Spotlight falls on area Class 5A schools
In this edition of the Three Point Stance, staff writers Rodrick Anderson and Warren Arceneaux discuss the Week 5 high school football games involving area large schools.
What is the most interesting game?
WA: Acadiana at Barbe is the best rivalry involving an area school. Both are undefeated. The stakes are always high. There is a great contrast of styles offensively and six of the last seven have been decided by single digits. The problem for the Bucs is that Acadiana has won five of its last six. This year’s Bucs team has plenty of offensive firepower, but the Rams are usually strong on defense and their offense will pose a big challenge to Barbe’s inexperienced defense.
RA: Leesville at Rayne. Leesville will get a chance to avenge its lone two losses last year this week when it faces the Wolves. Despite having to replace more than a dozen starts, the Wampus Cats are 4-0 for the second consecutive year. Quarterback Jacob Mount threw for a season-high 226 yards and five touchdowns last week in a 38-35 win over Pineville. His favorite targets have been Noah Allain, Jalen Shepherd and Duwon Tolbert, who have combined for 511 yards and seven TDs. Rayne has struggled, but technically won two games last week, one was a 37-8 win over Erath and the other was by forfeit after Welsh self-reported using an ineligible player in Week 1.
What is the best in-game matchup?
WA: St. Louis running game vs. Lake Charles College Prep defensive front. The Saints picked up their first win last week in the first game they were able to sustain the run. Evan Joubert ran for 197 yards and three touchdowns. The Trailblazers have a formidable defensive line led by JaCalon Pitre and backed by an active linebacking group. They held a run-oriented Westlake team to 14 points last week. They have not allowed more than 14 points in a game.
RA: Washington-Marion’s defense vs. Jennings’ splitback veer. After allowing 41.5 points per game in its first two games, W-M’s defense has stepped up and allowed eight points in its last two games to get back to .500. Leading the way have been linemen Chevis Edwards (18 tackles, 5 TFL, 2.5 sacks), Jaylon Ned (15 tackles, 5 TFL) and linebacker’s Christian Guillory (27 tackles, 4 TFL) and D’Micah Bailey (23 tackles, 2 TFL). The Charging Indians’ defensive front will have to work overtime to stop Jennings’ split-back veer that is averaging more than 200 yards a week on the ground.
Name a player to watch
WA: Iowa WR Isaiah Donald: The Iowa offense has been improving and Donald is a big reason why with 17 catches for 294 yards, all over the past three weeks. He has scored in each of the last two games as the Yellow Jackets have scored 20 points each time, their high-water mark for the season. Another big game from Donald could help the ’Jackets surpass that number and get into the win column.
RA: Iota running backs Kollin Guillory and Luke Doucet. The duo has combined for 911 yards and 11 TDs. Both had their best game of the season last week and handed Northwest its first loss. Guillory rushed for 208 yards and three TDs on four carries while Doucet had 165 yards and two TDs on 15 carries. At 4-0, Iota is off to its best start in more than a decade.