By JIM BUTLER

The Clerk of Court’s office ended its most recent fiscal year with a discretionary General Fund balance of $7.5 million, an increase of $300,000 over the previous year.

That came despite receiving $400,000 less revenue and having $400,000 more expense than in the prior year, according to the audit.

The audit report for the year ending June 30, 2023 was released last week.

While that General Fund balance is available for use, the report does note liabilities, such as long-term pension obligations, create a net position of $505,000 with about $124,000 unrestricted.

Auditors report the General Fund had revenue of $4.5 million and judicial expenses of $4.1 million.

Recording and legal filing fees accounted for $3.7 million revenue.

Personnel services and benefits totaled $3.5 million of the expenses and office/administrative costs were $582,000.

Clerk of Court Robin Hooter’s salary was $114,646 plus supplemental pay of $25,800. Her benefits included auto allowance of $10,424 and expense allowance of $14,847, the audit notes.

The Rapides Parish Police Jury would like the public to be aware that Wiggins road will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 4 from 8 am – 5 pm for a culvert replacement.

A bald eagle live cam was first installed in 2018 in Kisatchie National Forest. In 2021 viewers were able to see the first egg laid by a pair of eagles fondly named Louis and Anna. Louis and Anna’s first eaglet was named “Kisatchie” through a special naming contest held for the public.

The following was posted by Kisatchie National First on social media on Jan. 1:

We are saddened and heartbroken to inform everyone that Anna died on Jan. 1. Anna began to present symptoms of nasal discharge, diarrhea, and slight tremors while at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Wildlife Hospital. She even had a seizure, indicating she was having serious neurological distress. Before she could suffer worse symptoms, the vet euthanized her.

The results of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) test will tell us definitely if Anna had the disease, although everything does present as if she did. If she did not have HPAI, her body has been frozen and a necropsy will be conducted to determine the cause. As soon as we receive the results from the test run on Anna, we will let you all know.

Why did Anna have to be euthanized so quickly rather than wait 48 to 72 hours for the test results?

1) Anna was suffering

2) LSU does not have a bio-secure area to hold sick animals. Since Anna appeared to have HPAI, if they kept her and it was confirmed she had the disease, they would have to euthanize every bird in their facility – including three eagles undergoing rehabilitation, a Cooper’s Hawk, and many other raptors and various other birds. Avian Flu is a serious, deadly disease of all birds that is of grave concern.

Anna, the female in E-1 (mate is Louis), was already showing signs of being unwell as of Jan. 1. However, her symptoms were a little different from Andria (the female eagle of E-3 which died on 12/8/2023, cause still unknown, waiting on necropsy results.) Anna was last seen on Saturday; but made an appearance on Sunday at dusk when ANOTHER female eagle ambushed her in mid-air and knocked her to the ground! Everything was caught on the eagle cams so Forest Service staff were able to hasten to the site and capture Anna using a large net and blanket.

Anna was transferred to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Wildlife Hospital in Baton Rouge for assessment by wildlife biologist tech, Cody Austell.

MEANWHILE, “As the Nest Turns,” a NEW pair of eagles have done a walk-through of the E-3 nest and may decide to take up residence if they like the neighborhood as Alex has flown the proverbial coop and not been seen for days. Louis has tried to continue to incubate his and Anna’s single egg while a new Female has appeared and tried to get cozy. He was having none of it but she is persistent and continues to hang around. She may have been the culprit who chased poor Anna away and knocked her down.

Many have asked how they can contribute to the conservation and care of eagles. The USDA Forest Service does not endorse or encourage donations or contributions to specific organizations, but does want to share that there is a way to donate to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Wildlife Hospital.

This wildlife hospital is the only facility able to receive eagles in Louisiana. We learned from our interaction with the veterinary doctors that they operate the wildlife hospital on a modest budget and help make ends meet through donations. Please see the instructions below on how to donate specifically to the wildlife hospital, if you choose to do so:

1) Link https://bbis32491p.sky.blackbaud.com/give-now

2) Type in ‘Wildlife’ under “Fund Name” and hit <Enter>

3) Click the drop-down arrow under ‘We found 3 matching funds’

4) Select ‘Wildlife Hospital of LA Support Fund’

5) Enter amount of donation and follow the instructions on how to enter payment. You may also donate in memory or in honor of someone, etc. and designate in the comments.

The public can view the live eagle cams at www.youtube.com/@KNFcams/streams.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

January 1
Dametrius Brown, 42, Alexandria — aggravated assault, home invasion, contempt 2 counts, $10,000 bail;

Carolyn Burns, 53, Alexandria — resisting simple assault, domestic abuse battery, $500;

Justin Fountain, 31, Alexandria — cruelty to infirm 6 counts, $150,000 bail;

Gerald Griffith, 47, Pineville — aggravated battery, $500 bail;

Dontreal Hampton, 26, Alexandria — possession firearm by convicted felon, violation protective order, $15,000 bail;

Chase Jeansonne, 40, Pineville — aggravated battery, fugitive, criminal trespass, contempt, $5,500.

By Doug De Graffenried

I was in Lowes last week. The Christmas decorations were gone. They were replaced by the tub section. In a move of marketing genius or customer surveys, Lowes is selling plastic storage bins. These bins were stacked and prominently displayed. Lowes must know something; the storage bins are all over the store! Lowes calls them totes. I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to tote them around. I’m going to load them and pack them away.

That happens to Christmas too. We turn our homes into festive, color-coordinated gathering places for family and friends. We upend our schedules, violate our eating plans, confuse the animals that live with us, and plug too many things into the wall outlets. We do this celebrating the One born in a dark manger stall. Yes, I do it too! Eventually, Christmas is loaded into boxes or totes and packed away.

New Years Day is always packing Christmas away day. All of it is in boxes or the famous Lowes totes. It all fit nicely in the attic of the she-shed. There is an annual ritual when I’m stacking the totes in their place. There is one tote that is marked, “NO.” It is filled with Christmas decorations. These decorations are no longer put out. I have inquired about giving the contents to the children, donating them to Rolling Hills, or filing them in the cylindrical cans that are emptied once a week. The answer is always the same, “No, you can’t get rid of the NO box.” Do you suppose I would be blamed if that box vanished in the middle of the year? The NO box is at least a decade old. I think I have stored that stuff long enough. What about you? Are you storing stuff that you need to let go of? But, I digress. 

It all goes back in the box. If you are playing Monopoly and win, or the Game of Life and finish, it all goes back in the box. You could even extend that to yourself. You will end up in some kind of box. Everything you acquire, it all goes back! Live your life not for things, but for people. The love and joy you give and share lives after you. The love and joy you share are the jewels in that crown in eternity. Pour your life into others, not into the things that will go back in boxes.

The Christmas packing process was efficient this year. It all fit in the boxes and totes. All of the totes fit back in their place. The tree fit in the box and the box was closed. 

There is one item that is purposely left out. It is a small manger. It is in my office on a bookshelf. The empty manger reminds me of the empty tomb and the risen and reigning Christ. As the year unfolds, I will need that reminder often.

Did you leave something out to remind you of His daily presence in your life?

BOM is a sponsor of the Hayden R. Lawrence Middle School basketball program. Our donation will help with the purchase of new bleachers. Pictured left to right: BOM’s Mandy Futrell and Emily Schrock.

Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a fatal crash on U.S. Highway 165 south of Alexandria on Dec. 29 around 11:45 pm. This crash killed an unidentified black female pedestrian.

The initial investigation revealed that a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer was traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 165. For reasons still under investigation, a pedestrian was walking in the northbound travel lane and was struck by the Trailblazer.  As a result of the crash, the pedestrian sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. Routine toxicology tests are pending.

Troopers are asking anyone with information regarding the identity of the unidentified pedestrian to call Troop E at (318) 487-5911. The crash remains under investigation.

In 2023, Troop E Troopers have investigated 54 fatal crashes resulting in 60 fatalities.  

Downtown Alexandria’s historic Hotel Bentley was the place to be for New Year’s Eve fun as the hotel’s ballroom was transformed into a Parisian wonderland for the Louisiana History Museum’s annual fundraiser.

The museum’s ballroom was filled with history lovers and supporters of the museum who enjoyed a champaign social hour, a superb dinner in the historic hotel’s ballroom, and fun and dancing as 2023 gave way to 2024.Museum board member Fr. Chad Partain, pastor of St. Frances Cabrini and local historian, gave an update of the progress made on renovating the Shiloh Church Building and details on what is still needed.

Fr. Partain also spoke of a program instituted by the museum-The Cenla Hall of Fame. This program is intended to honor Cenla residents who have made significant contributions to community betterment in a wide variety of endeavors. The museum is taking nominations for people to be honored.

The Louisiana History Museum is currently housed in the Alexandria Historical & Genealogical Library on Washington St. With far more items in its collections than space to display them, the museum has outgrown the space available at its current location The museum purchased the former Shiloh Baptist Church, a historic African-American church building erected in 1905.The church building is itself a historic structure and would have enough room to house the museum’s artifacts and a visitor’s center.

The church is a historical building and an integral part of our community’s story. Renovating the building to its former condition and housing the Louisiana Historical Museum and its educational resources there would be a wonderful way to preserve our region’s history and honor some of the men and women who shaped Alexandria’s destiny during a difficult time.

Anyone wishing to volunteer or contribute to this worthy cause is invited to contact Ms. Pat Boone at the Alexandria Library and Museum at 503 Washington Street 318-769-2216. She may also be contacted concerning nominations for the Cenla Hall of Fame.

Thirty-five years ago this month, LSU and Georgetown played a basketball game at the Superdome that former LSU coach Dale Brown said afterwards was ‘’one of the best college games I’ve ever been involved in.”

A national television audience watched the matchup that attracted 56,321 fans at the Superdome, setting a regular-season intercollegiate basketball attendance record that still stands. And unranked LSU upset the No. 2-ranked Hoyas, 82-80, as Ricky Blanton banked in the winning basket at game’s end. Sensational freshman guard Chris Jackson scored 26 points to lead the Tigers, but it was another LSU guard – a sophomore walk-on named Dennis Tracey – whose hustle and strong defense played a pivotal role in the victory.

I reminisce about this Jan. 28, 1989 game to remind folks of an era when men’s basketball was a big, big deal at LSU, and when walk-ons like Tracey could live out a dream that could be on the silver screen as a college basketball version of “Rudy.” In the clash against mighty Georgetown, which had ended the Tigers’ season the previous year with a 66-63 victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Tracey had a tough task. He had to guard sharpshooter Charles Smith, and he pestered him and shadowed him and limited his effectiveness, especially in the second half.

Tracey played high school basketball at DeLaSalle in New Orleans when the Cavs won the state title in 1986. He played in junior college and then at UNO for a semester, but he “wanted to play with the big boys” so he enrolled at LSU. He intended to try out for the basketball team. Yet, when he found out there would be no open try-out, in desperation he wrote a three-page letter to Coach Brown, pleading for a chance to play for LSU and telling him “I can contribute to your team and help you guys have success.”

He gave the letter, with his girlfriend’s phone number on it, to a girl he knew who could put it in Coach Brown’s hands and begged her to make sure it got to him.

The next day he was with his girlfriend, and a call came in from Coach Brown. He told him he read his letter, and he wanted him to “start practice tomorrow at 3:30 sharp.”

Tracey showed up as told, made the team and became a starter, playing in the 1988-89 and ’89-90 seasons. He had some other heroic efforts from other games as a never-say-die hustler.

He didn’t drop off the map or run afoul of the law, as some athletes do after hanging up their uniforms.

After his college basketball career, Tracey served as the personal liaison for Shaquille O’Neal for about four years in the 1990s, which enabled him to travel around the world. Then he returned to LSU and got two post-graduate degrees, with help from Coach Brown. After his parting with Shaq, Tracey said in an interview a few years ago, he “went from having a million friends to having about two, and Dale was one of them.” Brown helped him pay for his books.

One of Tracey’s post-graduate degrees was as a medical doctor, and even though he doesn’t practice medicine, Tracey is considered a major player in the biomedical industry. In June of this year, he got some publicity in a televised news report about the role his company in New Orleans, Big Easy Medical, was having in the development of “The Morph.” This is a device temporarily planted behind a person’s ear that can help curb an opioid addiction.

“It’s the fix that everyone wants to cure this opioid addiction problem we’re dealing with,” Tracey said in the report. Tracey’s company is helping to distribute the device, pitching it as an alternative to opioids for medical professionals. His Big Easy Medical is one of only two companies in the country doing this, he said.

It appears the same drive and hustle and determination that earned him recognition and praise as a walk-on basketball player have helped him contribute to society. Not to mention the credit he gives to Coach Brown, who twice helped him achieve his goals.

I guess we can conclude that the fellow once described as “a hound dog in sneakers” has done well as an overachiever.

JOURNAL SPORTS

ReliaQuest Bowl

Tampa, Florida

Raymond James Stadium

Attendance – 31,424

LSU 35, Wisconsin 31

Score by quarters

Scoring summary

W – Bryson Green 20 pass from Tanner Mordecai (Nathanial Vakos kick), 5 plays, 78 yards, 2:15

W – Will Pauling 53 pass from Mordecai (Vakos kick), 2 plays, 60 yards, 0:28

LSU – Harold Perkins Jr. 1 run (Damian Ramos kick), 8 plays, 60 yards, 3:11

LSU – Kaleb Jackson 12 run (Ramos kick), 7 plays, 67 yards, 2:28

W – Pauling 9 pass from Mordecai (Vakos kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, 0:41

W – J Acker 33 run (Vakos kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:46

LSU – Brian Thomas Jr. 38 pass from Garrett Nussmeier (Ramos kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:36

LSU – Chris Hilton Jr. 14 pass from Nussmeier (Ramos kick), 8 plays, 70 yards, 3:10

W – Vakos 21 field goal, 6 plays, 42 yards, 3:19

LSU – Thomas 4 pass from Nussmeier (Ramos kick), 8 plays, 98 yards, 3:02

TEAM STATISTICS

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

Wisconsin – Acker 14-86, 1 TD; Cade Yacamelli 7-45; Mordecai 13-minus-3.

LSU – Josh Williams 12-51; Noah Cain 6-31; Jackson 2-15, 1 TD; Logan Diggs 1-1; Perkins 1-1, 1 TD; Trey Holly 1-0, Team 2-minus-2.

PASSING

Wisconsin – Mordecai 27-40-0-378, 3 TDs.

LSU – Nussmeier 31-45-1-395, 3 TDs.

RECEIVING

Wisconsin – Pauling 8-143, 2 TDs; Green 7-105, 1 TD; Trech Kekahuna 4-64; Vinny Anthony 3-15; Quincy Burroughs 2-15; Acker 1-22; Hayden Rucci 1-13; Riley Nowakowski 1-1.

LSU – Thomas 8-98, 2 TD; Mason Taylor Kyren Lacy 6-95; Hilton 3-56, 1 TD; Malik Nabers 3-23, Williams 3-22; Jackson 1-13.

TACKLES

Wisconsin – Maema Njongmeta 3-7—10; Austin Brown 6-2—8; Nyzier Fourqurean 3-5—8; Jake Chaney 2-5—7; Hunter Wohler 1-6—7; C.J. Goetz 0-5—5; Ricardo Hallman 3-1—4; Tatum Grass 3-0—3; Kamo’I Latu 1-2—3; Darryl Peterson 1-2—3; Preston Zachman 1-2—3; Jeff Pietrowski 1-1—2; James Thompson Jr. 0-2—2; Owen Arnett 0-2—2; Ben Barten 0-2—2; Gio Paez 0-2—2; Aaron Witt 0-1—1; Grover Gortolotti 0-1—1; Jackson Trudgeon 0-1—1; Christian Alliegro 0-1—1; Jonas Duclona 0-1—1; Curt Neal 0-1–1.

LSU – Major Burns 9-4—13; Whit Weeks 2-6—8; Andre Sam 3-4—7; Greg Penn III 1-6—7; Sage Ryan 4-2—6; Harold Perkins Jr. 2-2—4; Omar Speights 2-2—4; Da’Shawn Womack 2-1—3; Ryan Yaites 2-1—3; Mekhi Wingo 2-1—3; Ashton Stamps 2-1—3; Ovie Oghoufo 1-2—3; Jordan Jefferson 2-0—2; Sai’vion Jones 0-2—2; Jordan Allen 1-0—1; Josh Williams 1-0—1; Maason Smith 1-0—1; Javien Toviano 1-0—1; Paris Shand 0-1—1; Jaxon Howard 0-1—1.

Alexandria Senior High’s Amyrion Mingo was chosen on the Class 5A All-State football team selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and announced over the holiday weekend.

Mingo began the season at receiver but flipped to cornerback early on as the Trojans shored up their biggest weakness. The senior finished the season with 27 tackles, a team-leading three interceptions and 11 pass breakups while earning first-team all-district in District 2-5A. Mingo still caught 19 passes for 204 yards and four TDs in limited offensive action. 

Three more Trojans made honorable mention:  Jason Blackwell, Jeremiah Jeffers-Wright, and J.T. Lindsey.

Blackwell, the Trojans’ senior free safety, battled injuries all season but still was a first-team all-district selection in District 2-5A and finished with 76 tackles, four pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one interception returned for a TD. 

The anchor in the middle of the ASH defensive line, Jeffers-Wright was a District 2-5A first-team selection and finished with 70 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, two sacks and 10 QB hurries.

Lindsey transitioned from backup to starter with no problem and turned in the most rushing yards by a Trojan during the Thomas Bachman era. A first-team selection in District 2-5A, he finished the season with a parish-leading 1,587 yards on 272 carries for an average of 5.8 yards per carry and scored 23 rushing touchdowns. Lindsey also caught 11 passes for 142 yards and three TDs. 

Catholic High-Baton Rouge quarterback Daniel Beale and Ruston linebacker Jadon Mayfield earned top honors on the team. 

Beale and Mayfield were selected as the All-State Offensive and Defensive players of the year, respectively, after each helped his school win an LHSAA championship. Each was a returning all-state player. 

Dutchtown’s Guy Mistretta earned Coach of the Year after he guided the school to the first semifinal appearance in school history. 

Beale led Catholic to the Division I select championship with 2,974 yards passing and 39 touchdowns. He completed 213 of 338 passes and had just eight interceptions. In the state final, Beale completed 18 of 26 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns as Catholic defeated Acadiana 55-31. The UL commitment completed his four-year varsity career with more than 8,400 yards passing and 105 touchdowns. 

Mayfield spearheaded the Ruston defense as the Bearcats won a state championship for the first time since 1990 after they reached the state final for a second year in a row. Ruston defeated Zachary 31-17 in the state final. Mayfield had 12 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two tackles. 

The District 2-5A defensive MVP ended the season with 116 tackles, 16 for loss, six sacks and one fumble recovery. 

Mistretta coached a Dutchtown team that won 11 games, reached the state semifinal and clinched share of the district title with an 8-1 regular-season mark. 

2023 Class 5A All-State football team 

 OFFENSE 

 Pos. Player, School                                 Ht. Wt. Cl. 

WR Jarvis Davis, Airline                         5-10 160 Jr.
WR Trey’Dez Green, Zachary                  6-7 230 Sr.
WR TaRon Francis, Edna Karr                 6-2 205 Jr. 
OL Devin Harper, Captain Shreve          6-6 295 Jr. 
OL Joseph Cryer, Natchitoches Central 6-4 290 Sr. 
OL Nate Green, West Monroe                6-5 310 Sr. 
OL Kavion Broussard, Zachary                6-6 280 Sr. 
OL Bryce Godfrey, John Curtis                6-3 280 Sr. 
QB Daniel Beale, Catholic-BR                 6-1 195 Sr. 
RB Jordan Hayes, Ruston                        5-9 160 Jr. 
RB Cashmire Batiste, Carencro               5-9 175 Sr. 
RB Nate Sheppard, Mandeville              5-11 180 Jr. 
K Aeron Burrell, Parkway                        6-2 180 Sr. 
ATH Koby Young, Holy Cross                  6-1 182 Sr. 

DEFENSE 

DL Talan Bingham, Terrebonne              6-2 235 Sr. 
DL Geordan Guidrey, Ruston                  6-3 260 Sr. 
DL Dominick McKinley, Acadiana           6-7 280 Sr. 
DL Corey Adams, Edna Kar                     6-4 265 Jr. 
LB Jadon Mayfield, Ruston                     6-0 228 Sr. 
LB Shamarius Harris, Acadiana               5-11 215 Sr. 
LB Kolaj Cobbins, Destrehan                   6-3 215 Sr. 
LB Tah’j Butler, Edna Karr                       6-2 225 Sr. 
DB Aidan Anding, Ruston                        6-0 165 Jr. 
DB Carter Hanberry, Dutchtown            6-0 200 Sr. 
DB EJ McDonald, Captain Shreve          6-2 180 Sr. 
DB Anthony Robinson, Destrehan          6-1 190 Sr. 
P John Chance, Captain Shreve             6-1 200 Sr. 
RS Jaden Bardales, Walker                     5-8 150 Sr. 
ATH Amyrion Mingo, ASH                     5-11 170 Sr. 

Outstanding Offensive Player: Daniel Beale, Catholic-BR 
Outstanding Defensive Player: Jadon Mayfield, Ruston 
Coach of the Year: Guy Mistretta, Dutchtown 

Honorable mention: Jason Blackwell, Alexandria Senior High; Jeremiah Jeffers-Wright, Alexandria Senior High; J.T. Lindsey, Alexandria Senior High; Bob Patterson, Airline; Ben Taylor, Airline; Sincere Walker, Airline; Greg Manning, Benton; Jamarion Otis, Captain Shreve; L.J. Prudhomme, Captain Shreve; Camryn Davis, Natchitoches Central; Russell Babineaux, Acadiana; Jackson Hammond, Acadiana; Ezekiel Hypolite, Acadiana; Jadon Weber, Brother Martin; Ervin Smith, Catholic-BR; Brooks Wright, Catholic-BR; Chantz Babineaux, Carencro; Kameron Cyprien, Carencro; Kevin Jefferson, Chalmette; Jaden Williams, Chalmette; Dashawn McBryde, Denham Springs; Arrington Adams, Destrehan; Jackson Fields, Destrehan; Jayce Mitchell, Destrehan; Lakedrin Harvey, Dutchtown; Diego Spears, Dutchtown; Richard Anderson, Edna Karr; Edward Brown, Edna Karr; Rahji Dennis, Edna Karr; Sebastian Miller, Fontainebleau; Cole Canatella, Holy Cross; Nick DiGerolamo, Holy Cross; Krosse Johnson, Holy Cross; Dagan Bruno, John Curtis; Zachary Drake, John Curtis; Michael Turner, John Curtis; Edis Chavez, John Ehret; Khayree Lee, John Ehret; Wardell Mack, John Ehret; Kyle Williams, Northshore; Kristian Doyle, Ouachita; Bishop Davis, Ponchatoula; Jaidyn Martin, Rummel; Semaj Jones, Ruston; Sam Nations, Ruston; Zhy Scott, Ruston; Jahkeem Stewart, St. Augustine; Cayden Arnold, St. Paul’s; Cale Daigle, St. Paul’s; Drew Talley, St. Paul’s; J.D. Lafleur, Sulphur; Kylan Billiot, Terrebonne; Jayce Johnson, Terrebonne; Jalil Mathews, Terrebonne; Jamari Evans, Walker; Chris Dade, West Monroe; Hayden Federico, West Monroe; Collin Watkins, West Monroe; Tyson George, Zachary; Stetson Bell, Zachary; Kam Peterson, Zachary; Kameron Thomas, Zachary. 

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

TAMPA, Fla. – If Garrett Nussmeier wanted to know what it felt like to truly step into the shoes of LSU’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels, he certainly got it Monday on the first day of 2024.

With the Tigers’ defense playing its usual game full of assignment busts and missed tackles, Nussmeier rallied 13th-ranked LSU twice from 14-point deficits for a 35-31 ReliaQuest Bowl victory over unranked Wisconsin before a Raymond James Stadium crowd of 31,424.

LSU (10-3) never led until redshirt sophomore Nussmeier, making his first college start in place of likely NFL first-round draft choice Daniels who opted out of the game, guided his offense on a 98-yard drive for his game-winning 4-yard TD pass to Brian Thomas with just more than 3 minutes left.

“I take pride in always being confident and always being ready,” said Nussmeier, voted the game’s Most Valuable Player after completing 31 of 45 passes for 393 yards, three TDs and one interception. “I hadn’t started a game, but I felt like I knew what the moment was going to be like and I was prepared.”

LSU’s defense, which gave up 506 yards (the fourth time the Tigers allowed 500 or more yards offense this season), thwarted Wisconsin’s final threat. Badgers’ quarterback Tanner Mordecai was sacked three straight plays and his fourth-down fumble was recovered by Tigers’ DeShawn Womack at the LSU 45 with 31 seconds left.

“Our team was down at the half and it was probably one of the lowest points all season,” said LSU second-year coach Brian Kelly, whose team reached its goal of a second-straight 10-win season. “But if you just keep playing, and you just trust your process, then eventually it’s going to come together for you. They didn’t panic. They didn’t get outside the lanes. They just kept playing. They played one play at a time and the tide started turning for them.”

The game followed the script of most of LSU’s 2023 wins.

The Tigers’ defense, ranked No. 101 of the 130 FBS (Division 1-A) teams in yardage allowed per game (409.2), had to overcome a season-high 378 passing yards and 3 TDs from Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai as well two 100-yard receiving performances from Will Pauling (8 catches for 143 yards, 2 TDs) and Bryson Green (7 for 105, 1 TD).

“Finding a way to finish has been our Achilles heel all year,” said Wisconsin first-year head coach Luke Fickell, whose team finished 7-6 and had LSU on the ropes despite having five starters opt out of the game including its best running back and two of its top three receivers. “You got to give them (LSU) a lot of credit. We haven’t seen that much skill the whole year and it was difficult on us. We couldn’t pressure the quarterback. If you can’t make him throw under duress, it’s really hard to cover those guys.”

Wisconsin twice held two-TD leads, starting with a 14-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter after Mordecai fired scoring strikes of 20 yards to Green and 53 yards to Pauling.

The Badgers also closed the first half and opened the second half with TDs, the latter on a 33-yard run by backup running back Jackson Acker that gave Wisconsin a 28-14 cushion with 12:14 left in the third quarter.

Even with star LSU receiver Malik Nabers sitting out the final two quarters (upon Kelly’s orders) after he became the Tigers’ all-time receiving leader in the first half, LSU scored TDs on second-half drives of 75, 70 and the mammoth 98-yarder.

Wide receivers Thomas (8 catches for 98 yards, 2 TDs), Kyren Lacy (6 for 95) and Chris Hilton Jr. (3 for 56, 1 TD) and tight end Mason Taylor (7 for 88) each stepped into a piece of Nabers’ vacated spotlight.

In the game’s final 27:09, Nussmeier completed 13 of 19 passes for 216 yards, including TD passes of 38 yards to Thomas and 14 yards to Hilton to pull the Tigers into a 28-28 tie with 4:44 left in the third quarter — and the eventual game-winner to Thomas.

“They got us the whole game with big plays,” Wisconsin safety Hunter Wohler said. “We’ve just got to find a way to finish.”

On the other hand, LSU’s defense started making plays in the clutch.

It held Wisconsin to a 21-yard Nathanial Vakos field goal for a 31-28 Badgers’ lead with 1:18 left in the third quarter after Wisconsin had first-and-goal from the LSU 1. Tigers’ safety Major Burns immediately upset UW’s apple cart by tossing Mordecai for a 5-yard loss on first down.

Wisconsin also advanced the ball to its 47 and to the LSU 34 on its first two possessions of the fourth quarter. The Tigers forced punts both times, including a 35-yarder downed at the LSU 2 with 6:10 left.

After two Josh Williams runs pushed the ball to the LSU 13, Nussmeier fired back-to-back completions of 37 yards to Lacy and 43 yards to Hilton.

Two plays later, Nussmeier deftly changed a pass protection call at the line of scrimmage and rocketed a 4-yard TD laser beam to Thomas at the goal line for LSU’s first, only and last lead of the day with 3:08 left.

“You got to do what you got to do to win the football game,” Nussmeier said. “It doesn’t matter if you got to start from the 1 or the 2 or you get the ball at the 30. You just stick to the process. You go play by play, do the right things. Move the chains, move the chains, move the chains and put the ball in the end zone.”

Wisconsin’s Mordecai had some bullets left in the Badgers’ last possession. He completed 4 of 4 for 50 yards and had the Badgers with a second-and-2 at the LSU 19 with less than 90 seconds left.

And then, the Tigers’ defense did something it hadn’t done in 871 previous plays all season.

They recorded three straight sacks as Jordan Jefferson, Mehki Wingo and Greg Penn III sent Mordecai backward for losses of 13, 10 and 3 yards with a fourth-down fumble sealing LSU’s win.

“(This is) a team that’s won 20 games over the last two years, has a good foundational base of what LSU football teams expectations are,” Kelly said. “This is a team that year in and year out should be competing for championships.

“We’ve done a really good job the first two years of stabilizing, put a strong base on it. As we go into 2024, I feel really good that this team is now ready to really ascend as we move forward.”

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

Rapides bookings are accusations, not convictions.

December 28
Casey Mathews, 33, Pineville — commuting false report of planned arson, $500 bail;
Reedell Parker IV,31, New Orleans — unauthorized entry place of business, $500 bail;
Gabriel Reed, 46, Lake Charles — battery on the infirm, $500 bail.

December 29
Aubry Blue, 40, Lecompte — aggravated assault on dating partner child endangerment, $10,000 bail;
Jaylon Compton, 27, Alexandria — felony flight, paraphernalia, firearm with drugs, illegal possession stolen firearm, resisting, no license plate light, $1,100 bail;
Dane Fowler, 38, improper license plate display, no driver’s license, firearm possession by convicted felon, possession/sell firearm with obliterated serial number, $20,200 bail;
Eric Hampton, 26, Alexandria — criminal damage, paraphernalia, possession stolen firearm, possession firearm with drugs, possession firearm convicted felon, resisting, contempt 7 counts, $71,500 bail.

December 30

Drangelo Fontenot, 23, Alexandria — illegal carrying of weapons, no bail set;
Larry Fowler, 36, Pineville — aggravated battery dating partner strangulation, resisting, theft, $1,009 bail;
Blake Lemoine, 41, Boyce — fugitive, misrepresentation during booking, resisting, criminal trespass, $1,500 bail;
Jacario Metoyer, 18, Alexandria — aggravated assault with firearm 2 counts, armed/attempted armed robbery with firearm, contempt 2 counts, $21,000 bail.

December 31
Sammy Baggett III, 36, Alexandria — domestic abuse battery serious injury, arson aggravated, resisting, contempt 2 counts, $4,500 bail;
Rhonda Coath, 59, Houston — possession stolen vehicle, driving under suspension/revocation, $100 bail;
George Pierson Jr., 58, Dallas — domestic abuse battery, $1,500 bail.

Rapides drug arrests are accusations, not convictions.

December 28
Stacy Stephens, 50, Alexandria — possession, paraphernalia, criminal trespass, $3,000 bail.

December 29
Stephen Becker, 41, Pineville — possession with intent, paraphernalia, parole violation, contempt 7 counts, $306,500 bail;
Dey’Shalund Eggins, 21, Alexandria — possession with intent 2 counts, illegal carrying, $15,000 bail;
David Normand, 60, Pineville — possession 2 counts, paraphernalia, fugitive, parole violation, $3,500 bail.

December 30
Ananias Bourgeois Jr., 55, Alexandria — possession, criminal mischief filing false report, $2,000 bail;
Marcellus Gilmore, 27, Pineville — possession, felony flight, improper turn, $5,200 bail;
Caitlin Young, 35, Alexandria — possession, resisting, theft, $3,500 bail.