The Barbe-Sam Houston football rivalry used to be a one-sided affair, but it has changed into a heated rivalry in recent years.

Last year’s game may have been one of the best when the teams duked it out until the Broncos won 43-42 in double overtime with Jamorion Jackson grabbing the winning touchdown and 2-point conversion.

In 2021, Barbe overcame four second-half turnovers to beat the Broncos 49-35.

And, in 2019, Sam Houston won its first game in the series when Davis Dow kicked a 34- yard field goal as time expired. Barbe tied the score barely 2 minutes before on a 21-yard pass from Davis Meche to Chandler Ware.

“There have been a lot of good games between us the last few years,” Sam Houston head coach Chad Davis said. “It is always a big week for the kids.

“It is always exciting and we are looking forward to it. I think our kids have good heads on their shoulders and are going to show up and play football.”

Skeet Owens will coach his first home game as the Bucs’ head coach. Barbe played the first two weeks on the road and will honor former player Hunter Brown, who died unexpectedly in January while attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado, before the game.

“It is the first home game, Hunter Brown tribute and Sam Houston is coming to town,” Owens said. “They are good,” he said of the Broncos. “They are explosive on offense, very energetic, high powered and well coached, so it is going to be a challenge.”

Sam Houston’s pass-heavy offense has rolled through the first two weeks led by quarterback Gavin Stout (337 yards, 6 TDs) and could create problems for the Bucs, who gave up six touchdowns through air last week to Carencro’s Chantz Babineaux.

“We had some bright spots early,” Owens said. “I mean, it was 28-7. We had some blown assignments, some guys got open in the back.

“Carencro is pretty dang good. Their quarterback is special. He would find guys on blown coverages or would scramble and find guys open. We played hard. It was 28-7 and we had the ball on their 20 and could have cut it to 28-14 right before half but we missed a field goal.

“It wasn’t as bad as the score says. We have to be better tacklers, and we have to be more efficient in the run game. We have some injuries that we are dealing with and moving guys around. Every team has to deal with that stuff. It is a young team, so hopefully we will learn from it and get better each week.”

Sam Houston’s defense has matched its offense step for step in the quality of play. The Broncos have allowed 8.5 points a game and held defending nonselect Division III state champion Many to 10 points in Week 1.

“We are extremely proud of how our defense has been playing,” Davis said. “They are playing extremely physical and setting the tone.

“We have a lot of guys that are not doing it for themselves. They are doing it for the whole group and playing extremely hard. It is experience and leadership.”

The Bucs will need time-consuming drives on offense to limit the time the Broncos’ offense spends on the field.

“We have to move the ball and keep it away from their offense as much as we can and limit their big plays,” Owens said. “It is going to be a war.

“It is a rivalry game with high emotions. You have to keep your composure and execute. Hopefully, we make stops on defense and force turnovers.”

Elsewhere

In District 3-5A, the Sulphur Tors (1-1, 0-1) look to get back on track with the last of a three-game homestand when they host undefeated Lafayette (2-0, 1-0), which is ranked No. 6 in Select Division I.

After a two-point loss knocked them out of the top 10 in nonselect Division II, Leesville hits the road to take on nonselect Division II No. 10 Iowa. The schools met twice last season. Leesville won the regular-season matchup 30-14, but Iowa returned the favor in the quarterfinals, winning 31-14. Leesville’s Xavier Ford is the No. 2 running back in the state with 484 yards and five touchdowns. Dual-threat Iowa quarterback Josiah Bushnell has 185 passing and 227 rushing yards and has four total touchdowns.

Lake Arthur (2-0) will be on the road against fellow unbeaten Jeanerette (2-0). The Tigers have the area’s top offense at 49.5 points a game, led by quarterback Ray Levi (365 yards, 6 TDs) and running back Kenyon Boese (213 yards, 2 TDs), who have combined for more than 550 rushing yards.

Vinton (1-1) faces a tough road game when it heads to Westlake (2-0) tonight. The Lions must find a way to contain the area’s top passing combo in freshman quarterback Brody Anderson (590 yards, 8 TDs) and junior wide receiver Kevin Rideau (343 yards, 5 TDs).

Lake Charles College Prep (1-1) looks to end a three-game homestand on a high note after losing to Class 4A No. 5 Westgate. The Trailblazers host Opelousas, which blanked them last season, before playing three of their next four games on the road.