By MATT VINES, Journal Sports
Week 2 high school football is about whether teams validate their season-opening performance or regress to the mean.
One team that catapulted toward the top of the Shreveport-Bossier football loop is the Booker T. Washington Lions.
BTW backed up its dominating shutout of Class 1A Arcadia by sticking it to a District 1-5A Benton team that’s coming off its best victory under second-year coach Stephen Dennis by edging Northwood.
The Class 4A Lions crossed the Red River Friday, headed north and won convincingly, 30-16, over the Class 5A Tigers.
BTW (2-0) launched itself to an 18-0 edge in the first quarter with two Devion Stewart touchdown passes en route to a 24-0 halftime lead. Stewart threw for 297 yards on 12-21 passing with three scores.
The Lions defense handcuffed SMU quarterback commit Malachi Zeigler and the Benton offense while BTW hit big plays for the win. Zeigler threw for 173 yards on 11-21 passing and a touchdown.
A 54-0 win against Arcadia to open the season alluded to the structure and consistency coach Gary Cooper has built in his fourth season.
While Cooper’s signature win came in the 2025 playoffs (22-14 against Istrouma – the first for the program in 20 years), the Benton win has to be the best regular-season win in Cooper’s BTW tenure.
The Lions appear to be the heir apparent challenger to North DeSoto in District 1-4A.
But first … the Soul Bowl, Saturday afternoon against a rival whose stock is also soaring.
Green Oaks on a heater as well
While the Giants don’t have the caliber of a win like Benton, Green Oaks has resoundingly won their first games against Class 4A Southwood and Class 3A North Webster.
The Giants thumped North Webster, 44-12, one week after blanking Southwood (44-0).
Second-year coach Nick Peoples has Green Oaks rolling after a three-win season in 2025, which doesn’t include one forfeited win (against BTW).
Green Oaks is off to its first 2-0 start since 2020.
Calvary Baptist keeps cruising
Green Oaks still has plenty of ground to cover to challenge Calvary Baptist in District 1-2A.
The Cavs (2-0) rolled through Class 3A Bunkie (0-2) in 58-12 fashion and is likely to take over as the LSWA’s No. 1 team in the Class 2A Top 10 Monday, since Dunham was blasted by Class 5A Catholic in Baton Rouge Friday night.
Calvary’s offense was close to perfect in Avoyelles Parish as junior quarterback Hudson Price (9-12, 238 yards, 2 TDs) and senior running back Z’ryan Miles (114 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries) led the way.
Bunkie, a 2A powerhouse the past few seasons, managed two first-half touchdowns but Calvary roared to a 41-12 halftime lead.
Northwood, Captain Shreve bounce back
After disappointing losses to open the season, Northwood and Captain Shreve found ways to correct course.
The Falcons (1-1) pounded the ground to the tune of 349 rushing yards in the 28-22 road win.
Northwood built a two-touchdown lead after a 78-yard drive to start the second half and protected that lead after losing a lead in a Week 1 loss to Benton.
Captain Shreve (1-1) wasn’t expected to struggle against Bastrop, and they definitely didn’t in a 51-6 win.
The Gators led the Rams 37-6 at the half as they shook off the 21-point loss to Loyola this past week.
Plain Dealing can’t snap skid vs. Lakeview
The longest losing streak in Louisiana high school football added another number as the Lions have lost 46 straight with a 35-0 homefield defeat to Lakeview.
Plain Dealing trailed just 7-0 late in the second quarter, but the Gators found the gumption to snap their own 28-game losing streak with a strong final two-and-a-half quarters.
Contact Matt at matt.vines@lsus.edu