JOURNAL SPORTS
Tonight’s opening trio of high school football contests involving local teams doesn’t lack for sizzle.
The brightest lights will shine on the most appealing matchup, at Independence Stadium in the opening game of the two-night Stars & Stripes Border Classic. It has Class 2A powerhouse Calvary Baptist (12-2 in 2025) meeting Huntington (3-7), which scored an impressive 45-33 jamboree win over Northwood last Thursday.
The game is a rematch of a 45-35 Calvary win last Oct. 24. The visiting Raiders led 14-12 at halftime before a 16-7 third quarter surge moved the Cavaliers up top, and the teams posted a combined 31 points in the final 12 minutes.
It also features an interesting meeting of head coaches who have a close relationship. Second-year Huntington coach John Simon has worked on the college level for years and recently watched two sons, standouts John and James, play for Calvary and veteran coach Rodney Guin, who last year became the winningest coach in Caddo-Bossier football history.
The Cavaliers played for the Select Division III state title last December and are ranked second in Class 2A in the preseason Louisiana Sports Writers Association poll, with a veteran squad returning including several highly-pursued college prospects. Receiver Braylun Huglon headlines the Calvary stars.
Huntington will follow the lead of one of the top defensive players in Caddo-Bossier, senior linebacker Braydon Cummings.
Green Oaks hopes to ride the momentum of its state semifinal basketball run last March into a breakthrough season. Coach Nick Peoples’ Giants (3-7 in his first year) are hosting the Southwood Cowboys, who ended the state’s longest losing streak with three wins in 2025 and are aiming for more under second-year coach De’Aumante Johnson.
Byrd’s game at reigning Non-Select Division I state champion Ouachita was shifted Monday from Friday to Thursday due to a shortage of officials in the Monroe area.
TONIGHT
Byrd at Ouachita
Calvary vs. Huntington, Independence Stadium
Southwood vs. Green Oaks, Jerry Burton Stadium (Northwood)
FRIDAY
Wossman at Airline
Benton at Northwood
Parkway vs. Dunham, Independence Stadium, 5:00
West Monroe vs. Evangel, Independence Stadium, 8:00
Loyola vs. Captain Shreve, Lee Hedges Stadium
Homer at Haughton
Bossier at North Caddo
Woodlawn at Carroll
Arcadia at Booker T. Washington
Magnolia Charter at Dutchtown
Northwood-Lena at Plain Dealing