Longtime city rivals Barbe and LaGrange will open the high school football season tonight at John J. Mims Stadium with high hopes and new head coaches, but on different sides of the ever-present injury bug.

Four starters will return from injuries this week for the Gators, while the Bucs had to make a major shuffle since last week’s jamboree game after senior quarterback Carson Sanford tore an anterior cruciate ligament on the first drive. The Bucs will start freshman Jelandon Gray. He completed 5 of 13 passes for 44 yards last week and hit wide receiver Landon Victorian for the winning 2-point conversion in a 15-14 win over DeRidder.

“We are dealing with some injuries and moving guys around,” Barbe head coach Skeet Owens said. “Different people have to step up and perform.

“For a freshman, (Gray’s) composure is great. He stepped in there and really threw a good ball on his first pass. He is mature beyond his years for a freshman. He can run a little bit and can throw it a little bit, so he is going to be a good player for us.”

Sanford led the Bucs on a 69-yard drive before the non-contact injury on a passing play inside the 5-yard line, but he will be on the sideline, Owens said.

“It has been tough,” Owens said. “(Sanford) is adjusting. He has done great with us. He wants to help any way he can. He has been mentoring, coaching and as much as he can do on crutches.”

The Gators will get a boost on the offensive side with the return of running back Keshaun Doucet and lineman Braydon Williams, who plays on both sides of the ball, and Javon White, plus wide receiver/defensive back Dominick Hollier. Head coach Idaibi Ogbanga said he hopes the Gators can get their run game going to complement the passing game.

“We are feeling pretty confident,” Ogbanga said. “We got some of our key guys back that were injured. “I think we will be very competitive and ready to go.

“I think this week, we also have to establish the run. Our running back (Doucet) was out last week, but he will be back this week. We will be able to establish more of a run game to open up the pass.

“They didn’t do bad,” Ogbanga said of the Gator’s performance in last week’s jamboree. “We had a lot of key guys out that game. It affected us, but the one thing I like about my kids is that they just kept playing and never gave up. We threw the ball too much and stopped the clock a lot, and it hurt us on defense.

“But I think our kids are very excited about the game. They have been talking all day about this game and they have been really focused this week. They have been talking about locking in and paying attention to details. In their group messages they are talking about making sure to fly to the ball. They have been talking all football, and that is what I love to see.”

The Gators will have eyes on the Bucs’ Victorian and junior running back Eric Jones, who had 110 yards and a touchdown last week, and.

“Their run game is awesome,” Ogbanga said. “They have a great running back. “That kid can flat-out run. The freshman quarterback, the way he controlled the offense was amazing. That is two key guys that we want to watch out for, and the receiver (Landon Victorian). They have some weapons.”

Barbe had to score five consecutive touchdowns to break open a close 14-6 game last season.

“I think they are improved,” Owens said of the Gators. “Their quarterback is a good player. He is able to run a little bit and can throw it. He can spin it pretty good.

“We just have to play four quarters. We haven’t done that all year. It is getting adjusted and acclimated to the weather. Conditioning is always a factor. Hopefully, we can make it through four quarters.”

Elsewhere

Sam Houston will open the season for a second consecutive year with state powerhouse Many.

The Tigers are the defending nonselect Division III state championship and have played in four consecutive state title games, but they will have to adjust without 2022 Mr. Football Tackett Curtis, who will be a starting linebacker at No. 6 Southern Cal this fall, plus a new head coach after Jess Curtis took the top job at Natchitoches Central. Dillon Barrett, former Grant head coach, replaced Curtis.

Many has an LSU commitment at cornerback, Tylen Singelton, who will look to keep passes from Sam Houston quarterback Gavin Stout from reaching his strong receiver corps in Drew Dronet, Cole Flanagan and Ty Stout.

A nondistrict game at Jerry Simmons Stadium in Jennings will feature two of the top backs in Southwest Louisiana in Leesville’s Xavier Ford (2,581 yards, 34 TDs), the 2022 American Press All-Southwest Louisiana Big Schools offensive MVP, and Jennings’ ReJohn Zeno, who had more than 1,400 all-purpose yards last year and 13 touchdowns.

A pair of former district rivals will meet in Kinder with a pair of first-year head coaches looking for their first win in Kinder’s Justin Reed and