Louisiana’s high school season got off to a quickly memorable start last week and has a schedule loaded with a nonstop supply of high-profile and intriguing matchups.
The Week 2 slate features great local rivalry flavor, showdowns between perennial powers from nearby metro areas and a major national matchup fans around the country will be monitoring.
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 Week 2.
TOP 10 GAMES TO WATCH
WEEK 2
AMERICAN HERITAGE (FLA.) AT EDNA KARR (1-0) — Friday, 8:30 p.m., in Caesars Superdome
Fans around not only the state, but the nation figure to tune in Friday — whether instead of or after their own schools’ games — to watch a high-profile showdown on the New Orleans Saints’ home turf. A loaded Edna Karr squad will host American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), the nationally prominent program ranked among Florida’s top teams and quarterbacked by Texas commit Dia Bell. The Cougars have at least a dozen Division-I commits with college-bound seniors in every position group, including defensive tackle Richard Anderson (LSU), edge rusher Romeo Brown (Alabama A&M), linebacker Kevin Martin Jr. (Alcorn State), safety Aiden Hall (LSU), cornerbacks Hayward Howard Jr. (Texas) and Maurice Williams Jr. (Colorado) and defensive back Torrence Sanders (South Alabama) on the unit aiming to slow down Bell and multiple future college receivers.
UNIVERSITY LAB (1-0) AT ARCHBISHOP RUMMEL (0-1) — Friday, 6 p.m., in Caesars Superdome
Organizers were able to maximize the Superdome venue and tap the Cubs and Raiders as one heck of a first half of a doubleheader being called the “Inspire the City Invitational.” This will make Rummel’s fourth straight year facing U-High with three straight wins by an average of four points per contest in low-scoring, defensively controlled slugfests befitting both programs. Both teams pack a ton of talent and experience in the trenches, on defense and in the run game that should make this year’s edition another battle. For the Raiders, the big offensive line is a strength with seniors Jewlz Barthelemy, Jaden Dillon, Armando Reyes and Eddie Conerly IV and highly touted sophomore Raymond Hughes paving the way for junior running backs Coryan Hawkins and Jaden Terrance and company, while some of the Cubs’ top players to watch include a slew of trench standouts — in many cases playing both ways some — such as Lamar Brown (LSU), Jordan Pinnock (Ragin’ Cajuns) and Maison Smith; a running back duo of senior Sage Ingram and junior Corbin Odell and a hard-hitting defense all the way to Emmanuel “ManMan” Moses and company in the secondary.
ACADIANA (0-1) AT ZACHARY (1-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at The Corral
The perennial Class 5A powers have transitioned what had become a near-annual deep-playoff matchup into a high-profile regular-season date during this two-year scheduling cycle with the teams slotted into opposite sides of the Select/Non-Select playoff split. Acadiana will aim to rebound from one of the state’s tougher losses in Week 1, but face the challenge of doing so on the road against another of the state’s top programs with linebackers Dylan Shelmire (Southeastern Louisiana) and Isaiah Stokes and a hard-hitting Zachary defense trying to contain the veer. The Wreckin’ Rams got the best of the 2024 meeting, though, with some critical passing plays along the way, junior speedsters Collin DiBetta and Sy Joseph could factor in notably along with senior running backs Troy Kennerson Jr. and Dion Simon. Meanwhile the Broncos are fresh off a 200-yard rushing game by junior Jeremy Patton behind a veteran offensive line that includes Keidrick Bailey Jr. (Southeastern Louisiana) and with Kristion Brooks (Ragin’ Cajuns) and a talented wide receiving corps overall on the outside.
ST. THOMAS MORE (0-1) AT CATHOLIC-B.R. (1-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at BREC’s Memorial Stadium
Another high-profile matchup on statewide level of a pair of Louisiana’s most consistent title contenders featuring a Lafayette area power trying to rebound from a tough Week 1 loss to visit a Baton Rouge squad that posted a big win last week. Catholic (Baton Rouge) won five straight meetings from 2015 to 2019, but the teams have split the past four. And six of the past eight meetings have been decided by 11 points or fewer, including four by seven or fewer. The Bears would have (fairly) been the favorites to win this year, regardless of last week’s outcomes, with their stout defense headlined by safety Blaine Bradford (Ohio State), linebacker Harrison Kidder (Ragin’ Cajuns) and defensive end Jayden Vessell; a loaded backfield with junior Jayden Miles and Justin Batiste leading a deep group; and a pair of experienced quarterbacks to run the offense. But St. Thomas More also has the opportunity to play far better this week than last if it can clean up some costly miscues. 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.
SOUTHSIDE (0-1) AT WESTGATE (1-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Westgate’s Tiger Stadium
The two strong programs from just south of Lafayette will meet for the first time Friday. And, for an inaugural matchup, recently launched and ascending Southside and perennial power Westgate pack a ton of intrigue as natural geographic rivals and a clash of styles. The Sharks would like to control the ball and the clock with quarterback Parker Dies, running back Justin Williams and Kollen Francois and company working behind a physical offensive line that includes center Bricker Eskind and guard Damire Mouton. But Westgate brings a good defense includes Lenord Howard Jr. (McNeese State) and top-ranked sophomore defensive end Chance Archangel among the pieces up front and speedy athletes such as Trandin Benjamin (Lamar) flying around behind them. Meanwhile, quarterback Noah Antoine has weapons at his disposal to make the Tigers an explosive attack with fellow sophomore Cayden Lancelin, juniors Jackilon Roberson and Joshua John and two-way athlete Caemon Crockem. And Southside boasts a veteran linebacking corps and secondary, which features cornerback Cameron Allen and versatile corner/safety Emanual Collins (Louisiana Tech).
LUTCHER (0-1) AT ST. CHARLES CATHOLIC (1-0) — Friday, 7.p.m., at Frank Monica Field at Thomas J. Dupuy Stadium
The nearby River Parish foes will meet for the fourth time in the past seven years, with St. Charles winning the previous three by a combined grand total of five points. The Comets flexed their muscles a bit to open the season with an apparent message that they may be back in the mix as a contender with a veteran group that grew up through last year’s challenges. Senior running back Skyler Edwards should have a big year behind an experienced offensive line, senior linebacker Brooks Monica leads a sound, hard-hitting defense and senior return man Chrisd’on McClain showed himself in Week 1 to be a game-changer on special teams. Lutcher is meanwhile working to fill big shoes left by its great 2025 graduating class, but feature key returning pieces such as offensive lineman Jayden Michael (Ragin’ Cajuns) and a stout offensive line, defensive lineman Caden Parquette and three-phase playmaker Ashton Stark.
LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN (1-0) AT CARENCRO (1-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Mac Barousse Field at The Cro-Dome
Carencro made some history this past week on the road with its first win against St. Thomas More since 2006 and is eying more at home against Lafayette Christian after dropping their first-ever meeting in 2024. But the Knights opened this season with a statement win of their own by edging Class 5A Archbishop Rummel. Both teams benefited from explosive plays in Week 1: the Bears with a Brandon Duffy Jr. kick return and Chantz Babineaux pick-six and the Knights with big runs and throws from dual-threat quarterback Braylon Walker. Whichever team can better continue that success or limit those types of swings for its opponent should be well-positioned Friday.
CALVARY BAPTIST (1-0) AT NEVILLE (1-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Bill Ruple Stadium
Neville went to Shreveport last season and came out on top of a back-and-forth battle with its smaller-school foe. The Tigers return several key pieces from that team, including junior quarterback Parker Robinson and arguably the state’s top safety duo in Julian “JuJu” Burns (North Carolina) and Jayden Reed (Ragin’ Cajuns), and are considered among the top Division-I Non-Select contenders in the state. Calvary Baptist has a bit of a different look this year after graduating a great 2025 class, but showed its potential in a dominant Week 1 trip to Oak Grove to be stout defensively with a strong running game and timely big plays to two-way corners/receivers Braylun Huglon and Trey McDaniel.
KENTWOOD (0-1) AT JEWEL SUMNER (1-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at The Hole
The crosstown rivals will play for the fourth straight season after missing one another in 2020 and 2021, and a seemingly ascending Jewel Sumner finally ended a six-game skid in the series with a 20-14 win last season. Now, the Cowboys — with two-way running backs/linebackers Jeremiah Brooks and Jamohn Dyson among the highlights — will try to take back-to-back matchups for the first time since 2009 and 2010 in a game loaded with storylines and implications to go with the talent and familiarity. Kentwood is expected to be among the top Division-I Select contenders this season with Ahmade Bickham Jr. and Obie Hookfin among constant big-play threats, but the Kangaroos are at risk of starting their first season 0-2 since 2016 if they can’t reverse last year’s outcome and get back on the right side of the rivalry.
FRANKLIN AT JEANERETTE — Friday, 7 p.m., at Jeanerette Stadium
The small-school programs separated by about 15 miles down near the gulf — both Division-IV Non-Select quarterfinalists last season — will meet for the first time since 2021. Jeanerette suffered a winless season that year, but has shown major strides since with a combined 24-11 mark the past three seasons, back-to-back quarterfinal runs and loads of talent back such as running back Devine Duhon, receiver Morris Lee Walters, defensive lineman Javonte Williams, offensive lineman Gregory Green, linebacker Joa’Quinn Charles and two-way speedster Kobe Gage. Franklin meanwhile has won playoff games each of the past two years, including the 2024 quarterfinal run, and returns a good group in its own right, highlighted by a talented backfield of quarterback Jahari Perry and running back Dashun Lightfoot.
