Week 4 Watchlist: Games and Storylines From Around The Boot
by Marshall Loeffler // GeauxPreps.com
Over three weeks, we’ve gone from around 98 unbeaten teams to 60 (stats courtesy of tired eyeballs and questionable friends). We have a good idea of what the top of Division I can look like when it is at its best competitive self (with a lot more left to determine), and we also see some teams in Division IV that are staking their claim as the biggest dog in those yards (with some other teams yet to start barking).
There are players leading Division II teams on Fridays that are good enough to do it for Division I teams on Saturdays next fall.
Division III is showing its typical firepower, but a few different storylines open up some room for contenders to spoil some title defenses.
From the biggest schools in the state to the smallest, we are just starting to determine how much we don’t know just yet!
The event in the Superdome displayed some awesome football, and teams like Ruston will go from Edna Karr in New Orleans to Catholic High back at home. St. Augustine looked impressive in their victory, and they will get John Curtis at home to follow that up.
Here’s a look around our great state for a few games and stories in Week 4 that have caught my attention.
CAPITAL AREA
What everyone is watching: The St. Amant matchup with East Ascension is one of Ascension Parish’s longest-running high school football rivalries. The schools are just a few miles apart and have met regularly since 2004. East Ascension currently holds an 11–10 edge in the 21 meetings from 2004–2025, including a wild 49–48 victory in 2025. The Spartans are on a short week, having played in the Superdome on Saturday and in need of a bounceback after a loss to St. Augustine.
What else I’m excited to see: We got to learn about the great things happening on and off the field for Broadmoor on GeauxPreps.com this week, and the Bucs have a great chance for a signature when against the talented Madison Prep backfield. Broadmoor has not lost to this point, but is likely up for their toughest test of the season to date.
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA
What everyone is watching: Speaking of 3-0 teams, Sulphur holds that record for the first time since 2005 under new head coach David Feaster, and this weekend’s clash with Sam Houston is big school football in Calcasieu Parish at its absolute best. Case in point: SH only won 3 games last season, but one of them was a 20-point victory at home over the Tors. I’d say throw out the record books for a game like this, but honestly, we need those for statkeeping purposes.
What else I’m excited to see: Grand Lake earned a 44–34 victory over Vinton in their 2023 meeting, and both teams are coming off seasons where they won playoff games and have reason to expect a similar fortune in a month or two. Vinton returns quarterback Michael Lange along with a deep group of veteran contributors, while Grand Lake is senior laden and aggressive on defense.
NORTHSHORE
What everyone is watching: It would be tough to argue two Northshore teams that have been as consistently expected to win over the past few years more than Jewel Sumner and Franklinton, so this is a game that is certainly going to benefit the winner. Whether it is power points, bragging rights, or momentum up for grabs, The Cowboys vs Demons (a show title that I think I’ve seen on Netflix) will bring two sides with talented skill players. Sumner has run the ball effectively and Franklinton can literally throw it up and win a game (see Week 2 vs. Covington).
What else I’m excited to see: The Pope John Paul II vs. Northlake Christian matchup has become one of the better Select school rivalries on the Northshore, with 19 meetings since 2007. NCS leads the all-time series 14–5, which was once a district game, and has won the last two meetings, including a 14–0 shutout of the Jaguars in 2025. Northlake is coming off a 7–4 season under longtime coach James Willis but replacing an all district RB; and Pope John Paul II retooling the Jaguar offense for their move to Class 3A.
NORTHEAST LOUISIANA
What everyone is watching: This region is loaded this week, so I will do my best to spread it around. The Ouachita Christian and Oak Grove game is a great rivalry. Depending on which era of player you ask, the series has had one-sided swings from one team to the other. Oak Grove got beat by a very good Mangham squad in Week 3, and OCS is back in Class 1A while Oak Grove moves back to Division IV non-select. Regardless of district or playoff paths, this game has been circled by both programs since the beginning of the offseason.
What else I’m excited to see: Homer needs a win, period. D’Arbonne Woods needs a strong start to their 3 game road trip rolling into a new district. The Pelicans have been able to put up points with Gregory Williams and Jerzyion Levingston running Richie Casey’s no-huddle spread, but haven’t been able to hold leads. The Timberwolves have Beekman, Union, and Oak Grove coming up, and need this win to stay out in front once Division III Select teams show up in the postseason.
ACADIANA
What everyone is watching: Acadiana’s Class 5A District 3 opener against district newcomer St. Thomas More should be a good one. Moving up from Class 4A to 5A, the Cougars aim to hand the Rams their first loss of the season. The Wreckin’ Rams boast a dynamic senior backfield in Arkansas State commit Da’Shun Lightfoot and Syrian Joseph. STM has relied on sophomore quarterback Grayson Hemard, a veteran offensive line, and senior running backs Ladyn Craft and Owen Bailey and got a huge win over Catholic High in Week 3.
What else I’m excited to see: The Loreauville vs. Kaplan is one I will definitely be watching on Under The Lights. Loreauville won last year’s meeting 21–20, while Kaplan took the 2024 matchup 40–18. Loreauville is entering 2–1 and so is Kaplan (after a 34–29 loss to Catholic-New Iberia). First-year head coach Vinnie Bullara and playmakers such as De’Maurion Cormier and quarterback Jaiden Hargrave will try to deal with Chris Jones and the Tigers, who are in their ninth year under head coach Terry Martin.
CENTRAL LOUISIANA
What everyone is watching: The best team in Central Louisiana (and, some might argue, the best team in the state) is headed back to Neville again this year. Week 10 last year was a 31-14 Tigers victory, but ASH is 3-0 and seemingly at full strength. Both QBs (Karsen Sellers and Parker Robinson) are playing D1 ball next year, and this will be a battle between two of the best public schools in the 318.
What else I’m excited to see: We have had some good football games in Avoyelles Parish this month, and the Marksville vs. Avoyelles matchup is yet another battle between D1 prospects: Devin Lavalais and Jaden Price have been electric with a good offensive line in front, and Avoyelles has had Kobe Smith filling it up in the trenches once again this year. The Mustangs have established a Taraj Valant to Terrance Valant connection, but they need a win over the Tigers to keep pace in Division III Non Select.
NORTHWEST LOUISIANA
What everyone is watching: Obviously, a game with two D1 quarterbacks is a good headline. Peyton Houstoncontinues to cement his LHSAA legacy at Evangel, and Malachi Ziegler and Benton are off to a way better start this year at 2-1. This game is at Evangel, and the Eagles probably need this one to get to 2-2 and stay unbeaten in district.
What else I’m excited to see: Captain Shreve is off to one of their better recent starts, and so is Haughton. Taylor Weathersby has the Bucs scoring well over 40 points a game for 3-0 start, and the Gators have won the last four meetings between the two. It will be a contrasting set of offensive playbooks for this game in Bossier Parish, and it is always a blast to watch the NASCAR-type race that is District 1-5A.
NEW ORLEANS
What everyone is watching: The Jesuit–Brother Martin matchup is one of the signature rivalries in New Orleans high school football, dating back to 1969. The 2025 meeting marked the 60th time the Blue Jays and Crusaders had faced one another, with Brother Martin holding a 31–28 advantage in the all-time series entering that game. The rivalry has produced plenty of close games and has become a centerpiece of the Catholic League schedule. The line it up again at Tad Gormley Stadium, with the Crusaders entering 3–0 and the Blue Jays at 1–1.
What else I’m excited to see: Come out for the senior All-Metro quarterbacks, stay for the 3-0 Catholic League Raiders and Owls when Chalmette travels over into Jefferson Parish to take on Archbishop Rummel. Breez Wilsonand Colton Nussmeier have lived up to preseason hype so far, and this would be a signature district win for long-tenured head coach Jason Tucker.
BAYOU AND RIVER PARISHES
What everyone is watching: This time last year, E.D. White was 0-3 before a 56-0 win started a winning streak to finish out the regular season. This year, they have a trip to the Westbank in Week 4 to take on a 2-1 Archbishop Shaw team that just lost to a very good Rummel team. While this Cardinal squad will get some of those same opponents that they did during last year’s streak, an 0-4 record is not ideal before that district slate begins.
What else I’m excited to see: Week 4 sees Hahnville take on another local opponent as it travels to Lutcher. The Bulldogs reached the Division II non-select quarterfinals last year and are 2-1 so far. Hahnville got their first win last week over E.D. White. The two teams last matched up in 2023, a 14–7 Lutcher victory, and have already won two state titles under head coach Dwain Jenkins. Hahnville can get a win streak going into district play with another clutch road win, this time over in St James Parish.
DISTRICT PLAY IS HERE!
Some teams have already begun the battle for that important district championship and those coveted spots on postseason All-District teams. Some are desperate not to go 0-4, and a few times (like Edna Karr and Riverside, to name a couple) have ignored all hype and looked the part of repeat champions.
District play brings local rivalries and year-old grudges, and I love to hear the hype and anticipation from players when a district rival is up next on the schedule.