By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
No high school football playoff games are being played tonight on Thanksgiving, but Parkway will get a game-night feel.
“We will bring the kids in at 7 p.m. to practice under the lights and have opened practice up to the community to come watch and support our guys,” said Panthers’ coach Coy Brotherton, whose 11-1 team plays at Preston Crownover Stadium Friday night against Ouachita Parish.
With no school in session this week, the four local teams preparing for LHSAA quarterfinal contests Friday have had their choice of when to work out.
Calvary is making its 21st consecutive playoff appearance and the Cavs have plenty of Thanksgiving practice experience in Rodney Guin’s 10 seasons as head coach. He believes in maintaining a normal routine.
“We stayed with the same schedule as if we were in school,” said Guin, who is in his 26th season as a head coach, including 16 at Haughton. This morning, however, Calvary has its walk-through at 8:30 because of Thanksgiving.
Evangel is in its 35th consecutive year of playoff activity, best by any local program all-time. Denny Duron hasn’t been head coach for most of them, but is back on the sidelines again and has seen every ECA season in his role as the school’s headmaster. He, too, believes in staying close to a practice routine.
“We have practice in evenings at 4 o’clock, so we were under the lights by 5:30 or 6,” he said.
Brotherton and Loyola’s John Sella have opted for morning workouts.
“The players have mentioned it’s pretty cool to wake up and play football and then have the rest of the day to hang out,” said the Flyers’ second-year coach.
The four coaches shared thoughts on their team’s progressions, and insight into Friday night’s quarterfinal contests.
Non-Select Division I
No. 14 Ouachita (8-4) at No. 6 Parkway (11-1)
“I’m not sure how much we have improved this season, but this season compared to the last, you can see how much the program has gotten better with the ability to win close games and overcome deficits,” said Brotherton, whose team has come from behind in both playoff wins.
“This week it will be a challenge, just due to the physicality that Ouachita plays with,” he said. “I believe they will match us in that department and we will have to contain a lot of their speed.”
Select Division I
No. 8 Evangel (9-2) at No. 1 Edna Karr (11-0)
“Last week I was so proud of our kids’ resilience. We didn’t play our best game, but everyone stayed positive and continued to press forward,” said Duron as the Eagles withstood a second-quarter surge into the lead by St. Paul’s. “I’ve watched this team grow in their endurance and resilience throughout the season.
“This week we get the rare opportunity to play the champ. Karr is on a 24-game winning streak and they’ve been stacking up state championships (five in the last nine years, including 2024).
“What an amazing opportunity this is. We get to play the best in their backyard. I don’t know of one guy on our team that is not fired up about facing Edna Karr,” said Duron.
The game can be viewed for free at CrescentCitySports.com.
Select Division II
No. 7 Archbishop Shaw (7-4) at No. 2 Loyola (10-1)
“I think our defense has gotten better each week and I liked how physical we were defensively last week,” said Sella, whose Flyers blanked outmanned Belaire 42-0. “I think we did a pretty good job of tackling. To be able to win at this point you have to be able to run the football and be able to stop the run.
“It was pretty cool to see a line of cars waiting at the field house on Monday morning eager to practice. Friday will be a tough one, playing the defending state champs, but we look at it as another opportunity to try and continue this story. They are obviously a really good team and we expect it to be a battle,” he said.
Select Division III
No. 6 Calvary (10-1) at No. 3 Jewel Sumner (11-0)
After Metairie Park Country Day took a stunning 16-7 lead in the first quarter last week, Guin was impressed with the Cavaliers’ poise. It wasn’t the first time this season, thanks to a stout non-district schedule, that Calvary had to battle back.
“We have learned not to hit panic mode when we get behind. Just stay with the game plan and we will be fine,” he said.
“This week is a big test against an 11-0 Jewel Sumner squad. We have to make the most of our possessions as they will try to control the clock,” said Guin, whose defense will be challenged by the Cowboys’ Wing T running game.
“This should be a great game,” said the Cavaliers’ coach. “I am super proud of this young squad and how they have progressed over the season.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com