BY MATT VINES, The DeSoto Parish Journal
STONEWALL – The North DeSoto boys soccer team knew if they had any shot on making a Division II playoff return, they’d have to beat Minden this past Tuesday.
The rain poured down, but the Griffins managed a 2-1 victory on Senior Night no less.
But North DeSoto (6-13-2), and its 13 seniors, probably thought they’d played their last game in a loss against Benton on Thursday.
The Griffins had been on the outside of the playoff picture in the final weeks of the season, but when the playoff brackets were released Tuesday, there was North DeSoto’s name at No. 32.
Those 13 seniors will get at least one more game and will make the playoffs for the second straight season.
North DeSoto heads to No. 1 Holy Cross (15-4-4) on Thursday in a 4 p.m. kickoff.
The Griffins, who had won two of their last three matches to snap a 12-match streak without a win, are postseason bound.
“Our late-season push really showed us what we were capable of all season,” said North DeSoto soccer coach Logan Morrison. “Especially in that Minden game, we were in the rain and the guys showed a ton of grit to win that one and keep our playoff hopes alive.
“I think it’s incredibly special to the seniors to make the playoffs and have one more game together. They thought it was over after (Thursday’s game at Benton), but now we have a little bit of new life breathed into us. Of course, it’s always special to experience a postseason berth.”
Holy Cross is unbeaten in its last six matches, winning those contests by a combined score of 17-1.
The Griffins know the uphill challenge they face after making the trip to New Orleans.
“Holy Cross is the No. 1 team in the state for a reason,” Morrison said. “They are extremely good and have their program to a point that we would eventually like to get to.
“We’ll play like we have nothing to lose and see what happens in the end.”
As a No. 31 seed in 2023, North DeSoto fell at St. Thomas More, 8-0.
