The Best LHSAA Football Games To Watch In Week 5
GeauxPreps/LSWA Top 10 Rankings listed. Games and times are subject to change.
Acadiana
No. 10/8 Leesville (4-0) at Opelousas (3-1)
Opelousas Football Stadium • Opelousas, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 30 • 7 PM
Leesville is off to a great start this season with wins in its first four contests. The Wampus Cats have also held their opponents to just 35 total points, including a 26-0 shutout over Catholic of New Iberia last week.
However, one of the biggest tests awaits them within the confines of the Opelousas football stadium as the Tigers of Opelousas High have gotten off to one of their best starts in recent years. With victories over larger programs such as St. Amant and Natchitoches Central as well as a shutout win over Lake Charles Prep, head coach Jimmy Zachery is sure to have his squad primed for another showdown in week five.
Leesville’s Xavier Ford is one of the state’s leading rushers and has been an integral part of the Cats’ explosive offense. Look for Opelousas to have a solid game plan to slow down that production as it has done thus far in previous games.
Other Top Area Games: Barbe at Southside; Cecilia at Notre Dame; Denham Springs at St. Thomas More;
Capital Area
Carver, Miss. (5-0) at No. 2/2 Catholic-Baton Rouge (3-1)
Memorial Stadium • Baton Rouge, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 30 • 7 PM
Catholic of Baton Rouge is no stranger to competing against top football teams from around the state, especially in consecutive weeks.
The Bears welcome Carver-Montgomery High out of Mississippi for an out-of-state clash. The Wolverines are undefeated on the season and possess some of the top talent in the country, including a pair of 5-star defensive linemen in James Smith and Jaquavious Russaw.
Catholic possesses some of the top offensive stars in the country with quarterback Daniel Beale and receiver Shelton Sampson who have helped the Bears take home victories against some great teams over the last few seasons.
It will be another true test that will no doubt have Catholic primed for a deep playoff run again this season.
Other Top Area Games: Ascension Catholic at Episcopal; Carver, Miss. at Catholic-BR; De La Salle at East Ascension; Dunham at Southern Lab; St. James at Woodlawn-BR; White Castle at Catholic-PC
Central Louisiana
No. 6/3 Lafayette Christian (3-1) at No. 5/10 Avoyelles (3-1)
Avoyelles Football Stadium • Moreauville, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 30 • 7 PM
It’s a game that one would usually not think of as a high-profile showdown between two unlikely opponents.
However, this week all eyes will be focused on Avoyelles as it welcomes championship juggernaut Lafayette Christian to Moreauville for a top 10 matchup.
The Mustangs beefed up their 2022 schedule in hopes of securing a top-seed in the postseason. But, another reason for such a grinding slate was for coach Andy Boone to expose his team to some of the top talent across the state in hopes of preparing for a grueling trip down the playoff road.
The Knights are determined to get back into the win column following its first loss of the season last week to Ruston. Avoyelles is averaging 50 points per game with its aggressive run attack featuring a trio of tailbacks who rushed for over 1,000 yards last season.
Other Top Area Games: Tioga at Jena
Greater New Orleans & Northshore
Scotlandville (2-1) at No. 10/9 Archbishop Rummel (4-0)
Joe Yenni Stadium • New Orleans, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 30 • 7 PM
Archbishop Rummel is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2019 and looks to extend that streak this week. It won’t be an easy task but the Raiders are up for the challenge as Scotlandville makes the trip to the Big Easy.
The Hornets have been battled-tested as well with games against Edna Karr and West Monroe as well as a win over Madison Prep. Could a second-straight road trip affect Scotlandville as it readies to play another “Catholic League” foe?
Rummel hopes to keep an impressive Hornet offense at bay with a defensive unit that has limited its last two opponents to just 19 points combined.
Other Top Area Games: Archbishop Shaw at West Jefferson; Bogalusa at Chalmette; Brother Martin vs. Edna Karr; Kentwood at Amite; Riverside at Country Day; St. Augustine vs. Jesuit
Northeast Louisiana
No. 6/9 Mangham (3-1) at No. 3/3 Oak Grove (3-1)
Tiger Stadium • Oak Grove, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 30 • 7 PM
There won’t be an empty seat in Tiger Stadium on Friday as two of the better smaller school programs in northeast Louisiana clash in what could be the district championship game.
Oak Grove makes the move back into Class 2A following a short hiatus. The Tigers look to flex their muscles with a convincing victory over a Mangham squad that is facing one of its toughest opponents within the first half of the season.
The Dragons have posted wins over larger programs in Jena, Caldwell Parish and General Trass flanked by a loss to Sterlington. Oak Grove defeated Opelousas Catholic, Sterlington and Rayville to begin the season with its only loss coming at the hands of Ouachita Christian.
Expect an offensive-filled slobberknocker between two great teams in a contest that could have serious power point implications.
Other Top Area Games: Franklin Parish at Union Parish; LaSalle at Delhi Charter; Neville at Ruston; North Caddo at West Ouachita; Ouachita Christian at Ouachita Parish
Northwest Louisiana
Captain Shreve (3-1) at Parkway (4-0)
Preston Crownover Stadium • Shreveport, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 30 • 7 PM
The Parkway Panthers are rolling so far in the 2022 season with one of the best teams its had over the past few seasons.
Head coach Coy Brotherton has engineered an offense that has put up points but won the nail-biters when needed, including a 17-14 victory over Haughton last week. The Panthers will need to bring their “A” game once again this week as they continue District 1-5A action against a talented Captain Shreve squad.
The Gators are coming off their first loss a week ago at the hands of C.E. Byrd and are seeking redemption as they look to upset an undefeated Parkway squad. The series has belonged to Captain Shreve over the last few seasons but it was the Panthers who took a 30-23 victory in last year’s meeting.
Other Top Area Games: Arcadia at Glenbrook; C.E. Byrd at Benton; Red River at Logansport
South Central
East St. John (4-0) at Hahnville (2-2)
Tiger Stadium • Boutte, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 30 • 7 PM
East St. John rolls into town for a District 7-5A contest against a battled-tested Hahnville team that hopes to bounce back with a huge win this week.
The Tigers fell to top-ranked Destrehan, 41-3, last week but are hoping to throw some wrinkles into the district race with an upset victory over an undefeated East St. John program. Don’t let the 2-2 record fool you, though, as Hahnville’s only other loss came to an Arch Manning-led Newman squad.
East St. John has posted some impressive victories over teams such as St. James, Lanier, Miss., and L.B. Landry to begin the season.
A ton of talent all the way around and two teams hungry to keep their name atop the district standings.
Other Top Area Games: St. Charles at Vandebilt Catholic
Southwest Louisiana
No. 8/9 Lake Charles Prep (2-2) at Westlake (3-1)
Max Caldarera Stadium • Westlake, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 30 • 7 PM
This is a battle that fans in the Lake Area will not won’t to miss out on as Lake Charles Prep makes the short drive over to Westlake for a district battle between two of the area’s better programs.
Lake Charles Prep redeemed itself last week against South Beauregard following a shutout loss at the hands of Opelousas the week before. Westlake has won two consecutive games and is off to one of its best starts in recent years.
For the Rams, Brandon Jupiter has rushed for over 400 yards and provides a solid rushing attack while Lake Charles Prep possesses a dual-threat attack from quarterback Josiah Bushnell, who nearly has 600 yards of total offense in four games.
Expect a battle between two teams that could easily be champions in a crowded district.
Other Top Area Games: Grand Lake at East Beauregard; Iowa at Kinder; Lake Charles Prep at Westlake; Sam Houston at Sulphur; St. Edmund at Oakdale