Step away from NIL, the transfer portal, judges deciding college football rules and Congress unable to – what a shock.
High school football is upon us, and anything is possible.
Guarantee that coach Lawrence Seawood Jr. has Lakeview practicing the victory formation. The Gators have the state’s third-longest high school skid, 27 games.
Look for 9/11 to be a pivotal date for the Gators. That Friday night, they visit Plain Dealing, which has dropped 44 in a row.
The next week, Lakeview is home to play a Shreveport team – not a Class 4A foe, as in previous years, but Magnolia School of Excellence, which is mired in a skid of 18 consecutive defeats.
The Gators will face St. Mary’s at Turpin Stadium Oct. 23. That’s been a Week 10 game since the schools became district rivals two years ago, but this year’s district shuffle changed things.
Speaking of change, there’s been a lot at St. Mary’s, where new coach Jacob Carruth is near his hometown of Shreveport and brings a well-regarded five seasons of south Louisiana Class A head coaching to the Tigers.
The 52nd Annual St. Mary’s Steak Supper and scrimmage against the Block Bears Aug. 21 behind the school will provide a good status check.
On the other side of town, there’s welcomed continuity as Brad Laird begins his third season as the Natchitoches Central coach, coming off a playoff season that was very nearly a run to the second round in the big boys division.
The Chiefs are confident despite losing some prime-time players to graduation, and defensive coordinator Jay Thomas to retirement.
NCHS did not draw the most demanding District 1-5A schedule as the nine-team league reduced its schedule to six games instead of contests against every other team.
Laird drew up the non-district schedule with power points in mind. The Chiefs are taking on some state powers: North DeSoto played for the Non-Select Division II title. Sterlington won the Non-Select Division III crown. Tioga is coming off its best season in years. Sam Houston is no slouch.
We’ll see all three parish squads, along with several other from around the area, in the second annual Battle on the Bricks jamboree presented by Natchitoches Regional Medical Center.
What makes this season successful varies from school to school, and player to player.
Victories start with the kids strapping on the shoulder pads and aiming to get better day after day. That’s an attribute to carry forward past commencement.
Football, not only by its bigger-than-the-rest roster counts, provides every school with its greatest chance to coalesce. Participation expands to spirit groups and bands, and especially at NCHS, in energetic student sections.
Not everybody makes the playoffs. This fall, they can all make memories to treasure, not only on game nights, but on any step along the way.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com