Week 6 Parish Football Preview
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
For most St. Landry Parish football teams, their Week 6 games involve district contests that will eventually determine whether they have at least chances for shares of championships.
In the Louisiana Sports Writers Association poll this week, Northwest High is number five in Class 3A, which is currently the highest state ranking for any parish program.
The other teams that are ranking include Opelousas High at No. 8 in Class 4A. Opelousas Catholic is the 10th-ranked team in Class 1A.
Power rankings have been available for all postseason divisions in both non-select and select championships, but the effects of the power rankings won’t be valid until the final weeks of the season when playoff pairings are determined.
Class 4A
Opelousas High (1-3), plays a final non-district game on Friday night at Natchitoches Central (1-4, 1-3).
Natchitoches Central, with former Northwestern State University head coach Brad Laird in control of the program, has, like OHS, played a difficult schedule that includes Evangel Christian, Captain Shreve, Parkway and Haughton.
The Tigers meanwhile, have areas of concern, especially in the kicking game and special teams, which have been exposed in recent games.
Eunice High (0-5) is currently the only winless team in St. Landry.
The Bobcats have maneuvered through a tough non-district schedule with scoring difficulties. Eunice is averaging fewer than three touchdowns a game.
DeRidder (2-3) is the Eunice opponent this week. The game between the two longtime rivals opens district play for each team
The season for Beau Chene (1-4) resembles much like 2022 and 2023 as the Gators undergo a rebuilding effort under Buck Harris and Andy Hargroder.
Beau Chene has allowed at least five touchdowns in all of the Gators’ losses.
This week Beau Chene faces Livonia (0-5) in the district opener for each team
Class 3A
Northwest (3-2, 1-0), continues a district schedule this week against Ville Platte (0-5, 0-1).
The Raiders have packed non-district with tougher opponents and now Northwest has a chance to win a league title, with key games in the latter half of the schedule.
Northwest possesses some weapons that includes running back Ke’Von Johnson (804 yards), quarterback Jayden Chavis (674 passing yards) and wide receiver Malek Davis (241 yards).
Defensive end Devon Thibodeaux has 28 individual tackles.
Class 2A
After spending most of the last decade in 3A, Port Barre begins a Class 2A schedule this week at Avoyelles
The Red Devils (1-4) have lost three straight. In those losses, Port Barre has allowed 103 points.
Avoyelles (2-3) also starts district in the game against Port Barre.
Class 1A
A key parish matchup Friday night involves Opelousas Catholic (4-1, 1-1) at Westminster (3-2, 1-1).
It’s been at least a decade since Westminster has defeated the Vikings, in either district or non-district contests.
The game Friday night is pivotal for both teams, since another league defeat will possibly knock either out of contention for a district championship.
Opelousas Catholic features an explosive offense that averages over 40 points. WCA remains in contention for a title after defeating Sacred Heart last week.
St. Edmund (5-0, 2-0), is unranked, but the Blue Jays have a chance to capture a title. The Jays, like OCS, average over 40 points.
The week St. Edmund hosts Berchmans Academy (1-4, 0-1) for Homecoming.
North Central (1-4, 1-1) recorded a program milestone last Friday night with a 36-26 victory over Berchmans. The Hurricanes’ win was a first for the program in many seasons.
This week North Central goes to Catholic High-Pointe Coupee.
CHPC is undefeated in five games and 1-0 in district. The Hornets are coached by Jacob Carruth, who once had the North Central program and appear to have an upper hand in the district race.
Catholic-PC has beaten Westminster (14-9) and will host both St. Edmund and OCS in district games.
