By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
The night after Thanksgiving is a fabulous occasion every season in high school football. High stakes quarterfinal matchups, the elite eight teams in each division, playing for survival after a focused week with no classes to attend.
It’s also a great night for fans to get out, bundle up and see some of the best players and coaches in the state getting after it.
Three Shreveport-Bossier teams are playing Friday. Airline and Calvary Baptist are home. Byrd goes down I-49 to Alexandria.
I think the game to watch not only in the area but across the state is in Bossier City, where the home team can reach the state semifinals for the first time in 52 years.
Both teams like to throw the football. I think whoever has the ball last will win.
Destrehan (9-3, No. 10 seed) at Airline (11-0, No. 2), Non-Select Division I
Destrehan has beef up front. The Wildcats average over 270 pounds on both sides of the ball and they have talented defensive backs and wide receivers. Ask anyone at Northwood last week when Destrehan took control going into halftime of a 63-24 second-round win ending a fine season by the Class 4A Falcons.
Key to the game: what quarterback will have the best night. Destrehan’s Jackson Fields is one of the top Class of 2026 QB’s in the state.
I like Airline since it’s a home game and the Vikings have their ace, senior Ben Taylor. The Northwestern State commit ranks among state’s all-time career passing leaders and has thrown for 44 touchdowns and 3,978 yards passing this season. He gets great protection and has an arsenal around him.
Beating Westgate last week 42-16 in a game that wasn’t really that close proves Airline can play with anybody who has speed and size. Destrehan does.
I am going with Airline Friday night – and next Friday in the semis, which will be a home game for the Vikings.
Episcopal (9-2, No. 6) at Calvary Baptist (9-2, No. 3) – Select Division III
Calvary is the defending state champion, playing at home, with a lot of players back from last year’s team.
I actually saw Episcopal in person last week beat Pope John Paul II 24-7. I think this game will not be close and Calvary on the way to the state finals.
The only way it’s close Friday night is if Calvary gives Episcopal points with turnovers. The Knights’ biggest starting lineman on either side of the ball weighs 225 pounds. Only two weigh over 215 pounds.
Calvary’s big men matched up well with Class 5A Neville early this season and the Tigers were fortunate to get back to Monroe with a 42-38 victory. The Cavaliers will wear down the visitors from Baton Rouge Friday night.
Look for Calvary’s running game with James Simon IV and company putting up many yards in a convincing victory.
Byrd (9-3, No. 10) at Alexandria Senior High (11-0, No. 2)
Alexandria has beaten a bunch of powerhouses. They played the toughest schedule in Louisiana and still went 11-0. The Trojans won close ones, they came from behind, and lately, they’ve been in blowout mode against Neville and Evangel.
It’s the best ASH team I have seen in 31 years. Two months ago, I picked them to win the state championship. I still pick them.
Byrd has a young team that’s playing well and is well coached. Stacy Ballew’s squad has traveled well going south against good competition.
This one boils down to the Yellow Jackets’ triple option run game trying to keep pace on the scoreboard – and chewing up clock – against a stout defense and the unstoppable offense of ASH led by the best player in the state.
ASH RB JT Lindsey will sign with LSU next month. I believe he could have played for LSU this year and helped the Tigers a lot – he’s that good.
With due respect to Byrd, this would be a massive upset, because former Evangel star Thomas Bachman and his ASH Trojans are really good and playing at their peak.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com
Lee Brecheen has been covering high school football and recruiting in Louisiana since the early ‘90s. He is owner of Louisiana Football Magazine and can be followed on X @LeeBrecheen. He hosts a YouTube show, The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen.