Vermilion Catholic quarterback Jonathan Dartez ran 47 times for 253 yards and accounted for four touchdowns -- two rushing and two passing -- in a state championship win against Ouachita Christian on Thursday at the Caesars Superdome.
Ouachita Christian drove for a chance to take a lead in the closing seconds, but junior linebacker Caleb Guidry returned an interception 87 yards for a touchdown that made the final score 33-21 in the LSHAA Division IV select state final. Guidry crossed the goal line with 9 seconds remaining.
Junior quarterback Nicholas Lake Vidrine threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns on 17-of-28 passing for Ouachita Christian, a runner-up after previously defeating Vermilion Catholic when the teams played for a state title in 2022.
A stop on fourth down gave Ouachita Christian a chance to drive for the potential winning score. The Eagles reached the Vermilion 21-yard line and faced a fourth-and-10 when Guidrey intercepted the pass thrown toward the left sideline.
Dartez, who completed 8 of 11 passes for 82 yards, threw touchdown passes to seniors Allen McLain and Jyrin Bessard.
Top-seeded Vermilion Catholic, which previously won state titles in 2003 and 2013, opened to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. But junior Ridge Coats returned an interception 75 yards for Ouachita Christian to make the score 13-7. Senior Makin Lenard ran 2 yards for a touchdown that put No. 11 Ouachita Christian ahead 14-13.
McLain scored on a 12-yard pass for a 20-14 before halftime. Bessard scored on a 20-yard pass in the third quarter.
Ouachita Christian senior Cameron Volion scored on a 46-yard pass in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 26-21 before the fourth-down stop gave the Eagles a chance to drive for the possible winning score.