By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
Green Oaks football kicks off the 2023 season with a battle of first-year coaches as James Bradford Jr. steps in to the mentor’s position for the Giants and opens the season against Southwood and its new coach Mike Green.
The Cowboys have won all three previous meetings on the field but had to forfeit last year’s win. Southwood starts the season on a 27-game losing skid. Green Oaks will be hoping to stop a seven-game slide.
The Giants will then host Carroll from Monroe at Booker T. Washington’s Leonard C. Barnes Stadium. The Bulldogs have won eight of the 10 played in the series.
Week 3 features the Soul Bowl, the big game of the year against Booker T. Washington, played on a Saturday at BTW. The Lions lead the series 27-22 but the Giants have won five of the last six.
Three road games make up the middle of the schedule with the first two road trips to Alexandria. Peabody is the first of the three and the Giants have the series edge 4-1. Class 5A Alexandria is next and the Trojans have won the three previous matchups. The third away game of the stretch will be an in-town matchup at Loyola’s Messmer Stadium. The Flyers have the slight 12-11 series edge.
A home game with Calvary at Northwood’s Jerry Burton Stadium is next. The Cavaliers have won all three meetings between the schools.
North Caddo will make the drive to Northwood for the third 1-2A matchup of the season. The Giants have the series edge 10-8, having won four of the last five.
Green Oaks takes to the road to Farmerville to face D’Arbonne Woods for the second time. The Timberwolves won last year’s first meeting 28-14.
The regular season comes to a close with a home game with Lakeside at Northwood. The Warriors edged the Giants 42-36 last season in the only meeting of the schools.
2023 Green Oaks football schedule
Sept. 1 at Southwood (at Lee Hedges)
Sept. 8 Carroll (at BTW)
Sept. 16 BTW (BTW)
Sept. 22 at Peabody
Sept. 29 at Alexandria
Oct. 6 at Loyola
Oct. 13 Calvary (at Northwood)
Oct. 20 North Caddo (Northwood)
Oct. 27 at D’Arbonne Woods
Nov. 3 Lakeside (Northwood)
