Moments after booking their trip to the state title game, Ascension Catholic players gathered around a purple door and a sledgehammer.

The door featured a list of the Bulldogs' past six playoff finishes. Two semifinal appearances, three quarterfinal appearances and one second round exit.

Ascension Catholic finally knocked the door down after defeating No. 1 Westminster Christian. The Bulldogs players then smashed dent after dent into the purple door that lay flat on the grass in Opelousas.

"It's been seven years in the making," first-year head coach Taylor James said. "These kids have fought, and they've battled. They've been close; they had their heart broken. They've worked for this for a long time."

The Bulldogs (11-2) face No. 2 Riverside Academy (11-1) in the Division IV select

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