Jamborees and scrimmages are over and high school football fans can finally rejoice for the return of prep football this week.

12 Teche Area teams will hope to start the season off on the right foot with a Week 1 victory, but with several quality matchups on tap, it’s anyone’s guess who will walk away with a win.

New Iberia Senior High at Pineville

Sept. 6, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

The Yellow Jackets will be looking to improve on last season’s 2-8 record with games against other rebuilding programs in Weeks 1, 2 and 3.

NISH returns several starters, including the entire offensive line and running back Shanga Charles, who impressed at this year’s Bayou Bowl against Westgate. Senior QB Kaiden Mcglassen’s connection to senior Dameon Polite and junior Synjaya Hamilton will be the key to success for the Yellow Jackets.

Westgate vs Lake Charles College Prep

Sept. 6, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

After making short work of Carencro in an early-season scrimmage and defeating NISH in all three games of the Bayou Bowl, the Tigers will hope to keep the momentum going at home against Lake Charles College Prep.

With experienced starters returning in several positions on both sides of the ball, the Westgate roster will look similar to what they fielded last season, but the offensive scheme will be brand new thanks to newly appointed OC Randall Antoine.

Against the Yellow Jackets, the team’s depth and versatility were evident, but small mistakes resulted in multiple touchdowns called back. Against the Trailblazers, those mistakes might mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Erath at Loreauville

Sept. 5, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

A Week 1 matchup between the Tigers and the Bobcats is nothing new, but Erath will hope to have a different outcome after three losses to Loreauville in a row. A win in Week 1 would kick off the season on a positive note before the Bobcats face two consecutive 4A heavy-hitters in North Vermilion and Eunice.

For the Tigers, the clear favorites on paper, the difference between winning and losing will come down to discipline. In the jamboree against Highland Baptist, Loreauville benched five starters for the first half due to violations of team policies. If the team can get the best 11 on the field, Loreauville will be hard to beat this year.

St. Martinville at Cecilia

Sept. 5, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

St. Martinville may be facing a down year, but don’t count them out just yet. With an experienced group of players retained from last season, head coach Vince Derouen will have a veteran defense at his disposal.

Cecilia, coming off a loss to riva Opelousas in the Division II non-select state championship, will be looking to make a statement in Week 1. The Tigers will do well to take the game slow and limit mistakes if they want to walk out of this one with the W.

Catholic High vs Vermilion Catholic

Sept. 6, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

Catholic High’s 35-0 jamboree win over Opelousas Catholic sent a message to the rest of District 7-2A: the Panthers will be the team to beat this season.

First up for CHS will be a rematch against a familiar foe. Despite losing the past two seasons against VC, the Panthers will go into Friday’s matchup with an experienced roster of playmakers on both sides of the ball and a defensive unit that might be capable of snapping VC’s 25-game regular season unbeaten streak.

Delcambre at Centerville

Sept. 5, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

The growing pains persist for Delcambre, but with sophomore Rix Robin under center again this season, progress is evident.

The Panthers won’t win any awards for style or showmanship with the Wing-T offense, but if they can continue to run it correctly the Panthers should be able to pick up their first win since the 2022 season.

Franklin at Lafayette

Sept. 6, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

Crazier things have happened in Week 1, but for a small 2A program, facing off against a 5A team is always going to be an uphill battle.

For the Hornets, roster size might end up being their Achilles’ heel. With a majority of the team playing both ways this season, it will be a tough task to keep up the intensity against a Lafayette squad that is four times as large.

West St. Mary at Berchmans Academy

Sept. 6, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

The Wolfpack have a new head coach and a renewed excitement for the game of football, but none of that matters if they can’t get results on the field. Against Berchmans, WSM has an opportunity to end a losing streak that, outside of a win against a weak Delcambre squad last season, has lasted since October 2021.

Hanson Memorial vs St. John

Sept. 6, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

The Tigers will have their hands full when they host St. John in the season opener on Friday.

With several key players graduating last season, Hanson Memorial has struggled to fill the gaps with a small roster loaded with underclassmen. The Tigers’ five seniors will need to step up this year, both on and off the field.

Highland Baptist at Houma Christian

Sept. 6, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

The Bears haven’t won a game since Week 2 of the 2022 season, and the seniors know it. With a new coach at the helm and a motivated group of upperclassmen, the Bears look poised to pick up a few wins this season.

That optimism will be put to the test in Week 1 as Highland travels to Houma Christian. The Warriors defeated HBCS 42-7 last season and, even with several key players from that game no longer on the team, still remain a capable opponent.

Jeanerette vs Patterson

Sept. 6, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

Last season, the Tigers went on a Cinderella 8-2 run in the regular season before eventually losing to eventual runners-up Haynesville in the quarterfinals.

This year the Tigers look capable of making it even further behind returning starters Desean Tolbert, Zyon Colar and Levi Boykin. Jeanerette has been making the most of the move down to Class 1A a few season ago, and with Vermilion Catholic leaving the Tigers’ district, the road to a District 7-1A title got quite a bit easier.