St. Mary’s blasted rival Menard in the annual Bishop’s Bowl contest Friday night at Turpin Stadium, while Lakeview scored its first homefield win in three seasons and state champion Sterlington dispatched visiting Natchitoches Central in parish high school football contests.
Oddly, St. Mary’s and Lakeview both won by the same score, 46-14. But the games were decidedly different as Lakeview struggled until the third quarter, and St. Mary’s did not.
ST. MARY’S 46, MENARD 14: The Tigers (3-0) won for the fifth time in its last six meetings with Menard, in convincing fashion. John Paul Thibodaux ran for 168 yards and four touchdowns, including plays covering 78 and 55 yards, and his brother Jacob added two more TDs on short runs and was a defensive stalwart with five tackles for loss.
Tigers quarterback Preston Tilley threw for 193 yards on 14 of 21 accuracy, with 76 yards going to tight end Dennis Morgan on five catches.
The outcome returned the Bishop’s Cup to St. Mary’s. Menard took a muddy 7-6 home victory last fall.
The Tigers defense will be tested next week at Grant.
STERLINGTON 42, NCHS 7: At Sterlington, the Panthers looked ready to win their third straight Non-Select Division III state title as they put away the Chiefs (0-3).
The NCHS touchdown came on a 15-yard catch by Kaden Kuykendoll from Kobe Jones.
The Chiefs stay on the road next Friday, visiting Tioga.
LAKEVIEW 46, MAGNOLIA SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE 14: The Gators halted the state’s second-longest losing skid last week with a 35-0 win at Plain Dealing, then extended the state’s second-longest losing streak Friday night by pulling away from the Shreveport-based Mariners after halftime.
It was the same script as Lakeview (2-1) followed at Plain Dealing, taking control in the final two quarters. The Gators led just 14-8 at halftime.
Freshman running back Brycen Snith scored on three long plays – receptions of 44 and 48 yards from freshman Jamarcus Rushing, and a 78-yard punt return that sparked Lakeview’s 30-point second half.
The Lakeview defense pitched a shutout for the second straight Friday. The Mariners touchdowns were on returns, an 80-yard punt runback in the first half and a fourth-period 78-yard kickoff return, both by Jadarien Peterson, Magnolia’s first points in its three losses.
The Gators won their homecoming game, their first homefield triumph since Sept. 15, 2023.
They will be playing much tougher competition next Friday night in Springhill against North Webster.