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

Thanksgiving week means turkey feasts, family time, holiday sales and, in Louisiana, the high school football quarterfinals.

The state’s final 64 teams will compete on Friday as the eight division fields thin out quickly ahead of the annual Prep Classic championship event at Caesars Superdome in mid-December.

Here’s a look at five of the most intriguing matchups on the schedule, including players to keep an eye on and predictions from Massey High School Rankings and me.

No. 10 Destrehan (9-3) at No. 2 Airline (11-0)

Division-I non-selection

Friday, 7 p.m., at Airline High Stadium

Massey rankings: No. 20 vs. No. 9

Last week: Destrehan defeated No. 7 Northwood (Shreveport) 63-21 on the road. The airline defeated No. 18 Westgate at home 42-16.

Players to Watch: 2025 Airline OL Josh Allen, 2027 Airline DB Zeus Arthur, 2025 Destrehan DB Jayden Bailey, 2026 Destrehan DL Bryce Bufkin, 2027 Destrehan RB Malachi Dabney, 2026 Airline WR Kenny Darby (Mississippi State), 2025 Airline WR Jarvis Davis Jr.Destrehan QB Jackson Fields, 2025 Destrehan LB Myd Gilbert, 2025 Airline LB Jaydan Gladney, 2025 Airline RB/WR Micah Johnson, 2026 Destrehan WR Jabari Mack2026 Destrehan OL/DL Braylon Montero, 2025 Airline QB Ben Taylor (Northwestern State), 2025 Destrehan WR/DB Johnnie Thiel IV (Louisiana Tech), 2025 Destrehan DB/ATH Jhase Thomas (LSU), 2025 Destrehan LB Semaj Walker, 2026 Destrehan WR Greg Wilfred2025 Destrehan WR Phillip Wright III (LSU).

Current story: The programs have not met in at least two decades.

Massey forecast: Destrehan (55%), 42-38.

Jerit Thoughts: The state’s top two receiving corps, including an LSU commit on each side, highlight one of several intriguing North-South shootouts on this list. The over/under is probably around 80 combined points, although each defense has shown the ability to improve in time. Destrehan seemed more balanced in this regard. And the combination of quarterback Jackson Fields’ recovery in the second half of the season, the emergence of second-year running back Malachi Dabney and the experience of making the long trip to Shreveport last week and playing at a high level are reasons enough for confidence The Wildcats can play successfully on the road for the second week in a row.

No. 8 St. Thomas More (8-3) at No. 1 Edna Karr (10-0)

Select Division-I

Friday, 7 p.m., at Morris FX Jeff Stadium

Massey rankings: No. 8 vs. No. 1

Last week: St. Thomas More defeated No. 9 St. Augustine at home 28-27. Edna Karr defeated No. 17 Huntington at home, 56-6.

Players to Watch: 2025 Edna Karr DL Corey Adams Jr. (Ole Miss), 2026 Edna Karr DL Richard Anderson (LSU), 2026 St. Thomas More QB Cole Bergeron, 2025 St. Thomas More LB Nico Blanchard, 2025 Edna Karr LB Arsenio Bolds Jr.2025 Edna Karr DB/LB Tyrik Brigalia, 2025 St. Thomas More DB Brian Broussard Jr., 2025 St. Thomas More DB Gavin Duplechin, 2025 Edna Karr WR TaRon Francis (LSU), 2026 Edna Karr DB Aiden Hall (LSU), 2026 Edna Karr DB Hayward Howard Jr.2026 Edna Karr QB John Johnson Jr., 2025 St. Thomas More RB Gabe Mocek, 2025 Edna Karr WR Oliver Mitchell Jr. (Tulane), 2025 Edna Karr RB Bryant Sanchez, 2026 Edna Karr DB Torrence Sanders, 2025 Edna Karr WR Daejawn Smith, 2026 Edna Karr DB Maurice Williams Jr.

Current story: Edna Karr won a quarterfinal 35-31 in Lafayette in 2011.

Massey forecast: Edna Karr (85%), 42-20.

Jerit Thoughts: Top-seeded Edna Karr has looked as strong as any team in the state this season and has now beaten its last four opponents by a combined margin of 222-64. St. Thomas More More has also played its best football over time, recovering from a 1-3 start to win its last six games on the field and one loss at one opponent. Even if Edna Karr gets injured making mistakes, as has been the case at times this season, St. Thomas More is an opponent capable of seizing the opportunity with its own mistake-free play, an underrated secondary and an offense that has developed over the course of the season to make optimal use of it. But Edna Karr appears to be on a mission and may prove too strong in this Cougars matchup.

No. 5 Archbishop Rummel (9-2) and No. 4 Catholic (BR) (11-0)

Select Division-I

Friday, 7 p.m., at BREC Memorial Stadium

Massey rankings: No. 7 vs. No. 5

Last week: Archbishop Rummel defeated No. 12 McDonogh at home, 35, 50-25. Catholic defeated No. 13 East Jefferson 42-0.

Players to Watch: 2027 hype WR Jaylan Ash2025 Rummel DT Fred Banks Jr., 2026 Catholic S Blaine Bradford2025 Catholic DB Jacob Bradford (LSU), 2025 Rummel QB Generald Buggage, 2025 Catholic WR Amari Clayton (Nicholls State), 2025 Rummel DB Lennis Finister Jr.2025 Rummel DB Lester Johnson, 2025 Catholic DB Cayden Jones, 2025 Rummel OL Ja’Mard Jones (Nicholls State), 2025 Rummel WR Kendrick Joseph, 2025 Catholic WR Cohen LeBlanc, 2027 Catholic RB Jayden Miles2025 Catholic RB Rylan Parker, 2025 Catholic OT Ervin Smith (Louisiana Tech), 2025 Rummel RB Norman Taylor, 2026 Catholic OT Blaise Thomassie.

Current story: Catholic has won three straight series in the 2020, 2022 and 2023 postseasons – plus a semifinal in 2018. Rummel’s most recent victory came in the 2019 title game.

Massey forecast: Catholic (73%), 35-21.

Jerit Thoughts: The Raiders and Bears will meet for the sixth time in the last seven postseasons, with games separated by an average of just over eight points. Friday should see another physical clash between the programs, highlighted by their defense and running games. But even when Catholic (Baton Rouge) replaced a special talent at quarterback this year, he managed impressive efficiency and effectiveness through the air. And as much as Rummel’s returning standouts are likely looking forward to another shot at the team that finished its season in 2023, the balanced Bears appear primed to extend their steak in the series to three in a row.

No. 18 Cecilia (9-3) at No. 7 North DeSoto (9-2)

Division-II non-selection

Friday, 7 p.m., at Griffin Stadium

Massey rankings: No. 34 vs. No. 24

Last week: Cecilia upset No. 2 Lutcher, 49-41, on the road. North DeSoto defeated No. 10 Belle Chasse at home 38-14.

Players to Watch: 2025 Cecilia OL Ryker Airhart, 2027 North DeSoto LB Hayden Bell, 2025 North DeSoto DB Tucker Brewster, 2027 Cecilia ATH Braylon Calais2025 North Desoto WR Cole Cory, 2026 North Desoto QB Luke Delafield, 2027 Cecilia DB Franky Frank Jr., 2025 Cecilia DB/WR Brent Gordon Jr. (Ragin’ Cajuns), 2026 Cecilia LB Braylon Jones, 2025 Cecilia OL Christian Menard2025 Cecilia QB/ATH Diesel Solari2025 Cecilia WR/ATH Ellis Stewart, 2026 North DeSoto RB Kenny Thomas, 2027 North DeSoto TE/WR Miller Warren.

Current story: The teams are meeting for the second time in the postseason of the last three. North DeSoto won a second-round home game 33-14.

Massey forecast: North DeSoto (63%), 42-35.

Jerit Thoughts: The game on this list that I’m least confident about is my assumption that both teams can win in a shootout. Much like Cecilia’s trip to Lutcher last week, the team that can make the one or two timely stops – or certainly a takeaway or two when opportunities arise – should be able to survive and move forward. A week after dropping nearly 50 points to one of the best defenses in the group, I’m leaning toward the increasingly confident Road Dogs continuing their run and potentially setting up a rematch with rival Opelousas.

No. 9 Lafayette Christian (6-6) vs. No. 1 Dunham (11-0)

Division-III Select

Friday, 7 p.m., in the Dunham Stadium (in the chapel in Siegen)

Massey rankings: No. 33 vs. No. 26

Last week: Lafayette Christian defeated Notre Dame on the road 35-28. Dunham defeated Parkview Baptist at home, 42-0.

Players to Watch: 2026 Lafayette Christian WR Brayden Allen, 2025 Dunham DB Bronson Bonneval, 2026 Lafayette Christian OL Kaleb Campbell, 2026 Lafayette Christian DB Luke Green, 2027 Dunham QB Elijah Haven2025 Lafayette Christian DB Chris Helaire, 2025 Dunham LB Jack Higginbotham, 2025 Dunham DE Harrison Malik, 2026 Lafayette Christian LB/DE Jaimason Marzell, 2026 Dunham DB Richard Montgomery Jr., 2025 Lafayette Christian RB Jalen Noel, 2025 Lafayette Christian ATH Calvin Parker III , 2026 Dunham RB Colin Pecue, 2027 Lafayette Christian DB Sky Ryan, 2026 Lafayette Christian QB Braylon Walker, 2025 Lafayette Christian WR Brennan Walker, 2026 Dunham WR Jarvis Washington, 2025 Lafayette Christian DE/LB Jaeden Winters.

Current story: Lafayette Christian won a semifinal 49-14 in Lafayette in 2019.

Massey forecast: Lafayette Christian (76%), 42-25.

Jerit Thoughts: The Knights’ hopes of turning an unusually tumultuous regular season into an eighth straight state championship game will have to prevail against the undefeated and top-seeded Tigers. The duel should be the most exciting in the four Division III or Division IV brackets. It’s definitely at the top of the list. And I won’t be surprised either way, I expect a Lafayette Christian team with a 24-3 record over the last seven and a half postseasons and the scars and lessons of a busy regular season schedule to claw its way to another victory. The Knights are better equipped with defensive playmakers at every level to disrupt Dunham than perhaps any opponent on the Tigers’ schedule to date, and they also have the firepower to create some noise of their own.