback Jha’Quan Jackson has been an excellent runner as well. Jackson has 123 carries for 873 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has completed 20-of-56 passes for 448 yards with six touchdowns and seven interceptions. Daryle Evans has rushed for 347 yards and four touchdowns.

The Bearcats are led by a pair of quarterbacks in junior Eric Outley and senior C.J. Willis. Senior Tahjmalik Samuel is a solid running back and senior Donald Johnson and junior Ray Parker are top receivers. Ruston rushed for 223 yards in the win over East St. John. The victory over the Wildcats broke a four-year streak of first round playoff losses for Ruston.

“We are looking forward to the challenge and we know it will be a significant one,” Saltaformaggio said. “It would be great to win and to get a home game in the quarterfinals.”