Prep football this week
Sam Houston at St. Louis
Broncos freshman quarterback Luke Yuhasz did not look overwhelmed in the jamboree last week, leading Sam Houston to a 21-0 win over Jennings. Saints QB Jaleel Goodwin, a running back the past two years, was also poised, getting the ball to the Saints’ pair of playmaking receivers, Benji Chatters and Jadon Johnson. The Saints can help Goodwin by establishing the running game, a tough task against a SH front line that was dominant against Jennings.
Barbe at Ponchatoula
The Bucs have a young defense that held up pretty well in its jamboree win over DeRidder. This week they face a Ponchatoula passing attack led by LSU commitment TJ Finley, who threw for more than 1,900 yards last season. Barbe dominated the matchup last year, running for more than 300 yards and scoring on six consecutive possessions in a 56-13 win. Tackles Hunter Brown and Derek Fontenot are both returning starters. Running behind them will help the Bucs keep the ball away from Finley.
Carencro at Sulphur
It will be the first meeting between the two former District 3-5A rivals since 2014. Sulphur won that game 42-31, but the Bears lead the all-time series 15-10. Carencro’s defense struggled last year, giving up more than 30 points a game. It will be tested a Tors offense that averaged 424 yards and 36 points a game last year.
Notre Dame at LaGrange
The Gators started the Marrico Wilson era in style with a 12-0 win over Iowa at the jamboree. The Gators have managed to stay close against the Pioneers in the past but have never been able to come away with the win. Offense has been the issue, with 40 points scored over the four losses. Seniors Jalen Dobson and Anthony Johnson will have to produce big plays for the Gators. Both teams are young, with ND replacing 18 starters and LaGrange 17. Poise and turnovers will be key with so many new starters on the field.
Washington-Marion at Leesville
Leesville manhandled W-M 33-2 last year but will face a greatly improved Charging Indians squad. Under new head coach DeCarlos Holmes, W-M shutout defending Class 2A state champion Welsh in a jamboree game last week. RB Carrington McClinton and wide receiver William Carswell are big-time playmakers who could have a field day with the Wampus Cats’ inexperienced defense.
South Beauregard at DeRidder
South Beauregard was one of three teams in Southwest Louisiana to go winless last year, but there is no better way to end a losing streak than to beat a parish rival. South Beauregard moved running back Colby Hollier to quarterback in an effort to revamp an offense that averaged 11.1 points per game last year. DeRidder went 6-5 last year but has a lot of holes to fill and will have rely on quarterback Lane Armer and WR Greg Woodard.
Iowa at Crowley
The Yellow Jackets are another team that was hit hard by graduation. Iowa enjoyed success running the ball against LaGrange last week but was not able to sustain a long drive and turned the ball over to set up a short Gators touchdown drive. Special teams also conceded a big play, a game-opening kickoff return for a touchdown. The defense fared well and will need another good performance against the Gents, who return talented quarterback Marquis Garrett, who threw two touchdown passes in Crowley’s playoff win over the ’Jackets last season.
Jennings at Church Point
Jennings struggled to create running room against Sam Houston in the jamboree last week and allowed a few big offensive plays. The defensive front will have to tackle better against a Church Point team that loves to run the ball. Senior running backs Darrian Achane and Brandon Jones can do damage if the Jennings offensive line can create a few creases.
Westlake at DeQuincy
The game will feature polar opposite offensive styles. DeQuincy is running a spread this year with WR-turnedquarterback Cooper Hext. Westlake prefers the wing-T with a stable of backs, including J.J. Ross, Jasia Simien and Zac Abshire.
Kinder at Oakdale
Oakdale is looking to turn things around after going 3-7, but opens the season against a team it has not beaten since 2007. Kinder enters the season having reached at least the quarterfinals the last five seasons but is rebuilding a defense with two returning starters. The Allen Parish rivals met in last week’s jamboree.
Grand Lake at Vinton
Vinton and Grand Lake will meet for the first time. Hurricane Harvey canceled last year’s game. Vinton’s strength is its offensive and defensive lines. The latter will be key as the Hornets have two returning running backs in Kris Reina and Aaron Young and an athletic quarterback in Jaren Sonnier.
Rayne at Welsh
A 20-0 loss to Washington-Marion in the jamboree may have been a blessing in disguise for the Greyhounds. Head coach John Richardson wants the game to teach his team that last year’s championship run is over and that the ’Hounds need to improve their intensity to have another good season. Rayne lost its two leading rushers from last year’s team. Welsh middle linebacker Alec Iguess averaged double-digit tackles per game last season and will need to do that in this game to slow down the methodical Wolves attack.
Hamilton Christian at E. Beauregard
The former district rivals picked up wins last week, with the Warriors shutting out the Abbeville junior varsity and the Trojans edging Vinton 8-7 behind a 50-yard touchdown run by Devin Perkins. East Beauregard makes no secret of its desire to run the ball and dominate time of possession. The Warriors defense has to take the Trojans offense out of its comfort zone by forcing third-and-long situations. With a small roster the Warriors need long drives to keep the defense fresh.
Lake Arthur at Elton
The teams have a similar approach, preferring to keep the ball on the ground. The Indians installed a wing-T offense and converted receiver Gavin Courville to quarterback, so time may be needed to generate rhythm offensively. The Tigers are young up front but return their three leading rushers. They will have to cause missed tackles against a good Elton corps of linebackers to generate big plays. With a young line, big plays may be the best way for the Tigers to put points on the board.
Oberlin at Mamou
Oberlin is looking for consistency after a 5-1 start in 2017 turned into a 2-4 finish. It will be the first of three consecutive games against schools from larger classifications for the Tigers. Mamou ended a 31-game losing streak last year in Week 4, but is looking to change its fortunes after winning three games in the last five seasons.
South Cameron at Delcambre
Last year didn’t go so well for South Cameron or Delcambre. The Tarpons are on a 10-game losing streak, their third of 10 games or more since 2011, while Delcambre is on a 17-game winless stretch. The upside for the Tarpons is that they return nearly every starter from last season, including 10 seniors. Delcambre also returns a large number of starters as well.
Compiled by staff writers Warren Arceneaux and Rodrick Anderson.