St. Michael, Lutcher meet in key league game

A number of local and area schools tested the waters in district play during Week 6 of the high school football season. Expect Week 7 to offer more of the same, but with a slight twist.

Week 6 featured some major matchups between unbeatens and ranked teams that were also district openers. The aftermath of those games will have some teams scrambling to regain their footing. Others look to continue on a roll.

District 6-4A typically plays in the shadows of Baton Rouge’s two Class 5A districts. However, this week offers an exception. Fourth-ranked Lutcher (5-0, 3-0) hosts St. Michael the Archangel (5-1, 2-0) Friday night.

The St. Michael-Lutcher game helps highlight the Week 7 schedule that features notable matchups in every classification.

“Last year I really didn’t think the final score was indicative of how close our game with St. Michael was,” Lutcher coach Tim Detillier said of Bulldogs’ 45-7 win over the Warriors in 2011. “The game was close in the first half. We made some big plays, and they had some dropped passes, and a few other things that hurt them.

“On their roster, I see a lot of familiar names. They have a lot of experience back. We don’t have that experience, but I’d like to think our predistrict prepared us for this.”

St. Michael coach Eric Held said, “We’re looking forward to it and accept the challenge. I told our guys today that Lutcher doesn’t have a (Blaine) Gautier (ex-LHS and current Louisiana Lafayette quarterback), a Jarvis Landry (LSU receiver) or a (Daniel) Taylor (Northwestern State running back). But they don’t need a superstar. Lutcher is a program that expects to win.”

The Week 7 schedule also includes three Thursday games. Tara (2-3, 0-2) hosts Broadmoor (2-4, 1-2) for a 6-4A at BREC’s Olympia Stadium. Denham Springs (3-3, 0-1) hosts Live Oak High (4-2, 1-0) for a 4-5A contest. In 9-1A, St. John (0-5, 0-1) hosts White Castle (5-1, 1-0) at Plaquemine’s CoPac Stadium.

Friday’s schedule is a mixed combination. There are few games with the buzz that St. Amant at Dutchtown (a 31-17 Dutchtown win) and Central at Zachary (a 45-28 Central win) had last week in 5A-4A.

Now, Zachary (4-2, 0-1) goes on the road for the first time this season. The Broncos travel to Scotlandville (3-2, 1-0) for a key District 4-5A game. Much like Denham Springs, which plays Live Oak on Thursday, the Broncos are looking answers and Scotlanville wants to capitalize. Central (5-1, 1-0) travels to Walker (2-4, 0-1) in the other 4-5A game.

“I don’t believe we’ve had a clear-cut champion since we started this district a few years ago,” Zachary coach Neil Weiner said. “I remember one year we lost to Central and wound up winning a share of the district title.

“The season may go like that. There’s no doubt that this is a big game for us … really for both teams.”

The story is much the same in 5-5A. Sixth-ranked Dutchtown (4-1, 1-0) travels to East Ascension (3-3, 1-0) for another rivalry game in Ascension Parish. McKinley (4-2, 0-1) meets Catholic (3-2, 1-0) at Olympia with both looking to maintain their footing. Ditto for St. Amant (4-1, 0-1), which hosts Woodlawn (0-6, 0-1).

A few games stand out in Class 3A and below. Port Allen (4-1, 1-0) faces its stiffest test of the season. The Pelicans travel to LaPlace to take on sixth-ranked St. Charles Catholic (3-2, 1-0).

“We’ve got to stop turning the ball over,” PAHS coach Guy Blanchard said. “We’re minus-14 on turnovers this year. You beat yourself when you turn it over like we have, and you certainly can’t do that against a team like St. Charles.”

Also in 3A, fifth-ranked Livonia (5-1, 0-1) is coming off its first loss, 33-26 to No. 7 Rayne (6-0, 1-0). The Wildcats travel to No. 2 Eunice (6-0, 1-0). EHS is the third straight ranked 3A for Livonia.

Ascension Catholic (5-1, 1-0) is one of the Cinderella stories. The Bulldogs have already surpassed their 2011 victory total. Friday they travel to No. 7 West St. John (2-3, 1-0) for a pivotal District 9-1A game.

Some of the Baton Rouge’s highest ranked 3A, 2A and 1A teams also look to continue their success.

Top-ranked Parkview Baptist (5-0, 1-0) travels to Baker (0-6, 0-1) for a District 6-3A game. University High (5-1, 1-0), ranked fourth in 2A, hosts Capitol (2-4, 1-0) in District 7-2A and No. 8 Southern Lab (5-1, 1-0) puts its five-game winning streak on the line at Mount
Hermon (1-4, 0-1) in District 7-1A.