For district honors

The District 4-5A title is on the line tonight as a battle between Westgate and St. Thomas More highlights the eighth week of the prep football season for the Teche Area.

The teams, who have played two consecutive interesting games, are undefeated in district play and the stakes for the game are high.

If Westgate (5-2 overall, 2-0 district) wins, the Tigers claim a share of the district title with only a district game left against Comeaux. Even a loss in the final district game would leave Westgate with a 3-1 mark and all that NISH, STM and Carencro could do would be earn a tie the Tigers for the district title and the automatic bid to the playoffs.

An STM win moves the Cougars (4-3, 1-0) to 2-0 in district, putting the team in control of its own district fate with games left against NISH and Carencro.

The return of running back Brandon Malveaux has put a charge into the Tigers offensive attack. He has accounted for 286 yards and five touchdowns for Westgate in two weeks and has become a great compliment for quarterback Diontae Spencer (387 yard rushing, 376 passing).

St. Thomas More counters with running back Thomas Gumpert (687 yards and five touchdowns rushing) and a pair of quarterback in Matthew Flores (240 rushing) and Matt Derise (235 passing)

Westgate hasn’t had a lot of success recently against STM. Two years ago, Westgate trailed 14-12 in the fourth before the Cougars scored 17 unanswered points for a 31-12 win.

Last year, Westgate led 21-0 at half before STM scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to pull out the win.

Carencro at New Iberia

Friday night, the Jackets have a chance to rebound from last week’s loss to Westgate as NISH (6-1, 1-1) plays host to Carencro (1-5, 0-1).

NISH quarterback Jordy Joseph, who was completing 80 percent of his passes earlier this year, has cooled down a bit to 69 percent (79 of 114) but still has thrown for 1,090 yards and 15 touchdowns this year.

Dalario Austin has been the recipient of most of the passes (22 got 279 yards and two touchdowns) but Joseph has touchdown passes to six different receivers this year.

Carencro was off last week and hasn’t played since a 34-0 loss to Westgate two weeks ago.

West St. Mary at Catholic High

Homecoming at Catholic High finds the Wolfpack coming to town to face the Panthers.

West St. Mary (0-6, 0-2) is still looking for its first win of the year and upsetting the Panthers (4-3, 1-1) would be a good one.

Catholic High quarterback Taylor Bullock struggled last week against Franklin (8-of-20 passing) but still has 1,816 yards, third overall in the state, and 21 touchdowns this year. CHS receiver Devin Boutte, despite only catching one pass last week, is still the leading receiver in the state (37-832, 10 TDs).

Highland Baptist at Acadiana Home School

The Bears (3-6) end the regular season Thursday against Acadiana Home School (6-3) in a game that will be played at Carencro High School.

Highland’s chances of advancing to the Louisiana Christian School Athletic Association playoffs come down to beating Acadiana Home School and hoping that Natchitoches Christian (3-6) loses to Harvest Time Christian.

Natchitoches Christian owns the tiebreaker against HBCS, which is point differential. If both teams lose, HBCS would have to lose by less than 7 points and Natchitoches would have to lose by more than 15 points for the Bears to advance to the playoffs.

Jeanerette at Sacred Heart

The Tigers (6-1, 2-0) placed their six-game winning streak on the line at Sacred Heart (3-4, 0-2) in Ville Platte. Anthony Williams is still in the top 10 in the state in rushing and scoring (173-1382, 16 touchdowns).

Last week, quarterback Kendell Charles threw for 241 yards as the Tigers went to the air to beat Ville Platte High.

Sacred Heart lost to Port Barre 27-6.

Port Barre at Loreauville

LHS (5-2, 1-1) looks to rebound from last week’s 34-14 loss to Opelousas Catholic. B.J. Greene has 921 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing this year and could break the 1,000-yard barrier with 79 yards this week.

Port Barre (4-3, 1-1) and Loreauville still have a chance to clinch a tie for the district title but a loss by either team this week effectively ends that chance.

Delcambre at Vermilion Catholic

The Panthers (4-3, 1-1) travel to Abbeville to take on Vermilion Catholic (3-4, 1-1) in a District 7-A contest. Jorey Renard has 970 yards rushing this year and can break the 1,000-yard mark this week. Tyler Hotard has 600 yards for the Panthers.

Hanson at Ascension Episcopal

The Tigers (0-7, 0-2) look to break into the win column against the Blue Gators (2-4, 0-2) Thursday night.

AES lost 39-6 to Vermilion Catholic last week.

Patterson at Franklin

The Hornets (2-5, 1-1) play host to Patterson (4-3, 1-1) and running back Kenny Hilliard, who has 1,527 yard rushing this year and is second in the state behind James Gilliam of Pearl River (1,555).

Denham Springs at St. Martinville

SMSH (1-6, 1-3) steps out of district play this week to play host to Class 5A Denham Springs (5-2). The Yellow Jackets beat Walker 34-14 last week.