The first two weeks of the LHSAA season have been loaded with thrillers, chaos, history and top-10 tumbles.
So why not expect more drama in Week 3 with another slate of high-profile matchups.
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 3.
ZACHARY (2-0) AT CARENCRO (1-1) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Mac Barousse Field at The Cro-Dome
The Broncos head west across the Atchafalaya Basin for a rematch of a 2024 battle in which they managed to hold off the Bears, 34-33, at home. Both teams have been off to stronger starts this season — Zachary with handy defeats of Plaquemine and Acadiana under its belt, and Carencro having claimed its first win against St. Thomas More and come up just short in a back-and-forth battle with Lafayette Christian. The Broncos’ defense has been stout with linebackers Dylan Shelmire (Southeastern Louisiana), Isaiah Stokes and Malachi Langford and defensive back Zakarri Hogan among the standouts, while running back Jeremy Patton and quarterback Michael Kirby have led the offense behind Keidrick Bailey Jr. (Southeastern Louisiana) and a big line.
ALEXANDRIA (2-0) AT DESTREHAN (1-1) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Wildcat Stadium
The Trojans have dominated a pair of home games by a combined 111-7 margin so far to start the season, but now hit the road to their toughest test thus far at fellow Class 5A top-10 Destrehan. Junior quarterback Karsen Sellers leads an explosive Alexandria offense with top target Alex Fontenot and sophomore running backs Kason Williams and Noble Williams among his weapons, while linebacker Xzavier White, defensive lineman Jaden Bayonne, edge rusher Bryson Phoenix and defensive backs Jay Frazier, Kerrick Gaines, Jakyrin Griffin, Jaytun Terry and Letravious Williams. Senior quarterback Jackson Fields leads a talented Destrehan offense with LSU-committed senior Jabari Mack and junior Jaylan Ash on the outside and junior Malachi Dabney in the backfield, and defensive tackle Braylon Montero, linebacker Bryce Bufkin and Louisiana Tech-committed corner Damien “Deuce” Richard II among the defensive leaders.
ST. THOMAS MORE (0-2) AT ACADIANA (0-2) — Friday, 7 p.m. at Bill Dotson Stadium
One would be hard-pressed to find a more intriguing matchup of 0-2 teams. The two perennial powers and crosstown rivals were both ranked in the top 15 of Louisiana vs. All Y’all’s Preseason Top 50. They’re big-school programs with a ton of tradition, a ton of familiarity, passionate fan bases and annual aspirations for title contention. And, as of Friday night, one of them will have rebounded from a tough start to the season, while the other will have fallen to 0-3. The matchup figures to be physical and intense with the team mature enough and poised enough to execute most effectively, limit turnovers and untimely penalties and rise to the occasion on a couple pivotal moments likely coming out on top. Virginia Tech commit Cole Bergeron, the state’s top-ranked senior quarterback, and running back Carter Melancon give St. Thomas More 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. Acadiana has a stout defensive front built around LSU commit Darryus McKinley and will try to control the game up front on both sides of the ball with their offensive line fighting for running lanes for senior running backs Troy Kennerson Jr. and Dion Simon.
NORTH DESOTO (2-0) AT WEST MONROE (2-0) — Friday, 7 p.m. at Don Shows Field at Rebel Stadium
West Monroe notched a lopsided win against North DeSoto in 2024, but at a time when the Griffins were coping with notable early-season injuries. Two of north Louisiana’s top teams will meet again Friday. And while the Rebels should be favored again, this time at home, North DeSoto will head east on Interstate 20 with better health and momentum around the star backfield duo of quarterback Luke Delafield (Northwestern State) and running back Kenny Thomas (Louisiana Tech). The Tulane-committed duo of wide receiver Trez Davis and offensive lineman Tylan George and Navy-committed defensive end Smoltz Lilly headline West Monroe’s roster, but with plenty of talent to go around including ULM target Christian Ponti, defensive end Brodie Thurmon, linebacker Jaxon Talley and a veteran secondary.
CATHOLIC-BR (2-0) AT UNIVERSITY LAB (1-1) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Jeff Boss Field
The perennial Baton Rouge powers will meet for the eighth time in nine years with the on-field results split right down the middle, but an LHSAA ruling later last season officially giving the Bears the 5-3 edge because of Cubs forfeits. The matchups are always hard-fought, and the past two years have been decided by a combined seven points, a walk-off field goal and overtime. And this year features two of the nation’s top senior prospects in U-High two-way lineman Lamar Brown (LSU) and Catholic safety Blaine Bradford (Ohio State) among a long list of future college players. Brown, Jordan Pinnock (Ragin’ Cajuns), Maison Smith, Lane Mixon, Emmanuel Moses and company will try to contain the Bears’ rushing attack with Jayden Miles and Justin Batiste leading a deep group of backs, while Bradford, Harrison Kidder (Ragin’ Cajuns), Jayden Vessell and the Catholic defense will work to slow down the Cubs’ running back duo of Sage Ingram and Corbin Odell and versatile weapon Lawson Dixon (Southeastern Louisiana)
ST. JAMES (2-0) AT TERREBONNE (2-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Thomas B. Smith Memorial Stadium
A pair of talented teams from the River and Bayou parishes with tons of familiarity between their staffs, rosters and communities — despite only limited recent matchups — should make for one of the state’s more electric atmospheres and contests in Week 3. After nearly 20 years without a regular season meeting in the series, Terrebonne won on the road on a late touchdown in 2024. The Tigers will play host this year with one of the state’s top offensive lines anchored by O’Ryan Mosley (North Texas), Tadan Bingham (Louisiana Tech) and Chris Stewart Jr. (Southern) paving the way for Alvin Celestin Jr., Quincy Adams and company as a highlight. St. James meanwhile returns most of what was a young state runner-up roster from last year with sophomore quarterback Ja’Juan Jackson and running back Kani King-Young in the backfield, seniors Jakias Villanueva and Kanye Zenon helping lead the receiving corps and talent at every level of the defense including defensive lineman I’Xavier Anderson, linebacker Nolan Zenon and defensive backs Jye Blain and Kendrick Joseph Jr. to name a few.
WESTGATE (1-1) AT LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN (2-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Knight Field
The former district rivals will meet for the sixth time in seven years. The Tigers notched their first win in that span last season, 39-28, at home, but will have to hit the road this week trying to rebound from a Week 2 loss to Southside. The Knights meanwhile have topped back-to-back Class 5A opponents, Archbishop Rummel and Carencro, in thrilling fashion to start the season. A matchup that feels poised to be another back-and-forth affair features future college talent from the teams’ senior classes down to their talented underclassmen. Some of the players on the Knights’ side include the Ragin’ Cajuns-committed Lafayette Christian duo of quarterback Braylon Walker and Luke Green, Tulane-committed wide receiver Brayden Allen, offensive lineman Kaleb Campbell and junior defensive back Sky Ryan on down to promising sophomore running back Caiden Bellard. The Tigers’ meanwhile include defensive lineman Lenord Howard Jr. (McNeese State) and versatile athlete Trandin Benjamin (Lamar) among the seniors and a loaded 2028 group with defensive end Chance Archangel, receiver/safety Cayden Lancelin, cornerback Shadon Lee, linebacker/running back Caemon Crockem and quarterback Noah Antoine to name a few.
FRANKLIN PARISH (2-0) AT CALVARY BAPTIST (1-1) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Jerry Barker Stadium
A rematch of one of last season’s more eye-opening outcomes is among this week’s most interesting games in both Louisiana and around the state. Franklin Parish’s home win against a highly touted Calvary Baptist team in 2024 was the moment that caught the attention of much of the state as to the progress occurring in Winnsboro. And many of the stars of that performance were then-juniors such as Dezyrian “Pook” Ellis (LSU), Tavon Bell (Texas State) and Chris Addison (Michigan State) back this year as seniors with their sights set on the Superdome. The Patriots boast other notable talent all over the field including now-juniors such as running back/safety Trey Martin and cornerback Jacolby Brooks. But this year’s Calvary Baptist group is stout once again and has had this week’s opportunity circled on the calendar. A sound, hard-hitting defense with playmakers across the secondary — such as Braylun Huglon, Luke Miller and Trey McDaniel — has the potential to be among the state’s best in the smaller and middle classifications in particular, and the Cavaliers are good up front on offense with a slew of running backs that can be a handful led by sophomore Delancey Street II and junior Z’Ryan Miles running behind senior Hunter Davis, junior Jacob Tibbett and company.
ST. CHARLES CATHOLIC (2-0) AT DUNHAM (2-0) — Friday, 7 p.m. at Central’s Wildcat Stadium
Two title hopefuls will square off for the second straight regular season and fifth time in the past six years after a 2022 Division-III title game capped three straight playoff meetings. St. Charles Catholic got the best of each postseason shown, including the 2022 championship, before Dunham was able to claim a big road win early last season in LaPlace in a hard-fought 20-15 battle. Many of the key players are back from that matchup. The Comets are headlined by a veteran offensive line, including senior Jacques Vicknair, in front of senior running back Skyler Edwards and junior quarterback Landree LeBlanc, and a physical defense with linebacker Brooks Monica, defensive linemen Byron Bailey and Kayden Asevedo, defensive back Briggs Anderson and company. One of the nation’s top 2027 quarterback prospects, Elijah Haven, meanwhile leads the talented Tigers with weapons such as Jarvis Washington Jr. (South Alabama), Trevor Haman, Richard Montgomery Jr. and Colin Pecue all over the field and a quick, sound defense featuring Haman, Montgomery, defensive linemen Eliot Trahan and Charlie Myers and defensive back Jarone Harris.
TEURLINGS CATHOLIC (2-0) AT NOTRE DAME (2-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Gardiner Memorial Stadium
Even early in the season, several matchups on this week’s Louisiana vs. All Y’all list feature some notable familiarity, but none more continuous and longer-standing that Teurlings Catholic and Notre Dame linking up for the 17th straight regular season. This year’s edition pits a pair of top-five teams, the No. 3 Rebels in Class 4A and the No. 5 Pios in Class 2A, against one another, a distinction that helped the rivalry edge some others with extensive history for inclusion on this list. First-year coach Michael Courville will lead a Teurlings team looking for its fifth straight win in the series. The Rebels’ roster includes quarterback Alex Munoz, offensive lineman Drake Perry, receiver Nick Celestine, defensive end Andrew Fruge and linebacker Jaxon Broussard. Louisiana coaching legend Lewis Cook and the Pios had won each of the six years prior to the current Teurlings run and will aim to get back on the right side this year with a veteran group of versatile athletes that includes Drew LeJeune, Cameron Stelly, Wesley Duplechin and William Lavergne.
WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN-OP (2-0) AT WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN-LAF (2-0) — Friday, 7 p.m.
The Westminster Christian schools in the Lafayette area will meet Friday for the second time in their young rivalry. And the teams bring undefeated early records into this year’s matchup, which could prove pivotal in Division-IV Select playoff seeding in November. The Lafayette-based Chargers, in their fourth season of varsity action, will host the Opelousas-based Crusaders for the first time. The Crusaders won at home in last year’s inaugural showdown, 21-7, and ultimately earned the No. 16 seed and the opportunity to host a first-round game, which they won. The Chargers made their first playoff appearance as a No. 18 seed and lost their opener on the road.