It was a District 2-5A rematch in the first game of Day 3 at the 2025 LHSAA Prep Classic. The Ruston Bearcats and Ouachita Lions had been anticipating this game all week.

The Lions received the opening kickoff and went three and out, giving the Bearcats their first drive at midfield. Ruston worked their way into the redzone with Kohl Gray. They converted a 4th down attempt and got a 4-yard TD run from QB Sam Hartwell to make it 7-0.

The Lions QB, Montrell Connor, ran the ball well, but Ouachita’s 4th down attempt was stopped around midfield. Following that turnover on downs, the Bearcats would punt. Ruston pinned Ouachita deep, but Connor got it all back on a 46-yard bomb to cap off a hard fought first quarter.

The second started off with a showcase of blue-chip TE recruit Ahmad Hudson scoring on a 59 yard TD from Hartwell. Ouachita got it back and used a nice drive to get on the board. MJ Dade exploded for a 27 yard TD run to make it 14-7. Ruston used their ensuing possession to bring the first half down below two minutes, and got a field goal off the foot of Joaquin Ramos from just outside the redzone. The Lions had a chance for a 2 minute drill, but their field goal attempt slipped wide right, and that put the first half in the books with Ruston in the lead 17-7.

The Bearcats got the ball first in the third, and resumed their approach of targeting Hudson. They moved the ball past midfield, but Dylan Berymon got active and stalled the opening drive. Ruston was able to punt it back down to the goal line, but the Lions were ready. Connor completed some nice throws to bring them all the way down the field. A long one to Wydell Clark gave the Lions first and goal. Dade got through the line for a short TD run to pull Ouachita within 3.

Ruston would get a big kickoff return to start their drive. Another nice play from Hartwell to Hudson got Ruston right back in the redzone. The Lions got a sack to prevent a touchdown and Ruston settled for a field goal. This would extend their lead to 20-14 to head to the fourth.

Ouachita again made their way down the field. A Lions bad snap on fourth and goal gave Ruston another turnover on down deep in their own territory. Berymon dished out some more hits and Ruston had to punt again. The kick did not travel very far, and the Lions had good field position. Connor made the play of the game with an off balance throw down to the end zone, where Wydell Clark jumped up and hauled it in for a spectacular 30-yard score. That put the Ouachita Lions in the lead by one halfway through the 4th.

After Ruston took back over, Hudson’s number was called again, and Kohl Gray was leaned on as well to try and get Ruston in position to regain the lead. Ruston ended up facing a 4th and 3 with the game in the balance, and a trick play found Ahmad Hudson with the ball in the open field headed into field goal range. However, the Lion defense kept in pursuit and forced a fumble. When Ouachita recovered, it was another shocking moment where one side was on their feet, and the other side had their hands on their heads. Ouachita would need just a couple of first downs to ice the game. However, Ruston had all of their timeouts and forced a punt.

Ruston’s two-minute drill would get them all the way to the Ouachita 35. The Bearcats faced a 52-yard field goal attempt for the title. It looked like they might win their second Championship in their fourth straight trip to the Dome. The kick was short and to the right, giving the 14 seed Ouachita Lions their first State Championship since 1989 and sending the Lion army into an absolute uproar.