St. Aug-Curtis, Riverside-Newman, Ehret-Landry-Walker among key matchups in week 7

While the overall card is not as attractive as it has been in recent weeks, the week seven matchups involving New Orleans area teams is still a good one with some key district battles.

Here are our top 10 matchups for week seven:

1) St. Augustine vs. John Curtis—7 p.m. Friday at The Shrine on Airline

While Holy Cross and Rummel will certainly weigh in, this could decide a Catholic League championship.

This has been a war every year. Last year, the Patriots won 28-26 and the Patriots won 21-14 in 2015. St. Augustine won in 2013 and 2014, taking a 29-28 victory in 2013 and a 15-13 win in 2014.

St. Augustine (5-1, 3-0) has labored through three quarterbacks this season but the Purple Knights are back at full strength now that Dwayne McGill has returned from an ankle injury. That allows Josh White to make plays on the outside while Garland LaFrance, Mahmood Bailey and Ishmael Landers handle the running game and Broderick Martin and Joseph Walker V provide depth at wide receiver. LaFrance is a Texas Tech commitment.

Defensive end and Tulane commit Juan Monjarres had three and a half sacks in last week’s win over Shaw while Christopher Confident has been outstanding at the other end spot. Dante’ Carter is a load up front to block and Doniell Ward-Magee is a star in the secondary. Both are Nicholls commits.

The Patriots (5-1, 2-0) are rolling, having put up 56 points on Jesuit a week ago.

Sophomore quarterback Collin Guggenheim ran for four scores and on the season, the speedy Guggenheim has carried 48 times for 468 yards and nine touchdowns. He has completed 29-of-59 passes for 480 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Senior Darryan Washington has rushed 65 times for 431 yards and five touchdowns in the absence of Marquese Albert. Senior wide receiver Tyrone Legette has 15 catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Blue chip tight end Glenn Beal has five catches for 130 yards and a score.

Defensively, senior lineman Jay Curtis and sophomore linebacker Angelo Anderson are the leading tacklers while senior defensive back Brandon Davis has three interceptions.

History suggests that this one will be close with the winner emerging as perhaps the favorite to win 10-5A.

2) Riverside at Newman—7 p.m. Friday

The season has been a relative nightmare for the Rebels, to this point.

First, there was the ambitious scheduling of 5A power Barbe and Division I power Rummel, along with Division II power De La Salle. Then, there was the matter of a canceled contract for a ninth game, leaving the Rebels with just eight games on the schedule. To make matters worse, Riverside lost its scheduled game at South Plaquemines due to Hurricane Nate last Friday night.

With a mere seven-game season, Riverside (1-3, 0-0) must make its mark and win out the rest of the way just to get to 4-3 and to get a decent seed in the Division III playoffs. Jordan Loving will put his outstanding arm on display at Lupin Field and Kash Foley, Garland Robertson and Jeremiah Bigham are ready to be on the receiving end of his passes while Arkansas commit Jeremy Gibson provides balance in the running game.

Newman (6-0, 1-0) is unbeaten as Martin Butcher has engineered an equally balanced offense, throwing to a host of talented players in Murray Calhoun, Storey Charbonnet and Dylon Hill. Senior James Poche’ is one of the best running backs in the area.

A year ago, Riverside overcame an early deficit, switched quarterbacks and overcame the Greenies 32-24. This one is again at Lupin Field. Riverside has won the last six meetings with Newman’s last win in the series coming 21-7 in 2011. While Riverside has the edge in size and overall talent, Newman is more tested, having played all six games. The 11-2A title will be on the line.

3) Landry-Walker vs. John Ehret—7 p.m. Friday at Hoss Memtsas Stadium

Both teams have combined for five losses but that is no indication of how good they are.

The Chargin’ Bucs (3-3, 3-0) are back on track with three straight wins after tough losses to elite Teams in John Curtis, Karr and Warren Easton. Kansas commit Corione Harris has been outstanding since moving to quarterback while Devonta Jason is an elite receiver, whole Jerry Henry, Jr. has come up with many big plays as well. Michael Rhea has been a standout on defense while defensive lineman Josh Smith had a pick-six in last week’s win over Grace King.

The Patriots (4-2, 3-0) have won three straight after a 67-0 punishing of Bonnabel. Junior Travis Mumphrey has completed 84-of-115 (73%) passes for 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has rushed for seven scores. Junior Terrell Brown has rushed 52 times for 576 yards and 13 touchdowns. Mumphrey has a trio of excellent receivers in Jamaal Houston, Lorinzo Penn and Rashawn Jones. Earl Barquet and Eldrige Walker are very good up front on defense.

The winner likely takes the District 8-5A title, though Chalmette still has a game with Landry-Walker. The Chargin’ Bucs handled the Patriots 46-18 at Hoss Memtsas Stadium a year ago and Ehret is home again this time around.

4) Donaldsonville at St. Charles Catholic—7 p.m. Friday

The banged-up Comets (5-1, 1-0) got back on track with a convincing win at Lusher a week ago. Philip Tran has a big game, scoring five times against the Lions. Sutton Bourgeois completed 5-of-5 passes for 105 yards and a score. Jordan Jenson and Anderson Sirmon have been solid defensively for the Comets.

The Tigers (5-1, 0-1) suffered their first loss, a tough 26-22 decision to St. James a week ago. Jaylin Williams has been solid running and passing. Senior Jemon Pleasant and freshman Rae’land Johnson are good running backs. Senior Ladarius Jackson is the top receiver. Senior Tahj Brown is tough up front on defense as the leading tackler for the Tigers while junior Savon Landry has three interceptions.

The winner will still have a shot at the 10-3A district title, though De La Salle and St. James loom large in the league.

5) Brother Martin vs. Holy Cross—7 p.m. Friday at Tad Gormley Stadium

The Crusaders (2-4. 0-2) are coming off of a much-needed road win, making the long trip to Bastrop and emerging victorious 26-20. Running back Chris Smith has carried a load of late for the Crusaders while quarterback John-Paul Pierce remains the most important player on offense. Brady Faust is a dependable, excellent receiver. Inside linebacker Jabari Watts has been a force on defense while Erick Lassair has five interceptions.

The Tigers (4-2, 3-0) have put together two terrific wins in a row, scoring perhaps their most significant win in many years with a 25-24 double overtime win over Rummel last week. Senior Jaden Moran made some plays at quarterback, Harvard commit Kym Wimberly made his biggest play throwing for the game-winning two-point conversion and Landen Bates remains an really good running back.

Sophomore Tyler Grubbs is the leading tackler on a very good defense, junior Dominic Lamm has six sacks and Dru Stephens has three interceptions. Will Holy Cross avoid a letdown? Can Brother Martin play up to the level of its competition? A Tigers win would place Holy Cross in a prime position as a genuine contender for the District 9-5A title. The last win for the Tigers over the Crusaders came in 2013.

6) Fontainebleau at Covington—7 p.m. Friday

Okay, so the Bulldogs (2-4, 2-1) have a losing record but both wins have come in District 6-5A play.

Iverson Celestine rushed for a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to provide the margin of victory for Fontainebleau in a 12-7 win at Hammond a week ago. Dwayne Bernard is a solid runner as well. Seniors Jordan Burke and Blake Marshall have been good defensively.

The Lions (6-0, 3-0) proved they were for real with a huge 21-20 road win at St. Paul’s and are now the favorite to win the district. Can they avoid a letdown?

Quarterback Joshua Alfaro is 64-of-91 (70%) for 1,221 yards and 14 touchdowns with just one interception and has rushed 57 times for 478 yards and four touchdowns. Joshua Brumfield is already a 1,000 yard rusher (117 carries, 1,005 yards) in just six games with nine touchdowns. Senior Kejohn Batiste has 27 catches for 537 yards and seven touchdowns while senior Elgin Bell has 23 receptions for 493 yards and five scores. Senior linebacker Derron Thompson is the leading tackler while senior lineman Trevor Betz has six sacks.

The last three meetings have been close. Fontainebleau beat Covington 33-26 at home a year ago so the Lions will have the revenge motive. The Lions won at home 23-22 in 2015 and won 27-21 in 2014.

7) Neville at Franklinton—7 p.m. Friday

On the surface, it would appear that the Demons (2-4) are overmatched, despite Neville’s record (2-3).

Senior Tahj Magee leads Franklinton. He has completed 76-of-138 passes for 958 yards and 10 touchdowns with eight interceptions while rushing 96 times for 586 yards and seven scores. Senior Trequan Charles has rushed 124 times for 535 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Rakerian Conerly has 25 catches for 416 yards and five touchdowns while junior Duke Bell has 26 receptions for 308 yards and three touchdowns. Senior defensive end Lamount Harris is the top tackler and has 4.5 sacks.

The Tigers were idle a week ago after losing 27-7 to West Monroe. Jordan Thomas has been effective running the ball at quarterback. Senior DeMaine Riley is the top runner for Neville. Joseph Bouie is a fine receiver. Senior lineman Devin Phillips is a TCU commit. Carl Edmonds is a top defender. In the last meeting between the two teams, Neville downed Franklinton 32-8 in the 4A semifinals in 2014 en route to winning a state title.

8) Loranger at Bogalusa—7 p.m. Friday night

While the records are not stellar, the game is an important contest in District 7-3A.

The Wolves (2-4, 0-0) are coming off of a 41-0 win over Port Allen and appear better than their record. Loranger has lost close games to Amite, Salmen and Ponchatoula. Senior D.J. Hookfin has been very good for Loranger, running backs Regshard Matthews and Brelan Bagnet are good and wide receiver Luke Colona is the top receiver.

The Lumberjacks (3-3, 1-0) were impressive in their district opener, whipping previously unbeaten Albany 32-13 on the road last week. O’Trevious Gatlin has been a standout defensively for Bogalusa while offensively, quarterback Jay Baham leads the way. Diante Lenoir is an outstanding two-way performer.

The winner should emerge as a prime challenger to unbeaten Archbishop Hannan for the district championship.

9) Riverdale vs. McDonogh 35—1 p.m. Saturday at Tad Gormley Stadium

The Rebels (4-2) are an improved team under Willie Brooks.

How improved are they? The Rebels are about to find out against an angry, talented McDonogh 35 squad.

Antonio Joseph has been a very fine runner for the Rebels, along with Mark Buehler and Ruben Mack. Christopher Butler leads the offense and he has a fine receiver in Ralph Palmisano.

The Roneagles (4-2) are coming off of a tough loss to always tough Karr, the defending state champion (25-20).

They remain a definitive threat in 4A statewide, led by quarterback LeJohn Howard while Eddie Tillman, III is the top runner. Lawrence Keys and Jared Miles are fine receivers and blue-chip safety Joe Foucha leads the defense.

It is evident that 35 will get back on the winning track. The question remaining is how much better Riverdale is? The Rebels lost a game they easily could have won at Pearl River. Brooks has his program pointed in the right direction but he is in deep with Wayne Reese and his Roneagles.

10) Rummel vs. Jesuit—7 p.m. Friday night at Yulman Stadium (live at CrescentCitySports.com)

Are the Raiders for real or just a paper tiger, a team tamed by the Tigers of Holy Cross that is perhaps overrated?

Rummel (4-1, 1-1) is still a top 10 team in our rankings. If they are that team, they must prove it against a Jesuit squad that is reeling.

Rummel struggled offensively against Holy Cross as Chandler Fields had a rough game against his former team. The Raiders have lost senior running back and tight end Jackson Dennies. They will need senior Keirell Jackson to carry the running game and Fields must rebound to get the ball to brilliant senior receiver Ja’Marr Chase, a Florida commit, along with talented sophomore Koy Moore and seniors Evan Francioni and Jermie Walker.

The Blue Jays (1-5, 0-3) played better in the second half in a 56-28 loss to John Curtis as senior quarterback Alex Watermeier heated up, passing for 329 yards and three touchdowns. Robert McMahon, Brandon Berggren and Noah Varnado are top receivers while tight end Drew Black is a good target. Willie Robinson and Michael Torry are solid runners.

Rummel has ended Jesuit’s season the last two years with playoff wins after beating the Blue Jays in the regular season. Jesuit ended Rummel’s two-year reign as state champions with a state semifinal win in 2014 en route to its first state title in 54 years.

If Rummel answers in definitive fashion, the Raiders will still have a shot at sharing a district title and getting a desired high seed in the Division I playoffs. If the Blue Jays can put together four quarters and not just a good half, they can right the ship and eliminate Rummel as a contender.