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

The LHSAA football playoffs are underway with eight brackets all aiming for the Caesars Superdome for state championships in mid-December.

A total of 160 teams are in action this weekend, with a further 48 enjoying a bye and taking part in action next week.

Here’s a look at five of the most intriguing first-round matchups around the state Friday night, with Division-I Non-Select clearly leading the way in terms of top play.

No. 21 West Monroe (5-5) at No. 12 Parkway (8-2)

Division-I Non-Select

Friday at 19 at Preston Crownover Stadium

Massey locations: no. 18 against no. 35

Last week: West Monroe lost to Ruston, 36-0. Parkway lost to Evangel Christian, 45-43.

Players to watch: 2026 West Monroe WR Trez Davis, 2026 West Monroe QB Ryder DeJean, 2025 Parkway RB CJ Dudley, 2025 Parkway QB Gavin Ferrington (Centenary lacrosse), 2025 Parkway LB Christian Harris, 2026 West Monroe DL 202 Parkway DB Smoltz, Lilly Carmaro Mayo2026 West Monroe RB Kedrian McNeil, 2025 West Monroe RB Ranaldrick Myles, 2025 Parkway DL Devon Oliver2025 West Monroe WR An’Jahvion Perkins, 2025 Parkway OL Ethan Plunkett, 2026 West Monroe RB Christian Ponti, 2026 Parkway DL Korde’ Sharp.

Recent history: West Monroe beat Parkway, 38-7, in the 2004 season opener.

Massey prediction: West Monroe (73%), 35-21.

Jerit’s thoughts: Shreveport had, in my opinion, the state’s most exciting games of the week, in my opinion on back-to-back nights with Evangel Christian vs. Captain Shreve rematch Thursday and now West Monroe vs. Parkway Friday. I predicted upsets in both and hit on Evangel on Thursday, but Friday will be interesting. The game should be among the most physical in the state this week and prove a test not only in that regard, but in their involvement and buy-in as both the Rebels and Panthers try to shake off disappointing Week 10 performances to extend their seasons. The winner goes on to a Mandeville no. 5 without its star player following a season-ending injury, so the road could unfold in interesting fashion. But that one

no. 23 Ouachita Parish (4-5) at no. 10 Destrehan (7-3)

Division-I Non-Select

Friday at 19 at Wildcat Stadium (Jerit Roser will be on the sidelines for coverage)

Massey locations: no. 37 against no. 25

Last week: Ouachita Parish beat Pineville, 49-13. Destrehan beat Thibodaux, 61-10.

Players to watch: 2025 Destrehan DB Jayden Bailey, 2026 Ouachita Parish DL Dylan Berrymon2026 Destrehan DL Bryce Bufkin, 2026 Ouachita Parish WR Wydell Clark Jr., 2026 Ouachita Parish ATH Montrell Conner Jr.2027 Destrehan RB Malachi Dabney, 2026 Ouachita Parish ATH Macario Dade, 2026 Destrehan QB Jackson Fields, 2025 Destrehan LB Myd Gilbert, 2026 Destrehan WR Jabari Mack2026 Destrehan DL Braylon Montero, 2025 Destrehan WR/DB Johnny Thiel IV (Louisiana Tech), 2025 Destrehan DB/ATH James Thomas (LSU), 2025 Destrehan LB Semaj Walker, 2025 Destrehan RB Shane Ward, 2026 Ouachita Parish DL AJ Washington, 2026 Destrehan WR Greg Wilfred2025 Destrehan WR Philip Wright III (LSU).

Recent history: No. 5 Destrehan beat no. 28 Ouachita Parish, 35-14, in the first round of the 2020 playoffs.

Massey prediction: Destrehan (71%), 34-22.

Jerit’s thoughts: Division-I Non-Select boasts the best set of opening-round games of any bracket, including four of the five on this list. Destrehan vs. Ouachita Parish represents a north-south clash with a wealth of talent led by the Wildcats’ skill positions and the Lions’ big defensive front. Destrehan has gotten healthy in the back half of the season and has also seen some younger players emerge in remarkable fashion, a combination that should have the Wildcats entering the playoffs better than their No. 10-seed perhaps suggests — capable of not only handling business Friday, but potentially putting together a deep run.

No. 22 Walker (6-4) at No. 11 Dutchtown (9-1)

Division-I Non-Select

Friday at 19 at Dutchtown Griffin Stadium

Massey locations: no. 43 vs. no. 21

Last week: Walker beat East Ascension, 38-17. Dutchtown beat Live Oak, 42-13.

Players to watch: 2025 Dutchtown QB Dylan Champagne, 2025 Dutchtown WR Andrew Fields (Northwestern State), 2025 Walker DE Donte Flowers, 2025 Dutchtown OL Christian Gautreau, 2025 Dutchtown RB Lekedrin Harvey, 2025 Walker RB Cayden Walker Jones, 2025 Dutch Joseph Carleion Jones, 2025 Joshua Lewis , 2025 Dutchtown WR Rylan Mayeaux, 2026 Dutchtown OL England Phillips, 2025 Dutchtown DB Laithon Riley, 2026 Dutchtown WR/DB Martell Rogers, 2025 Walker DB Zyon Russ, 2025 Walker QB Troy26er 2OL0 Charlie Sylve, 2OL.

Recent history: Walker handed Dutchtown its only loss this season, 44-24, in Week 8. The Wildcats also won last year’s district game, 21-20, after the Griffins won, 27-0, in the teams’ first year together in the league in 2022.

Massey prediction: Dutchtown (77%), 38-21.

Jerit’s thoughts: The District 5-5A rivals both made their deepest playoff runs ever in 2023, but only one can advance to the second round this year because of the lottery. Walker is the only team to beat Dutchtown the past two regular seasons and will make the short trip to Ascension Parish with plenty of confidence heading into the game. The Griffins, meanwhile, are looking at their loss three weeks ago as a wake-up call that could serve them well this postseason and this rematch as an opportunity to bounce back against a Wildcats group that lost three of its last five games in the regular season. A couple of crucial plays could swing this either way. But if Dutchtown can slow down Cayden Jones a bit — as it has every other opponent it’s faced this season — and keep Walker in the 20s or potentially the 30s, the Griffins can get back on the right side of this series and win a playoff game with the third consecutive season.

no. 19 John Curtis at no. 14 Brother Martin

Division-I Select

Friday at 15.30 at Tad Gormley Stadium

Massey locations: no. 20 against no. 13

Last week: John Curtis lost to St. Augustine, 28-20. Brother Martin beat Holy Cross, 18-0.

Players to watch: 2025 John Curtis DL Logan Barnes, 2025 John Curtis DB Trey Brown, 2025 Brother Martin DL Chase Chesser (Nicholls State), 2025 John Curtis DB Jason Curtis, 2025 John Curtis LB Hayden Delatte, 2026 Brother Martin WR Brodie TE25, 2025 John Curtis JoJo Fagin, 2025 Brother Martin RB Sidney Harris, 2025 John Curtis QB Reggie Johnson, 2026 Brother Martin WR Rex LeBlanc, 2026 John Curtis LB Lane Lecron, 2026 Brother Martin WR Rowan Lipscomb, 2025 Brother Martin DL Nathan Malek, 2027 Brother Martin WR/ATH Easton Royal2025 John Curtis RB Anthony Smith Jr., 2025 Brother Martin OL Caleb Smith (Nicholls State), 2025 Brother Martin DB/RB Treshoun Ware, 2025 Brother Martin LB Jadon Weber,

Recent History: John Curtis won this year’s district game, 17-14, and has now won four straight against Brother Martin and eight of the past 10, including the 2022 state championship game. The Crusaders won the 2020 and 2021 regular season finals, 38–35 and 41–12 respectively.

Jerit’s thoughts: John Curtis starts in rare and familiar territory at the same time, with its lowest playoff seed since the system began, resulting in a short road trip to a rematch with a district rival. The Patriots escaped the Week 7 date by a field goal, but have lost three straight since then. Brother Martin, meanwhile, has looked to get healthier and build some momentum with a pair of wins to close out the regular season. Beating the same team twice in five weeks when the matchup is as close as these two teams is always difficult. This should be another close one and I’m going with the Crusaders to split the season series and move on.

no. 18 Westgate (7-2) at no. 15 St. Amant (7-2)

Division-I Non-Select

Friday at 19 in The Pit

Massey locations: no. 28 vs. no. 45

Last week: Westgate beat Comeaux, 52-16. St. Amant beat Denham Springs, 38-8.

Players to watch: 2025 Westgate DB Khylon Antoine, 2026 St. Amant QB Cooper Babin, 2026 Westgate DB Trandin Benjamin, 2025 Westgate DL Evan Bryant (Grambling State), 2025 St. Amant DE Gavin Carpenter, 2025 Westgate RB Tavia’s Gordon2025 St. Amant DB Easton Humphrey, 2025 Westgate ATH Da’Vian Jackson (Mississippi State), 2025 St. Amant WR Timothy Johnson, 2028 Westgate DB Cayden Lancelin, 2027 St. Amant OL Ethan LeBeau, 2025 Westgate LB Dy’traevous Lively (Central Arkansas), 2025 St. Amant DB Caleb Ricks, 2025 Westgate DB Amari Simon.

Recent History: The teams have not met in the regular season or playoffs in at least two decades.

Massey prediction: Westgate (55%), 30-27.

Jerit’s thoughts: Westgate has won at least one playoff game each of the last six years, but this week presents a notable challenge to that streak as a team that lost several top players to injuries on midseason trips to a solid St. Amant. The Tigers open the postseason on the road for the first time since 2018 — a game they won before losing at home next week. However, since 2019, their postseason records are 7-0 at home and 4-4 in true road games. That said, this feels like a matchup where Westgate can carry some confidence and momentum after five straight wins, play solid defense and muster enough success behind Tavias Gordon on the ground to potentially play spoiler for the home Gators. So I take that turn on another sorry.