6 on-field prospect matchups in LA’s top Week 1 games | 4A, 5A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisiana's high school football season kicks off this weekend with a loaded schedule of high-profile openers across the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone Louisiana will look at 12 of the best games that include some particularly intriguing on-field matchups between standout players on either side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out the first six below featuring all large-schools (4A/5A vs. 4A/5A) action, and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/09/6-on-field-prospect-matchups-in-las-top-week-1-games-1a-3a/">check Friday morning for more details on six more games featuring small schools (1A/2A/3A) with a couple more large schools mixed in</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Acadiana at Ruston</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arguably the top game of Louisiana's opening weekend, the showdown between a pair of Class 5A teams who both reached the Caesars Superdome in 2023 — Ruston as Division-I Non-Select champs and Acadiana as Division-I Select runner-up — features a wealth of intriguing player matchups all over the field. Trying to narrow that dynamic down to just a couple, we'll focus on names to know as the perennial powers work to enforce their will on the ground. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keep an eye on Louisiana Tech-committed linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710083' first='Zheric' last='Hill']</strong> and a new-look, but still-talented Bearcats' defense working to contain the Wreckin' Rams' veer-option rushing attack led by the senior trio of quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913931' first='Caden' last='DiBetta']</strong> and running backs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710087' first='Jonah' last='Gauthier']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1644812' first='Tayden' last='Collins']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And, similarly one the other side of the ball, an Acadiana defense replacing its biggest name and body from last year's defense remains talented, but gets tested right out the gate by an offense that would love to control the ball with Tulane-committed athlete <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710076' first='Joshua' last='Brantley']</strong> at the helm, senior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710271' first='Jordan' last='Hayes']</strong> alongside him and Northwestern State-committed center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221032' first='Sam' last='Nations']</strong> anchoring the front line. Bulked-up junior defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920606' first='Darryus' last='McKinley']</strong> and senior linemen <strong>Jayden Lawrence</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1644769' first='Vallen' last='Charles']</strong>, edge rusher <strong>Amorion Cooper</strong>, Tioga transfer linebacker <strong>Kaleb Andrus</strong> and safety/linebacker hybrid <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913922' first='Keeman' last='Thibodeaux']</strong> are among key names to know in the Rams' box. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Catholic (Baton Rouge) at Destrehan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another all-5A matchup of perennial powers, the 2023 Division-I Select champion Bears will travel to the 2022 Division-I Non-Select champion Wildcats to open the season. The highest-profile matchup — full of LSU targets and potential college teammates on each side — will occur when home Destrehan looks to attack through the air. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401763' first='Jackson' last='Fields']</strong>, an all-district MVP and all-state candidate as a first-year starter in 2023, has arguably Louisiana's top receiving corps with which to work with LSU-committed senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='426964' first='Phillip' last='Wright III']</strong>, Louisiana Tech-committed senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291153' first='Johnnie' last='Thiel IV']</strong> and the Division-I recruited junior duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212340' first='Jabari' last='Mack']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710969' first='Gregory' last='Wilfred']</strong> as the four leaders. Meanwhile the Catholic secondary is headlined by the LSU-targeted brother tandem of senior cornerback<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='710081' first='Jacob' last='Bradford']</strong>, a Houston commit, and junior safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401737' first='Blaine' last='Bradford']</strong> with a slew of other upperclassman standouts including senior playmakers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='740987' first='Cayden' last='Jones']</strong> at corner and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291166' first='Sam' last='Norman']</strong> at safety. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Edna Karr at Archbishop Shaw </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The battle for west bank supremacy between a couple of title-minded powerhouses will be a tough matchup to beat for New Orleans fans and media. The Cougars ran Class 4A from 2016 to 2019 with four straight state championships and, now in 5A, have been battling since the pandemic to claim a new throne. The Eagles meanwhile have enjoyed a resurgence since the return of legendary coach Hank Tierney, including a semifinal run in 2023, and are eying their first Dome trip since 2008 and first title since 1987.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top on-field matchups to watch anywhere in the state Friday will come with the Eagles' potentially explosive rushing attack led by Michigan-committed running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913900' first='Jasper' last='Parker']</strong> and dual-threat senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221203' first='Mason' last='Wilson']</strong> behind a stout offensive line. One of the Cougars' strengths, as always, is its defensive front which this year includes a pair of SEC commits in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913897' first='Corey' last='Adams Jr.'] </strong>(2025, Ole Miss) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710991' first='Richard' last='Anderson']</strong> (2026, LSU) with a slew of smart, hard-hitting athletes flying around behind them that includes senior linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291158' first='Arsenio' last='Bolds Jr.']</strong>, a Division-I recruit, and junior safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401932' first='Aiden' last='Hall'],</strong> another highly touted LSU commit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Neville at Evangel Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A case could be made for the showdown between traditional powers, both making their move to Class 5A this season from 4A in recent years, as as much of a litmus test as any matchup around the state. Neither the Tigers or Eagles reached the quarterfinals last season, the semifinals since 2021 or a title game since 2015. But both have high expectations, notable college talent and growing intrigue entering the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As for an on-field matchup, a wealth of eyes from all over the state will be on Evangel sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1250887' first='Peyton' last='Houston']</strong>, one of the nation's top 2027 quarterbacks, as he makes his official debut for the Eagles after a dynamic jamboree performance Saturday against West Monroe. Houston has a dozen talented receivers, including highly ranked 2026 prospect <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710968' first='Nathan' last='Green']</strong>, for a program known for high-flying, record-setting passing attacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And they'll open the season against a Tigers bunch with a proud defensive tradition, a defensive-minded coaching staff and talent at every level to try to slow down Houston and company. Baylor-committed senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710074' first='Brody' last='Whatley'] </strong>headlines the front with Louisiana (Lafayette)-committed senior corner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214142' first='Cam' last='Riley']</strong>, highly ranked junior safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920694' first='Julian' last='Burns']</strong> and senior leader <strong>Robert Grave</strong>s all among the standouts in the secondary. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teurlings Catholic at Opelousas</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even as Opelousas climbed its way to a historic first football championship in program history in 2023, the Tigers couldn't end their drought against Teurlings Catholic with a fourth-straight season-opening loss to the Rebels by multiple scores. This season appears the best opportunity to potentially flip that script with so much back from the title team and Teurlings having to replace key senior leaders from a year ago, giving the game a sneaky level of intrigue that appears to be going somewhat under the radar outside the area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From a matchup standpoint, Tulane-committed offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914206' first='Gresham' last='Perry']</strong> is the highest ranked prospect on the Rebels roster to anchor a line that should be a strength for the team. And the test presented by the Opelousas front seven is stout with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='915076' first='Jonathan' last='Ford']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920639' first='Jamarion' last='Daugherty']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913914' first='Jacobian' last='Ardoin']</strong> among the headliners up front, and Ole Miss-committed edge rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710273' first='Corey' last='Amos']</strong> and hard-hitting college prospect <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913928' first='Travis' last='Esprit']</strong> among the linebackers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Thomas More at Carencro</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another interesting season-opening barometer on a statewide level, the perennial powers in the Lafayette area both have several key members of last year's teams — on the field and on the coaching staffs — to replace. One dynamic to watch is how the Carencro offense comes out of the gates with junior star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710967' first='Chantz' last='Babineaux']</strong> in his second season running the show, with his standout running back from a year ago now graduated and with his offensive coordinator Gavin Peters now adjusting to head-coaching duties. St. Thomas More linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914107' first='Nico' last='Blanchard']</strong> should be a tackle machine for the Cougars defense this season and will be a key player to watch in containing Babineaux and company in the box, while corners <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914120' first='Brian' last='Broussard'] Jr.</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914125' first='Gavin' last='Duplechin']</strong> are among the leaders in the secondary. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->