The 2017 YuvView Louisiana GameTime season begins with a matchup of two Class 5A teams who made the playoffs last year and have plans to make a deep run in the postseason this year.
At 7:00 on Friday, August 25th, YurView is proud to present the Live Oak Jamboree between the Live Oak Eagles and Fontainebleau.
These two schools along the I-12 corridor play each other regularly as one final preparation before the regular season begins.
Last year’s matchup was an example of neighbor helping neighbor, as Live Oak High School was scheduled to host, but historic flooding in Livingston Parish forced the re-location of the contest to Mandeville,the home of the Fontainebleau Bulldogs.
The Eagles won the scrimmage 9-7 and profits from the Jamboree went to Live Oak High School. Head Coach Bret Beard accepted the $2,500 check. The school itself sustained minimal water damage, but many players and coaches spent the 2016 season away from their flood-damaged homes.
Despite the life altering event, Live Oak had a successful 2016 campaign. The Eagles went 6-4 in the regular season and hosted a 1st round playoff game for the first time in school history. But the Eagles season ended with a shutout loss to district rival Central.
Fontainebleau won five of its first seven games last season to secure a playoff spot and the Bulldogs season ended with a loss to eventual 5A state champion Landry-Walker in the first round of the playoffs.
Quarterback Justin Stolberg led Fontainebleau last season. Dawson Nelson will be the one taking snaps this season and the Bulldogs will also have to replace one of the best running backs in school history, Brandon Akkawi.
Last year, Live Oak relied on a power running game to get into the playoffs. This year expect them to open it up more with former Zachary, Plaquemine and Baker head coach Bob Howell, who decided to come out of retirement to join Coach Beard’s staff as offensive coordinator. On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles return nine starters.
The Fontainebleau-Like Oak jamboree kicks off a great season on YurView.
We will have two games during the first week of the regular season. On Thursday, August 31, it will be a match-up of the top two teams in Louisiana according to maxpreps.com, John Curtis at Landry Walker. The Patriots are state championship contenders in Division One, while the Chargin’ Bucs won the 5A title last season, the first in school history.
On Friday September 1st, it will be Central versus Dunham. The Wildcats are an up and coming team in Class 5A led by sophomore QB Sam Kenerson. The Tigers have an outstanding QB as well in Mike Williams, who is 6-1, 230 pounds. They also feature LSU recruit and the state’s top cornerback Derek Stingley.
In week 2, we head to Pensacola, Florida, as the Rummel Raiders from Jefferson Parish visit the Escambia Gators. Escambia features four-star wide receiver Jacob Copeland, who has verbally committed to Florida. The Raiders also have a four-star wide receiver heading to Florida in Ja’Marr Chase.
In week 3, we’ll see Landry-Walker again as they host Warren Easton. The Fighting Eagles reached the semi-finals last year and are seeking to get back to the title game in 2017.
Jesuit won a state championship in 2014 and the we’ll see the Blue Jays visit St. Augustine in week 4. The Purple Knights won a playoff game in 2016, after winning just two games in 2015.
In week 5, the two-time defending champs in Division IV, Southern Lab travels across town to face fellow Baton Rouge power Parkview Baptist. The Eagles have won five state titles in their history.
In week 6, it’s one of best rivalries in the Crescent City as Edna Karr takes on McDonough 35. It’s a rematch of a Class 4A semi-final contest from last season that the Cougars won 26-14. Karr finished the year 14-0 and won the Class 4A state championship. McDonogh returns 9 starters on offense.
In week 7, it’s another great rivalry game as the two catholic schools in Lafayette meet up. St. Thomas More visits Teurlings Catholic. The Cougars won their first football state championship in Division II last season, while the Rebels have a new coach in Dane Charpentier, who replaces his father Sonny Charpentier.
Our final three games of the regular season are in the Baton Rouge area. Zachary hosts Central in week 8. The Broncos won the state title in 2015 and have a talented sophomore signal caller in Keilon Brown.
In week 9, Walker visits Live Oak. Former Tulane quarterback Lester Ricard is the Wildcats new head coach.
The regular season finale is Denham Springs at Scotlandville. The Hornets reached the Division I state title game last season, while the Yellow Jackets have a new head coach in Bill Conides, who helped develop LSU QB Myles Brennan.
After the regular season, YurView will have four playoff games leading you up to all of the action in the Mercedes Benz Superdome, the site of the LHSAA state championships.
