Louisiana LookBack: Top takeaways from Week 9 of high school football

No. 1 Edna Karr faces John Curtis as coach attempts to set national record

SBLive Louisiana is continuing its new weekly statewide recap called Louisiana LookBack. 

Now, with the end of the regular season fast approaching, here is a quick look at some of the interesting developments that took place over the weekend. 

1. Catholic League Showdown

Excitement continues to swell, not only in River Ridge at the John Curtis Christian School campus, but around the state as J.T. Curtis Jr. will become the nation's all-time winningest coach with one more victory.

There is a substantial roadblock ahead, however, as the Patriots will have to beat undefeated Edna Karr to get Curtis to win number 622. Friday's game was moved from the Cougars' home stadium in Algiers to Hoss Memtsas Stadium in Harvey to accommodate a large crowd, according to nola.com's Chris Dabe.

Karr (8-0, 5-0), which is No. 1 in the Division I select power ratings and No. 1 in last week's SBLive Louisiana rankings, has already clinched the Catholic League title. The Patriots (6-2. 3-2) are looking to win their fourth straight game. John Curtis is No. 10 in Division I select and can secure a first-round bye if the Patriots can move up to at least No. 8.

2. Abbeville Ascending 

The Abbeville Wildcats had lost four games in a row to District 5-3A rival St. Martinville and were down 28-6 in the second half on Friday, but coach Roderick Moy's team rallied to win, 36-28, on the road.

The Wildcats rushed for 410 yards on 51 carries. Sophomore Justin Montgomery led the charge with 149 yards on 16 attempts, but it was a 30-yard pass from quarterback Da'Zavien Maze to Brian Gordon that provided the winning score.

Abbeville (7-2, 3-0) will host Kaplan (7-2, 3-0) on Friday to decide the district championship. Abbeville won last year's matchup, 14-13. Abbeville is No. 14 in the Division II non-select power ratings. Kaplan is No. 20.

The Pirates had their four-game winning streak snapped in a 12-8 non-district defensive struggle vs. Church Point on Friday.

3. Curtis, Chiefs Charting Future

Coach Jess Curtis has the Natchitoches Central program going in the right direction, even if it's not immediately apparent from looking at the Chiefs' record.

Natchitoches Central went 3-7 last year while Curtis was finishing off his final year at Many with a perfect record and a Division III non-select state championship. The Chiefs are 2-7 in Curtis' first season entering this week's game vs. Byrd (3-6).

They've been a tough out, however, losing four District 1-5A games by a total of 17 points, including one-point setbacks to Parkway (27-26) and Haughton (36-35).

The Chiefs boasted the state's leading receiver through Week 8 in Camryn Davis (67-1,004, 14 TDs).

4. Wonderful Wardell

Calvary Baptist junior quarterback Abram Wardell has uncanny accuracy. Wardell has completed 167-of-211 passes (79.1%) for 2,591 yards and 31 TDs with one interception for the 9-0 Cavaliers.

He completed all 13 of his attempts for 223 yards and five TDs to five different receivers in last week's 52-0 win over Lakeside. He was 14-of-15 for 319 yards and four scores the previous week vs. North Caddo.

The Cavaliers have the No. 1 power rating in Division III select ahead of No. 2 St. Charles Catholic (9-0), No. 3 Isidore Newman (8-0) and No. 4 University Lab (8-1).

5. Cardinals Rule

E.D. White Catholic delivered a statement win on Friday, topping Class 5A Sam Houston, 45-31. The Class 3A Cardinals (9-0) moved up to No. 3 in Division II select behind No. 1 St. Thomas More (9-0) and No. 2 Lafayette Christian (8-1) with the District 8-3A title on the line at St. James (8-1, 3-0) on Friday.

Quarterback Jake Sternfels was 7-of-8 passing for 142 yards and two TDs, according to Casey Gisclair of the Lafourche Gazette. Sternfels also ran for two TDs. Sam Houston (6-3) remains in position to host a first-round playoff game at No. 14 in Division I non-select. The Broncos host No. 11 Southside (7-2) on Friday.

6. Thursday Titanic Tilts

The city of Baton Rouge will play host to two district showdowns on Thursday.

Zachary (8-0, 4-0) travels to Catholic-Baton Rouge (7-2, 4-0) to decide District 4-5A. At No. 4 in Division I non-select, Zachary would receive a first-round bye if the playoff brackets were released today. The Bears are also in position for a first-round bye at No. 7. The top four seeds get a bye in the non-select divisions, while the top eight seeds get a bye in the select divisions.

Meanwhile, University Lab (8-1, 5-0) hosts Parkview Baptist (8-1, 5-0) on Thursday for the District 6-3A crown. The Cubs' only loss was to Archbishop Rummel, 20-17, in Week 2. Parkview Baptist lost, 14-10, to Catholic-New Iberia in Week 2.

7. Comeback Cats

Leesville limped into District 3-4A action with a 2-3 record and the bitter taste of a 54-12 loss at home to Opelousas in its final non-district game.

The Wampus Cats reversed course and improved to 6-3, 4-0 in 3-4A with a 48-24 win over Eunice on Friday. Junior tailback Xavier Ford rushed for 335 yards on 40 carries with six TDs, while the Leesville defense limited the Bobcats to 2-of-13 passing for 26 yards.

Leesville clinched the district title, no matter what happens this week vs. Rayne (6-3, 2-2). The Wampus Cats are No. 9 in Division II non-select. Ford has rushed for 1,844 yards on 209 carries with 22 TDs.

8. Breathing Fire

Also in District 3-4A, DeRidder scored five second-half touchdowns while holding Rayne scoreless after intermission in the Dragons' 49-20 win.

Reed Williams rushed for 177 yards on 20 carries with five TDs for the Dragons, who only attempted three passes while rolling up 301 yards on the ground on 49 carries.

DeRidder (5-4, 2-2) is No. 18 in Division II non-select. Rayne is No. 16. Eunice (6-3, 3-1) is No. 10.

9. Wossman's Big Opportunity

Is there a new sheriff in town in District 1-3A?

That question will be answered this week after Wossman (8-1, 4-0) welcomes Sterlington (8-1, 4-0) to south Monroe on Thursday.

Second-year coach Terrence Cahee has assembled one of the state's best defenses. The Wildcats have posted five shutouts and held two other opponents to seven points apiece.

Wossman, which has only lost to Calvary Baptist, is No. 5 in Division II non-select. Sterlington is No. 2 in Division III non-select.

Wossman is coming off a 12-7 district win over Union Parish, which is No. 4 in Division III non-select.

10. Non-District Finale

Two of Division II non-select's finest will clash this week when No. 6 Iowa (7-2) travels to No. 7 Cecilia (8-1) in a non-district game.

Iowa rebounded from a 14-0 deficit to defeat St. Louis Catholic, 26-21, for the District 3-3A title. Quarterback Josiah Bushnell ran for 120 yards on 20 carries with two TDs and completed 14-of-20 passes for 182 yards and a score.

Cecilia, whose only loss was to Class 5A Southside, wrapped up the District 5-4A title by downing Livonia, 50-0.

11. LaPlace is the Place

District 10-2A will be decided this week in LaPlace when Isidore Newman (8-0, 2-0) visits St. Charles Catholic (9-0, 2-0).

The Comets won the last two meetings in low-scoring games, defeating the Greenies last year, 17-13. Newman quarterback Arch Manning was held to 7-of-15 passing for 121 yards in that game, although the current University of Texas signal-caller threw for both his team's touchdowns. The Comets sacked Manning three times.

Tyler Milioto, then a freshman, kicked a field goal for St. Charles Catholic. Milioto has kicked several field goals this year, highlighted by the game-winner as time expired to beat Lutcher, 16-14, in Week 2.

Photo of Edna Karr team by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com

-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA