Week 1 Top LHSAA High School Football Games
GeauxPreps.com Top 10 Rankings listed. Games and times subject to change.
Northwest Louisiana
No. 2 Many (0-0) vs. No. 5 Union Parish (0-0)
Tiger Stadium – Many, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 3 • 7 PM
In what will most likely be a contender for “Game of the Year”, two of the most hard-hitting, tradition-rich football programs in North Louisiana will collide Friday night in an early-season tilt for supremacy. The No. 2 ranked Many Tigers play host to the fifth-ranked Union Parish Farmers with both rosters filled with Division I talent. The Tigers will be led by Tackett Curtis, one of the nation’s most sought after recruits, where he will line up behind center. The Farmers return all-everything tailback Trey Holly who rushed for over 2,700 yards last season.
Other Top Area Games: C.E. Byrd at Huntington; Captain Shreve at North DeSoto; Haynesville at North Webster; Homer at North Caddo
Northeast Louisiana
No. 3 Neville (0-0) vs. No. 10 Ruston (0-0)
Bill Ruple Stadium – Monroe, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 3 • 7 PM
Is it really high school football season in Northeast Louisiana unless Ruston and Neville have butted heads? In what could be a huge test for both squads this early in the season, expect Neville’s boisterous offense to hit its stride early while Ruston looks to break in some newcomers in several skill positions. This is a contest where records and last year’s results are thrown out the window. Expect a great atmosphere at Ruple Stadium and a performance from two teams with championship hopes.
Other Top Area Games: General Trass at Richwood; Holy Savior Menard at St. Frederick; Loyola Prep at Sterlington; Mangham at Oak Grove
Central Louisiana
Alexandria (0-0) vs. Ferriday (0-0)
“Butch” Stoker Stadium – Alexandria, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 3 • 7 PM
Alexandria looks to ride the momentum wave into the fall following an historic season in 2020 that led saw the Trojans make an appearance in the Class 5A state title game. It won’t be an easy road back, however, as Thomas Bachman’s crew will see its first live action after sitting out the scrimmage and jamboree dates due to COVID-19 related issues. The Trojans will have no time to ease into the 2021 season with its first game coming against Ferriday at home. Coach Stanley Smith’s squad looks to develop talent after losing a good amount of starters last season but always be prepared for Ferriday to come out and play its “A” game no matter the opponent.
Other Top Area Games: Caldwell Parish at Peabody; Jonesboro-Hodge at Winnfield; Oberlin at Rosepine; Rayne at Avoyelles
Southwest Louisiana
No. 7 Jennings (0-0) vs. Leesville (0-0)
Jerry Simmons Memorial Stadium – Jennings, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 3 • 7 PM
In one of the area’s most intriguing match-ups, Jennings and Leesville will provide a battle of the running games. The Bulldogs are set to display one of the top talents in the country with Trevor Etienne (1,234 rush yards, 17 touchdowns) while the Wampus Cats return Caleb Gallashaw, who rushed for 813 yards and recorded 645 yards through the air. Leesville hopes to provide an upset in Jennings’ home opener but it won’t be without a fight. Expect the two programs to battle it out until the last whistle.
Other Top Area Games: Barbe at LaGrange; Pineville at Sulphur; Welsh at Kinder; West Monroe at Sam Houston
Acadiana Area
No. 2 Acadiana (0-0) vs. No. 4 Carencro (0-0)
Ted Davidson Field at Bill Dotson Stadium – Lafayette, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 3 • 7 PM
Two defending state champions are set to battle it out in the battle for the top spot in Lafayette. Acadiana seeks its third consecutive state championship while Carencro hopes to build on the momentum sustained in last season’s Class 4A state championship ride that concluded with a title win over four-time defending champion Edna Karr. Both squads will have plenty of Division I talent on hand for fans to witness in a contest that could possibly be decided very late in the game.
Other Top Area Games: Iowa at Iota; Lafayette Christian at Westgate; Madison Prep at St. Thomas More; Notre Dame at Southside
Capital Area
Central-BR (0-0) vs. No. 4 University Lab (0-0)
Wildcat Stadium – Baton Rouge, Louisiana • Friday, Sept. 3 • 7 PM
Two teams that needed a game due to their originally scheduled contests having been canceled due to hurricane related issues are set to meet Friday night. The highly-touted University Lab Cubs will make the trip to Wildcat Stadium to take on Class 5A’s Central High School. U-Lab is set to return 12 of last year’s starters led by WR Austin Ausberry while Central looks to rebuild its defense, focusing on the secondary unit, but returns a good amount of lettermen from the 2020 campaign. Look for this to be a fun, high-paced affair for a game put together almost 48 hours before kick-off.
Other Top Area Games: Brusly at Port Allen; Hanson Memorial at St. John; West Feliciana at Zachary