GeauxPreps Top Area Football Showdowns For Week 3
by Hunter Bower // GeauxPreps.com Owner & CEO
Anyone who is looking for a high school football game to attend this weekend will not have to look far in their respective area as some of the top showdowns of the season are set to take place in week three.
GeauxPreps/LSWA Top 10 Rankings listed. Games and times are subject to change.
Acadiana
No. 4/5 Brother Martin (2-0) at No. 2/3 St. Thomas More (2-0)
Cougar Stadium • Lafayette, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 16 • 7 PM
For the first time ever, St. Thomas More and Brother Martin will knock heads Friday night in what is sure to be a classic between two established programs who know how to win.
The Cougars come into the game as one of the top-ranked squads in Class 4A with impressive home victories over Comeaux and Alexandria to begin the season. Legendary head coach Jim Hightower will have his team ready to defend their home turf once again with the Crusaders looking to spoil a perfect season thus far.
Brother Martin has the makings of a championship team and has looked the part so far in convincing wins over Class 3A power Madison Prep as well as on the road at St. Paul’s. Head coach Mark Bonis once again has his team playing a beefed-up non-district slate to help prepare for a grueling Catholic League schedule.
Other Top Area Games: Avoyelles at Eunice; Lake Charles Prep at Opelousas; Loreauville at Vermilion Catholic; St. Charles at Teurlings Catholic
Capital Area
No. 2/2 University Lab (1-1) vs. No. 3/4 Catholic-BR (1-1)
Memorial Stadium • Baton Rouge, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 16 • 7 PM
University Lab’s mission to grow and get better each and every week is met with a constant barrage of talented opposition during the pre-district portion of its schedule.
The third week of the season is no different as the Cubs make the short trek over to Memorial Stadium for a renewal of the developing rivalry with Catholic of Baton Rouge. The Bears are coming off a 43-34 win on the road at Warren Easton while University dropped a heartbreak at home against a tough Rummel squad.
Despite an uncommon influx of youth picking up a majority of playing time, the Cubs are determined and focused to compete at the highest level with a team that is usually listed as a top program in several national media polls.
A big crowd is expected to see the two teams clash for supremacy in the state’s capital. Don’t be surprised at the amount of highlight-worth plays performed by some of the most outstanding student-athletes in Louisiana.
Other Top Area Games: Destrehan at East Ascension; G.W. Carver at Woodlawn-BR; John F. Kennedy at St. Amant; Madison Prep at Scotlandville; St. Augustine at Zachary
Central Louisiana
No. 9/9 Iowa (2-0) at No. 8 Leesville (2-0)
Wampus Cat Stadium • Leesville, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 16 • 7 PM
The Iowa Yellow Jackets are off to a great start following the move up to Class 3A with solid performances in the first two weeks of the season.
Head coach Tommy Johns’ squad will have to put its undefeated mark on the line once again Friday and it happens to come against another unbeaten program looking to make a statement.
Leesville’s numbers entering the 2022 season led many to believe that it would be a rebuilding year but the Wampus Cats have swayed those beliefs with two wins over Jennings and Jena to begin the campaign. Head coach Robert Causey looks to bring the momentum into this week’s showdown against a talented Iowa squad.
The Yellow Jackets had convincing victories over Iota and Rayne in their first two outings and are hoping that Friday’s contest against Leesville will have them even more prepared to start district play the week after.
A ton of talent on both sides with a lot to prove almost promises an outstanding game in the making.
Other Top Area Games: Logansport at Peabody; Merryville at LaSalle
Greater New Orleans & Northshore
No. 4/2 Lafayette Christian (2-0) vs. Jesuit (1-1)
Tad Gormley Stadium • New Orleans, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 16 • 7 PM
Lafayette Christian continues to prove each week why it belongs at the top of the mountain.
The Knights began the season with wins over Acadiana and Woodlawn-BR and will again jump into the Class 5A pool this week as they make the trip to New Orleans for a clash with Jesuit.
The Blue Jays look to bounce back from a road loss to Ruston last week as it welcomes LCA for what could be an interesting matchup of offensive philosophies while defense could be the name of the game.
A win for the Knights can only prove furthermore that the young program belongs in the championship conversation no matter which division they are in. A victory for Jesuit could solidify the Blue Jays as a major contender for not just the Catholic League title but also for a state title.
Other Top Area Games: Benton at Newman; De La Salle at St. Paul’s; East St. John vs. L.B. Landry; Hahnville at Northshore; Vandebilt Catholic at Belle Chasse; Warren Easton at Edna Karr
Northeast Louisiana
No. 2/2 Homer (1-1) at General Trass (2-0)
Hamley-Collins Stadium • Lake Providence, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 16 • 7 PM
In what could wind up being a rematch in the new playoff format, the defending Class 1A state champion Homer Pelicans make the trip over to northeast Louisiana for a rare but intriguing showdown with a program revived by hard work and dedication.
Just a few years ago, General Trass (formally Lake Providence) was always the guest of honor at many homecoming games while struggling to win consistently. Since his arrival on campus, head coach Toriano Wells has provided a major reform of the program by instilling dedication, hard work and discipline in his players.
Since then, the Panthers serve as major playoff contenders and have even had several players recognized with postseason honors.
However, their work will be cut out for them this week as they welcome an overly-talented Pelican squad to Hamley-Collins Stadium. Homer head coach Richie Casey returns a good portion of his team that won last year’s Class 1A state title and hopes to be in that conversation again come December.
Will the Panthers be able to stop the vaunted offensive attack or will Homer continue to fly high? Either way, it’s a matchup we hope to see again down the road when it means more.
Other Top Area Games: Cabot, Ark. at Ruston; Captain Shreve at Union Parish; Republic, Tenn. at West Monroe; Richwood at West Ouachita; Sterlington at Oak Grove
Northwest Louisiana
No. 1/1 Westgate (2-0) at Evangel Christian (1-1)
Rodney Duron Stadium • Shreveport, Louisiana • Thursday, Sept. 16 • 7 PM
Evangel head coach Denny Duron has never been afraid to battle the bigger teams.
Week three is no different for the Eagles who welcome undefeated and unanimous No. 1 Westgate to Shreveport for a non-district battle. The Tigers, last year’s Class 4A champions, have enjoyed wins over New Iberia and Lake Charles Prep to begin their season and hope to add to that collection on Friday.
Evangel is off to a 1-1 start and despite a season-opening loss to Neville, the Eagles hope to put that experience to use in another huge showdown. The 14-time state champions are no strangers to huge showdowns and with a lot of experience returning from a year ago, could provide a challenge for Westgate.
The Tigers lost some key components from its championship team from last year but continue to prove that the mindset is right down in south Louisiana as they prepare to make another championship run in 2022.
Other Top Area Games: Calvary Baptist at C.E. Byrd; Green Oaks at B.T. Washington; Haughton at Many; Loyola Prep at North DeSoto; Minden at North Webster; Neville at Huntington;
South Central
No. 8/10 Riverside (1-1) at Central Catholic (2-0)
Central Catholic Stadium • Morgan City, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 16 • 7 PM
Riverside Academy is a program that has so much championship potential that it has packed its non-district slate to help prepare for a long season.
Despite a week two loss to Arch Manning and Newman last week, chalk it up as a learning experience for the Rebels as they prepare for another big game against undefeated Central Catholic on Friday.
The Eagles enter the game following a 2-0 start to the season including a last-second victory over Class 3A foe Abbeville last week. In a game that could also wind up as a rematch in the playoffs, there is so much at state for both squads.
Elijah “Bill” Davis, a Louisiana-Lafayette commit, is one of the most talented tailbacks in the state and could serve as the game-changer this Friday. Central Catholic’s defensive unit will need to play its best game to come away the victors.
Other Top Area Games: E.D. White at Assumption; Helen Cox at Lutcher; Terrebonne at Lakeshore
Southwest Louisiana
Rosepine (2-0) at Kinder (0-1)
Buccaneers Stadium • Lake Charles, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 9 • 7 PM
Rosepine will bring its undefeated mark into a fierce atmosphere Friday night as the Eagles make the trip to Kinder for a matchup that could play a major factor as far as power ratings are concerned.
Behind the excellent play of student-athletes such as Jake Smith, Grant Ducote and Isaiah Stinson on offense, Rosepine is one of the most powerful offenses in southwest Louisiana and have proved so thus far in the young season.
Kinder has just played one game due to inclement weather canceling its season opener so experience continues to play a factor as the Yellow Jackets play catch-up in getting acclimated. Could that play into Friday’s showdown or can the hometown boys provide the proverbial upset and get the engines rolling at full-throttle.
Other Top Area Games: Barbe at Sam Houston; Hamilton Christian at Welsh; Jeanerette at Lake Arthur; Jennings at DeRidder