High school football season has finally arrived in Louisiana and the first week of the season is highlighted by big time matchups across the state.
Among the stable of top tier matchups is the Louisiana Sportsline Week 1 Game of the Week as the defending Division III Select state champion Calvary Baptist Cavaliers play host to the Oak Grove Tigers, two-time defending state champion and winner of four state titles in the last five seasons.
Calvary Baptist enters the game and the season fresh off their first state title since 2020 last season after defeating St. Charles Catholic 34-28 in a late game comeback.
The Cavaliers are led by senior quarterback Abram Wardell, a first team all-state selection last year who threw for 3,800 yards and 45 touchdowns with only two interceptions.
Also returning offensively for the Cavaliers is senior running back and Texas commit James Simon, coming off a 1,600 yard and 21 touchdown season.
Though Calvary's top two receivers were lost to graduation, they do return Louisiana Tech commit receiver Kolby Thomas, who had 817 yards and 11 touchdowns last year.
First team all-state pick offensive linemen Jimmy Wright was lost to graduation but the Cavalier offensive line was bolstered in the offseason with the transfer of all-state offensive lineman and LSU commit Devin Harper from Captain Shreve.
As for the Oak Grove Tigers, they are led by a top senior quarterback themselves in Louisiana Tech commit Jackson Bradley. In 2023, Bradley accounted for over 3,000 yards of total offense and 40 touchdowns.
The Tigers' leading rusher returns as well in senior running back Jay Freeman. He led the Tigers with 1,595 rushing yards last year and also led the team in rushing touchdowns with 24.
Players to Watch
Calvary Baptist
QB Abram Wardell (Offers: Millsaps, Louisiana Christian)
RB James Simon (Texas commit)
WR Kolby Thomas (LA Tech commit)
OL Devin Harper (LSU commit)
DB Braylun Huglon (Offers: Texas Tech, UTSA, others)
AP Julius Moss (Air Force commit)
Oak Grove
QB Jackson Bradley (LA Tech commit)
RB Jay Freeman (Offers: Louisiana Christian, Millsaps)
WR Brodie Stuart
TE J.T. Layton (Offers: Houston, LA Tech, others)
DL Isaiah Joles (Offers: Louisiana Christian)
DB Tamarques Pritchard (Offers: AR-Monticello, Ouachita Baptist)
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