Today has been circled on the Hornets’ and Warriors’ calendars for a while.
Undefeated District 4-1A rivals Grand Lake and Hamilton Christian will kick off today at Grand Lake High School with perfection and a fast track to the district title on the line.
“It is such a rivalry game,” Hamilton head coach Dexter Washington said. “I have so much respect for Coach (Jeff) Wainwright. I know for a fact that his team is going to be prepared.
“They remember last year’s game. They have gotten better throughout the course of the year. We are going to play against a great system. We are going to have to be conscious that Grand Lake is very capable of beating Hamilton Christian.”
The Class 1A No. 3 Warriors (4-0), the defending district champs, had two weeks to prepare for the game because they had an open week last week, but Washington said it didn’t make it any easier to plan for the Hornets. Hamilton won last year’s matchup 36-21, but the Hornets have won three of the last five in the series.
“We just have to go in there and do the things that we are capable of doing, and don’t be impatient,” Washington said. “We have to stay calm and have a really great defensive game. I think we have put a great defensive game plan in.”
He noted that the Hornets are throwing the ball more than in previous years as a concern. Quarterback J.J. Labove has thrown for 385 yards and eight touchdowns. Labove also leads the ground game with 436 yards and nine TDs.
“What scares me the most is that they throw the ball a little bit more than normal,” Washington said. “They have some really good skill kids, and a nice-sized offensive line.
“It is typical of Jeff Wainwright. He has moved to the pistol with the H-back. I can remember when he did that at Sulphur. He is a coach who adjusts to his personnel.”
Washington will look to linebacker Julius Rideau and Grant Menard and defensive lineman Cameron Joyce and Kaven Morrow to lead the defense, which has allowed 12.3 points a game.
“Those guys are all over the field at all times,” he said. “Over the last couple of weeks, we have had great support from Kaven Morrow. He has been getting better every week. We are trying to maintain our defensive pursuit and be conscious of any backside things that they do.
“We feel like, overall, that our biggest chance against Grand Lake is to put pressure on them. If we don’t get any pressure, that might cause us some problems.”
Grand Lake will have to contend with a Warriors’ defense that is scoring 46.8 points a game, led by junior quarterback Javon Vital, who has accounted for 21 total TDs.
“Naturally, as much as we have to be concerned about them, I am sure he is concerned about us,” Washington said. “We do have a little offensive firepower.
“What the final score is going to be, nobody knows. I know they are not going to back down, and Hamilton Christian is not going to back down. We just want to go down there and have a friendly, competitive game, and somebody walk away a winner. We are both playoff contenders, so it is just a matter of power points.”
Elsewhere
Another one of Southwest Louisiana’s five undefeated teams will put its record on the line when Lake Arthur (4-0) hosts Class 2A No. 5 Notre Dame (4-1). Lake Arthur will play three ranked teams over the next five weeks.
The Pioneers are coming off a 35-28 win over Southside of District 3-5A, while the Tigers beat winless Rosepine last week 47-8.
After an agonizingly close loss to Lafayette last week, Sam Houston (2-3, 1-1 District 3-5A), travel to Southside (4-1, 2-0), one of three teams tied for the lead in district along with Acadiana (2-3, 2-0) and Carencro (3-2, 2-0).