6 on-field prospect matchups in LA’s top Week 2 games Friday

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisiana's high school football season continues this week with some notable schedule-shuffling across the state in the wake of Hurricane Francine.</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 Friday contests, with more details on six more Saturday and Sunday games hitting the site later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Neville at Calvary Baptist</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cancellations of two of the week's most intriguing matchups, Neville vs. Southside and Westgate vs. Calvary Baptist, out of caution as Hurricane Francine approached set up a pivot to a first-ever meeting between the Tigers and Cavaliers. The Neville secondary in its game against Evangel Christian and the Calvary Baptist passing attack in its game against Oak Grove were among the position groups highlighted in Week 1 and now pose one of the best matchups head-to-head in Week 2. But the contest will be loaded with talent throughout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the other side of the ball, the Neville offense and Calvary defense each feature standouts from the Week 1 top performers list. The Tigers will look to establish senior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='912258' first='Jaylon' last='Nichols']</strong> once again behind senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1644806' first='Dylan' last='Jackson']</strong>, sophomore <strong>Nicholas Ochoa</strong>, senior <strong>Tyler Brown</strong>, senior <strong>Brayden Blade</strong> and junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1736546' first='Van' last='Martinez']</strong>. And the challenge will be there for the Cavaliers' upperclassman line to hold its own up front and free up senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291164' first='Cole' last='Miller']</strong> and the linebacking corps, which included fellow seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914111' first='Titus' last='Stringer']</strong> and <strong>Tyson Driskell</strong> and junior <strong>Justin Reeves</strong> also racking up notable tackle numbers, and sophomore safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237645' first='Luke' last='Miller']</strong> for another big week flying around and racking up tackles near and behind the line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Catholic (Baton Rouge) at St. Thomas More</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For a second straight week to open Louisiana's high school football season, the schedule will feature a matchup between a pair of defending state champions. The Bears and Cougars will face for the third straight year and eighth in the past nine with the latter having turned the tide with wins in 2020 and 2023. Three of the past four meetings have been decided by a combined 10 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bears' secondary was highlighted last week heading into a matchup against a loaded Destrehan receiving corps, although a heavy rain from start to finish changed the complexion there. This week's forecast of clear skies and fast turf will pose another early-season challenge for the veteran, hard-hitting group led by senior corners <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710081' first='Jacob' last='Bradford']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='740987' first='Cayden' last='Jones']</strong>, senior safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291166' first='Sam' last='Norman']</strong> and junior safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401737' first='Blaine' last='Bradford']</strong> as they try to contain and disrupt junior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401749' first='Cole' last='Bergeron']</strong> and the Cougars' cast of big, physical weapons led by senior receiver <strong>John Avery Barton</strong>, senior tight end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914116' first='Aiden' last='Falgout']</strong> and junior receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1348536' first='Christian' last='Breaux']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lafayette Christian at Carencro</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of the Lafayette area's most prominent programs will look to rebound from tough season-opening losses Friday. And among the matchups to watch, keep an eye on what record-setting Carencro passer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710967' first='Chantz' last='Babineaux']</strong> and company can do as the Bears try to spark a faster start on offense in a matchup against a high-powered Knights squad. Babineaux, a versatile athlete, and freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1372164' first='Carson' last='Gurzi']</strong>, a talented young heir to the position for the years to come, both saw some snaps at quarterback in the opener with junior receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1238190' first='Kendrick' last='Bernard']</strong> and <strong>Kydon Davis</strong> both catching touchdown passes and freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='409932' first='Hayden' last='Monroe']</strong> a notable young target to know. Lafayette Christian's pass defense is loaded with talent in its own right, led by corners <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710782' first='Chris' last='Helaire']</strong>, a senior who recorded one of the top highlights of the Week 1 with a leaping end-zone interception deep downfield against Archbishop Rummel, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='592357' first='Sky' last='Ryan']</strong>, a sophomore among the state's top young prospects in the 2027 class, and safeties <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1224578' first='Calvin' last='Parker III']</strong>, a versatile senior standout in all three phases, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1345269' first='Luke' last='Green']</strong>, a hard-hitting junior who debuted with a high ranking this offseason. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alexandria at Union Parish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 5A Trojans will hit the highways north to Farmerville for what looks to be potentially one of the most physical matchups in the state against the defending Division-III Non-Select champion Farmers, a smaller school with a long-standing tradition of playing smash-mouth football and a recent track record of matching up and competing with larger-school competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alexandria boasts not only one of Louisiana's top running backs in LSU-committed <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914208' first='J.T.' last='Lindsey']</strong>, but a solid senior duo with <strong>Vaughn Darbon</strong> alongside him in a running back stable capable of shouldering a heavy load and limiting pressure on talented, but young sophomore quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1250281' first='Karsen' last='Sellers']</strong>. Union Parish's defensive front is anchoring by seniors <strong>Rontrell Raye</strong> and <strong>Tyreon Traylor</strong> up the middle with a slew of linebackers and edge rushers led by Mississippi Valley State commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710084' first='Tyquereis' last='Wilson']</strong>, junior <strong>Jveon Henderson </strong>and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1356144' first='Braxton' last='Patterson']</strong> and senior safety/outside backer <strong>Kyron Haulcy</strong> — each of whom finished last week's opener with five or more tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Warren Easton at John F. Kennedy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of New Orleans foes from just about 5 miles across City Park will be among the top matchups in the city this weekend as the Eagles and Cougars square off for the opportunity to start 2-0. John F. Kennedy boasts an offense with some of the most explosive potential in the state with senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914099' first='Amyne' last='Darensbourg']</strong> and speedy outside weapons <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='902053' first='Kingston' last='Jones']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914129' first='James' last='Evans']</strong> helping lead that charge. A new-look Warren Easton defense after several key 2024 graduations will look to uphold a proud tradition in the secondary and rise to the early-season challenge. Junior safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1348479' first='Jaedon' last='Phillips']</strong>, son of coach Jerry Phillips; junior cornerbacks <strong>James Hogan</strong> and <strong>Miles Torres</strong>; and senior hybrid/rover <strong>Jackson Chachere</strong> are among the leaders of an overall young, but deep group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Denham Springs at Central (Baton Rouge) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The old district rivals will add another installment to one of the oldest rivalries in the Baton Rouge area, a pair of schools separated by just 6 miles and the Amite River. Central's defense was spotlighted last week in its preparation for the run-heavy attack of De La Salle. And while Denham Springs will look to establish its own ground attack with junior [player_tooltip player_id='401739' first='Brenton' last='Paul'], the Yellow Jackets will also posed a more balanced threat with senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144906' first='Jerry' last='Horne']</strong> at the helm and a crew of weapons that includes seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1335962' first='Tylan' last='Haynes']</strong>, <strong>Peyton Puffer</strong> and <strong>Colton LeBeouf </strong>and juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1348429' first='DaSean' last='Golmond']</strong> and <strong>Cadyn Allen</strong> among top targets to know. The Wildcats' secondary is led by a slew of seniors in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710078' first='Steven' last='Ranel'],</strong> <strong>Blaysen Stokan</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214139' first='KD' last='Mays']</strong>, <strong>Kaeden Loupe</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1336724' first='Keon' last='Coverson']</strong>, as well as promising sophomore safeties <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1356113' first='Marvin' last='Joseph']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='942208' first='Mason' last='Moore']</strong>. In the limited tests through the air by the Cavaliers last week, the group made plays, but this week will mark a different challenge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->