By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

As they prepare to play in the Division III Select semifinals, there are not a lot of commonalities between Calvary and Newman.

None of the current players were in high school the last time the two schools played (2018).

They have no common opponents on the 2023 schedule.

The two schools are located on opposite ends of the state, more than 300 miles away.

Newman was founded in 1903; Calvary brought back its current high school curriculum more than 100 years later. 

Though both play in the select playoffs, Calvary is a faith-based school; Newman is an independent school.

Newman is located in Uptown New Orleans, several blocks from the historic Garden District. The closest thing to a Garden District at Calvary is at the Brookshire’s floral shop next door. One’s tuition is more than three times greater than the other. You can go ahead and assume which is which.

So where could you possibly go to find a way to compare the two as they prepare for Friday’s game? The answer – north Bossier Parish.

That’s where you’ll find Reynolds Moore, the head coach of Benton, who is quite familiar with both teams.

His Tigers played Newman in Week 3 of this season – they also played in 2022 – and he and Newman coach Nelson Stewart are good friends.

Though they didn’t play in the regular season, Moore and the Tigers did take on the Cavaliers  during the spring game. And he saw Calvary on video this year when he was preparing against a Calvary opponent.

Plus, he was at Jerry Barker Stadium last week when the Cavs defeated Parkview Baptist in the quarterfinals.

So step right up, Reynolds Moore, and share some wisdom.

“It’s two well-coached teams, that’s for sure,” Moore said. “Both coaches have a lot of talent on the field. Newman is probably a little less hyped, but maybe because that’s because we are up here and closer to what Calvary has done. Calvary has a ton of kids with (college) offers and Newman had that last year with Arch (Manning, the nation’s top recruit).”

Which is a nice opening answer, but let’s get a little more granular. Moore’s team was knocked out of the Division I (Non-Select) playoffs in the first round, but it’s time to put his coaching hat back on.

If he were Calvary’s Rodney Guin, what would your team need to do Friday night? “I would want them to have to play from behind,” Moore said. “Every coach wants to jump out ahead, and I think Newman does have the ability to come from behind. But Newman is probably the most overlooked team (of the four semifinalists), and if you jump out on them, it’s hard for a teenager not to think that everyone was right (to overlook them). 

“But the longer they are in the game, they’ll start to believe. This is just me, but I’d take the ball first (to open the game) and try to score and get ahead right off.”

If he were Stewart, what would you be worried about? “I would be worried about the big play,” Moore added. “And that starts with (James) Simon at running back. Last week, Calvary moved the ball down the field without a bunch of big plays. They can play that way, but you’ve got to try to make them play that way.

“One thing I’ve learned about Nelson’s teams is that he does a great job of taking away what you do best. But Calvary’s got a ton of weapons.”

Both offenses will be in the spotlight, but one of the best matchups could be No. 12 (Newman quarterback Eli Friend) vs. No. 11 (Calvary linebacker Hutch Grace).

“They (the Cavaliers) do a really good job of moving their guys around on defense,” Moore said. “They’ll play that single-high safety, but they can put pressure on you in a lot of different ways. And I think (linebacker) Hutch Grace is one of the best defensive players around here. I think he is mean on the field and I mean that as a compliment. That’s the kind of mindset you want. He’s going to be a problem for (Newman) to deal with Friday night.”

When the Greenies came to Benton, Moore got a first-hand look at Friend, who passed for 302 yards (completing 24 of 33) and ran for 97 more. He either passed or ran for all five Newman touchdowns.

“He’s not Arch, but he can do a lot of things well,” Moore said. “They may actually be a better team (than last year) because he can so many things to beat you. He’s a lot of fun to watch. Unless you are the opponent.”

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com