By MATT VINES, Journal Sports
The Shreveport-Bossier area officially kicks off district play with District 1-4A and District 1-5A getting started.
As we enter into Week 4, results and play have started to crystallize which teams are likely contenders not only for district titles, but which squads are the biggest threats to advance in their respective playoff brackets.
Captain Shreve (2-1) at Haughton (3-0) tops the list in terms of teams that perhaps have the most questions surrounding them.
The Gators have improved a defensive unit that surrendered 55 points to an explosive Loyola offense in big wins against Bastrop (51-6) and Northwood (49-28).
But Northwood might not be that top-10 seed team in Division I Select that they’ve been the past two seasons.
Captain Shreve could build credentials as a possible District 1-5A championship contender with a win at undefeated Haughton.
Haughton quarterback Taylor Weathersby seems like he’s been under center for a decade, and the Bucs’ offense has been dominant in their three wins so far.
While Homer (0-3) is a legitimate test that’s provided competitive contests in every recent matchup with Haughton — including a 42-30 Bucs win this season – Haughton’s other two wins haven’t provided those many problems.
The Bucs rolled through Southwood (50-0) and Glenbrook (45-6), bringing Haughton’s opponent record to a total of 0-9.
Of course a deep District 1-5A will provide plenty of tests and power-point opportunities, and that continues for Haughton in the next two weeks with Captain Shreve followed by Parkway.
A Bucs win against Captain Shreve would go a long way to Haughton obtaining its first playoff appearance since 2022. This is the Bucs’ best start since 2019.
The Gators have won the last five meetings all by at least 20 points.
Evangel-Benton offers further district insight
Evangel’s 42-0 shellacking of district foe Huntington in a non-district game opened eyes not necessarily because the Eagles had more points, but the zero on Huntington’s side.
The Eagles, a very good football team that’s striving and twisting to be elite in the Division I Select realm, delivered such a performance after scrapping and clawing in losses to West Monroe (42-32) and Neville (43-27).
A repeat defensive performance against a Benton (2-1) bunch looking to find a desired level of consistency in the second season under coach Stephen Dennis could signal an early district favorite.
Quarterback Peyton “Pop” Houston is using any means necessary to move the chains and keep his defense resting on the sidelines.
He’s turned more to his legs instead of forcing passes. Houston is Evangel’s leading rusher (400 yards and a touchdown) in addition to the leading passer (843 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions).
“That’s just the way I’m reading the play,” Houston told the Shreveport-Bossier Journal. “My dad always tells me to be a point guard, but sometimes, we can make a couple bad passes, trying to do too much.
“So when I see green grass from now on, I’m going to start taking it.”
Benton has a chance to showcase its improvement as well, opening the season with a 34-26 win against Northwood before a 30-16 loss to Booker T. Washington in which the Tigers fell behind by 24 points and gave up 294 passing yards.
Benton played its part last week in a 38-6 win against Woodlawn. A win at Evangel would thrust the Tigers into the conversation with its Bossier Parish counterparts Airline and Parkway.
Can Benton quarterback Malachi Zeigler and the Tigers continue to chart their playoff return (missed in 2024 and 2025) with what would be a huge win over the Eagles?
Don’t sleep on non-district matchups like Airline’s
There are still appetizing morsels that won’t count in district standings.
Franklin Parish visiting Airline is another look at this Vikings team that could possibly be undefeated heading into its final two games with Evangel and Parkway.
The Patriots are one of the up-and-coming programs in North Louisiana, which includes top 7 playoff seeds the past two seasons, a 2024 quarterfinals trip, and a series split with Calvary Baptist.
Franklin Parish lost the opener to defending state champion Sterlington (Division III Non-Select) but responded with big wins over Oak Grove (53-20) and Madison Parish (62-0).
Loyola (2-1) and Northwood (1-2) have had fun times as District 1-4A foes, but with the Flyers swooping to Class 3A this year, tonight’s meeting in Blanchard won’t count in district standings.
Loyola and high-flying Bryce Restovich feels like a known factor, but the jury is still out on Northwood.
The Falcons pulled off a comeback at West Ouachita (28-22) in what otherwise would be an 0-3 start. They dominated Captain Shreve into the third quarter before the Gators roared back.
Northwood is in its toughest stretch that started last week with Shreve (49-28 loss) and continues with Loyola, North DeSoto, BTW, and Minden – who have a combined record of 10-2.
C.E. Byrd is trying to avoid an 0-4 start, but that’ll be an uphill battle against a 4-0 Pleasant Grove (Texas) squad that is ranked No. 4 in UIL’s Class 4A Division II.
The teams did split their previous two-game series.
A big day from running back Christian Maxie could see him break Byrd’s all-time school rushing record.
Maxie (3,400 career yards) needs 348 yards to top Justan Gibson, who rushed for 3,747 yards from 2004-06.
District 1-2A story lines
Coming off a Saturday win in the Soul Bowl over BTW, Green Oaks (3-0) heads south to face a winless Red River squad (0-3).
Why is this important?
The Giants are coming into a short week justifiably feeling really good about themselves.
Red River has built a lead in all three of its losses, including a 12-0 edge over Parkway.
Can Green Oaks rein in the praise and positivity to go on the road in a classic trap game?
Calvary Baptist (3-0) likely won’t be in a trap game scenario against the new-look Union Parish Farmers.
The Farmers aren’t the team of former coach Joe Spatafora, who led the program to two state titles and five total championship game appearances.
Union Parish is 0-3 against a murderer’s row of North DeSoto, Alexandria Senior High and Southside, losing by a combined 160-30.
Somebody is getting a win when Plain Dealing (0-3) heads to North Caddo (0-2).
The Titans have lost their two games by a combined 76-7 while Plain Dealing is trying to shed the state’s longest losing streak (47 games).
Contact Matt at matt.vines@lsus.edu