One side of the line will be No. 3 E.D. White and its tightfisted defense and on the other side will be No. 7 Leesville’s dynamic offense today at Harvey Peltier Memorial Stadium in Thibodaux in the Select Division II semifinals.

The Cardinals have allowed more than 20 points only twice this season in losses to Jesuit and Lutcher and held opponents to 10.5 points a game.

“They’re all humongous, 6’3″, 225, you know, 6’3″, 265,” Leesville head coach Robert Causey said. “They just play their positions very well.

“They’re well coached, strong fundamentals, and very aggressive. They’re well coached and huge upfront and very competitive and active skill kids.”

E.D. White (10-2) was the Select Division II state runner-up in 2021 and has won 10 more games in four consecutive seasons.

“They’re a quality team. A historical power program in the state and has been for a long, long time, covering probably five decades. You know, they’ve had success. It’s going to be a quality opponent and hopefully a good ball game.”

But they haven’t faced an offense quite like Leesville’s. Running back Xavier Ford has been breaking records nearly every week lately and has run for 3,307 yards and 50 touchdowns. The attention he draws has opened up the Wampus Cat passing game as well where quarterback Trel Brown has thrown for 1,917 and 25 touchdowns.

Leesville (10-2) put up 50 points in the quarterfinals last week and is averaging 47 a game. Receivers Julius Brown and Mike Davis have combined for 66 catches and 1,342 yards.

“So most people hear about our running game, but the numbers don’t lie that we’re much more balanced this year than we ever have been,” Causey said. “But that’s because we can run the ball.

“We’re going to find a way to compete every Friday night with what we have and let the chips fall where they may. Our offensive line gelled and just continued to get better.

Ford has run for 8,432 yards and 118 touchdowns and needs 131 yards to break Cedric Skinner’s single-season state record of 3,437 yards.

“The way that he runs, he just keeps getting stronger and stronger as the year goes. It just keeps improving. He just keeps improving and getting stronger mentally and physically. He’s better than he was in week one when we started. And so it’s given us a chance which has opened up (the passing game). We’ve thrown for over 2,000 yards this year because of the fact that we can run the football.”

Leesville will play just its second semifinal game since the school’s only championship game appearance in 1995.

E.D. White beat cross-town rival Vandebilt Catholic for the second time this season last week in the quarterfinals on a last-second touchdown pass from Grant Barbera to Ben Guidry to win 23-18.