With a trip to the state title game on the line, Trevin Simon ran through Westminster Christian and added a couple of state records on the way.
Simon ripped off a 70-yard touchdown on the first drive of the game and was hard to bring down all night, running 33 times for 364 yards and six touchdowns in a 45-14 victory at Crusader Field to make it to the Division IV select championship game.
Simon set state records for rushing yards in a season with 3,765 yards and rushing touchdowns with 57. The previous records were set in 2024 by Leesville's Xavier Ford with 3,467 yards and 52 touchdowns.
"Definitely have to give credit to the offensive line," Simon said. "I wouldn't be here in this position without them. The record's mine and theirs."
The Bulldogs (11-2) will face No. 2 Riverside Academy in the championship game.
"Exhilaration," Bulldogs first-year coach Taylor James said about the feeling. "This community has waited a long time for this. It's been seven years in the making."
On the first drive, Simon took three carries for 10 yards. He then ripped off a 70-yard touchdown run to give his team an early 7-0 lead.
Later in the first quarter, the Bulldogs harassed Crusaders quarterback Steven George, forcing him into an incompletion and another three-and-out midway through the first quarter.
Simon broke another state record on the next drive. He ripped off two runs for 28 yards to get into Westminster Christian territory. Then quarterback Greg Fernandez found tight end Kole Folse wide open for a 27-yard gain. Simon ran in his second touchdown on an 11-yard run to make it 14-0.
Westminster Christian (12-1) failed to pick up a first down on their first four drives. Bulldogs senior lineman Vaughn Blanchard tallied a sack and was one of the O-lineman blocking for Simon.
"I wasn't going to let down," Blanchard said. "I was in it for all of it. I was ready for it."
On the Bulldogs' ensuing drive, Fernandez fumbled on a bad snap from the Crusaders 37. He lost the ball, but the referees ruled an inadvertent whistle and Ascension Catholic kept it. Fernandez then ripped off a 37-yard touchdown.
Midway through the second quarter, the Crusaders reached the red zone for the first time. George dropped back on a screen pass on third and 4 from the 13 but threw an interception to Bulldogs linebacker John Rob Daigle, who returned it to his own 39.
Simon extended the lead to 27-0 after capping off a six-play, 61-yard drive with a 45-yard touchdown run with 3:13 left before halftime.
Westminster looked to get on the scoreboard before the break but was stuffed on fourth down for a 2-yard loss at the Bulldogs 39. Ascension Catholic struck quickly after Simon took a pitch and then heaved a pass to Cy Landry for a 49-yard gain to the Crusaders 10. Simon took it in on his fourth touchdown run of the game to make it 33-0 at the half.
The Crusaders finally scored with 7:37 left in the third after George found tight end Evan Lemon on a 9-yard touchdown pass.
Simon added touchdown runs of 5 and 20 yards in the second half. Westminster added a late touchdown in the fourth to make it 45-14.