Fall has officially arrived, and for some Louisiana high school football teams, so has district play. The New Orleans Catholic League, the Acadiana- and Lake Charles-based District 3-5A, and the Shreveport-based districts 1-5A and 1-4A are among the districts that will begin league play this week, with each district featuring at least one marquee matchup on this weekend's slate.
Meanwhile, other teams who have to wait another week before getting into district play are using the opportunity to prepare themselves better for both the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs. The two reigning Division II state champions, Opelousas and St. Thomas More, will each square off against teams that each reached the quarterfinals last year. STM will host Neville, while Opelousas will host an undefeated Alexandria squad that's seeking to get back to the state championship game for the first time since 2020.
On the flip side, some teams are seeking the first wins of the year, with some of those teams looking to end losing streaks that have stretched across several seasons.
In addition to previewing this week's big games, we'll speak with St. Augustine head coach Robert Valdez, who's on a mission to guide the Purple Knights to their first state championship since 1979.
We'll have all this and more as we go around the state in the Week 4 edition of the Pelican State Prep Football Preview. Click below to listen to the show.