Louisiana

Monroe-area high school football schedules for the 2024 season

Published

1 year ago

August 13, 2024

Monroe-area high school football schedules for the 2024 season

Expect a number of feisty contests when the 2024 Louisiana High School Athletic Association football season kicks off Sept. 6 across Northeast Louisiana.

The Monroe area boasted three state champions last fall and two additional semifinalists with at last that many expecting the same finish this fall.

Ruston High, which completed an undefeated season (14-0), returns a bundle of talent for coach Jerrod Baugh, which has a team seeking a third consecutive trip to the Louisiana Superdome. Tulane commitment Josh Brantley, uncommitted Power 5 recruit Aidan Anding and Louisiana Tech commit Zheric Hill give Bearcat fans plenty to smile about.

Union Parish (10-4) also won a state title in Non-Select Division III and Oak Grove compiled an 12-2 record to win Non-Select Division IV. Semifinal finishes came from Sterlington (11-2) in Non-Select Division III and Ouachita Christian (11-2) in Select Division IV.

OAK GROVE WINS: VIDEO: Oak Grove 62 Haynesville 36: Tigers win fourth state championship in five seasons

ALL-AREA FOOTBALL: Meet The News-Star’s All-Area high school football team for 2023

UNION PARISH WINS: Highlights from Union Parish’s 36-35 win over St. James for the Non-select D-3 state title

Jimmy covers Louisiana sports him for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

Here’s a look at the 2024 schedules for Monroe area football teams:

Class 5A

West Monroe

Sept. 6 vs. Huntington

Sept. 13 Open

Sept. 20 at North DeSoto

Sept. 27 at Catholic B.R.

Oct. 4 vs. Scotlandville

Oct. 11 at Alexandria

Oct. 18 at Ouachita Parish

Oct. 25 vs. Pineville

Nov. 1 at Neville

Nov. 8 vs. Ruston

Ruston

Sept. 6 vs. Acadiana

Sept. 13 vs. Cabot, AR

Sept. 20 at Longview

Sept. 28 vs. Midland Legacy

Oct. 5 vs. Stephenville

Oct. 11 at Ouachita Parish

Oct. 18 vs. Neville

Oct. 25 at Alexandria

Nov. 1 vs. Pineville

Nov. 8 at West Monroe

Ouachita Parish

Sept. 6 at Captain Shreve

Sept. 13 at Wossman

Sept. 20 vs. Sterlington

Sept. 27 Open

Oct. 4 vs. Franklin Parish

Oct. 11 vs. Ruston

Oct. 18 vs. West Monroe

Oct. 25 at Neville

Nov. 1 vs. Alexandria

Nov. 8 at Pineville

West Ouachita

Sept. 6 vs. Richwood

Sept. 13 vs. Jonesboro-Hodge

Sept. 20 at Winnfield

Sept. 27 at Sterlington

Oct. 4 vs. Caldwell Parish

Oct. 11 at Franklin Parish

Oct. 18 vs. Tioga

Oct. 25 at Wossman

Nov. 1 at Peabody

Nov. 8 vs. Grant

Class 4A

Neville

Sept. 6 at Evangel Christian

Sept. 13 at Southside

Sept. 20 vs. Holmes County Central

Sept. 27 vs. St. Thomas More

Oct. 4 at Sterlington

Oct. 11 vs. Pineville

Oct. 18 at Ruston

Oct. 25 vs. Ouachita Parish

Nov. 1 vs. West Monroe

Nov. 8 at Alexandria

Bastrop

Sept. 6 vs. Wossman

Sept. 13 vs. Booker T. Washington

Sept. 20 at Rayville

Sept. 27 vs. Frederick

Oct. 4 vs. General Trass

Oct. 11 at Green Oaks

Oct. 18 at Carroll

Oct. 25 vs. Sterlington

Nov. 1 at Richwood

Nov. 8 vs. North Webster

Franklin Parish

Sept. 6 at West Jefferson

Sept. 13 vs. St. Frederick

Sept. 20 vs. Calvary Baptist

Sept. 26 at Caldwell Parish

Oct. 4 at Ouachita Parish

Oct. 11 vs. West Ouachita

Oct. 18 at Peabody

Oct. 25 vs. Grant

Nov. 1 vs. Wossman

Nov. 8 at Tioga

Class 3A

Sterlington

Sept. 6 vs. Tioga

Sept. 13 at Rayville

Sept. 20 at Ouachita Parish

Sept. 27 vs. West Ouachita

Oct. 4 vs. Neville

Oct. 11 at Richwood

Oct. 18 vs. North Webster

Oct. 25 at Bastrop

Nov. 1 vs. Carroll

Nov. 7 at Union Parish

Union Parish

Sept. 6 at Union Parish

Sept. 13 vs. Alexandria

Sept. 20 at Airline

Sept. 27 at Green Oaks

Oct. 4 vs. Homer

Oct. 11 at North Caddo

Oct. 18 vs. Calvary Baptist

Oct. 25 at D’Arbonne Woods Charter

Nov. 1 vs. Magnolia School of Excellence

Nov. 7 vs. Sterlington

Carroll

Sept. 6 at Parkway

Sept. 13 Open

Sept. 20 vs. Arcadia

Sept. 27 at General Trass

Oct. 4 at Wossman

Oct. 11 at North Webster

Oct. 18 vs. Bastrop

Oct. 25 Open

Nov. 1 at Sterlington

Nov. 8 vs. Richwood

Richwood

Aug. 30 vs. Oak Grove

Sept. 6 at West Ouachita

Sept. 13 vs. Mangham

Sept. 20 vs. Wossman

Sept. 27 at Tioga

Oct. 4 Open

Oct. 11 vs. Sterlington

Oct. 18 at Lake Arthur

Oct. 25 at North Webster

Nov. 1 vs. Bastrop

Nov. 8 at Carroll

Wossman

Sept. 6 at Bastrop

Sept. 13 vs. Ouachita Parish

Sept. 20 at Richwood

Sept. 27 at Iowa

Oct. 4 vs. Carroll

Oct. 11 vs. Tioga

Oct. 18 at Grant

Oct. 25 vs. West Ouachita

Nov. 1 at Franklin Parish

Nov. 8 vs. Peabody

Class 2A

Mangham

Sept. 6 at Jena

Sept. 13 at Richwood

Sept. 20 vs. Caldwell Parish

Sept. 27 vs. Beekman Charter

Oct. 4 at Madison

Oct. 11 vs. Ferriday

Oct. 18 vs. Oak Grove

Oct. 25 at Ouachita Christian

Nov. 1 vs. Rayville

Nov. 8 at Delhi Charter

Ferriday

Sept. 6 at Vidalia

Sept. 13 at Block

Sept. 20 vs. Delta Charter

Sept. 27 vs. Delhi Charter

Oct. 4 at Beekman Charter

Oct. 11 at Mangham

Oct. 18 vs. Madison

Oct. 24 at Oak Grove

Nov. 1 vs. Ouachita Christian

Nov. 8 at Rayville

General Trass

Sept. 6 vs. Rayville

Sept. 13 vs. Ouachita Christian

Sept. 20 at Madison

Sept. 27 vs. Carroll

Oct. 4 at Bastrop

Oct. 10 at Tensas

Oct. 18 vs. Block

Oct. 25 at Delta Charter

Nov. 1 vs. St. Frederick

Nov. 8 at Delhi

Rayville

Sept. 6 at General Trass

Sept. 13 vs. Sterlington

Sept. 20 vs. Bastrop

Sept. 27 at Oak Grove

Oct. 4 at Ouachita Christian

Oct. 11 vs. Madison

Oct. 17 vs. Delhi Charter

Oct. 25 vs. Beekman Charter

Nov. 1 at Mangham

Nov. 8 vs. Ferriday

Delhi Charter

Sept. 6 Cedar Creek

Sept. 13 at Lakeview

Sept. 20 vs. Jonesboro-Hodge

Sept. 27 at Ferriday

Oct. 4 vs. Oak Grove

Oct. 11 at Ouachita Christian

Oct. 17 at Rayville

Oct. 24 Open

Nov. 1 at Beekman Charter

Nov. 8 vs. Mangham

Vidalia

Aug. 30 at West Ouachita

Sept. 6 vs. Ferriday

Sept. 13 at Delta Charter

Sept. 20 at Block

Sept. 27 at Grant

Oct. 4 vs. Delhi

Oct. 11 at Buckeye

Oct. 18 vs. Jena

Oct. 25 vs. Marksville

Nov. 1 at Bunkie

Nov. 8 vs. Caldwell Parish

Beekman Charter

Aug. 30 at Bastrop

Sept. 6 at Delhi

Sept. 13 vs. Tensas

Sept. 19 vs. Lincoln Preparatory School

Sept. 27 at Mangham

Oct. 4 vs. Ferriday

Oct. 11 at Oak Grove

Oct. 18 vs. Ouachita Christian

Oct. 25 at Rayville

Nov. 1 vs. Delhi Charter

Nov. 8 at Madison

Madison Parish

Sept. 6 at Ringgold

Sept. 13 at Fontainebleau

Sept. 20 vs. General Trass

Sept. 26 vs. Ouachita Christian

Oct. 4 vs. Mangham

Oct. 11 at Rayville

Oct. 18 at Ferriday

Oct. 24 Open

Nov. 1 vs. Oak Grove

Nov. 8 vs. Beekman Charter

D’Arbonne Woods Charter

Sept. 6 vs. Lincoln Preparatory School

Sept. 13 vs. Bearden, AR

Sept. 20 at Grant

Sept. 27 at Calvary Baptist

Oct. 4 vs. Green Oaks

Oct. 11 at Magnolia School of Excellence

Oct. 18 vs. North Caddo

Oct. 25 vs. Union Parish

Nov. 1 Open TBA

Nov. 8 at Homer

Class 1A

Ouachita Christian

Aug. 30 at Cedar Creek

Sept. 6 at Caldwell Parish

Sept. 13 at General Trass

Sept. 20 vs. Delhi

Sept. 26 at Madison

Oct. 4 vs. Rayville

Oct. 11 vs. Delhi Charter

Oct. 18 at Beekman Charter

Oct. 25 vs. Mangham

Nov. 1 at Ferriday

Nov. 7 vs. Oak Grove

Oak Grove

Aug. 30 at Richwood

Sept. 6 at Calvary Baptist

Sept. 13 vs. Crossett

Sept. 20 vs. Red River

Sept. 27 vs. Rayville

Oct. 4 at Delhi Charter

Oct. 11 vs. Beekman Charter

Oct. 18 at Mangham

Oct. 24 vs. Ferriday

Nov. 1 at Madison

Nov. 7 at Ouachita Christian

St. Frederick

Sept. 5 vs. Loyola College Prep

Sept. 13 at Franklin Parish

Sept. 20 vs. Jena

Sept. 27 at Bastrop

Oct. 4 vs. St. Mary’s

Oct. 11 vs. Block

Oct. 18 at Delhi

Oct. 25 vs. Tensas

Nov. 1 at General Trass

Nov. 7 vs. Delta Charter

Cedar Creek

Aug. 30 vs. Ouachita Christian

Sept. 6 at Delhi Charter

Sept. 13 vs. Delhi

Sept. 20 vs. Loyola Prep

Sept. 27 at Glenbrook

Oct. 11 at Plain Dealing

Oct. 18 vs. Haynesville

Oct. 25 at Lincoln Prep

Nov. 1 vs. Arcadia

Nov. 8 vs. Jonesboro-Hodge

Delhi

Sept. 6 vs. Beekman Charter

Sept. 13 at Cedar Creek

Sept. 20 at Ouachita Christian

Sept. 27 at Southern Lab

Oct. 4 at Vidalia

Oct. 11 at Delta Charter

Oct. 18 vs. St. Frederick

Oct. 26 at Block

Nov. 1 vs. Tensas

Nov. 8 vs. General Trass

River Oaks

Aug. 16 at Porter’s Chapel Academy

Aug. 23 vs. Magnolia

Aug. 30 at Tensas

Sept. 6 vs. Claiborne Academy

Sept. 13 vs. Franklin Academy

Sept. 20 at Prairie View Academy

Sept. 27 vs. Riverdale Academy

Oct. 4 vs Union Christian Academy

Oct. 11 at Briarfield Academy

Oct. 18 at Tallulah Academy

Tensas Parish

Sept. 6 at Plain Dealing

Sept. 13 at Beekman Charter

Sept. 20 vs. Ringgold

Sept. 27 vs. Montgomery

Oct. 4 at Northwood-Lena

Oct. 10 vs. General Trass

Oct. 18 vs. Delta Charter

Oct. 25 at St. Frederick

Nov. 1 vs. Delhi

Nov. 8 at Block

Delta Charter

Sept. 6 at LaSalle

Sept. 13 vs. Vidalia

Sept. 20 at Ferriday

Sept. 27 TBD

Oct. 3 vs. Cedar Creek

Oct. 11 vs. Delhi

Oct. 18 at Tensas

Oct. 25 vs. General Trass

Nov. 1 vs. Block

Nov. 7 at St. Frederick

Lincoln Prep

Sept. 6 at D’Arbonne Woods Charter

Sept. 13 vs. Magnolia School of Excellence

Sept. 19 at Beekman Charter

Sept. 26 at Jonesboro-Hodge

Oct. 4 at Haynesville

Oct. 11 vs. Ringgold

Oct. 18 vs. Glenbrook

Oct. 25 vs. Cedar Creek

Nov. 1 at Plain Dealing

Nov. 8 vs. Arcadia

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Louisiana

DOJ ends another desegregation consent decree in Louisiana

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

DOJ ends another desegregation consent decree in Louisiana

Donald Trump is leading the most openly pro-segregation administration in recent American history, and it advanced that agenda this week when it killed yet another school desegregation agreement with a Louisiana parish.

The Associated Press reported Thursday that the Trump administration got a George W. Bush-appointed judge to lift another decades-old anti-segregation consent decree in the Bayou State.

Per the AP:

A federal judge on Monday approved a joint motion from Louisiana and the U.S. Justice Department to dismiss a 1967 lawsuit in DeSoto Parish schools, a district of about 5,000 students in the state’s northwest. It’s the second such dismissal since the Justice Department began working to overturn desegregation cases it once championed. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill thanked President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday for ‘helping us to finally end some of these cases.’

The AP quoted Murrill saying, “DeSoto Parish has its school system back,” and that “for the last 10 years, there have been no disputes among the parties, yet the consent decree remained.”

Of course, the absence of disputes under a consent decree is not exactly proof that the consent decree is no longer needed. To borrow an analogy from the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in her dissent from Shelby County, to throw out a consent decree because there’s been no resegregation or discrimination “is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.”

This follows the administration in February removing language that banned federal contractors from operating segregated facilities, and its decision last spring to quash a different consent decree with Louisiana’s Plaquemines Parish.

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Louisiana task force confronts future of Greek life, pushes new hazing safeguards

Published

15 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana task force confronts future of Greek life, pushes new hazing safeguards

BATON ROUGE, La (Louisiana First) — The final meeting for the Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Task Force took place Thursday.

The committee, organized by the Louisiana Board of Regents, brought together lawmakers, university leaders, student advisors, and hazing prevention stakeholders to make sure no Louisiana family loses another student to hazing.

State representative Vanessa LaFleur, a leading voice on this task force, said, “We don’t want there to ever be another Max [Gruver], or another Caleb in the state of Louisiana.”

Her statement referenced two high-profile hazing deaths that reshaped the conversation around student organizations in the state. Members echoed the sentiment that this isn’t just an isolated issue; it’s a culture issue.

“There are things that shift culture, things that create culture,” said Winton Anderson. “And what we were doing today was not only dealing with the prevention piece as much as dealing with the accountability piece.”

Task force leaders said Thursday’s meeting was about closing gaps in oversight, enforcement, and advisor responsibility for all Louisiana schools.

“Today, what you saw is closing the gap of our attempt to close the gap on what we believe are going to be the next phase of policies to help us ensure that there’s accountability at every level,” said Anderson.

The policy reform is key, but leaders said education is the foundation.

“The key to this is education,” said LaFleur. “And I think we’ve put in the safeguards for that. Safeguards will be there when the legislation drops. We’ve got to show them why hazing does not create sisterhood, why hazing does not create. But what it does is it destroys.”

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Louisiana races to hire AI workers as majority of pilot projects fail

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana races to hire AI workers as majority of pilot projects fail

Nearly all corporate artificial intelligence pilot projects fail to deliver measurable business value, according to new research — a finding that comes as Louisiana companies accelerate AI hiring faster than the data workforce needed to support it.

A national analysis by data consultancy DoubleTrack found that 95% of generative AI pilot projects fail to produce measurable profits, a rate that researchers attribute largely to weak data infrastructure rather than shortcomings in AI technology itself.

Despite that failure rate, Louisiana employers are hiring AI specialists far faster than data infrastructure workers. The study found Louisiana companies posted 151% more AI and machine-learning jobs than data infrastructure roles, ranking the state among the most imbalanced AI labor markets in the country.

According to the analysis, Louisiana employers advertised 548 AI-related positions compared with 218 data infrastructure jobs, meaning companies are hiring more than two AI specialists for every data engineer or platform specialist; the reverse of what experts recommend.

According to the study, industry consensus suggests that organizations should hire at least two data infrastructure professionals for every AI specialist to ensure that data is reliable, integrated, and usable. Without that foundation, AI systems often stall or are abandoned.

The consequences are already visible nationwide. Research cited in the report shows 42% of companies scrapped most of their AI initiatives in 2025, more than double the abandonment rate from the year before.

The findings carry particular significance for Louisiana as the state courts data centers, advanced manufacturing and digital infrastructure projects, including large-scale developments proposed in Caddo and Bossier parishes. While such projects promise billions in capital investment, they depend on robust data pipelines, power reliability and utility coordination — areas that require deep data infrastructure expertise.

Data centers, in particular, employ relatively few permanent workers but rely heavily on specialized data engineers to manage system redundancy, cybersecurity, data flow and integration with cloud and AI platforms. A shortage of those workers could limit the long-term impact of the projects Louisiana is working to attract.

The report also raises questions for workforce development and higher education. Louisiana universities have expanded AI-related coursework in recent years, but researchers say data engineering, database management and system integration skills are just as critical — and often in shorter supply.

Only 6% of enterprise AI leaders nationwide believe their data systems are ready to support AI projects, and 71% of AI teams spend more than a quarter of their time on basic data preparation and system integration rather than advanced analytics or model development, according to research cited in the study.

Those infrastructure gaps can have ripple effects beyond technology firms. Utilities, energy producers, health systems and logistics companies — all major pillars of Louisiana’s economy — increasingly rely on AI tools that require clean, connected data to function reliably.

DoubleTrack recommends companies adopt a 2-to-1 hiring ratio, with two data infrastructure hires for every AI specialist, to reduce failure rates.

“The businesses most at risk aren’t the ones moving slowly on AI,” said Andy Boettcher, the firm’s chief innovation officer. “They’re the ones who hired aggressively for AI roles without investing in data quality and infrastructure.”

As Louisiana pushes to position itself as a hub for data-driven industries, researchers say closing the gap between AI ambition and data readiness may determine whether those investments succeed — or quietly join the 95% that do not.

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