6 Big Louisiana HS Matchups: The Massey Ratings (and Jerit's Take)

Louisiana’s high school season has turned its corner to Week 6, and district schedules are heating up all over state.

As part of the new On3 Massey High School Ratings and my addition to The Bengal Tiger team, we’re starting to look each week at five top games to watch — complete with a handful of top players to watch and predictions on the outcome.

And, actually, this week we’ll throw in a bonus sixth game.

Edna Karr (4-0, 2-0) at Brother Martin (4-1, 1-1)

Friday, 7 p.m., at Tad Gormley Stadium

For the second straight week, the top matchup in the Massey Rankings features Edna Karr in a Catholic League tilt. The Cougars, No. 2 in the LSWA’s Class 5A poll, moved up to No. 5 this week on the Massey list after a 34-13 statement victory against rival St. Augustine and now face No. 11 Brother Martin, who received the 13th-most votes in the LSWA poll. The Crusaders suffered their lone loss in Week 4, but rebounded for an upset of Archbishop Rummel, 17-13.

Players to Watch: 2025 Edna Karr DL Corey Adams Jr. (Ole Miss), 2026 Edna Karr DL Richard Anderson (LSU), 2025 Edna Karr LB Arsenio Bolds Jr., 2025 Brother Martin DL Chase Chesser (Nicholls State), 2026 Brother Martin WR Brodie DuMontier, 2025 Edna Karr WR TaRon Francis (LSU), 2026 Edna Karr DB Aiden Hall (LSU), 2025 Brother Martin RB Sidney Harris, 2026 Edna Karr DB Hayward Howard Jr., 2026 Edna Karr QB John Johnson Jr., 2026 Brother Martin WR Rex LeBlanc, 2026 Brother Martin WR Rowan Lipscomb, 2025 Brother Martin DL Nathan Malek, 2025 Edna Karr WR Oliver Mitchell Jr. (Tulane), 2027 Brother Martin WR/ATH Easton Royal, 2025 Brother Martin OL Caleb Smith (Nicholls State), 2025 Edna Karr WR Daejawn Smith, 2025 Brother Martin DB/RB Treshoun Ware, 2025 Brother Martin LB Jadon Weber, 2026 Edna Karr DB Maurice Williams Jr.,

Recent History: Edna Karr has won both meetings since joining the Catholic League, 19-7 in 2023 and 40-7 in 2022, and three straight overall with a 55-46 non-district win in 2016. Brother Martin won, 44-41, in 2015.

Massey Prediction: Edna Karr (82%), 34-14.

Jerit Thoughts: Edna Karr is clearly the team to beat here, but Brother Martin has shown a knack for more often than not giving the Cougars one of their closer matchups of the season. The Crusaders led, 7-0, at halftime last year before explosive plays by Francis and then-senior Rahji Dennis swung the game. Brother Martin’s defense is again stout and could slow down Edna Karr better than most opponents. But the Cougars’ defense figures to make life difficult for the Crusaders, and a more experienced Johnson in his second year starting and his deep cast of weapons should have more than enough big plays in them to open up a two- or three-score margin.

West Monroe (3-2, 0-0) at Alexandria (5-0, 0-0)

Friday, 7 p.m., at Alexandria’s J.L. “Butch” Stoker Stadium

West Monroe and Alexandria’s opener to a loaded District 2-5A is probably the top matchup in the north half of the state and one that the Massey Rankings particularly favor. The host Trojans are No. 6 on the Massey list and in the latest LSWA Class 5A poll, while the Rebels are No. 13 for Massey and earned the 15th-most votes in the LSWA poll.

Players to Watch: 2027 Alexandria DL Jaydon Bayonne, 2026 West Monroe WR Trez Davis, 2026 West Monroe QB Ryder DeJean, 2025 Alexandria WR Jimmie Duncan, 2027 Alexandria WR Alex Fontenot, 2027 Alexandria QB Max Gassiott, 2027 Alexandria DB Jakyrin Griffin, 2026 West Monroe DL Smoltz Lilly, 2025 Alexandria RB J.T. Lindsey (LSU), 2026 West Monroe RB Kedrian McNeil, 2025 West Monroe RB Ranaldrick Myles, 2025 West Monroe WR An’Jahvion Perkins, 2026 West Monroe RB Christian Ponti, 2027 Alexandria QB Karsen Sellers, 2027 Alexandria DB Jaytun Terry, 2025 Alexandria WR Darius Washington, 2026 Alexandria LB Xzavier White.

Recent History: West Monroe has owned the series historically and has continued to do so in recent years, although the margins have gotten much tighter: five straight decided by 14 or fewer points, including the 2023 game by a 28-23 final. But Alexandria won a 33-17 semifinal game to punch its first-ever ticket to a state championship game.

Massey Prediction: Alexandria (55%), 35-31.

Jerit Thoughts: Alexandria has never beaten West Monroe in the regular season, from what I’m told. But I fully expect that history to change this week. As eager as many around the state have been for years now to write off the once-dominant Rebels, they still represent one of Louisiana’s most consistently formidable Class 5A programs. And this game has the potential to be a war. But the Trojans appear to be playing as well as almost anyone in the state right now with the best player (Lindsey) on the field each week and a full roster playing with confidence and composure every week, including a pair of young quarterbacks showing some early moxie.

Parkway (5-0, 3-0) at Airline (5-0, 3-0)

Friday, 7 p.m., at Airline

A pair of unbeatens will battle for pole position in the deep District 1-5A race at its midway mark, as well as a boost in the hunt for a potential first-round playoff bye, as Airline hosts Parkway. The home-standing Vikings are No. 24 in the Massey Ratings and tied for No. 10 in the latest LSWA Class 5A poll. The visiting Panthers are No. 20 on the Massey list and received the 17th-most votes in the LSWA poll.

Both teams enter the matchup fresh off thrilling victories for differing storylines. Parkway headed into another meeting of undefeated teams last week against C.E. Byrd notably short-handed and ultimately won with a new quarterback, three days into having joined the team, filling in for an injured starter. Airline meanwhile escaped an unreal shootout with Captain Shreve, 69-68, on a missed two-point attempt by the Gators.

Players to Watch: 2025 Airline OL Josh Allen, 2027 Airline DB Zeus Arthur, 2025 Parkway RB C.J. Dudley, 2026 Airline WR Kenny Darby (Mississippi State), 2025 Airline WR Jarvis Davis Jr., 2025 Parkway QB Gavin Ferrington (Centenary lacrosse), 2025 Airline LB Jaydan Gladney, 2025 Parkway LB Christian Harris, 2025 Airline RB/WR Micah Johnson, 2025 Parkway DB Carmaro Mayo, 2025 Parkway DL Devon Oliver, 2025 Parkway OL Ethan Plunkett, 2026 Parkway DL Korde’ Sharp, 2025 Airline QB Ben Taylor (Northwestern State)

Recent History: Airline has flipped the script on the district rivalry in recent years with back-to-back wins, 33-16 in 2023 and 41-20 in 2022, and three of the past four after Parkway had claimed six straight from 2013 to 2018. The Panthers won, 34-17, in 2021.

Massey Prediction: Airline (59%), 41-35.

Jerit Thoughts: Parkway overcoming all of its absences last week to beat C.E. Byrd was admirable and somewhat eye-opening. And the Panthers should not be taken lightly. But Airline boasts one of Louisiana’s most prolific offenses that should still reach into the 30s or 40s, even against perhaps its toughest challenge yet. And this feels like a week the Vikings, a No. 4 seed and quarterfinalist in the 2023 Division-I Non-Select bracket with higher expectations and goals in 2024, have a prime opportunity to prove themselves as also having a more complete team capable of getting a couple more timely stops against an opponent missing its starting quarterback and top offensive weapon.

Holy Cross (2-3, 1-1) at John Curtis (2-2, 1-1)

Friday, 7 p.m., at the Shrine on Airline

A rematch of one of the most thrilling contests of the entire 2023 season represents a once-again pivotal Catholic League tilt Friday. Holy Cross beat perennial powerhouse John Curtis for the first time in the schools’ history and went on to earn the No. 1 seed in the Division-I Select bracket. This week’s winner will stay in the thick of the district race, while the loser will potentially find itself two games back. John Curtis is the No. 17 team in the Massey Rankings and No. 9 in the LSWA Class 5A poll, while Holy Cross is No. 27 according to Massey.

Players to Watch: 2025 Holy Cross RB Kayden Andoh, 2025 John Curtis DL Logan Barnes, 2025 Holy Cross DB Joshua Brown, 2025 John Curtis DB Trey Brown, 2025 John Curtis DB Jason Curtis, 2025 John Curtis LB Hayden Delatte, 2025 Holy Cross LB Nicholas Digerolamo, 2025 John Curtis TE JoJo Fagin, 2027 Holy Cross DB Savoy Guidry, 2025 Holy Cross DB Cedrick Harmon, 2025 Holy Cross RB Claude Johnson, 2025 Holy Cross TE/WR Derrick Johnson Jr., 2025 John Curtis QB Reggie Johnson, 2026 John Curtis LB Lane Lecron, 2025 Holy Cross OL Noah Remetich, 2025 John Curtis RB Anthony Smith Jr., 2026 Holy Cross RB Ke’Rynn Smith

Recent History: Holy Cross stunned John Curtis, 42-41, last season with a hail-mary pass as time expired and then game-winning two-point conversion. The Patriots had won every previous meeting between the schools, most recently 32-21 in 2022.

Massey Prediction: John Curtis (80%), 30-14.

Jerit Thoughts: Holy Cross coach Scott Wattigny quickly turned the past last season, his first at the helm, to a new era for his alma mater with its highest expectations in decades. And the historic defeat of John Curtis was a huge piece of that story. I don’t consider any of that a fluke. But I do think John Curtis gets back on the right side of this series this season behind a lights-out defense that stifles the Tigers and helps set up a couple prime offensive opportunities to cash in the win.

Archbishop Shaw (3-2) at St. James (3-1)

Friday, 7 p.m., at St. James

A pair of the state’s top Division-II and Division-III title contenders represent one of the closest calls of the week’s Massey Predictions. Coach Hank Tierney’s Archbishop Shaw is No. 22 in the Massey Rankings and No. 6 in the LSWA’s Class 4A poll, and coach LaVanta Davis’ St. James is No. 37 in the Massey Rankings and No. 2 in the LSWA’s Class 3A poll. Each team enters battled tested with three matchups each against Class 5A competition, plus stout Class 4A St. Charles (Catholic) for St. James and Class 3A De La Salle and Class 2A Lafayette Christian for Archbishop Shaw to round out the schedules thus far.

Players to Watch: 2027 St. James DB Jye Blain, 2026 Archbishop Shaw S J’Quan Carter, 2027 Archbishop Shaw S Rontrae Carter, 2025 Archbishop Shaw EDGE Sheldon Green, 2028 St. James QB Ja’Juan Jackson, 2027 St. James RB/DB Kendrick Joseph Jr., 2026 St. James RB Kani King-Young, 2025 Archbishop Shaw OL D’Artanian Miller, 2025 St. James LB Chaidyn Parker, 2025 Archbishop Shaw RB Jasper Parker, 2026 St. James WR/ATH Jakias Villanueva, 2025 Archbishop Shaw WR Jacob Washington, 2025 St. James DB Garry White, 2026 Archbishop Shaw S Jackson Williams, 2025 St. James DB Jarrell Williams, 2025 Archbishop Shaw QB Mason Wilson, 2026 St. James WR Kanye Zenon, 2026 St. James LB Nolan Zenon.

Recent History: The teams have met just once in the past decade, a 37-27 St. James road victory in 2021.

Massey Prediction: Archbishop Shaw (54%), 30-27.

Jerit Thoughts: I love this matchup and would love to see it more regularly now that Hank has the Eagles back among the state’s top programs. This is the game of these six that I am least confident in picking a winner and think has the highest likelihood of being a classic. I’m going to give the edge to Shaw, the higher-classification and more senior-led squad who may be the toughest test yet for a talented, but young St. James.

Covington (5-0, 0-0) at Mandeville (5-0, 0-0)

Friday, 7 p.m., at Mandeville High’s Sid Theriot Stadium (Jerit Roser will be on the sidelines for coverage)

Two of the state’s 10 remaining undefeated Class 5A teams, separated by about 11 miles, will open District 6-5A play against one another Friday. The home Skippers and visiting Lions check in at No. 14 and No. 34, respectively, in the latest Massey Rankings and received votes in the latest LSWA Class 5A poll. Both teams have been blowing out opponents nearly every week — most recently Covington, 48-0, over Fontainebleau and Mandeville, 42-0, over Northshore — but this will make each’s toughest test to date.

Players to Watch: 2025 Covington LB Bobby Barkley, 2025 Covington DB/RB Jeremie Elzy, 2025 Covington QB Caden Heck, 2026 Mandeville QB Ben Hendricks, 2027 Mandeville DB Dylan Henry, 2025 Covington OL Abrum Lewis, 2025 Mandeville RB Nate Sheppard (Duke), 2025 Mandeville WR/DB Michael White, 2026 Covington RB Kylen Williams

Recent History: Mandeville has won the past two meetings, 24-6 in 2023 and 28-14 in 2022, but the series is an even 5-5 in the past 10 meetings in the longtime annual series. Covington won, 12-7, in 2021.

Massey Prediction: Mandeville (84%), 42-20.

Jerit Thoughts: Mandeville’s 18-point victory last season marked the most lopsided margin in the series since Covington won, 27-7, in 2017. And I fully expect Friday to be another intense and fairly tightly contested battle. I don’t expect another absurd 300-yard or seven-touchdown type night from Nate Sheppard in this one, as I think the Lions have more success than other opponents in at least slowing him down some and forcing the Skippers’ hand elsewhere a few more times. But I do think Mandeville has enough timely plays elsewhere, enough defense and still enough Sheppard to win at home. He’s playing with a chip on his shoulder and I think is fully into “you can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him” territory.