There will be a new state champion this year in Louisiana.

C.E. Byrd scored two fourth-quarter goals to overcome a late deficit and upset defending state champion Loyola-Shreveport, 8-7, in a Louisiana High School Lacrosse League quarterfinal Monday night.

With the victory, the Yellow Jackets (7-5) advanced to Saturday afternoon’s state semifinals for the second straight season. C.E. Byrd will next face unbeaten New Orleans Jesuit at Pan-American Stadium in New Orleans for the right to play for the second-annual Louisiana state title.

C.E. Byrd trailed 3-2 at the end of the first quarter, 5-4 at halftime and 7-6 at the end of the third quarter before scoring twice in the opening six minutes of the fourth quarter to overturn the deficit.

Senior attackman Blake Fife scored a team-high three goals, including the game-tying goal in the fourth quarter, and senior middie Chase Hall scored the game-winner. Senior attackman Ben Eldredge, junior middie Thomas Haynie, junior middie Bruce Brewer and sophomore middie Collin McDonald all scored once.

In the cage, senior goalie Eric Murdock was sensational, making 15 huge saves.

In defeat, freshman attackman Austin Melson scored four goals, senior attackman J.T. Terzia had two goals and two assists and senior middie Thompson Barro scored once for Loyola-Shreveport, which finished the season a disappointing 10-6

In the cage, senior goalie Chris Melson saved 10 shots.

“We had a lot of opportunities, but their goalie just played an outstanding game,” said Loyola-Shreveport assistant coach Kevin Crumrine, who was filling in for head coach Mike DeVita. “We got a lot of shots offensively, but we couldn’t get through.”