For Dunham head coach Neil Weiner, Thursday night in the Caesars Superdome finally delivered the moment he had chased for years. After watching two previous championship bids slip away in tight finishes, Weiner and the Tigers broke through at last, knocking off Calvary Baptist 34–17 to claim the LHSAA Division III Select title.
The victory ends a 20-year championship drought for Dunham and becomes just the second state crown in school history.
Dunham (13–1) leaned on the brilliance of sophomore quarterback Elijah Haven, who turned the title stage into his personal showcase. One of the most coveted prospects in the Class of 2027, Haven piled up 410 total yards on his way to Outstanding Player honors. He carved up the Calvary defense through the air — 21-of-29, 274 yards and three touchdowns — and on the ground, where he bruised his way to 136 yards and two more scores on 27 carries.
Jarvis Washington headlined the receiving corps with a dominant outing, snagging 10 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Will Dantin backed him up with six receptions, 75 yards, and a score.
Calvary Baptist (12–2) entered with an 11-game win streak and one of the most explosive offenses in the state, but the Cavaliers struggled to find their footing against a relentless Dunham defense. Quarterback Hudson Price never found consistent rhythm, pressured into rushed throws and forced scrambles throughout the night. He finished 11-of-21 for 143 yards, a touchdown and an interception, adding a short rushing score but just eight yards total rushing.
Running back Z’Ryan Miles saw few openings as Dunham clogged every gap, limiting him to 20 yards on 11 attempts. Forced into a pass-heavy approach, Calvary posted 209 receiving yards, with Braylon Huglon leading the way on four catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Calvary struck first thanks to a 40-yard punt return from Luke Miller, setting up a one-play scoring drive — a 22-yard shovel pass from Price to Huglon with 10:45 left in the opening quarter. But Dunham wasted no time responding. Haven powered an eight-play, 72-yard answer that he finished himself from 13 yards out to tie it at 7–7.
Haven guided another touchdown drive on Dunham’s next possession, punching in a two-yard run to make it 14–7 late in the first quarter. A Trevor Haman interception deep in Tiger territory set the stage for Dunham’s longest march of the night — a 17-play grinder capped by Haven hitting Dantin for a seven-yard score and a 20–7 lead with 5:33 remaining in the half.
Calvary trimmed the margin before the break with a 37-yard field goal from Tsehaye Knight, making it 20–10 at halftime.
Dunham needed just one possession in the second half to reassert control. After a defensive stop, Haven found Washington streaking over the middle for a 77-yard catch-and-run that stretched the lead to 27–10.
Calvary momentarily seized momentum after recovering an onside kick. A 55-yard strike from Price to Huglon set up a one-yard keeper to cut the lead to 27–17. But Dunham slammed the door on any comeback hopes with another punishing drive. Haven powered the Tigers downfield before hitting Washington again, this time from 20 yards, for their second touchdown connection of the half and a 34–17 lead.
That score held the rest of the way, sealing a long-awaited championship moment for Weiner and stamping Dunham’s return to the top of Louisiana high school football.
