Subhead: The Bearcats bring a 46-yards-a-carry highlight to central Louisiana. The Trojans bring a loaded stat sheet. The rest of the state is still arguing about who’s No. 1, so pass the boudin. This could take a while.
By T-Rohn
Somewhere in Louisiana right now, two uncles are arguing about the state’s best team. Friday night in Alexandria, Ruston gets a chance to join the conversation.
Ruston fans will head south Friday with a cooler, a seat cushion and an argument they started back in Lincoln Parish.
No. 3 Ruston (6-1) visits No. 7 Alexandria (6-1) Friday night in LHSAA Week 8 at J.L. “Butch” Stoker Stadium in Alexandria, per Ruston’s schedule. Rankings and records come from MaxPreps.
Ruston’s grudge match paid off
Ruston beat Ouachita Parish 56-21, avenging last year’s championship game loss, High School On SI reported, citing Jake Martin of The Ouachita Citizen. The Bearcats piled up 484 yards.
Junior Dalen Powell ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns on just three carries. That’s about 46 yards a carry, which in Cajun math works out to “a lot.”
Alexandria’s stat sheet is loaded
The Trojans beat West Monroe 44-7, with Karsen Sellers throwing three touchdown passes and running for another, SI reported, crediting Bret McCormick of Louisiana vs. All Y’all. Alexandria led 30-0 at the half.
MaxPreps’ state leaderboards are full of Trojans:
– Sellers (Sr.): 1,430 passing yards
– Alex Fontenot (Sr.): 735 receiving yards, 12 total touchdowns
– Noble Williams (Jr.): 806 rushing yards
– Jakyrin Griffin (Sr.): 5 interceptions
– Amarian Simon (Jr.): 68 tackles
That’s not a stat sheet, cher. That’s a grocery list, and somebody’s making groceries for the whole parish.
Meanwhile, the throne fight
Here’s where the gumbo gets thick. SI’s Oct. 14 rankings had Edna Karr No. 1, Ruston No. 2 and St. Augustine No. 3.
MaxPreps’ computer now flips the top two: St. Aug No. 1, Karr No. 2, both 7-0, with Ruston third. The funny part is MaxPreps’ own strength rating is higher for Karr (51.4) than St. Aug (46.1). Even the computer can’t make up its mind, and it doesn’t even have an uncle.
Karr hosts Chalmette (3-4) on Thursday. St. Aug faces Brother Martin on Friday. Then the argument settles itself the old-fashioned way: St. Aug and Karr meet Oct. 31 at Tad Gormley in a rematch of last season’s state title game, The Advocate reported.
Ruston is the ranked team that could turn a two-way argument into a three-way one. Win in Alexandria, and the Bearcats stay in the “who’s really best” talk all the way to the playoffs.
The Gumbo Pick (for fun only)
Ruston 31, Alexandria 27. The Trojans’ passing game keeps it close, but the Bearcats’ big-play run game wins the night.
As for the throne, we’re calling it a co-reign until the playoffs settle it. Somebody tell the uncles, and pass the boudin back around.
Sources
- MaxPreps, LHSAA Week 8 schedule, rankings and stat leaders (Eric Frantz, Oct. 20, 2026): https://www.maxpreps.com/news/WfkBez8LF0-mNBlCgK0-WQ/louisiana-high-school-football-lhsaa-week-8-schedule%2C-live-broadcasts%2C-scores%2C-state-rankings-and-statewide-statistical-leaders.htm
- Ruston High football schedule: https://www.rustonhighathletics.com/sport/football/boys/?tab=schedule
- The Advocate/nola.com, St. Augustine vs. Jesuit (Christopher Dabe, Oct. 18, 2026): https://www.nola.com/sports/high_schools/st-augustine-vs-jesuit-sloppy-first-half-kept-it-close-until-one-team-pulled-away/article_0bf9cc66-f5a4-4e60-a904-1d12307d83f4.html
- High School On SI, Louisiana Top 25 (Oct. 14, 2026): https://www.si.com/high-school/louisiana/louisiana-high-school-football-top-25-state-rankings-oct-14-2026-01m4y72x3bme
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