Notre Dame commits in playoff action this week
There are a total of eight Notre Dame commits across the 2023 and 2024 classes whose teams are still alive in their respective state playoffs. We’re not including Folsom (Calif.) High wide receiver Rico Flores Jr. and West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial defensive lineman Boubacar Traore in this article because they are expected to be out the rest of the season due to injury.
Here’s a look at who’s still playing in the playoffs and the details on their upcoming matchup.
Belmont (N.C.) South Point (13-1) vs. Denver (N.C.) East Lincoln (14-0) in the semifinals of the North Carolina Class 3A state playoffs Dec. 2.
Notes: The lone team that South Point fell against this season is a program that East Lincoln beat by 26 points. East Lincoln hasn’t played in a one-score ball game all year. If South Point punches first, the opposition might not know how to respond, but East Lincoln should be considered the team to beat in this matchup. Absher and the South Point rushing attack have been outstanding this season, averaging 305.3 yards per game and 6.6 yards per carry.
Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab (9-3) vs. Baton Rouge (La.) Dunham (12-1) in the semifinals of the Louisiana Division III state playoffs Dec. 2.
Notes: After rolling to a blowout win over Isidore Newman and five-star quarterback Arch Manning last week, Ausberry’s squad faces a tough test in the state semifinals. Ausberry has been a force defensively all season long and passed up a former five-star linebacker (Dylan Moses) for most tackles in school history with 384. Ausberry has also been a goal line rushing threat, pounding in 7 touchdowns.
Denton (Texas) Guyer (13-0) vs. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (13-0) in the quarterfinals of the Texas 6A Division II state playoffs Dec. 3.
Notes: Two of the top teams not only in the state of Texas but in the nation will battle on Saturday. Guyer is the nation’s No. 12 team per MaxPreps, while Carroll checks in at No. 23. Both teams boast an undefeated record, and these two teams meeting in the quarterfinals goes to show just how deep high-level Texas good is.
Concord (Calif.) De La Salle (9-3) vs. Folsom (Calif.) High (12-1) in the regional finals of the California Division 1-AA state playoffs Dec. 2.
Notes: This is a matchup that has two Irish commits on both sidelines, but Flores is out for the rest of the playoffs with a foot injury. Earlier this season, Folsom edged De La Salle 24-20. Without Flores, this game might look different.
Austin (Texas) Westlake (13-0) vs. San Antonio Brennan (12-1) in the quarterfinals of the Texas 6A Division I state playoffs Dec. 3.
Notes: Greathouse came out of Westlake’s last playoff victory with a minor injury, and from what we were told earlier this week, the four-star receiver should be considered questionable to play on Saturday. Greathouse has never missed a high school game in his four seasons, so he’s durable and tough, but we’ll see if he’s able to play this week.
RB Jayden Limar
Lake Stevens (Wash.) High (11-2) vs. Burien (Wash.) Kennedy Catholic (12-1) in the championship game of the Washington Class 4A state playoffs Dec. 3.
Notes: In Limar’s last high school game, he needs 167 yards rushing to break 2,000 yards this season, which is a wild number to reach at the prep level. It won’t be easy for Limar to run wild against Kennedy Catholic, the team that is considered by MaxPreps as the No. 4 team in the state. Lake Stevens is ranked No. 2.
