6 on-field prospect matchups in LA’s top Week 2 games Sat/Sunday

<!-- 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 six below featuring Saturday and Sunday contests — most moved because of the storm — or <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/09/6-on-field-prospect-matchups-in-top-week-2-friday-games/">click here more details on six Friday games</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zachary at Acadiana</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christmas — or, perhaps more appropriately, Thanksgiving — comes early this weekend as a pair of Class 5A powerhouses with consistent quarterfinal and semifinal history between them through the years square off Saturday night. The meetings between the Broncos and Wreckin' Rams are always hard-nosed and hard-fought. And, as usual for any Acadiana opponent, the ability for Zachary to contain the heavy rushing attack — at least slowing it down enough to not be playing from behind —&nbsp;will be pivotal. The Wreckin' Rams have improved in recent years to a better passing team with now-senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913931' first='Caden' last='DiBetta']</strong> at the helm and some weapons on the outside, but the bread and butter remains his athleticism and decision-making to lead the option attack with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='710087' first='Jonah' last='Gauthier'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1644812' first='Tayden' last='Collins']</strong> at the lead of a stable of running backs and versatile athletes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='426961' first='Russell' last='Babineaux']</strong> and <strong>Lucas Lanerie</strong> also potential in the mix. The size, talent and experience of senior defensive tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710277' first='Sean' last='Hamilton']</strong> will be pivotal in the middle of Zachary's defensive line, with talented linebackers such as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='740993' first='Dylan' last='Shelmire']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='922575' first='Isaiah' last='Stokes']</strong> and <strong>Donovan Beathley</strong> being challenged to play sound football in their respective gaps and assignments. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Archbishop Rummel at University Lab</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 1 matchup previews included the Raiders' defense against the high-power Lafayette Christian offense. So, on the other side of the ball this week, keep an eye on their running game where [player_tooltip player_id='291163' first='Norman' last='Taylor'] started the season strong behind a big offensive line anchored by seniors <strong>Ja'Mard Jones</strong> and <strong>Wes Dubuc</strong> and junior center <strong>Armando Reyes</strong>. Taylor and company will work against a Cubs defense with size and talent at every level from highly recruited junior defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212343' first='Lamar' last='Brown']</strong> and senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='534094' first='Cayson' last='Hill']</strong> up front, LSU commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144905' first='Keylan' last='Moses']</strong> and Nicholls State commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144902' first='Alec' last='Haynes']</strong> as versatile linebackers and edge rushers and a hard-hitting secondary behind them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Augustine at Cecilia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two teams that weren't scheduled to play one another this season ultimately found one another Thursday evening as the Purple Knights and Bulldogs looked for replacements for cancelled games against East St. John and St. Amant, respectively. Both teams bring plenty of talent to equation with limited time to game-plan for one another. How the two passing attacks and secondaries match up is of peak intrigue from a prospect standpoint. And we'll focus on the 2023 Division-II Non-Select runner-up Cecilia offense with dynamic, versatile athlete <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='145333' first='Diesel' last='Solari'] </strong>at the helm; and offensive line of [player_tooltip player_id='431080' first='Ryker' last='Airhart'] and <strong>Christian Menard</strong> among familiar names; and a deep cast of targets led by seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913920' first='Ellis' last='Stewart'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913904' first='Brent' last='Gordon Jr.']</strong>, a Louisiana (Lafayette) defensive back commit, and promising 2027 prospect <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934555' first='Braylon' last='Calais']</strong>. Senior corner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1335970' first='Frederick' last='Lewis']</strong>, senior safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='915071' first='Seth' last='St. Martin']</strong>, versatile junior ballhawk <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401948' first='Clinton' last='Hill Jr.']</strong> and promising sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='424589' first='Ryan' last='Montague Jr.'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1356115' first='Khylin' last='Wilson']</strong> are among names to know in the St. Augustine secondary aiming to slow down the Bulldogs, and the potential of Tulane-committed linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='426963' first='Warren' last='Roberts'] Jr.</strong> and playmakers in the box to apply some pressure to Solari also figures to be a pivotal aspect of the contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>De La Salle at Holy Cross</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De La Salle's rushing attack against the Central (Baton Rouge) defensive front was among the matchups highlighted in Week 1. The Cavaliers' ability to establish more consistent success on the ground will be pivotal this week against the Tigers as well. And the same will loom large on the other side of the ball, as the trio of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221191' first='Kayden' last='Andoh']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920695' first='Ke'Rynn' last='Smith']</strong> and <strong>Claude Johnson</strong> try to control another game for Holy Cross behind a senior-led offensive line headlined by <strong>Noah Remetich</strong> and <strong>Andrew Huete</strong> and make life easy for the team's new starting quarterback. De La Salle had great stretches, particularly early, in the opener compounded Central's issues with active play by seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1596783' first='Jaiden' last='Elly']</strong> and <strong>Jackson Perdue</strong> up front, juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603206' first='Jayden' last='Pollard']</strong> and <strong>Jonathan Saul</strong> on the edge and seniors <strong>Ronyell Elzie</strong> and <strong>Drew Johnson</strong> flying around behind them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bunkie at St. Louis Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The intriguing matchup initially scheduled for Thursday evening will now kick off at noon Saturday in Lake Charles. The home Saints will attempt to rebound from a season-opening loss to Class 5A Sulphur, but have another challenge on their hands in slowing down a Panthers squad that appeared to start the season on a roll against St. Mary's. Senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='915073' first='Dillon' last='Compton']</strong> is a dynamic dual-threat playmaker at the helm of the Bunkie offense, and the attention he commands from opposing defenses also helps open opportunities for <strong>Jateren Gaines</strong> and company alongside him in the backfield. St. Louis has to replace notable defensive talent graduated from last season's roster, including one of the state's top linebackers. And the matchup with Compton and company will be an interesting early-season test for a new-look, but upperclassman group that includes seniors <strong>Finn Gage</strong> and <strong>Anderson Ieyoub</strong> and junior <strong>Ty Willis</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Terrebonne at Covenant Christian </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gators and Lions will meet at 5 p.m. Sunday at Nicholls State as the Bayou Parishes shake back from this week's storm. The match may not immediately catch the radars of fans around the state, but does feature two of Louisiana's most notable potential breakout prospects for this fall and the years to come in Covenant Christian's junior receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710975' first='Jaden' last='Carter']</strong> and South Terrebonne's sophomore defensive back (and receiver) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='940554' first='Trenajh' last='Smith']</strong>. The field include other notable potential college talent on both sides, including Jaden's older brother <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598049' first='Jahari' last='Carter']</strong>, an Arkansas-Monticello commit. But any opportunities to catch one-on-one snaps between the budding young standouts should provide a fun matchup to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->