RESERVE — What does a high school football coach do when he has a random Friday night off in the middle of his season?

If you’re Riverside Academy coach Bill Stubbs, you take a road trip to visit the grandkids in Alabama.

“Those things are important,” Stubbs said.

The Rebels get back to work Friday with a road trip to the small confines of Newman for the District 9-2A opener for both teams, setting up what could be an epic match-up.

The Greenies (3-1) are coming off a 46-41 loss to Vandebilt Catholic in which they gained 467 yards and allowed 543. It was the third straight game in which Newman scored more than 40 points.

“They’re good, they’re very well coached, they’re a complete team,” Stubbs said. “We have to go there, which is always a challenge.”

Riverside isn’t a bad team either, having won its last three games after a season-opening 16-13 loss to Ehret.

Quarterback Jordan Loving passed for 213 yards and two touchdowns two weeks ago against Plaquemine.

“I thought he had maybe his best game two weeks ago,” Stubbs said. “He has a lot of playmakers around him. He tries to get the ball around and take exactly what they’re going to give us.”

Stubbs said he used the “off” week to tinker, especially his special teams.

“We adjusted some personnel,” he said. “We moved some people around. We kind of fine tuned some of the techniques. We’re not anywhere close to being the type of football team I think we can be.”

Sophie B. Wright at St. Charles Catholic

No one can say the Comets are afraid to take on the big guys.

St. Charles heads into District 9-2A play Friday with a 4-1 record after having played — and defeated — three Class 5A teams. It’s one loss was to Class 4A Vandebilt Catholic.

St. Charles held East Ascension to 148 yards in a 22-0 win and came up with a pair of interceptions, one by Wesley Melancon and another by Trey Joseph.

Now the Comets settle into a district schedule against teams their own size, starting with Sophie B. Wright (0-3).

The Warriors have yet to score this season and have allowed 121 points.

Destrehan at

East St. John High

There have been some epic games in this annual battle of the Wildcats (who remembers the five overtime game of 1999?) — just not lately.

Destrehan (5-0) has owned East St. John (2-3) the last three years, outscoring the black and gold cats 196-69 in its last four wins, including one in the playoffs.

East St. John has not been victorious since 2012, when it edged Destrehan, 35-34.

Now East St. John has Destrehan’s old quarterback, Marquise Darensbourg, and as many wins as it earned all last season.

Hampered by a shoulder injury, Darensbourg has not started since Week 3 against Madison Prep.

He saw time Friday against Thibodaux, passing for 118 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. Sophomore Dasmain “Duke” Crosby has filled in nobly, especially in a 33-18 win against H.L. Bourgeois.

Destrehan quarterback Kohen Granier was lost to a torn ACL in a win over Hahnville.

Standing in is sophomore J.R. Blood, who helped lead Destrehan to a 44-17 victory over Terrebonne. He was 6 of 10 for 150 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

Kristian Mosely rushed for 232  yards and three touchdowns, and John Emery  ran for 133 yards and one score.

Country Day at

West St. John High

The Rams (2-3) found out how difficult football can be without starting quarterback Austin Alexander and how good they can be with him.

When Alexander missed the game against Kentwood two weeks ago because of a concussion, the team was shut out and held to 182 yards of total offense.

In his return Friday, Alexander was 10 of 15 for 141 yards and two touchdowns passing, plus he ran for 94 yards.

“Oh we are a completely different team with him,” coach Brandon Walters said. “We are blessed to have him back.”

Country Day is  5-0 following a 55-23 victory over Pope John Paul II.

Quarterback Christian Kerut was 16 of 24 for 222 yards and four touchdowns.

The defense has only allowed 27 points in its first four games.