The Catholic League is so loaded with marquee matchups the rest of the season that cases can be made almost any give night that the league has the top matchup in the state.
Week 7 includes high-profile action all over Louisiana yet again, but the high-profile District 9-5A will headline the way with a showdown between two top-10 teams in the Division-I Select power ratings on each of Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Here are 10 that topped out list of those to watch.
BROTHER MARTIN (4-2, 1-2) at JOHN CURTIS (2-4, 0-3) — Thursday, 7 p.m., at Muss Bertolino Stadium
The Man of the Week, newly Florida-committed Brother Martin wide receiver Easton Royal, and his Crusaders will help kick off the loaded weekend with a major bounce-back game in Kenner between two dangerous teams eager to get back on the right win-loss track after some recent stumbles. The records do not do justice to the caliber of teams set to square off, but Brother Martin and John Curtis remain No. 5 and No. 10, respectively, in the current playoff picture with a major opportunity to try to help their cases for a potential first-round bye and second-round home game. Can Prentice Mackyeon Jr., Jewellz Tapp, Jaden Keelen and company for the Patriots’ defense limit Royal’s big-play ability? Will Brady McCluskey and the Crusaders be able to keep London Padgett and the Curtis attack bottled? Thursday figures to be a bit of a slug fest and chess match, records be damned.
STERLINGTON (4-2) at LAKE CHARLES COLLEGE PREP (5-1) — Thursday, 7 p.m.
A pair of contenders in their respective Division-II brackets from opposite ends of the state will provide an intriguing, out-of-the-routine non-district matchup to the weekend loaded with familiar league matchups. Sterlington wants to get downhill, exert its will up front and overpower opponents while setting up some opportunities to pitch outside for perimeter gains. Lake Charles College Prep boasts two of the state’s more dynamic and versatile weapons in Javon Vital Jr. (USC) and Ayden Carter, each of whom excels in space and can score from anywhere on the field. The Panthers are currently No. 13 in the power ratings on the Non-Select side, but have the realistic potential by winning out to climb as high as a top-four seed and opening-round bye. The Blazers are already situated at No. 4 on the Select side and could significantly bolster with a win their likelihood of hanging onto the first-round bye and even remain a plausible No. 1 seed with a little help elsewhere.
INDEPENDENCE (6-0, 1-0) at AMITE (5-1, 1-0) — Thursday, 7 p.m.
This Tangipahoa Parish title wasn’t circle particularly heavily on our preseason schedule, but the intrigue has mounted considerably during the past two months. Independence is 6-0, one of just 30 remaining undefeated teams, after having not won a combined six games the entire previous four years. But now the Tigers will have to test that start against the perennial power Warriors, who have seen this season as one of their best recent opportunities at a potential deep (or even title) run with some notable future college players on the roster, including committed seniors Jaylen Haywood (Texas State) and DeCaleb “Snoop” Green (Cincinnati).
ARCHBISHOP RUMMEL (6-0, 3-0) at EDNA KARR (6-0, 3-0) — Friday, 7 p.m., at Morris Jeff Stadium
Many eyes around the state will fixate on Algiers on Friday as two of Louisiana’s top squads and last 30 remaining undefeated teams slug things out. The Raiders bring one of the stoutest defenses in the state and a dangerous offense headed by Georgia quarterback commit Colton Nussmeier across the river to a new-look Cougars squads that is increasingly providing itself as consistent and difficult to compete with as ever. Edna Karr continues finding ways to win and different players ready to rise to pivotal occasions to get that accomplished, including back-to-back LVAY High School Defensive Player of the Week winners Ty Williams and Juan Jasmin in the secondary with a combined five interceptions the past two weeks. Friday’s winner will lead the Division-I Select power ratings when the week’s dust settles.
CATHOLIC-BR (3-3, 1-0) at ZACHARY (4-2, 1-0) — Friday, 7 p.m.
Any reports of the demises of the Baton Rouge powerhouse Bears and Broncos were greatly exaggerated. Catholic has bounced back from a 1-3 start against arguably the state’s top early-season schedule to win its past two and look as much like the district favorite and potential title contender as expected any given year with a particularly explosive offensive and key future college players on both sides of the ball. Zachary meanwhile, with its own future college talent as well, has turned an 0-2 start into four straight wins as the team as a whole, including its offensive line in particular, have appeared to settle in and hit their stride. This year’s matchup feels as though it may have some potential to end up another wild, back-and-forth shootout like 2024. How well will the Bears’ secondary be able to keep Ethan Kimmie and the Broncos’ downfield weapons limited from too many explosive plays? And how well will Zachary be able to keep Jayden Miles and the Catholic run game contained enough to force some clear passing downs-and-distances?
BARBE (6-0, 3-0) at ST. THOMAS MORE (5-1, 3-0) — Friday, 7 p.m.
The Buccaneers enter this week with a case to be made as having as much momentum as any team in the state with their undefeated start coming with an average margin of victory of 36.8 points per contest, including a monster 66-17 roll past Acadiana last week. Barbe is explosive with and around quarterback JeLandon Gray (Old Dominion), running back Jordin Griffin (LSU Baseball) and wide receiver Sawyer Kuypers. But expect St. Thomas More’s defense with linebacker Walker Pugh and safety Landen Ortte (Ragin’ Cajuns) to be well-positioned and disciplined as is typical of the unit and present the biggest test to date for the Bucs. And the Cougars have shown the ability to come up with winning plays in all three phases in key moments. This week’s winner will likely take at least a share of the District 3-5A crown, as well as help itself notably in the playoff picture.
ST. JAMES (5-1, 0-1) at LUTCHER (4-2, 1-0) — Friday, 7 p.m.
One of the top rivalry matchups on this list and in the state each season figures to provide one of the best atmospheres anywhere in Week 7. And with each team posting a strong record against good competition, this year’s matchup could also go a long way in determining a potential first-round bye. The Wildcats, making the short trip across the river for this year’s battle, are currently the No. 4 team in the Division-III Non-Select power ratings, which would claim the final bye in that bracket, while the Bulldogs, with the benefit of home-field, sit at No. 5 in Division-II Non-Select, just a fraction of a point shy of the bye.
FRANKLIN PARISH (5-1, 1-0) at NEVILLE (4-1, 0-0) — Friday, 7 p.m.
The Patriots have been on a District 2-4A roll in recent seasons while Neville was in Class 5A and have been on a roll again this season, shaking off a Week 1 loss to Sterlington and winning their past five behind playmakers such as Trey Martin (LSU), Kaiden Seals (McNeese State) and D.J. Neal. But the Tigers, who had previously owned the league, are back in the mix and winners of their past four games — against Evangel Christian, Ouachita Parish, Alexandria and West Monroe — since an opening loss to Ruston and before this past week’s bye. A stingy defense and an offense led by ULM-committed quarterback Parker Robinson, junior running back Jarvis Blackston and a slew of weapons will have the benefit of home-field advantage at Bill Ruple Stadium in what figures to be their biggest challenge in District 2-4A this year.
HAHNVILLE (4-2, 2-0) at DESTREHAN (5-1, 3-0) — Friday, 7 p.m.
Another of the best rivalries in the state will add another edition to its storied history Friday, and the winner — as so many times before — will leave the stadium with the lead in the District 7-5A standings. Hahnville has shaken back from tough, close losses to Archbishop Shaw and St. Charles Catholic to rattle off four straight double-digit victories, and Destrehan has done much the same since its lone blemish, Week 2 against St. Augustine, to set up another high-profile and high-stakes showdown between the Tigers and Wildcats.
JESUIT (5-1, 2-1) at ST. AUGUSTINE (6-0, 3-0) — Saturday, 7 p.m., at Tad Gormley Stadium
Imagine a week in which a No. 3 vs. No. 4 matchup in the Division-I Select power ratings somehow feels a bit overlooked. The home-standing Purple Knights are widely considered the favorites amid a season in which they arguably look like the top team in the state with junior quarterback Jaelle Noble and company rolling week in and week out. But the Blue Jays have suffered just a lone loss, by two points to Brother Martin, and have some impressive wins under their belts throughout this season and in recent years in the series in which they have won two of the past three and three of the past five.
