By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Booker T. Washington takes the field for the 2024 football season with a chance to qualify for the LHSAA playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since it had a three-year streak in 2004-06.

The Lions, under second-year head coach Gary Cooper, remain in District 1-4A and will start the season as usual with three non-district games.

They start off the season by hosting Lakeview in the first meeting between the two schools. The Gators from Campti finished last season 3-7 and will be under their third head coach in three seasons.

BTW will then hit the road to Bastrop for the 11th meeting with the Rams and first since 2002.

The biggest game of the year, the annual “Soul Bowl” will follow on Saturday, Sept. 21 at BTW’s Leonard C. Barnes Stadium. The Lions have played the Green Oaks Giants every season since GO opened its doors in 1973 and hold a 28-22 edge in the series, winning two of the last three.

Bossier starts off the 1-4A slate at BTW. The Lions have won the last six to take over the lead in the series 8-7.

North DeSoto is the third straight home game for Booker T. The powerhouse Griffins have won the last four and lead the series 8-3.

The Lions load up the bus for just the second time on the season to play Northwood at Jerry Burton Stadium. The Falcons have won the last seven and 14 of the 21 in the series.

Minden comes to Shreveport for the 11th meeting between the two schools. The Crimson Tide have won the last six and eight of the 10 in the series.

BTW is back on the bus across town to face Loyola. The Flyers are playing in 1-4A for the first time since 2014 and have won four of the six meetings between the schools.

The second to last game of the regular season has the Lions hosting Southwood. The teams have played 25 times but not since 2010 with the Cowboys leading this series 18-6-1.

Woodlawn hosts BTW the last game of the season. The Knights and Lions have been 1-4A opponents for most of the 48 meetings in the series that Woodlawn leads 31-17.  

2024 BTW football schedule

Sep. 6               Lakeview

Sep. 13             at Bastrop

Sep. 21             Green Oaks

Sep. 27             Bossier

Oct. 4               North DeSoto

Oct. 11             at Northwood

Oct. 18             Minden

Oct. 25             at Loyola

Nov. 1               Southwood

Nov. 8               at Woodlawn

Contact Lee at leeh051@hotmail.com