Booker T. Washington-John Ehret highlights Thursday high school football slate

A pair of talented teams in search of their first wins highlight the Thursday night schedule in the metro New Orleans area. Booker T. Washington makes the trip to Hoss Memtsas Stadium to take on John Ehret at 6:30 p.m.

It is the third straight road game to open the season for the Lions (0-2), who have lost road games at Salmen (43-24) and St. Amant (41-14).

“Both Salmen and St. Amant are good teams but we had a couple of guys out for those games and they return tomorrow,” Booker T. Washington coach Wayne Reese said. “Hopefully, they will make a difference. We were up on Salmen but did not finish. We have young players who need to learn how to finish.”

Running back Demeico Barnes and quarterback Demyren Washington, a 3-year starter, has played well for the Lions.

“We need them to step up a little more and to have a balanced attack,” Reese said.

The Patriots (0-2) lost 34-18 at Covington and at defending Non-Select Division I state champion Destrehan 24-7. There have been good and not so good moments, according to Ehret coach Reggie Rogers.

“We have had opportunities and we have to learn to take advantage of those chances,” Rogers said. “Against Covington, we had two or three chances to score and did not and they had a good running back. Against Destrehan, you have to take advantage of every chance with their talent. They gave us chances and we did not capitalize.”

Wide receiver Darnell O’Quinn came over from Helen Cox and has played well and can play quarterback and return kicks for the Patriots. Defensive backs Wardell Mack, a Florida commit, and Tulane commit Armani Cargo have played well and Vincent Riggins has had double-digit tackles at linebacker.

“The talent is certainly there and we are leaning to play together against tough competition which will make us better,” Rogers said.

Last year, Booker T. Washington won a 48-42 thriller over John Ehret. The catalyst for the Lions was running back Arnold Barnes, now at Tulane. Barnes was unstoppable, erupting for 22 carries for 365 yards and six touchdowns.

“Barnes was amazing last year,” Rogers said. “I’m sure glad they don’t have him this year. You felt like whoever had the ball last was going to win. They got the last score. We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities and you have to do it against a good team. Coach Wayne Reese will always have a quality program and we expect a great game.”

Reese has not forgotten, either.

“It was the Arnold Barnes show,” Reese said. “It was one of those games that was good for the fans but it gave coaches heart attacks on the field. Hopefully, it won’t be that way again. Ehret had tremendous athletes last year and they have tremendous athletes this year. We need to keep their offense off the field.”

LHSAA THURSDAY NIGHT SCHEDULE
Albany at Springfield
Beekman Charter at D’Arbonne Woods
Booker T. Washington (NO) vs. John Ehret at Hoss Memtsas Stadium, 6:30 p.m.
Calvary Baptist at Byrd
Carencro at Southside
Delhi at Capitol
Haynes Academy vs. East Jefferson at Joe Yenni Stadium, 6:30 p.m.
John F. Kennedy at St. Amant
Kinder at Rosepine
Lakeshore at Terrebonne
Newman at Benton
North Central at Thrive Academy
Pickering at Grand Lake
St. Thomas Aquinas at Ponchatoula
Vidor (TX) at St. Louis Catholic
Welsh at Hamilton Christian