Gavin Peters and Cody Champagne know each other well.
The coaches of Carencro and Cecilia High, which meet on the Bulldogs’ field on Friday at 7 p.m., live five minutes away from each other. Their wives graduated together from Cecilia, and their daughters dance together.
“I have a lot of respect for Cecilia,” Peters said. “I live there. I feel like a traitor. Everybody bleeds Green and Gold. It’s one of the last rural community schools.”
Carencro (5-4, 4-0 District 4-5A) has won four straight games since a loss to undefeated Westgate. The Bears have a win over Opelousas that ignited its winning streak. Cecilia (6-3, 3-1) lost to Opelousas (7-2, 3-1).
“We had a lot of bad breaks in July,” Peters said. “We lost our best running back. We had a rough start, but we got right back in the ring and kept fighting.”
The Bears, who have locked up a share of the league title, have gotten exceptional play from quarterback Carson Gurzi and running back Da’Marion Green. Gurzi accounted for five TDs last week. Junior Hayden Monroe has been stellar on defense and is receiving statewide accolades.
“I call Carencro ‘Beirut,’ because we’re fighting with six high schools within 3.3 miles (for students),” Peters said. “Unfortunately, Carencro and Northside have suffered the worst.”
Green, who rushed for 168 yards on four carries with a TD in last week’s win over Beau Chene, began his career at Carencro before spending two years at nearby Lafayette Renaissance. He transferred back for his senior campaign and has been used on both sides of the ball at times.
“He missed the culture here and wanted to be back with his friends,” Peters said of Green (6-2, 230).
Cecilia, which is led by receivers Braylon Calais and Ashton Ruffin and running back Deondre Briscoe, is coming off an unexpected open date after Livonia forfeited last Friday the day of the game.
“The guys were disappointed,” Champagne said. “The seniors only have a few games left.”
At No. 16 in the Division II non-select power ratings, Cecliia may need a win to land a home playoff game next week. Carencro is No. 11 in Division II select. Opelousas, which faces Beau Chene, is No. 9 in Division II non-select.
“We’re fighting for one more home game,” Champagne said. “In the preseason, I felt this game could come down to the district championship. There’s still a chance, even though we’d share it.”
Briscoe has rushed for nearly 700 yards and 13 TDs. Ruffin and Calais, a four-star LSU commit, have combined for 17 receiving TDs.
“It’s a great matchup with Carencro,” Champagne said. “They do a lot of things we do. We don’t do the veer, but they do a lot of trick plays like us.”
Calais had to play some quarterback, as he’s done previously in his career, while junior Layne Champagne was out with injury.
“Layne’s been looking good,” coach Champagne said. “He’s always prepared.”
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