Undefeated Welsh has steamrolled its way to six consecutive wins behind an unrelenting running game and unbending defense.

This week the Greyhounds travel to face upset-minded Jefferson Davis Parish rival Lake Arthur.

The Greyhounds average 46 points per game while allowing 10. They have yet to allow more than 16 points in a game and have been held under 30 twice. In two District 5-2A games they have outscored opponents 91-21, including a 48-14 win over DeQuincy last week.

Welsh head coach Cody Gueringer said his defense relies more on brains than brawn.

“They understand what we are trying to do,” he said. “We try as much as possible to understand what the other team’s offense is trying to do against us. As long as we understand our alignment, assignment and technique, that is the biggest thing.

“We are never bigger than any team we play and we understand that. We have to beat them with our knowledge and intelligence about the game as much as we can.”

Lake Arthur (3-4, 0-2) has found a spark offensively of late, averaging 39 points per game over the last three weeks. Last week the Tigers fell short in a comeback bid against Grand Lake, losing 41-36. The Tigers are in the last week of a brutal stretch of the schedule which included a game against Notre Dame, the team tied atop the district standings with Welsh.

Ray Levi has led the Tigers offense, running for 357 yards and five touchdowns in the last four games. Last week he threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns while running for 84 yards and two touchdowns.

“He can throw it in the intermediate range; he can spin it deep and throw it in the short game as well,” Gueringer said. “Any play can become a big play with him. They run designed runs with him and he is dangerous. He is a big weapon for them. They have a lot of skill-position guys that can do damage against us.”

Welsh relies on the backfield of quarterback Gabe Gillet and running back Kennon LeGros. Gillett has run for thrown for 592 yards and six touchdowns while adding 368 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. LeGros has run for 998 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has run for more than 120 yards and scored at least once in each game, and has multiple touchdowns in five games.

Last week LeGros ran for 214 yards and three touchdowns. Gillett ran for 171 and three touchdowns and threw for 92 yards and one touchdown.

Gueringer said local rivalries such as this one make high school sports special.

“This is what high school football is about,” he said. “These towns with less than 5,000 people where everybody goes to the game. The opposing team goes, the last person to leave town turns the lights off. That’s what it’s all about: the atmosphere, the rivalry and kids knowing each other.”