5 Big Louisiana HS Matchups: The Massey Ratings (and Jerit's Take)

The penultimate weekend of the high school football regular season in Louisiana will feature five top-20 games, according to Massey Ratings.

Friday's slate, which also includes a half-dozen other Top 50 matchups, is the most high-profile matchup week ever since we launched this feature, highlighting some of the state's top games to watch .

Here's a look at the five top 20 matchups that are grabbing headlines – but should be just the tip of the iceberg – from a memorable Week 9 full of fierce rivalries and district-deciding battles.

Teurlings Catholic (8-0, 4-0) at St. Thomas More (5-3, 4-0)

Friday, 7 p.m, at STM’s Cougar Stadium

Rankings: Teurlings Catholic (No. 10 overall Massey, No. 1 LSWA Class 4A, No. 1 Division-I Select Power Levels); St. Thomas More (No. 8 Massey overall, No. 4 LSWA Class 4A, No. 8 Division-I Select Power Levels)

Last week: Teurlings Catholic defeated East Ascension on the road 28-14. St. Thomas More defeated Rayne at home 61-0.

Players to Watch: 2026 St. Thomas More QB Cole Bergeron, 2025 St. Thomas More LB Nico Blanchard, 2025 St. Thomas More DB Brian Broussard Jr., 2026 Teurlings Catholic WR Nick Celestine, 2025 Teurlings Catholic DB Kaleb Daniels, 2025 St. Thomas More DB Gavin Duplechin, 2025 St. Thomas More RB Gabe Mocek, 2026 Teurlings Catholic QB Alex Munoz, 2026 Teurlings Catholic OL Drake Perry, 2025 Teurlings Catholic OL Gresham Perry (Tulane), 2025 Teurlings Catholic RB Doug E. Viltz.

Current story: St. Thomas More has won the last nine meetings, including eight straight regular-season games and a 2025 Division II Select semifinal. But the last three games have been decided by six points or fewer, including the 35-34 one comeback last year. Teurlings Catholic won the 2014 and 2015 meets.

Massey forecast: St. Thomas More (90%), 38-14.

Jerit Thoughts: Teurlings Catholic has so far earned a somewhat underwhelming rise to the top of the District 4-4A standings and the Class 4A standings due to its physical attack, stingy defense and efficient offense. But this week represents the Rebels' biggest challenge yet as they look to reverse the current scenario against their heated rivals St Thomas More, who have had their number for almost a decade. Teurlings Catholic has been knocking hard on that door the last few years, and this has been a poor season for the Cougars so far by their standards. But my gut feeling is that St. Thomas More has finally found its passing game and has enough balance to use strong defense to earn its 10th straight win in the series and further shake up the chaotic 4A picture.

Edna Karr (7-0, 5-0) vs. John Curtis (4-3, 3-2)

Friday, 7 p.m, at Morris FX Jeff Stadium

Rankings: Edna Karr (No. 1 Massey overall, No. 1 LSWA Class 5A, No. 1 Division-I Select Power Levels); John Curtis (No. 16 overall rating, 14th most votes LSWA Class 5A, No. 15 Division-I Select performance rating).

Last week: Edna Karr defeated Warren Easton at home 62-16. John Curtis lost 17-10 at home to Jesuit.

Players to Watch: 2025 Edna Karr DL Corey Adams Jr. (Ole Miss), 2026 Edna Karr DL Richard Anderson (LSU), 2025 John Curtis DL Logan Barnes, 2025 Edna Karr LB Arsenio Bolds Jr.2025 Edna Karr DB/LB Tyrik Brigalia, 2025 John Curtis DB Trey Brown, 2025 John Curtis DB Jason Curtis, 2025 John Curtis LB Hayden Delatte, 2025 John Curtis TE JoJo Fagin, 2025 Edna Karr WR TaRon Francis (LSU), 2026 Edna Karr DB Aiden Hall (LSU), 2026 Edna Karr DB Hayward Howard Jr.2026 Edna Karr QB John Johnson Jr., 2025 John Curtis QB Reggie Johnson, 2026 John Curtis LB Lane Lecron, 2025 Edna Karr WR Oliver Mitchell Jr. (Tulane), 2025 Edna Karr RB Bryant Sanchez, 2026 Edna Karr DB Torrence Sanders, 2025 John Curtis RB Anthony Smith Jr., 2025 Edna Karr WR Daejawn Smith, 2026 Edna Karr DB Maurice Williams Jr.

Current story: John Curtis capped the 2023 regular season with an emphatic 41-7 win over Edna Karr, ending a three-game losing streak in the series. The teams have met each other in the last five years, with the Cougars winning three of the five games.

Massey forecast: Edna Karr (79%), 30-14.

Jerit Thoughts: The Patriots may have one of, if not the best defenses Edna Karr has faced all season. So I don't expect the Cougars to get another 30 or 40 point win. But Johnson and his arsenal of weapons should be able to break through for a few points, and I don't expect John Curtis to have the firepower to take on a strong Karr defense this season. The Cougars appear to be the clear top team in an otherwise disarrayed Catholic League and could prove that with a win by a few points this week.

West Monroe (5-3, 2-1) vs. Neville (8-0, 3-0)

Friday, 7 p.m, at Bill Ruple Stadium

Rankings: West Monroe (No. 15 overall Massey, 15th most voted LSWA Class 5A, No. 15 Division-I non-select power ratings); Neville (No. 3 overall Massey, No. 2 LSWA Class 5A, No. 1 Division-I Non-Select power ratings).

Last week: West Monroe defeated Pineville at home 41-13. Neville defeated Ouachita Parish 41-14.

Players to Watch: 2026 Neville S Julian Burns2025 Neville TE Thomas Campbell (Nicholls State), 2026 West Monroe WR Trez Davis, 2026 West Monroe QB Ryder DeJean, 2026 Neville DL Jordan Fobbs-White, 2025 Neville DB Robert Graves, 2026 West Monroe DL Smoltz Lilly, 2026 West Monroe RB Kedrian McNeil, 2025 West Monroe RB Ranaldrick Myles, 2025 Neville RB Jaylon Nichols2025 West Monroe WR An'Jahvion Perkins, 2025 Neville DL Anzelon Perkins, 2026 West Monroe RB Christian Ponti, 2026 Neville DB Jayden Reed, 2025 Neville CB Cameron Riley (Ragin' Cajuns), 2027 Neville QB Parker Robinson, 2025 Neville WR Caleb Vaughn2025 Neville DL Brody Whatley (TCU), 2026 Neville WR Ze'land Young.

Current story: The teams will meet in the regular season for the first time since Neville's 28-7 non-district win in 2021. West Monroe won the meetings in the previous four regular seasons. The teams have also met in scrimmage and jamboree functions more recently.

Massey forecast: Neville (67%), 35-26.

Jerit Thoughts: West Monroe is feeling a bit embarrassed this season with its three losses already, and in 2021 it has posted the program's most regular-season losses in the last two-plus decades. However, the Rebels still feel like one of the best 15-20 teams in the state – especially dangerous when they can play from the front – and have often had the advantage over their Cross River rival in recent years. But Neville has a strong case for the No. 1 spot at the moment, particularly given the continued rise of Robinson and the passing game. The story here should help keep the Tigers from looking to Alexandria and taking care of business in Week 10.

Archbishop Rummel (7-1, 4-1) vs. Jesuit (5-3, 3-2)

Friday, 7 p.m, at Shrine on Airline

Rankings: Archbishop Rummel (No. 7 overall Massey, No. 8 LSWA Class 5A, No. 6 Division-I Select Power Levels); Jesuit (No. 11 overall Massey, 12th most votes LSWA Class 5A, No. 9 Division-I Select power rating).

Last week: Rummel defeated Holy Cross at home 13-7. Jesuit defeated John Curtis 17-10 at the Shrine.

Players to Watch: 2027 hype WR Jaylan Ash2025 Rummel DT Fred Banks Jr., 2025 Jesuit DL Will Berry, 2025 Rummel QB Generald Buggage, 2027 Jesuit WR Ja'ir Burks, 2025 Jesuit DL Griffin Ellis, 2025 Rummel DB Lennis Finister Jr.2027 Jesuit DL Zyron Forstall2025 Rummel DB Lester Johnson, 2025 Rummel WR Kendrick Joseph, 2025 Rummel OL Ja'Mard Jones (Nicholls State), 2026 Jesuit WR Roman Larre, 2026 Jesuit QB Taylor Norton, 2026 Jesuit RB Gavin Palmisano, 2025 Rummel RB Norman Taylor.

Current story: Jesuit has actually had Rummel's number the last three seasons, including going 13-10 in 2023 after the Raiders had won eight straight in the series, including a pair of playoff games.

Massey forecast: Rummel (71%), 21-14.

Jerit Thoughts: The 2024 Catholic League, where you should always be at the bottom and within a one-point margin. Rummel and Jesuit have won a total of nine games this season by eight points or fewer, including three each in district play. Since bouncing back over the course of the season, the Raiders have been as consistent as anyone in the league with three straight wins. Meanwhile, a young but tenacious and efficient Jesuit has become something of a surprise or dark horse with wins against St. Augustine and John Curtis in the last three weeks. I feel like I've made a habit of telling you every week which game is the hardest to predict, and that's certainly it for Week 9. But I'll give Rummel and his experienced backfield one game, in where this is likely to be the case, give preference to pivoting to a single error or highlight.

Zachary (6-1, 3-0) at Central-BR (7-1, 2-1)

Friday, 7 p.m, at Central High Football Stadium

Rankings: Zachary (No. 9 overall Massey, No. 7 LSWA Class 5A, No. 7 Division-I Non-Select Power Ratings); Central (No. 13 overall Massey, 11th most votes LSWA Class 5A, No. 4 Division-I Non-Select power ratings).

Last week: Zachary defeated Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) at home 45-21. Central defeated Liberty Magnet at home 35-20.

Players to Watch: 2026 Zachary WR Kristion Brooks2025 Central QB Jackson Firmin (Nicholls State), 2025 Zachary QB Caleb Gonzales, 2025 Zachary DL Sean Hamilton, 2026 Central OL Graham Harris, 2026 Zachary DB Zakarri Hogan, 2027 Central S/RB Marvin Joseph, 2025 Central DL DK Mays (Houston), 2025 Central LB KD Mays2025 Central DB Steven Ranel2025 Zachary RB DaVekio Ruffin, 2026 Zachary LB Dylan Shelmire, 2026 Central DL Scott Smith Jr., 2026 Zachary LB Isaiah Stokes, 2025 Central WR Kylen Thomas, 2026 Central WR Keithon Womack, 2025 Central K/P Nathan Zimmer.

Current story: Zachary has won the last six games of the series, with last season's 35-28 win being the narrowest margin in that span. Central's last win came in 2016 with a 20-19 finish.

Massey forecast: Zachary (75%), 35-21.

Jerit Thoughts: The hierarchy of the new(ish) District 4-5A looked in the early years as if Catholic-BR and Zachary were fighting for titles and everyone else was fighting for third place. But Central has emerged as a clear challenger to shake up that narrative and pecking order since hiring David Simoneaux last year. The Wildcats are 0-3 against the Bears and Broncos in that span so far, but it seems only a matter of time before they break through. However, I have to give Zachary the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. Even in a year of relative rebuilding, they are the stronger team, which could prove important in what is expected to be a close, hard-fought contest.