If the weather doesn’t bring any fireworks, Sam Houston and Leesville’s offense will tonight at Wayne Hooper Memorial Stadium in Moss Bluff.

Both teams scored more than 30 points last week in what amounted to half a game in their respective jamboree matchups. A full 48 minutes of play could bring even more points. Both averaged more than 35 points a game last season.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Sam Houston, with hits high-powered passing attack, beat Jennings 36-27 last week. Quarterback Gavin Stout threw for 195 yards and four scores while expertly spreading the ball around to receivers Ty Stout, Ayden Rose, Drew Dronet and running back Drew Bailey.

“He’s just got great skilled kids,” Leesville head coach Robert Causey said of Sam Houston head coach Chad Davis. “There’s not one guy on offense that doesn’t scare me in their skilled positions.

“He uses them wisely. Just props to him and his staff. The kids believe in the system. They do a really good job. They’re going to have a lot of success this season.”

Leesville’s defense had plenty of jarring plays in its 32-7 win over Grant at the Tioga Jamboree. The Wampus Cats spent a lot of time in the backfield chasing the Cougars quarterback and made an interception in the red zone.

Leesville has one of the top running backs in the state Xavier Ford, the American Press All-Southwest Louisiana Big Schools Offensive MVP last year after running for 2,426 yards and 34 touchdowns. Ford ran for two touchdowns longer than 20 yards last week, but the Wampus Cats also got big plays from wide receiver Mike Davis Jr., who had a 63-yard touchdown reception.

“Then there’s kind of the execution of our base offense and defense,” Causey said. “The efficiency at which we ran our basic plays I felt was pretty good as compared to the last two years. I think we’re a little bit further along in that regard.”

The Broncos held Jennings running back ReJohn Zeno in check for the most part but had some trouble with Bulldogs sophomore quarterback Chris Ned, who ran for more than 100 yards. Davis is fully aware of Ford and his big-play capability and it will be up to his three senior linemen — Romalis Jackson, Hunter Dautriel and Donovan Long — to limit Ford’s damage.

“Leesville’s offense is dangerous,” Davis said. “They’ve got the Ford kid and a couple of athletes out in space.

“Hopefully we can keep them under control. I think the biggest thing is upfront. I think if our defensive line can set the tone early Friday night and kind of let our linebackers be free and play fast, physical football, I think we’ll be very successful on that side of the ball.

“I’ve been very proud of that (defensive line) group. They cause issues for us at practice every day. As long as they can keep their composure and do what they’re coached to do, I think they’ll have a very successful season.”

Elsewhere

Barbe and Lake Charles College Prep will open the season with tough nondistrict opponents.

Barbe will host Airline tonight. The Vikings reached the Division I non-select quarterfinals last year and received votes in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association preseason poll.

Lake Charles College Prep will go on the road to face Class 4A No. 7 Westgate. The Tigers lost 20-18 in the regional round last year to eventual Division I non-select state champion Ruston.

Barbe and LCCP each have quarterbacks who were thrust into starting roles as freshmen last year in Jelandon Gray and Dylan Vital, respectively.

The Bucs had little trouble in their final preseason action, beating DeRidder 20-0 behind two touchdown passes by Gray.