Ruston falls to Destrehan in the LHSAA Division I title game

NEW ORLEANS – Forgive Ruston principal Dan Gressett if he doesn’t remember the last time his school played for an LHSAA football state championship.

The veteran principal was 12 years old and living in Lake, Mississippi, when the Bearcats won the 1990 title. He’d never heard of Ruston High or the Ruston teacher he would eventually marry.

But Gressett, a former Louisiana Tech pitcher, knows how winning, especially in football, can transform a school.

And although his Bearcats lost 17-10 to Destrehan on Friday night in the Non-Select Division I state title game, the build-up to the contest, and the team’s run to the Superdome did a lot for school pride.

“It was incredible to see the community rally around this team,” Gressett said. “I’ve said this before. When you football team is winning, everything seems to go much smoother at school.”

Ruston was seeking its ninth title, while the Wildcats were able to grab No. 6.

HOMEGROWN: No. 1 Ruston’s football team is built on tough scheduling, homegrown talent

RUSTON TALENT: How Ruston advanced to LHSAA Non-Select Division I title game with modest talent

Everything didn’t go smoothly for the Bearcats (12-2) against the Wildcats (14-0), who are loaded with college level talent. Five seniors in the Destrehan lineup have offers from Power 5 schools versus none for Ruston.

Seven penalties in the first quarter kept the Ruston offense stymied. But despite two missed second-half field goals, the Bearcats had a chance at the win in the closing moments until an interception with just under two minutes remaining ended their season.

Ruston coach Jerrod Baugh said this team achieved what he believed it could achieve after a rocky start to the season with a sloppy August scrimmage against Byrd.

“These guys did everything we asked of them after that scrimmage and I couldn’t be more proud of what they’ve accomplished,” he said. “They have set the standard for what Ruston football is all about and we will move forward from here. They’re hurting right now, but they will eventually understand what they did this season.”

The Bearcats never led in the game, trailing 10-0 before an Aaron Jackson TD reception from Jaden Osborne and a 24-yard Russell Brown field goal tied it with about six minutes to play.

Bearcat running back Dyson Fields, who was limited to 49 yards on 17 carries, echoed Gressett’s sentiments about the Ruston support.

“You saw how many people were out there. There were over 12,000 tickets sold,” Fields said. “I believe we have the best fans in the state.”

Jimmy Watson covers Shreveport-Bossier area sports. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: LHSAA football championships 2022: Ruston loses to Destrehan