By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
There are several exciting matchups involving Class 4A Shreveport-Bossier teams and teams from the Monroe, Alexandria and Lafayette areas which will be fun to either see in person or read about after in the Shreveport-Bossier Journal.
Evangel Christian has two very interesting games in 2022. The first one is Week 1 at home against Class 4A power Neville of Monroe. Neville has the best offensive lineman in the state in Lance Heard, a 6-6, 300-pound senior with 5.0 speed in the 40, and All State defensive end Matthew Fobbs. In Week 3, Evangel hosts 2021 Class 4A state champion Westgate out of the Lafayette area. Westgate has the best defensive back in the state in safety prospect Derek Williams, 6-2, 210 with 4.4 speed; he’s also a stud running back for the team. I saw this kid play in 2021 and he’s the real deal. I think he’s the third-best player in the state and by season’s end might be the best prospect in Louisiana not named Manning in the Class of 2023.
Evangel will return 90 percent of the starters from the 2021 season, and they are a talented bunch led by a big experienced offensive line and featuring a young, talented quarterback in Peyton Fulghum and a talented wide receiver in his brother Parker Fulghum, both Class 2024 recruits who are the sons of Josh Booty, former QB great from Evangel. If Evangel can win one of these two games it will be a strong indication that this program is back to play with the best programs in the state.
The other game in Week 1 that jumps out is Woodlawn going to Natchitoches Central, which could have its best team in 25 years. Can the Woodlawn defense, led by senior lineman Peter Jones, slow down a team which might average over 40 points a game in 2022? No doubt, Woodlawn is improved. NCHS did not look good in the jamboree as a good 2A Loyola team edged the Chiefs at Turpin Stadium, but more importantly the Chiefs’ cornerstone, senior QB B.J. Young, went out early with a shoulder injury and at the very least, won’t play Friday night. Look for the home team to rely on its huge offensive line, and play-making defense, while the Knights have the advantage of being a dangerous, hungry underdog like NCHS was last year.
The first matchup I’d really like to see in Week 2: Booker T. Washington plays at home against a very underrated and talented team from Alexandria in Bolton. I saw Bolton in 2021, a full game film, and they have a player named Jaylen Welch who is as good as any skill player I saw in 2021 in the city of Alexandria. Welch is 6-0, 180 with 4.5 speed as a wide receiver/cornerback for his team. BTW will counter with a talented two-way player in senior Darayvion Eason, a wide receiver/cornerback with 4.6 speed who wears the jersey No. 7. Eason does it all.
Here’s another Week 2 gem: Bossier has a home game against young-to-the-LHSAA Class 1A program Glenbrook, who is coached by former Many, Minden and Parkway head coach David Feaster. Bossier is very talented but don’t sleep on Glenbrook, which was quite good, but yet not playoff eligible, last year in District 1-1A. Now the Apaches can get to postseason in their second LHSAA campaign.. Glenbrook returns coach’s son Ty Feaster at quarterback; he’s 6-2, 180 with 4.6 speed. Also back is a potential all-state player in linebacker/fullback Hayden Harmon, 6-1, 200 with 4.65 speed. This could see a combined 90-100 points on the board with two exciting offenses.
Another I love as a matchup in Week 2: Northwood goes to Monroe to take on Wossman. This will be a great achievement if the Falcons can beat one of the most athletic teams in the Monroe area. Wossman is big on both sides of the ball and they are the fastest team in the city; several players run in the 4.5 range. One kid in the 4.6 range might be their best college prospect, senior wide receiver/free safety Sam Farmer; he’s 6-4, 180, is a freak in ability and will be a tough player to contain. It will be interesting to see how Northwood matches up with Wossman’s speed. Northwood’s run game will be put to the test, and it should be interesting to see what running backs Quintavion White (6-0, 190) and Fabian Sanders (5-9, 181) can do against one of the quickest defenses they will face all year.
Huntington has a very interesting home matchup in Week 3 against Neville. This is a chance for senior quarterback Kameron Evans, 6-3, 210 pounds, to stamp his Division I resume with a good showing against one of the most storied Class 4A programs in the history of Louisiana. Neville’s defensive coordinator is Mike Collins, son of Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame coach Pat Collins (ULM head coach, Louisiana Tech defensive coordinator under Maxie Lambright in their glory years in the 1970s). Mike has been DC at Northwestern State and ULM (twice) and was head coach at ULM, and he has college-level talent at Neville.
HOT OFF THE PRESS, QUICKLY ON YOUR SCREEN: For previews of every Louisiana high school and college football team, info on the state’s top senior prospects, and more, you can order the 2022 Louisiana Football Magazine at LaFootballMagazine.com – offering North Louisiana and South Louisiana editions, printed or digital. Magazines are ready for shipping now.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com