Newman clears Catholic-New Iberia hurdle to advance to semifinals

Newman had been here before against traditional power Catholic of New Iberia.

The results were not positive.

In the 2016 quarterfinals, the Panthers handed the Greenies 49-21.

In the 2017 semifinals, Catholic whipped Newman 49-7.

In 2020, the unbeaten Greenies earned the top seed in the Division III playoffs and, of course, drew the eighth-seeded Panthers again, this time in the Division III quarterfinals.

This time, Newman overcame its nemesis, winning 14-7 in a defensive battle at Lupin Field Friday night.

Joseph Pleasant scored on a 29-yard run with 3:31 to play to break a fourth quarter tie, lifting the Greenies to victory.

After a scoreless first quarter, Catholic took the lead in the second quarter on a K.K. Reno 1-yard run to cap a 75-yard drive to make it 7-0 with 9:35 to play in the half.

The Greenies got even just before halftime with an important drive and score as Arch Manning connected with A.J. Johnson on a 16-yard touchdown pass to even the score at 7-7 at the break.

It stayed that way until the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.

Newman (9-0) advances to the semifinals to host No. 5 seed Lafayette Christian. The Knights (7-1) overcame previously unbeaten fourth seed Episcopal 14-12. LCA has won state championships in each of the last three seasons, in Division IV in 2017 and 2018 and in Division III in 2019.

On The Three Tailgaters Show Saturday morning on 106.1 FM, Newman coach Nelson Stewart knew it would be a tough game.

“We thought we were playing a good football team,” Stewart said. “Coach Scott Wattigny is in his first year. They struggled early in the season but they have heated up and they have a great front seven. We had to make a number of adjustments. I thought our defense played really well. We had to take what was there offensively. It’s playoff football. There are no easy draws in Division III.”

Stewart admitted that it was a mental and physical hurdle to get past losing to the Panthers twice previously in the playoffs.

“It was one of the things we heard constantly, that we had to get over the hump against them,” Stewart said. “We could not do previously what we did Friday night, playing their run tough, matching up and being able to control them and being able to run the ball effectively to win a low scoring game. You cannot advance against a team like this being one dimensional.”

The celebration has already ended as a very tough challenge awaits Newman next Friday night.

“We have turned the page already,” Stewart said. “You just can’t look in the rear view mirror. Lafayette Christian is a power program year in and year out. Episcopal is simply outstanding and played them really tough. They really had a chance to win. Great teams find a way to win and Lafayette Christian did that. We will have to play great football to beat them, to believe in ourselves, to take that final step.”

Stewart reminded us that Newman has been to the semifinals seven times in program history but has never gotten to the finals.

“It’s been four on my watch,” Stewart said. “We have been close. The more you get to this point, the more acclimated you are, the more used you are to it and you are ready for it, to do what you do well. We are going to try to get it.”

The Greenies will try to reach the state championship game for the first time ever, once again, though it will be a tall task against an elite program.