By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine/YouTube TV
Here come the state quarterfinals, and for all the good football we’ve seen this fall, only two schools are left representing the Shreveport/Bossier area. I’m surprised. But at least Airline and Calvary have earned homefield tonight. Get out and watch one of these games.
I want to share my knowledge of seeing the opponents for these two schools, to share a perspective from the other sidelines. I had the privilege to see both in person during the season — Calvary’s opponent Parkview Baptist, and Airline’s foe, Mandeville.
Let’s start with Parkview Baptist, led by one of the top quarterbacks I have seen this season, Abram Johnston, who is 6-0, 190 with a cannon arm and great feet in the pocket. He’s hard to sack, a Houdini back there. Plus, he’s a dangerous run game threat. The Eagles have a power/speed guy in the backfield, Kayden Tureaud (5-9, 195), who is tough to bring down and deceptively fast.
You will see many kids for Parkview Baptist play both sides of the football but don’t let this fool you into thinking they are thin. This is something they have done for years. In the trenches they are led by big-time two-way starters: LB/TE Wesley Marien (6-2, 210) and DE/FB/TE Brock Briggs (6-0, 230).
The Eagles also have one of the best kickers in the country in the Class of 2025 in Gavin Higgins. If it’s a close game you need to call a timeout to ice him, because he doesn’t miss. His range is 50 yards and then some.
MY PICK: I think Calvary Baptist will win because this is the most skilled team Parkview has played in 2023, and the Cavaliers’ depth will become a problem if Calvary can control the ball on offense. They can wear down the visiting Eagles. Conversely, the Cavs have to contain Parkview and not let the visitors chew up clock.
Mandeville is not a good matchup for Airline. This will be the most athletic team Airline has seen in two seasons. That does not create a mismatch, because the Vikings have plenty of talent too. The game will be even from that standpoint.
This will go down to who wins in the trenches. Mandeville is led by its strong offensive line. This group is the real deal in quickness and blocking. Headliners are Caden Rogers (just 5-8, but 240), two future FBS players in Cole Beecher (6-3, 290) and center Reagan Touchstone (6-1, 250), and Spencer Davis (5-11, 250).
The strength of the defense is the skillful secondary: safety Tasmin Showers (5-10, 190), free safety Fisher Lalande (6-3, 180), cornerback Emil Allen (5-9, 175 with 4.5 speed), and cornerback Elias Allen, also with 4.5 speed. This matchup with the Airline passing game will be fascinating to watch as Ben Taylor, Tre Jackson, Bryson Broom, Ben Patterson and Jarvis Davis are tremendous piling up yardage and points.
Mandeville’s best player is WR/RB Nate Shephard, who I think is one of the best Class of 2024 players in Louisiana. He’s different with 4.45 speed. His brother Will plays for Vanderbilt in the SEC, and he’s an NFL prospect.
MY PICK: I am going to go with Airline here. I think it will be close but if Airline can get the big plays from its playmakers, that will be the difference in a close one. They have all season and I think they do just enough to advance to the semifinals.
But if it is close, Mandeville does have an advantage – the Skippers have a young future college kicker so they don’t have to be in the red zone to score.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com