There are plenty of story lines this week that will add fuel to the biggest rivalry in Southwest Louisiana when the Sulphur Tors host the Barbe Bucs today at Matt Walker Memorial Stadium.
The biggest one is that the District 3-5A championship is on the line. A win for the Bucs would give them at least a share of the title while a win of the Tors, who are undefeated in district play, will keep them at the top of the heap and knock the Bucs out of the race.
“It is always a big game between Barbe and Sulphur,” Barbe head coach Mike Cutrera said. “Our kids will not have any trouble getting up for the game and it should be a great game for the fans.”
While Barbe (7-1, 4-1) has been in the district title hunt the last several years, the Tors (6-2, 4-0) are going for their first since 2007. That was also the last time the Tors beat their archrival. Barbe currently leads the all-time series, which started in 1972 when Barbe opened, 27-17. But Sulphur head coach Jeff Wainwright is trying to keep the Tors focused on the long-term goal of securing a favorable playoff seeding.
“The win is the utmost importance for the playoff standings,” Wainwright said. “I think they are predicted in the five to 10 range if they win and we are predicted in the five to 10 range if we win the next two games.
“What I talked to the kids about is that we can’t change the history of the rivalry. What we can change is Friday night. Those numbers will be looked at 10 or 15 years from now so I am not really putting in any pressure on our kids.”
Sulphur is currently ranked 11th in the latest unofficial LHSAA power rankings while Barbe is right behind them at No. 12. This week is the last chance for the Bucs to make a push for a top-eight playoff spot with a bye week next week, while the Tors have two games to move up in the rankings.
The annual grudge match will feature the top two offenses and top defense in District 3-5A.
The Tors’ offense exploded for 69-point last week against Lafayette and is averaging 445.4 yards and 38.6 points per game. They also have two of the top backs in the district in senior J’Cobi Skinner (180 car., 1,402yds, 13TD) and junior Glenn Willis (90 car., 721yds, 9TD).
“It should be an exciting game,” Cutrera said. “Sulphur is every explosive on offense and a well-coached team.
“They are playing good offensively, defensively and on special teams. It is two good teams going at it.”
Barbe not only has the top defense in the district that has held opponent to a meager 250.3 yards and 16.1 points but they also have the No. 2 offense in the district. The Bucs will seek to be just the second team to hold the Tors to under 300 yards and 30 points this year.
“It is a special group (defense),” Cutrera said. “Last year we were young and we got a lot of those kids back.
“That one year of experience has helped. Our defensive front is playing really well and we have some guys in the second and linebacker that can run well and get to the football. We have to be able to hold on to the ball and create turnovers and when we get into the red zone, we need to come up with some points.”
Sulphur had its best defensive game of the season last week led by junior safety Conner Cooke but the Tors will have their hands full with Barbe running back Kirkland Banks (157 car., 1,135yds, 19TD), quarterback Gavin Nettles (71-96-2, 1,135yds, 12TD) and wide receiver Nate Briscoe (53 rec., 694yds, 6TD).
“It is not matching one person on him but understanding where he is at and what routes he is trying to achieve,” Wainwright said. “The entire secondary will have to communicate to keep up with him and Banks will be a big challenge as well.
“It is an extensive package of what they try to do to get the ball to those guys. Our defensive backs are going to have to knock some balls down and the defensive line is going to have to put pressure on the quarterback.”
Notes: Sulphur will honor the 2006 5A state runner-up team at halftime…This will be the first Sulphur-Barbe game in the new Matt Walker Memorial Stadium. When Barbe opened its on campus stadium in 2003, the Tors won the first matchup up in that stadium 28-14… The winner of the game will take possession of the new Billy Navarre Memorial Sulphur-Barbe Shootout trophy.
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