Louisiana high school football season is officially here!
And just like the loaded Week 1 college slate around the country, this weekend features a slew of great matchups all over the state.
Every week during the LHSAA season, Louisiana vs. All Y’all will spotlight 10 of the most intriguing games to watch — with an effort to include at least one team from each classification level and at least one team from each area code.
Here are the 10 that top our list for opening weekend.
TOP 10 GAMES TO WATCH
WEEK 1
DESTREHAN AT CATHOLIC-BR — Friday, 7 p.m., at BREC’s Memorial Stadium
A pair of traditional Class 5A powers will square off to open their seasons for the second straight year and are once again both ranked in the top 10 of the LSWA’s preseason polls: Destrehan tied at No. 5, and Catholic-B.R. at No. 2. Last year’s game was a thriller in a monsoon in St. Charles Parish in which the visiting Bears stole the 23-20 road win late with an impressive drive and goal-line Jayden Miles touchdown run. The Wildcats would love nothing more than to return the favor Friday when quarterback Jackson Fields (Incarnate Word), wide receivers Jabari Mack (LSU) and Jaylan Ash, running back Malachi Dabney, cornerback Damien “Deuce” Richard II (Louisiana Tech) and company visit the capital city. But the Bears are once again strong and experienced with Miles and a loaded backfield, safety Blaine Bradford (Ohio State), linebacker/safety Harrison Kidder (Ragin’ Cajuns), offensive lineman Blaise Thomassie (Stanford), defensive end Jayden Vessell and tight end Jude Chamberlain among the headline players.
RUSTON AT ACADIANA — Friday, 7 p.m., at Bill Dotson Stadium
Friday’s schedule features not one, but two matchups of Class 5A foes both ranked in the LSWA’s preseason top 10. Home-standing Ruston held off a comeback push by Acadiana up north last season, 35-27, but will now make the return trip south to Scott. The Bearcats open the season at No. 4 with the talent to potentially make a run back to Caesars Superdome for the fourth straight December despite graduating another strong senior class. Tight end Ahmad Hudson and safety Jayden Anding are two of the state’s top-ranked 2027 prospects, and other promising players such as junior linebacker/safety Keilan Davis and sophomore running back Dalen Powell are among other names for both high school and college fans to know. Acadiana, the preseason No. 7, similarly heads into 2025 with their same high goals despite notable turnover for both their roster and staff. New head coach Doug Dotson, defensive lineman Darryus McKinley (Acadiana), wide receiver Collin DiBetta, cornerback Taveian Landry lead another confident, capable Wreckin’ Rams bunch.
EVANGEL CHRISTIAN AT NEVILLE — Friday, 7 p.m., at Bill Ruple Stadium
Evangel Christian was very much an ascending team through the course of last season as more key players became available during the course of the season. The Eagles return much of that team — including star quarterback Peyton “Pop” Houston and his deep cast of speedy weapons such as Johnny Casey Jr. (Louisiana Tech) and Demarkus Evans — and should start this season more in stride than when they opened 2024 with a 42-24 loss to Neville. But the Tigers return a ton as well, including their own talented 2027 quarterback Parker Robinson, the senior safety duo of Julian “JuJu” Burns (North Carolina) and Jayden Reed (Ragin’ Cajuns), offensive lineman Van Martinez (ULM) and big pass-catcher Ze’land Young. Neville opens the season No. 3 in the LSWA Class 5A poll, the highest-ranked Division-I Non-Select team, and a popular preseason pick to make a run as a title. The Eagles received the 13rd-most votes among Class 5A teams in the preseason polls with linebacker Damari Drake (Grambling State), defensive lineman Ashton Dawson (Arkansas) and offensive lineman Jackson Speer among other future college players to watch.
JOHN CURTIS AT CATHDERAL (LOS ANGELES) — Friday, 6 p.m. (CT) in San Juan Hills, Cali.
John Curtis, the No. 10 in the LSWA Class 5A preseason poll, will open the season on the west coast with a trip to Los Angeles power Cathedral, which finished 10-1 last season and already has two games under its belts. The challenge awaiting the Patriots this weekend is notable, but so is the experience opportunity for a talented group with a good mix of experience and young, but promising players. Senior Luke Martinez and sophomore London Padgett have both worked at quarterback this offseason, senior running back Jacobi Boudreaux is one of the top running backs in the New Orleans area and linebacker Jeffrey Curtis is month the senior standouts of a veteran linebacking group that leads a defense with junior Prentice Mackyeon Jr. and sophomore Jaden Keelen among rising college prospects to know.
CARENCRO AT ST. THOMAS MORE — Friday, 7 p.m. at STM Cougar Field
Even a young Carencro team that took some lumps during a learning 2024 season played fellow Lafayette area power St. Thomas More to a tight, 21-20 finish. And Golden Bears, who received the 16th-most preseason votes in Class 5A, should be capable of a big step back forward with their talented 2028 class, including quarterback Carson Gurzi and edge rusher Hayden Monroe, growing up quickly through a year-plus of high school and establishing themselves as key playmakers around seniors such as versatile athlete Chantz Babineaux (Nicholls State) and safety Rontrell Woods. But St. Thomas More has been as consistent a contender as any program in the state, including seven trips to state championship games in the past decade, and tied atop the LSWA’s preseason Class 4A poll. Virginia Tech commit Cole Bergeron, the state’s top-ranked senior quarterback, and running back Carter Melancon give the Cougars an experienced backfield, and the defense should be strong and experienced up the middle with senior defensive tackles Conner McAtee and Austin Pellerin and junior safety Landen Ortte among the leaders.
ARCHBISHOP RUMMEL AT LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN — Friday, 7 p.m. at Knight Field
Archbishop Rummel held off Lafayette Christian, 42-35, in a thriller in the Superdome to help highlight opening weekend in 2024. This year, the Raiders travel to Lafayette for their longest road trip since the 2023 playoffs and their first road game in the 337 area code since a trip to Acadiana in 2013. Rummel, which received votes in the Class 5A preseason poll, will try to power past the Knights with talented junior running back Coryan Hawkins and a big offensive line that includes seniors Jewlz Barthelemy, Jaden Dillon, Armando Reyes and Eddie Conerly IV and highly touted sophomore Raymond Hughes. Linebacker Carlin Kinchen Jr., edge rusher Jacoby Dunn and safety/backer Keiron Jackson are among familiar senior leaders on defense. Lafayette Christian is meanwhile tied atop the preseason Class 2A poll with a more spread-out, downfield offense led by dynamic, second-year starter Braylon Walker, a Louisiana (Lafayette) commit as a defensive back, and an explosive cast of weapons that includes senior wide receivers Brayden Allen (Tulane) and Draylon August and sophomore running back Caiden Bellard behind Kaleb Campbell and company up front. And, on defense, senior safety Luke Green (Ragin’ Cajuns), senior edge rusher Jaimason Marzell and junior cornerback Sky Ryan are among the headliners.
NOTRE DAME AT SOUTHSIDE — Friday, 7 p.m., at The Reef
Notre Dame and Southside have kicked off each of the past four seasons with hard-nosed, hard-fought slugfests that have been decided by one or two scores. The Pioneers have gotten the best of three of those meetings and begin this year as the LSWA’s No. 8 team in the Class 2A preseason poll. But the Sharks, receiving the 15th-most votes in Class 5A, have headed into this season with some buzz and expectations in coach Jess Curtis and his staff’s second year at the helm after a quarterfinal run in 2024. Notre Dame’s familiar faces include Drew LeJeune, William Lavergne and Cameron Stelly. For Southside, quarterback Parker Dies returns behind a big offensive line that includes center Bricker Eskind and guard Damire Mouton helping pave the way for Justin Williams, Kollen Francois and company. Senior Gavyn Kern anchors the defensive line with a veteran linebacking corps and secondary, including cornerback Cameron Allen and versatile corner/safety Emanual Collins (Louisiana Tech), behind them
FRANKLINTON AT AMITE — Friday, 7 p.m., at Russell Memorial Stadium
Franklinton, the Division-II Non-Select runner-up in 2024, will take the short trip down Highway 16 to open the season against perennial smaller-school power Amite. The Demons are the preseason No. 5 team in Class 4A, including a first-place vote, and the Warriors are the preseason No. 4 in Class 3A. Franklinton edged a young Amite squad, 19-12, in last year’s opener to begin its memorable season. Senior quarterback Jacob Crain returns to lead a Franklinton offense with tight end Dalton Freeman and speedy receiver Damikies McClain among his weapons, and senior corner Chakyn McClain is among the returning defensive leaders. The versatile Franklin Morgan Jr. (Louisiana Tech) and big target La’Jahren Cyprien are among the the senior leaders of an Amite team also loaded with 2027 and 2028 talent already with early experience such as junior linemen Jaylen Haywood and Vincent Wilson and wide receiver Braylen Taylor and sophomore running back Ja’myron Dillon.
NORTH DESOTO AT UNION PARISH — Friday, 7 p.m., at Doc Elliot Stadium
A pair of north Louisiana title hopefuls with differing styles will clash in Farmerville to kick off the season. Union Parish is the preseason No. 5 squad in the Class 2A poll, and North DeSoto is the preseason No. 6 in Class 4A, including a couple first-place votes. The Griffins won at home, 33-21, to open 2024 and return some of the same key pieces from that team such as longtime starters quarterback Luke Delafield (Northwestern State), running back Kenny Thomas (Louisiana Tech) and decorated offensive lineman Nathan Dubroc. North DeSoto, one of the state’s most prolific offenses in recent years, reached its first-ever state title game in 2022, has been knocking at the door ever since and should be be among the top contenders in an open Division-II Non-Select. Union Parish, meanwhile, reached four straight Division-III Non-Select title games, including a 2023 championship, as one of Louisiana’s most throwback, grind-it-out, physical outfits predicated on the ground game and stingy defense. Two-way lineman Ari Slocum (Arkansas), linebacker J’veon Henderson and veteran quarterback Braxton Patterson are among the leaders.
CATHOLIC-NI AT VERMILION CATHOLIC — Friday, 7 p.m., at Eagle Stadium
Half of the state’s eight reigning state champions will open the new season head-to-head. And while Edna Karr (D-I Select) and Archbishop Shaw (D-II Select) will garner more of the headliners, the smaller-schools showdown between Division-III Select champ Catholic-N.I. and Division-IV champ Vermilion Catholic has the potential to be one of the best matchups of Week 1 — not unlike the 14-10 VC win in 2024. Both the Panthers and the Eagles received first-place votes in their respective LSWA preseason polls and begin their title defenses ranked as the No. 4 team in Class 2A and No. 2 team in Class 1A, respectively. But both will have to replace great senior classes, including star quarterbacks. The veteran safety duo of senior Layton Mitchell and junior Karon Eugene helps headline this year’s Catholic-N.I. roster, and senior running back Owen Morris figures to be a workhorse on offense. The most familiar Vermilion Catholic names and faces meanwhile include largely two-way senior standouts such as Luke McLain, Seth Boudreaux, Caleb Guidry and Will Simon.
