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