As the 2026 high school football season edges closer and closer in the 337, teams across the area kick off all the festivals with scrimmages. Lafayette Christian Academy and Northwest football duked it out in both teams' first scrimmage, both looking to get better ahead of Sep. 4.
Fans of the Knights and the Raiders gathered at Knight Field, itching to get a sneak peek of what both teams have cooking as two programs with big postseason dreams. For LCA, its road to the dome will look different without three-star running back Caiden Bellard, who transferred to University Lab.
Despite Bellard’s absence, head coach Matt Standiford and the Knights are still eager for what’s to come this fall.
“This has been the most energetic and most efficient practicing group I think I’ve coached,” Standiford said. “They’re bouncing off the wall and they’re excited to be here, even on the days when it’s hot. The energy level has never changed.”
With energies at all time highs for the Knights and the Raiders, both squads got a taste of what Friday nights will look like for them in 2026.
LCA hangs its hat on defenseWith a younger offense this season, LCA will be hanging its hat on the defensive side, where it returns talent and experience. Two big names who will get their names called a lot on defense are seniors Kaleb Simon and Josh Wilson. Simon was the Knights leading tackler in 2025, and that showed against the Raiders.
Simon is like a wall at the linebacker position, coming up with multiple tackles and a forced fumble in scrimmage play. Wilson, who's committed to South Alabama, was just as effective coming up with a big-time sack and multiple tackles against the Raiders. Defensive end Joseph Adams was also a standout on defense for the Knights in scrimmage play.
“I want to see our defense fly around and execute at a high level,” Standiford said. “Defense is obviously our calling card right now and the biggest thing offensively has been consistency. We showed glimpses in inner-squad last week, but can we do that on an everyday basis?”
Offensively, the Knights got off to a slow start with junior quarterback Ty Hills at the helm. Hills’ go to weapon this fall will be senior wide receiver Kaden Ledet, who will be wearing the Knights’ coveted No. 7 jersey this season. When he’s not airing it out, Hills will look to make things happen on the ground. He scored the Knights’ only varsity touchdown of the scrimmage on a 21-yard rush.
Northwest looks to perfect the fundamentalsSimilar to the Knights, Northwest got off to a slower start on offense before its explosive playmakers began to show up. Senior quarterback Justin Chavis connected with senior wide receiver Mhy’kael Richard for a 69-yard touchdown, the first score of the game.
When Chavis wasn’t connecting with Richard, LSU commit Markez Davis was a go-to target for the slinger as well as senior wide receiver Keadon Jenkins. Defensively, Davis, Jenkins and senior linebacker Frederick Nimer will be players to watch this fall as well.
Key weapons like those will be key for the Raiders, who finished the past few seasons in the quarterfinals and second round of the playoffs.
“We’re always on the cusp of the quarterfinals and semifinals, so that’s the standard and we’re making sure that we can get over that hump,” Northwest athletic director and football coach Chris Edwards said. “They’ve been working hard this off season and we’ve just been working on our fundamental stuff. Our base coverages, base offense and executing on that stuff.”
Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LCA football hosts Northwest in scrimmage. Our takeaways
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