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

Louisiana’s high school season is in the full swing of district play in Week 7 with a schedule stocked with showdowns atop those league standings that also pit state-title hopefuls head-to-head.

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 top players to watch and predictions on the outcome.

Neville (6-0, 1-0) at Ruston (6-0, 1-0)

Friday, 7 p.m., at Hoss Garrett Stadium at Ruston High

The long-standing rivalry is almost always one of the more intriguing matchups in north Louisiana each season, and this edition has developed into one of the entire state’s most anticipated games of the regular season. Defending Division-I Non-Select champion Ruston, the top-ranked team in both the Massey Ratings and the LSWA Class 5A poll, has been almost unanimously considered the best team in the state throughout this season. Meanwhile, Neville has grown from a notable team to watch in its move up from Class 4A to Class 5A to now being tied for fourth in the LSWA’s Class 5A poll and ranked No. 5 overall in the state by Massey. Ruston enters the weekend considered the team to beat once again in the Division-I Non-Select title chase, but Neville could very well swipe that moniker with a road win.

Players to Watch: 2025 Ruston DB Aidan Anding (LSU), 2027 Ruston DB Jayden Anding, 2025 Ruston DL Payton Bell, 2025 Ruston QB/ATH Joshua Brantley (Tulane), 2025 Ruston RB Dylone Brooks, 2026 Neville S Julian Burns, 2025 Neville TE Thomas Campbell (Nicholls State), 2026 Neville DL Jordan Fobbs-White, 2025 Neville DB Robert Graves, 2025 Ruston RB Jordan Hayes, 2025 Ruston LB Zheric Hill (Louisiana Tech), 2027 Ruston TE Ahmad Hudson, 2025 Ruston C Sam Nations (Northwestern State), 2025 Neville RB Jaylon Nichols, 2025 Ruston WR Joran Parker, 2025 Neville DL Anzelon Perkins, 2026 Neville DB Jayden Reed, 2025 Neville CB Cameron Riley (Ragin’ Cajuns), 2027 Neville QB Parker Robinson, 2025 Neville WR Kaleb Vaughn, 2025 Neville DL Brody Whatley (TCU), 2026 Neville WR Ze’land Young.

Recent History: The past 10 games are now an even 5-5, and the past five have all been decided by six points or fewer — an average of 3.4 points. But Ruston has controlled the series most recently with wins in the past two, 14-10 in 2023 and 27-21 in 2022, and five of the past seven. Neville had won the six meetings prior to that. The Tigers’ most recent win was 27-24 in 2021.

Massey Prediction: Ruston (93%), 42-14.

Jerit Thoughts: This is the matchup in the state I’m most excited about this week. But plans to see both these teams in coming weeks at Alexandria for the same total drive time opened the door for me to get to another top-five matchup closer to home (more below). I have been really high on this Neville team’s potential, and the way that the Tigers — and their young quarterback — have developed during the season has further solidified that. But the Bearcats are more veteran and battle-tested in huge games, looking at both last year’s title run and this year’s pre-district gauntlet, and get to host this one in their friendly confines. I expect the game to be closer than the Massey projection, but I do think Ruston wins.

Central (BR) (6-0, 1-0) at Catholic (BR) (4-1, 1-0)

Friday, 7 p.m., at BREC’s Memorial Stadium

A pair of the Massey ratings’ top 10 teams will battle in the capital city and atop the District 4-5A standings. Home Catholic is the No. 6 team in the state per Massey and tied with Neville for No. 4 in the latest LSWA Class 5A polls, and Central is No. 9 and tied for No. 10 on those two lists, respectively. The winner

Players to Watch: 2026 Catholic S Blaine Bradford, 2025 Catholic DB Jacob Bradford (LSU), 2025 Catholic WR Amari Clayton (Nicholls State), 2025 Central QB Jackson Firmin (Nicholls State), 2026 Central OL Graham Harris, 2027 Central S/RB Marvin Joseph, 2025 Catholic DB Cayden Jones, 2025 Catholic WR Cohen LeBlanc, 2025 Central DL DK Mays (Houston), 2025 Central LB KD Mays, 2027 Catholic RB Jayden Miles, 2025 Catholic RB Rylan Parker, 2025 Central DB Steven Ranel, 2025 Catholic OT Ervin Smith (Louisiana Tech), 2026 Central DL Scott Smith Jr., 2025 Central WR Kylen Thomas, 2026 Catholic OT Blaise Thomassie, 2026 Central WR Keithon Womack, 2025 Central K/P Nathan Zimmer.

Recent History: Catholic has won both meetings since the schools rejoined the same district, though Central led much of last year’s contest. The Wildcats’ last win came in 2012, but the programs didn’t play from 2013 to 2021.

Massey Prediction: Catholic (87%), 35-14.

Jerit Thoughts: Catholic has been the standard in Class 5A in the Baton Rouge area — if not the state — in recent years. And the fashion in which Central battled in last year’s matchup was a notable sign of the re-energization of the program under new coach David Simoneaux, who returned after having led the Bears to a state title. This season has been a little more of a grind for Catholic than in recent years, while the Wildcats have been rolling. And this week will be an interesting measuring stick for both at this point in the season. But Catholic may have as good an offensive line as anyone in the state, a hard-nosed and hard-hitting defense and a lot of depth, including multiple quarterbacks, running backs and receivers having stepped up and led at different points through six weeks. The Bears should remain the team to beat in District 4-5A.

E.D. White (5-1, 3-0) at Lutcher (5-0, 3-0)

Friday, 7 p.m., at The Dog Yard (Jerit Roser will be on the sidelines for coverage)

Two of the LSWA’s top four Class 4A teams, No. 3 E.D. White and No. 4 Lutcher — No. 23 and No. 26, respectively, on the Massey list — will battle for the lead in the District 8-4A standings. Both teams have exclusively played Class 4A and Class 5A competition, including a pair of 5A victories on each’s resume, and head into this matchup absolutely rolling through their early district slate. The home Bulldogs have outscored their first three league opponents by a whopping 125-0 margin, while the visiting Cardinals are on a 180-14 tear through their first three games.

Players to Watch: 2026 E.D. White QB Grant Barbera, 2025 E.D. White OL Tommy Bower, 2025 Lutcher WR/RB Trenton Chaney (Ragin’ Cajuns), 2026 E.D. White LB Charlie Diedrich, 2025 E.D. White QB Ben Guidry, 2025 E.D. White OL Zach Guin, 2025 Lutcher QB Zach Jenkins, 2026 Lutcher OL Jayden Michael, 2025 E.D. White K/P Ty Powell (Marshall), 2027 Lutcher WR/DB Ashton Stark, 2025 Lutcher DL Reshad Sterling (Houston), 2025 Lutcher LB/S Tariot Snowden, 2025 Lutcher WR D’Wayne Winfield.

Recent History: The matchup is the teams’ first since E.D. White won three straight from 2019 to 2021 by scores of 17-14 at home in 2019, 24-21 at Lutcher in 2020 and 28-10 back home in 2021. Lutcher shutout E.D. White at home in 2008.

Massey Prediction: Lutcher (54%), 26-24.

Jerit Thoughts: Probably the game on this list I’m least confident in which team comes out on top. I expect it to be a physical dog fight — no pun intended — that potentially swings on a costly turnover or the proverbial “which team has the ball last.” I’ll give the edge to the Bulldogs at home and with, I believe, a bit more firepower on the perimeter to strike on an explosive play or two. But I expect this evening to largely be an old-school grind, and I’m excited to get the chance to catch it in person.

Calvary Baptist (4-2, 3-0) at Union Parish (3-3, 3-0)

Friday, 7 p.m., at Doc Elliott Stadium at Union Parish

Two reigning state champions and now newly joined district rivals will match up in one of Louisiana’s top smaller-school games. Both teams have gone through some challenges and humbling against loaded non-district slates against higher-classification opponents. But they should prove to be among the state’s top Class 2A teams as they hit the home stretch of the regular season. Calvary Baptist, No. 2 in the LSWA Class 2A polls in recent weeks, is Louisiana’s No. 44 team according to Massey. While Union Parish returned to the LSWA top 10 this week at No. 10 and is No. 69 on the latest Massey list.

Players to Watch: 2025 Union Parish RB Derrick Dew, 2025 Calvary Baptist OL Devin Harper (LSU), 2027 Calvary Baptist DB Braylun Huglon, 2025 Union Parish WR/DB Chase Meeking, 2025 Calvary Baptist LB Cole Miller, 2026 Calvary Baptist S Luke Miller, 2025 Calvary Baptist S/RB Julius Moss (Air Force), 2027 Union Parish QB Braxton Patterson, 2025 Calvary Baptist DL Ethan Sands, 2025 Calvary Baptist RB James Simon (Texas), 2026 Union Parish DE/TE Ari Slocum, 2025 Union Parish DL Tyreon Traylor, 2025 Calvary Baptist WR Kaleb Tucker (Texas Southern), 2025 Calvary Baptist QB Abram Wardell, 2025 Union Parish LB Tyquereis Wilson (Mississippi Valley State).

Recent History: The teams haven’t met since Union Parish claimed the last three games of back-to-back home-and-home series from 2015 to 2018. The Farmers won those games: 20-16 in 2018 on the road, 32-25 in 2017 at home and 43-40 in 2016 on the road. Calvary Baptist won on the road, 21-7, in 2015.

Massey Prediction: Calvary Baptist (69%), 41-27.

Jerit Thoughts: Talk about a clash of styles. Calvary Baptist certainly has both the ability and the want to establish some ground game, but also boasts one of Louisiana’s top senior quarterbacks and a bevy of weapons at his disposal. Union Parish meanwhile would happily never throw the ball more than a couple times a game if their traditionally run-heavy attack is working. Both teams should be among the favorites to make another run at a title on their respective sides of the Division-III split. But I still see the Cavaliers, even after some early ups and downs, as one of the state’s top 15-20 teams at any level and the favorite to win Friday with more balance at their disposal. The Farmers, as always, figure to put them through a battle to earn it, though.

Captain Shreve (4-2) at Destrehan (3-3)

Friday, 7 p.m., at Destrehan’s Wildcat Stadium

A pair of unfamiliar foes from opposite corners of the state will provide a bit of a different flair to schedule loaded primarily with district battles. Both Captain Shreve and Destrehan have worked through up-and-down first halves of the season, marked by some notable injuries along the way, but remain in Massey’s top 50 teams in the state at No. 47 and No. 36, respectively, and have reason to believe that their best football remains ahead.

Players to Watch: 2025 Destrehan DB Jayden Bailey, 2026 Destrehan DL Bryce Bufkin, 2026 Captain Shreve WR Cardarrian Devers, 2026 Destrehan QB Jackson Fields, 2025 Captain Shreve S Tre Fuller, 2025 Captain Shreve WR J.T. Hester, 2025 Destrehan LB Myd Gilbert, 2027 Captain Shreve WR/DB Kaleb Law, 2026 Destrehan WR Jabari Mack, 2026 Destrehan DL Braylon Montero, 2026 Captain Shreve RB/ATH Jamarcea Plater, 2025 Captain Shreve OL/DL Lionel Prudhomme (Arkansas), 2025 Captain Shreve QB Brodie Savage, 2025 Destrehan WR/DB Johnnie Thiel IV (Louisiana Tech), 2025 Destrehan DB/ATH Jhase Thomas (LSU), 2025 Captain Shreve WR D.J. Waldon, 2025 Destrehan LB Semaj Walker, 2025 Destrehan RB Shane Ward, 2026 Destrehan WR Greg Wilfred, 2025 Destrehan WR Phillip Wright III (LSU).

Recent History: The teams have not met in at least two decades, if ever.

Massey Prediction: Destrehan (69%), 42-28.

Jerit Thoughts: To me, this game has the potential to get weird and fun if the cards fall right. The teams largely don’t know one another outside of a few individual 7-on-7 and track circumstances. As the Massey projection suggests, the perennial power Destrehan would be considered the favorite. But this season has also been a rollercoaster for the Wildcats, including their first district loss in five years. Captain Shreve, meanwhile, arrives fresh off a thrilling overtime win against Evangel, but also maybe even hungrier than ever after feeling slighted by the postgame attention on opposing quarterback Peyton Houston’s 800-plus yards. This game similarly has some track-meet potential, but I think Destrehan will be able to get a few more stops and will also finally start looking a bit more like preseason expectations now that quarterback Jackson Fields is healthy. I expect the game to be higher-scoring than Massey, but for the Wildcats to win by at least a couple scores.