District 2-5A provides two of Louisiana’s top high school matchups Friday for the second straight week in what looks likely to remain a trend the rest of the regular season.
Louisiana vs. All Y’all continues to select 10 games to spotlight each week with an intention to include at least one game from each classification level and at least one game from each area code in an effort to coverage a range of school-size and geographic bases.
Here are 10 of the most notable matchups to watch during the next couple days, including several with major implications in district races and playoff positioning.
TOP 10 GAMES TO WATCH
WEEK 7
RUSTON (5-1, 1-0) AT NEVILLE (4-2, 0-1) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Bill Ruple Stadium
The 100th official meeting between the Interstate-20 rivals will be a battle atop the early standings of the stacked District 2-5A. The Bearcats topped Ouachita Parish last week in the return of star 2027 tight end Ahmad Hudson and a strong performance by Miles Brown, Jayden Anding, Keilan Davis and company on defense. The Tigers meanwhile rolled their way past Pineville with junior quarterback Parker Robinson, senior receiver Ze’land Young and running backs Ja’Marion Roberson and Jarvis Blackston leading the offense and the safety duo of Julian “JuJu” Burns (North Carolina) and Jayden Reed (Ragin’ Cajuns) once again shining.
OUACHITA PARISH (5-1, 0-1) AT WEST MONROE (5-1, 1-0) — Friday, 7 p.m. at Don Shows Field at Rebel Stadium
The cross-river Ouachita Parish Schools will square off in the other high-profile 2-5A title in Week 7. The Lions will try to rebound from their aforementioned loss to Ruston to stay just a game back from first place in the league, while the Rebels will try to follow up a win against previously undefeated Alexandria and keep even with the Neville-Ruston winner atop the standings. Big defensive tackle Dylan Berymon (Texas) has spearheaded the Ouachita defense up front, and quarterback Montrell Conner Jr. and receiver Wydell Clark Jr. and company on offense have been explosive on offense much of the season. West Monroe has meanwhile shaken off an earlier loss to build a heck of a résumé to this point. Senior running back Christian Ponti and the big offensive line headlined by Tulane commit Tylan George have taken over in pivotal moments, and wide receiver Trez Davis (Tulane) has returned from a wrist injury and had one of the state’s top performances in this past week’s comeback.
CATHOLIC-BR (4-2, 1-0) AT CENTRAL (5-1, 1-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Central School Stadium
The 2023 Division-I Select champion and 2024 Division-I Non-Select champion will square off Friday in the first of District 4-5A’s round-robin of three pivotal games with perennial power Zachary awaiting each in the final weeks. Catholic and Central have both stumbled a bit in recent weeks, but enter the matchup off Week 6 victories. The Bears’ backfield with Jayden Miles, Justin Batiste, Lamond Robinson and company behind Blaise Thomassie (Stanford) and the offensive line is among the state’s most effective ground games when it’s clicking, and the defense is fast and physical with safety Blaine Bradford (Ohio State), linebacker Harrison Kidder (Ragin’ Cajuns), defensive end Jayden Vessell and linebacker Maxwell Maurer among the leaders. Division-I FBS talent at every level headlines the defense with lineman Scott Smith Jr. (Houston), linebacker JaMichael “J-Mike” Garrett (Ole Miss) and junior safeties Marvin Joseph Jr. and Mason Moore, and the offense has shown flashes of being explosive with quarterback Max Gassiott and JaCori Platt, running back Shane Brown and wide receivers Keithon Womack, Tyrann Williams and Brody Diel and company.
DESTREHAN (4-2) AT CAPTAIN SHREVE (4-2) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Lee Hedges Stadium
The north-vs.-south matchup provided a thriller down in St. Charles Parish in 2024 that the Wildcats were able to pull out at home, 46-42. This year, they’ll head up to Shreveport for what feels likely to be another high-scoring affair. Quarterback Jackson Fields (Incarnate Word), wide receivers Jabari Mack (LSU) and Jaylan Ash, running back Malachi Dabney and company are averaging 50.5 points in their four wins and 41.0 points for the season overall. The Gators are averaging 55.8 points per win and 44.5 points per game behind record-setting running back Jamarcea Plater, receivers Cardarrian “Shawn” Devers and company.
EDNA KARR (6-0, 3-0) AT JESUIT (4-2, 1-2) — Friday, 7 p.m., at The Shrine on Airline
The question around the state has become not just whether any opponent might be able to upset Edna Karr, but if any will even manage to play the Cougars closely. No Catholic League foe came closer in 2024 than Jesuit. The Blue Jays are clear underdogs entering the matchup, but also have a stout defense, balanced offense and a history of being pesky against good competition. Edna Karr’s talent gets referenced at least weekly on the site with defensive tackle Richard Anderson (LSU), safety Aiden Hall (LSU), cornerback Hayward Howard Jr. (Texas), quarterback John Johnson (Liberty), defensive backs Maurice Williams Jr. (Colorado) and Torrence Sanders (South Alabama), linebacker Kevin Martin Jr. (Alcorn State), defensive end Romeo Brown (Alabama A&M), running back Tre Garrison (Nicholls State), offensive linemen Leon Noil Jr. (Nebraska) and Zyion Wesley, tight end Cameron Munford (Alabama A&M) and wide receivers Floyd Jones, Anthony Thomas, Greg Wilfred and Xavier Owens (Fresno State) just to name “a few.” The Blue Jays to know include seniors such as defensive lineman Will Berry (Princeton), linebacker Beau Matulewski (Nicholls State), wide receiver Roman Larre’, running back Gavin Palmisano and quarterback Taylor Norton, as well as underclassmen such as junior wide receiver Ja’ir Burks and sophomore quarterback Sully Sullivan.
LUTCHER (3-3, 2-1) AT E.D. WHITE (3-3, 3-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Harvey Peltier Stadium
Either Lutcher or E.D. White has won the their district each of the past four years, but are both off to their toughest starts to the season since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lutcher has won three of its past four since its 0-2 start, though, and E.D. White has shaken back from 0-3 to win three straight. Both teams enter the weekend at No. 10 in their respective power ratings for Division-II Non-Select and Division-II Select with valuable playoff seeding and positioning in the District 8-4A race with undefeated Vandebilt Catholic both up for grabs. For the Bulldogs, a new look backfield of freshman quarterback Terron Charles and junior running back Jaimylon Joseph appear to be settling in behind their veteran offensive line, anchored by Louisiana (Lafayette) commit Jayden Michael, and with weapons that include three-phase playmakers Ashton Stark and Chase Pittman and big multisport athlete Johnny Jones. Senior quarterback Grant Barbera is the conductor of a Cardinals offense with a slew of weapons that includes Landon Babin, Jonathan Lee, Carter Douglas and Reece LaFont, and senior linebacker Charlie Diedrich is the leader of a stout, hard-hitting defense.
LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN (5-1, 1-0) AT NOTRE DAME (5-1, 1-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Gardiner Memorial Stadium
Louisiana’s only top-five matchup will take place in Crowley, where the Pios will host Lafayette Christian in a District 6-2A battle of smaller-school perennial powers. LCA and Notre Dame are the top two teams in the Division-III Select power ratings. Both teams have already notched big wins against bigger-school opponents and shown they can compete with almost anyone in the state, and the winner will take the lead in their league race and make a strong case as Louisiana’s top 2A team at the moment. The Knights boast an electric cast of playmakers that includes quarterback Braylon Waker (Ragin’ Cajuns), wide receivers Brayden Allen and Draylon August, safety Luke Green and up-and-coming running back Caiden Bellard. The Pios are meanwhile led by a versatile, veteran group that includes Drew LeJeune, Joachim Bourgeois, Cameron Stelly, Wesley Duplechin, Brice Duhon and William Lavergne.
MANGHAM (5-1, 3-0) AT OAK GROVE (5-1, 3-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Vic Dalrymple Field at Gammill Stadium
Another pair of top-10 teams in Class 2A will meet for a rubber match in their recent series. Since renewal of the matchup between the proud northeast Louisiana programs, Mangham won in 2021 and 2022 before back-to-back Oak Grove wins in 2023 and 2024. Both are off to strong starts once again and in the top 10 of power ratings in their respective playoff divisions with Friday’s outcome potentially swinging home-field advantage in a playoff game or two. The Dragons’ roster includes senior talent such as Reggie Roberson and Rodrick Roberson all the way to younger standouts such as freshman K.J. Bell, while some top Tigers to know include Devin Franklin (Ragin’ Cajuns), Cullen McIntosh (McNeese State) and Tyde Hurley and an intriguing younger player in sophomore defensive end Pooka Hale.
VERMILION CATHOLIC (2-4, 1-0) AT ASCENSION EPISCOPAL (6-0, 1-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Sugar Mill Pond Campus Sports Complex
The regular season will still have three more weeks remaining, but the high likelihood is that this matchup will decide District 6-1A. Reigning Division-IV Select champion Vermilion Catholic has beaten the Blue Gators each of the past three years, but enters this year’s edition as the road team and the much lower playoff seed after struggling to a 1-4 start against a gauntlet of an early schedule. The Eagles are just a few spots on the positive side of the playoff bubble, working to secure their spot in the bracket and potentially claw their way into a first-round home game. Luke McLain, Seth Boudreaux, Caleb Guidry and Will Simon are among the Vermilion Catholic leaders. Ascension Episcopal meanwhile is near the top of Division-IV Select and aiming to not only secure a first-round bye, put potentially home-field advantage the entire postseason with Branon Mitchell, Andre Abshire, Preston Peebles and Andrew McCormick among some names to know.
ST. EDMUND AT SACRED HEART-VILLE PLATTE — Friday, 7 p.m., at Soileau-Landry Field
The Blue Jays and Trojans provide the Week 7 highlight of the packed District 5-1A race. Westminster-Opelousas leads the way midway through the six-game slate, but the winner between St. Edmund and Sacred Heart will remain just a game back. Three-phase standout Wyatt DuBois, quarterback Nathan Zaunbrecher, running back Nathan Driggs and safety Lannie Reed are among some Blue Jays to know, while Trojans standouts such as Ashton Duo, Seth Guillory and Ellis Chapman have led one of the state’s stingiest defenses with just 5.8 points allowed per contest thus far and three shutouts on its résumé.
