Week 1 Watchlist: Games and Storylines From Around The Boot
by Marshall Loeffler // GeauxPreps.com
NORTHWEST LOUISIANA
What everyone is watching: The Stars and Stripes Border Classic at Independence Stadium has 3 games over 2 days featuring huge matchups, with Huntington vs. Calvary, Dunham vs. Parkway, and Evangel vs. West Monroelighting up Shreveport to kick off the regular season. Several of LA’s top districts and toughest divisions will be on display, and all 6 of these teams will benefit from a high-stakes early matchup in Northwest Louisiana’s largest football venue.
What else you need to see: Loyola Prep was one of the best offenses of Division II Select in 2025 and has a really exciting matchup with Captain Shreve to start QB Bryce Restovich’s senior campaign with 3 top returning receivers. Shreve and the other teams in District 1-5A are only playing 6 district games this year, allowing compelling non-district clashes like this one. The Gators have shown a good running attack behind a massive offensive line in the preseason.
NORTHEAST LOUISIANA
What everyone is watching: Ruston and Neville will be resuming a series that’s been played over 100 times, and this year it’s a non-district game after the two schools shared District 2-5A the last 2 years. Ruston won at Neville 41-37 last fall in Week 7, so this clash down the road in Ruston to start 2026 is no issue at all for either fanbase, who expect both schools to make a run in their respective Non-Select divisions.
What else you need to see: Ouachita Christian and Mangham have been 2 of the best at the small-school level over the past decade, and will test themselves on Interstate 20 right away against returning Prep Classic teams. OCS will travel to Haynesville for the famous 7:30 kickoff against a Golden Tornado team that will officially begin the quest for #19. Meanwhile, Mangham will travel to Jena in a game that featured 112 points scored in Week 1 last year.
CENTRAL LOUISIANA
What everyone is watching: Alexandria will bring in the Bryant Hornets in Arkansas, who have had a large-school dynasty in the Natural State similar to (or even more dominant than) Edna Karr’s run in LA’s top class. Bryant lost 43-42 to Benton (AR) last week in their Week 1 opener, and will want to avenge that loss when they roll into Butch Stoker Stadium against a loaded ASH Trojan team that has championship aspirations of their own.
What else you need to see: There’s another rivalry game this week that’s been played over 100 times, and that is the battle for the Hooper Trophy between Leesville and DeRidder. Both teams return talented QBs, with Antrel Broom ready to make more plays under center and Michael Parmley running the offense for his father, Dragon’s Head Coach Brad Parmley. The best-of-10 series renews the trophy every decade, and this game is always a favorite on either campus.
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA
What everyone is watching: The State Champion team from Iowa will defend their crown on the road at Barbe in a Thursday game that may have more media outlets broadcasting the matchup live than some college games two days later. Some big names return on either side, and this clash has been discussed as the unofficial LHSAA opening day main event by people all around Louisiana.
What else you need to see: Westgate is another team in SWLA that is full of college prospects, and has reason to believe they can be a playoff winner in Division II Non-Select. They go on the road to Liberty in Week 1 for an important early-season test. Also, Kinder was a play away from the semifinals last year and will get another playoff team in Westlake, with Yellow Jackets QB Isaiah Thomas looking to get Kinder over the hump.
ACADIANA
What everyone is watching: St. Thomas More will host Teurlings Catholic this season, after Michael Courville and a big senior class helped the Rebels break a 10-year losing streak against the Cougars. DJ Kelly comes over from Ascension Catholic to lead the Teurlings offense, while STM will buckle up for a 3-game stretch of TC, Jesuit, and Catholic-BR to begin the year.
What else you need to see: Southside got a single-digit seed in Division I Non-Select last year, and with Jess Curtis continuing to mold the Sharks program, there’s reason to believe the combination of roster talent and program momentum will give this team a big year sooner or later. Brother Martin will come down Interstate 10 this week, making for a Class 5A game that features Catholic League power against one of Lafayette’s better rushing attacks.
CAPITAL AREA
What everyone is watching: At this point, big-time football in the Capital City with names like Kiffin and Nussmeier seems like it’s been going on for years, but Knox and Colton, respectively, will make their Pelican State debuts to start the season when University Lab and Archbishop Rummel kick off their title runs in a highly anticipated battle of two Select division stalwarts.
What else you need to see: The fact that this game may not even be the main event in Baton Rouge says a lot about Week 1. Catholic High may be one of the best in Division I Select this season, and will try to prove it early against Carrollton, the state runner-up from Georgia that had a 14-1 record in 2025. The Bears have a challenging September, but have been rock solid at home lately and will need that advantage in this SEC-style high school road trip.
NORTHSHORE
What everyone is watching: This game won’t technically take place on the Northshore, but the matchup between St. Paul’s and Destrehan has likely grabbed the attention of any football fan in Louisiana. After 27 seasons under Kenny Sears, the Wolves are off and running under the leadership of alumnus Josh Gast, while the Wildcats start with a home stretch that will bring St. Augustine into town next week.
What else you need to see: Franklinton will host Amite in a battle of teams that have made it to the Prep Classic in recent seasons, and a great 2A vs. 4A matchup in Washington Parish. The two teams have played for 3 consecutive seasons now, and while the Demons have led this series, the Warriors have recently put together winning streaks after challenging early-season games against bigger schools. Also, the Covington Lions have a big opportunity this season with experience on defense and in the trenches, and they have a big test early on the road against a De La Salle team that also had plenty of offseason buzz in South LA.
BAYOU AND RIVER PARISHES
What everyone is watching: This game will be played on the Westbank in New Orleans, but the Hahnville vs. Archbishop Shaw matchup is one of the more exciting large-school clashes in South LA to start the year. The Eagles were moments away from another championship last December, while Hahnville looks to get back to the Prep Classic for the first time since 2017.
What else you need to see: The E.D. White team bus won’t be running long when they take the short trip to face off against Thibodaux, two teams that won 8 games and advanced in the playoffs last year. Lowell Narcisse begins his second full season with some momentum and excitement, while Kyle Lasseigne and the Cardinals look to add another banner to his successful stint there.
NEW ORLEANS
What everyone is watching: Until proven otherwise, Edna Karr stands on top when it comes to football in The Boot these days. With another trophy in the case, they will host Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy, a school with some Prep Classic experience on their coaching staff and a roster that has quickly been built into a potential Class 4A contender. The Cougars replace a lot of talent in their starting lineup, but it will be fun to watch both of these programs introduce their best players to the state.
What else you need to see: While most undefeated seasons catch a lot of attention, Young Audiences Charter had to complete a 9-0 season under the radar last season while they built up their football program. Now, they are ready for the playoffs in District 10-4A and have a home game against a recent playoff participant in Sophie B. Wright. Keep an eye out for the Yaks!
KICKOFF IS HERE!
Week 1 has had humongous matchups, longstanding rivalries, and season-changing road trips in recent years, and when playoff seeding begins to lock in, we will all look back at some of these Opening Day games and realize how electric the start of the LHSAA football season truly is.