The opening matchups of this year’s highly anticipated District 2-5A race played out in wildly different fashions.
But as the dust settled on a back-and-forth thriller, a bent-but-didn’t-break battle and a dominant romp, three perennial powers were atop the standings out the gate.
West Monroe scrapped out a 34-31 win against 2024 district champion Alexandria (5-1, 0-1) on a final-minute field goal by Hunter Fox to make a monster night by wide receiver Trez Davis (Tulane) count.
Ruston managed enough timely plays and a nice boost in a big return for star 2027 tight end Ahmad Hudson to grind its way past previously undefeated Ouachita Parish, 21-14.
And Neville rolled its way past Pineville, 56-6,
STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 6
(Team ———————— Record —— LSWA W6 poll —— Power ratings)
Ruston Bearcats ———— 5-1, 1-0 ——— No. 3 ———— No. 4 Non-Select
West Monroe Rebels —— 5-1, 1-0 ——— No. 7 ———— No. 3 Non-Select
Neville Tigers ————— 4-2, 1-0 ——— No. 15 ———— No. 5 Non-Select
Alexandria Trojans —— 5-1, 0-1 ——— No. 2 ————— No. 9 Select
Ouachita Lions ———— 5-1, 0-1 ——— No. 11 ———— No. 1 Non-Select
Pineville Rebels ——— 4-2, 0-1 ———— N/A ————— No. 22 Select
REBELS GET LAST LAUGHS AT HOME
West Monroe and Alexandria traded scores and leads all the way to the final minutes when yet another explosive play for Davis and a couple pivotal special teams plays provided the home team the final swings.
The Tulane commit made defenders miss and popped a screen 78 to pull back even in the final minutes, and West Monroe recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to set up the game-winning Fox field goal.
Davis racked up 284 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns with a cast on his right wrist just two weeks removed from surgery, according to the Ouachita Citizen’s Jake Martin.
“Well…. He’s Trez Davis,” West Monroe coach DeMichael Dizer told Martin. “He’s a special kid. A special talent that has a lot of heart. His willingness to continue to come out and perform for this football team is unmatched. We can’t put a limit on what he can do.”
BEARCATS HANDLE BUSINESS
Ruston took a halftime lead on a 30-yard touchdown to Hudson in the highly recruited junior’s return from injury, extended its advantage late in the third on a run by budding sophomore star Dalen Powell and held off Ouachita, 21-14.
The Bearcats never trailed as they managed to buckle down with timely plays to stall the Lions’ attack, including an early fourth-down stop, and got on the board when junior linebacker Keilan Davis scored on a blocked punt late in the opening quarter.
Hudson caught seven passes for 119 yards and his score, according to the Ruston Daily Leader’s Matt Belinson, and fellow highly ranked 2027 prospect Jayden Anding intercepted a pass among Ruston’s defensive highlights.
TIGERS CRUISE
Neville rolled its way to a 42-0 halftime lead at Pineville on its way the the 56-6.
Junior running back JaMarion Roberson had three touchdowns by the midway mark, with sophomore running back Jarvis Blackston and senior receiver Desi Byrd also finding the end zone early, according to Bret H. McCormick of Louisiana vs. All Y’all and One T Photography.
Junior quarterback Parker Robinson finished 14-for-24 for 309 yards and scores to Byrd and senior Ze’land Young, according to Martin, who added the defense finished with seven sacks and three takeaways.
