Destrehan, La. (WGNO) – St. James finishes 2025 one game short of making its third-straight state championship appearance, but the Wildcats have plenty of playoff woes in recent memory.

Losing back-to-back state title games, then suffering a blowout loss versus Sterlington in the Division III Non-Select semifinals last season recaps the team’s last three playoff runs.

However, the Wildcat’s work ethic this offseason gives head coach Lavanta Davis confidence St. James is ready to get the job done.

“Our kids buying into the program, showing up everyday for summer workouts, understanding we taking it one day at a time. That’s where the confidence is built. We rarely talk about state championships. We just talk about the process of working towards getting better every day,” Davis explained.

“Everybody on the team basically been stumped a couple of years already. Everybody knows how it feels to lose in the Dome or the semis so everybody ready to go this year. Everybody got a chip on they shoulder,” senior Jye Blain added.

Blain is one player who shoulders the burden of winning the elusive state championship.

The senior is part of St. James’ veteran-led defensive backfield, and the secondary’s collective experience is what the LaTech commit is leaning on.

“Most of our team have good experience already. Most of them are like three-year starters. Everybody got experience already so we going be good,” Blain continued.

“We return a good group, a senior-laden group on the defensive end, on the back end, in the secondary, but we return a good group of 10th, 11th graders back on the offensive side as well. We going be pretty good,” Davis added.

Speaking of offense, one of the most important returning starters for St. James is quarterback Jajuan Jackson, who finishes 2025 with more than 2400 passing yards and 34 touchdown passes, while leading the Wildcats on a deep playoff run, and the junior’s familiarity with the St. James’s system, gives their head coach the ability to diversify the offense.

“It’s always good to bring back your quarterback. He’s a lot more familiar with the offense so we’re able to open up, expand that playbook a little more so we’re excited about it,” Davis finished.

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