Lake Charles College Prep won all three phases in its Week 1 blowout win of Magnolia School of Excellence.

The Class 3A No. 7 Trail Blazers will need another all-around performance this week in a top-10 clash with Class 4A No. 4 Westgate tonight at Cougar Stadium.

It is the third meeting between the schools. Each time both have been ranked in the top 10.

“It is a big one,” LCCP head coach Erick Franklin said. “I love a big one.

“Last year was a close game. We are excited about the opportunity to get to play them.”

Against Magnolia, LCCP scored 11 touchdowns, including one on special teams, with a near-balanced offense (133 passing, 130 rushing).

“I thought they played hard,” Franklin said. “I tell them it doesn’t matter how good the team is, we need to execute. I thought we executed well, especially offensively, defensively and special teams. In all three phases of the game, we executed.

“I think we are ahead, truthfully, from a leadership standpoint. I know that I have been harping on that a lot since the offseason. From a leadership standpoint, we are ahead. The guys are just doing their jobs. We harped on that in the offseason, just take care of your job and everything else will fall into place. If each individual does their job, the team will get the win. That has been good to see that.”

Franklin said two keys this week will be red-zone scoring and winning the turnover battle. Last year the Trail Blazers struggled to finish in the red zone, losing 20-12 to the Tigers. This year the Trail Blazers have a close-in weapon in kicker Caleb Stewart, who made 9 of 10 point-after kicks last week.

“Last year we should have won,” Franklin said. “We were in the red zone three times, and we didn’t have a kicker, so we couldn’t kick any field goals.

“I mean inside the 5. I think this year, with us having a kicker … if we can get that and get him to make a field goal when we need it, I think we have a chance to win this week.”

LCCP forced a fumble and picked off a pass last week without turning the ball over.

“We have to take care of the ball,” Franklin said. “We are solid on defense. I think if we take care of the ball and don’t turn it over it will be a very tight game.”

Like LCCP, the Tigers have several Division I prospects. Defensive lineman De’Myrion Jackson (6-3, 295) is committed to LSU, while quarterback/defensive back Ja’boree Antoine is a four-star recruit.

“They always have a fast, tough team and athletes,” Franklin said. “They kind of resemble us with a lot of athletes.

“They are well coached. They are going to be in the right spot. It is going to come down to the 50-50 ball. We are going to have to win the 50-50 balls this week.”

Elsewhere

After a lone week of nondistrict play, Barbe, Sam Houston and Sulphur will jump into the District 3-5A fray this week.

All three are coming off opening wins. Sam Houston knocked off defending non-select Division III state champion Many 47-10, led by quarterback Gavin Stout (5- 13-0, 196 yards, 3 TDs). Barbe freshman quarterback Jelandon Gray (8-14-1, 146 yds., TD) and running back Eric Jones (183 all-purpose yards, 5 TDs) starred in a 35-8 win over LaGrange. Sulphur had a balanced offense in its 52-22 win over Washington-Marion with Addison Constance throwing for 158 yards and two touchdowns while Tyler Joubert ran for 149 yards and a score.

Barbe travels to 2022 select Division I semifinalist Carencro (1-0). Sam Houston hosts New Iberia (0-1), and the Tors host Class 5A No. 10 Acadiana (0-1).

In Class 4A, Leesville moved into the top 10 with its come-from-behind win over Jennings last week and faces Jena at home tonight. The Giants are receiving votes in the Class 3A poll. Leesville running back Xavier Ford leads the state in rushing yards (291) after one week.

In Welsh, the Greyhounds will look to give head coach Ronnie Courville his first win when they host Westlake. Welsh’s defense will face a challenge in stopping Westlake wide receiver Kevin Rideau. The junior, who switched to wide receiver full-time this season, is ranked third in the state after catching four passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns last week. Freshman quarterback Brody Anderson is ninth in the state in passing yards (290).

After edging Basile by two points last week, Lake Arthur looks to go 2-0 for the first time since 2018 when it hosts Mamou. The Tigers’ offense is humming behind quarterback Ray Levi and running back Kenyon Boese, who accounted for all five of the Tigers’ touchdowns and 367 yards of offense.