Top 10 high school football games in Acadiana for Week 1
LAFAYETTE – The wait is over and high school football season has finally arrived for Acadiana.
The opening weekend, which features a handful of games Thursday night but most on Friday, of action containing plenty of quality games to whet the appetites of supporters and fans in the area.
Let’s look at the top 10 high school football matchups in the Lafayette area:
10. Lafayette at Bourgeois (Thursday)
Bourgeois will be a solid season-opening test for the Lions as both teams were Class 5A first-round playoffs exits in 2021 with five wins each. How this game goes could set the tone for Lafayette going forward.
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9. Iota at Iowa
Iota has a bad taste in its mouth from getting ran off its own field by Iowa, 48-27, in last year’s opener. The Bulldogs are a couple of years removed from making a deep run in the Class 4A bracket and a win at Iowa could be the jumpstart they need in 2022.
8. Opelousas at Teurlings Catholic
Teurlings’ terrible tandem of junior quarterback Preston Welch and senior receiver Kentrell Prejean will be tough to bottle up this season and Opelousas, who gave up 40 to the Rebels in 2021. Opelousas will run behind sophomore tailback D’Shaun Ford, who should find some holes in Teurlings youthful defense.
7. Southside at Notre Dame (Thursday)
Notre Dame coaches feel good about their squad, led by feature back Jake Brouillette and a couple of standout receivers, coming off a Division II semifinal run last season. The Pioneers will test themselves against Class 5A Southside, who’ll be looking to avenge a 26-14 loss at home to Notre Dame in 2021.
6. St. Thomas More at Comeaux
Comeaux has plenty of questions heading into 2022 but so does St. Thomas More, mainly who will be its quarterback. Sam Altmann and Will Taylor both got ample playing time last season in place of Walker Howard for the Cougars. St. Thomas More is the better team but can Comeaux hang in and keep it close?
5. Oak Grove at Opelousas Catholic
Opelousas Catholic welcomes one of 1A’s perennial powers from north Louisiana in Oak Grove. The Tigers will be who they are, physical and bruising. Will Opelousas Catholic stand up to the test?
4. Carencro at Alexandria
Both Carencro and Alexandria were in Natchitoches two years ago, playing for their respective state titles – Carencro won 4A while ASH dropped the 5A championship, 35-34, to Acadiana. This will be a heavyweight bout in Alexandria and the victor will have a quality win one week into the year.
3. Church Point at Eunice
Tylon Citizen is one of the area’s best running backs for Church Point and Eunice has one of the more experienced defenses in Acadiana, making for one of toughest matchups in week one.
2. St. Martinville at Cecilia
The Cecilia-St. Martinville showdown last season was a classic, with St. Martinville holding on for the 48-41 victory. Expect much of the same this year in the season opener at Cecilia, as the Bulldogs and Tigers teams hold state championship aspirations in 4A and 3A, respectively.
1. Acadiana at Lafayette Christian
How about a state title-caliber game off the bat? When the Rams and Knights meet at LCA Friday night, that’s what it’ll be. Acadiana fell one game short of reaching the 5A championship game in 2021. LCA lost in the Division III state title game. Both squads will factor into their classification’s races and whoever earns the win Friday might become title favorites.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana high school football: Top 10 games in Acadiana for Week 1
