by Marshall Loeffler // GeauxPreps.com

Through two weeks, we have already seen major city, parish, and state records broken in the LHSAA, and have seen a team end a 28-game losing streak. This weekend, we will renew the state’s oldest rivalry, and also see a regular season event in the Superdome unlike any we have seen before, when 4 undefeated teams will play a Week 3 doubleheader inside the site of the Prep Classic on Saturday. From one end of the state to the other, it is a great week to be a high school football fan in The Boot!

Here’s a look around our great state for a few games and stories in Week 3 that have caught my attention:

NEW ORLEANS

What everyone is watching: This section is easy this week. Ruston vs. Edna Karr. If you’re reading this, you likely know what this game is. I have seen both of these teams play either in the ‘Dome last year or at the Bayou Jamb this year, and at this point, neither team needs any introduction or fluffy talking points. It’s one of the best high school football games in the country this year, and it’s probably going to be an awesome game.

What else I’m excited to see: Again, this one is easy. East Ascension and St. Augustine are unbeaten, and will play in the Superdome along with Ruston and Karr. St. Aug has been so good this year, and EA has already shown they can win tough. Two coaches that define Louisiana football on the sidelines, and a great atmosphere in New Orleans. It will be just as fun to watch as the other game that day.

NORTHWEST LOUISIANA

What everyone is watching: The Claiborne Parish Super Bowl. The Homer-Haynesville Classic. One of the oldest football rivalries in the South kicks off for the 118th time this fall. Haynesville has won the past few years, but Homer dominated the series during a state championship run before that. It’s a game that I’ve seen in person several times, and is a perfect example of the community-led football traditions that exist everywhere in the LHSAA.

What else I’m excited to see: There’s another long-running rivalry in NWLA, with Week 3 renewing the Soul Bowl game between Green Oaks and Booker T. Washington in Shreveport. The game is preceded by a community luncheon with both teams, and typically takes place on Saturday afternoon. I’ve seen Javontaye Dean a few times throughout his career as the Giants’ QB, and he can always make plays in multiple ways on offense. BTW has a talented secondary that gave fits to some prolific Shreveport passers last season.

BAYOU AND RIVER PARISHES

What everyone is watching: There has been a literal back-and-forth between South Lafourche and Central Lafourche recently: the last two games were both one-score games, and it’s been one or the other each year these players have been playing this game. Aaron Babin has CL at 2-0 after a 2-8 year, but South Lafourche won this game by a single point in that season, and we love these types of games where it may be a toss up just because of the history here.

What else I’m excited to see: Both teams in the Hahnville and E.D. White matchup are seeking their first win, but I doubt either team has been thrown off of their preseason confidence, having played tough competition so far. They’ve split the past two games in 2024 and 2025, and this one takes place in Thibodeaux, where Landon Teague looks to keep his hot start going for Hahnville.

NORTHSHORE

What everyone is watching: For football fans on the Northshore, the Franklinton trip to Pine is a game between two teams that have held the attention of the 985 with their early games. The Demons got a walkoff TD reception from Jayden Burkhalter last week, and Cooper Thomas has led the Raiders offense very well in their first two wins. Both teams definitely bring momentum into this game, and the winner of this one will be in great shape at the quarter pole of the regular season.

What else I’m excited to see: Two years ago, Patrick Taylor went 0-10. One year ago, St. Thomas Aquinas went 0-10. This season, both teams are 2-0 heading into a Week 3 matchup! Graham Garris leads the way for STA running the ball, Logan Rogers has been just as effective for Patrick Taylor. There have been a few really cool stories of team turnarounds in 2026, and seeing this kind of program improvement is likely why any of us ever found the motivation to face adversity, whether in sports or elsewhere.

NORTHEAST LOUISIANA

What everyone is watching: The Ouachita and Neville matchup this year is a chance for players for both teams to continue their early breakout seasons. The Tigers have won 8 of the last 10 meetings, but the Lions got the semifinal win on the road last December. Lester Watts, Jr. was fun to watch at the Bayou Jamb last month and has been solid under center so far, and CJ Goins seems poised to join the recent ranks of elite Neville DBs after a big game against Evangel last week.

What else I’m excited to see: Oak Grove and Mangham in December would seem like an incredible late round playoff pairing, but we get to see these legendary Class 2A programs meet up in Week 3 in Richland Parish. Since 2021, the two teams are 3-3 against each other, and both teams have been to the finals with players on these rosters. Add in two long-tenured coaches (Scott Wilcher and Ryan Gregory) to a field full of playmakers, and this very well could be a preview of a high-stakes wintertime Division IV Non-Select game later this year.

CENTRAL LOUISIANA

What everyone is watching: There’s a big game between LCA and ASH in Alexandria this week, but another really big game in the CenLa area will feature two of the best offenses in Class 4A so far. Tioga and Leesville tend to see-saw back and forth with this oft-played game, and Grant Braxton vs. Jackson Tarver is a great matchup with RBs off to a fast start. Antrel Broom continues to make plays for the Wampus Cats, and Ra’mond Bennett has stepped in as a top pass-catching producer for the 2-0 Indians.

What else I’m excited to see: It’s an all Tiger matchup for the 101st time when Jonesboro-Hodge and Winnfield play this week! This edition is a good one, since both teams are 2-0 and have multiple ball carriers in their respective backfields that are healthy and productive so far in 2026. Tre Burns has been a difference maker with J-Hodge, with a good performance in each game so far. Winnfield is one win away from matching their 2025 total if they can win this game at home.

CAPITAL AREA

What everyone is watching: Catholic High and St. Thomas More will go at it again this year, with a 3-3 draw in the last six games. The last two were both one-score games, and with STM now up in 5A, it’s one of those games where either team can move on with something to keep from facing all-star rosters and legendary coaching staffs.

What else I’m excited to see: Plaquemine and University Lab are two teams that fit the good old cliche’ that assures us “they’re better than their record indicates.” Well, it’s a fair point for both of these teams, who feature All-State players and nationwide attention for some of the names and schedules associated with these teams. I’ll use one more cliche’, and say that it’s not quite a “must-win” game for either team, but both have contending teams this year and neither want to fall behind in September.

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

What everyone is watching: Lake Charles College Prep and Sam Houston play in Calcesieu Parish this week, featuring two players that may face off again soon! Albert Simien is a current Notre Dame commitment, and he and the Broncos defense will be trying to contain Javon Vital, who is committed to annual Fightin’ Irish rival Southern Cal, making for a blue-chip matchup of teams that have not yet met on the gridiron.

What else I’m excited to see: Northwest and Opelousas are just across town, and are facing off for the first time since the 2019 season. Northwest had the upper hand during the last edition of this series, but Opelousas is 2-0 after some blowout wins. The Tigers have been to New Orleans and back for a state championship game since they last played the Raiders, but Northwest has also made semifinal runs and developed college-level talent recently as well.

ACADIANA

What everyone is watching: Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy has already played two recent state champs and faces another big test when they host John Curtis Christian in Week 3. The Tigers are coming off a shutout win against Catholic-New Iberia, and senior QB Kennan Brown Jr. has been excellent so far. Curtis has already played in Lafayette this season, and the Prentice Mackyeon/Jewellz Tapp/Craig Connor III trio in their secondary is a great battle for LRCA’s offense.

What else I’m excited to see: The last three games between Vermilion Catholic and Loreauville have all been won by VC, but have been decided by a combined 20 points. The Tigers’ season took off after this game last year and ended in the quarterfinals, and has been just as good on defense again with so many returning starters like Eli Landry and Chris Jones.

RIVALRY WEEK!

Along with the main event in the Superdome, there are multiple games being played this week that go back to well before the LHSAA and some of us were around to watch them, and those are the best games. It really, truly, does not matter what the records or rosters look like when they play these games, both sides want to win, and the bragging rights just make the next edition that much better. Stay tuned to GeauxPreps all weekend long for Week 3 coverage!

Thanks to Mike MacMillan (Northshore Prep Report), Shannon Belt (Lafayette Advertiser), Ben Rickevicius (KPLC Sports) and Steve Jenkins (Winnfield High School historian) for reports, stats, film, and information from around the state.