The Rams will see a mirror image of themselves as both teams are led by dynamic backfields and stout defenses.

Welsh’s lone loss came by one point to Kinder in Week 1. Since then the Greyhounds have won three games by a combined 63 points.

Westlake (4-0) has outscored its opponents by 105 points.

“We’re playing physical football on both sides,” Rams head coach John Richardson said. “We’ve done a good job of running the ball and the defense has a lot of guys just swarming to the football.”

The Rams are led by quarterback Jamaal Guillory (647 rush yds., 10 TDs) and running back Brandon Jupiter (408 yds., 7 TDs).

“Everything goes through those two and their offensive line does a great job as well,” Welsh head coach Cody Gueringer said of the Rams. “We’re going to have to work hard, make one-on-one tackles in space.”

The Greyhounds counter with quarterback Gabe Gillet (298 rush yds., 4 TDs) and running back Cohen Fontenot (739 yds., 10 TDs).

“(Fontentot) runs really hard, is a physical guy,” Richardson said. “Then the quarterback is the fast one. He really has a lot of speed and can take it to the house. We have to make sure we do a good job of tackling the running back and always have someone sitting there waiting on the quarterback, probably two guys.”

The game is a homecoming for Richardson, who guided Welsh to back-to-back appearances in the Class 2A state title, including a win over St. Helena Academy in 2017. Gueringer was an assistant on that staff.

“It is a great community, I loved my time there,” Richardson said. “On their current staff, seven of them I either coached with or coached while they were in school there. I have a lot of connections and great friends there.”

Gueringer said he learned a lot from Richardson.

“One of the big things was when situations arise during the week or during the summer, go attack it right away, don’t wait or allow it to get any worse,” Gueringer said. “On the field, understanding that every play is critical and understanding the bigger picture of what the offense and defense is trying to do.

“He gave me a chance to call the offense and believed in me. That’s all I can ask for and I can never thank him enough for it. It is weird to see him in different colors after we had so many years together and bonded so much.”