The Union Parish (Farmerville, LA) varsity football team will play a neutral-site playoff game against Red River (Coushatta, LA) on Friday, November 22, at 7:00 PM. This matchup is part of the 2024 LHSAA Football Playoffs (Louisiana) – Division III Non-Select tournament.
What: Louisiana High School Football
Who: Union Parish (LA) vs Red River (LA)
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Bracket: 2024 LHSAA Football Playoffs (Louisiana) – Division III Non-Select
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network
Red River vs. Union Parish: A Closer Look at Two Competitive Football Programs
As the high school football season unfolds in Louisiana, the rivalry between Red River High School and Union Parish High School stands out as a matchup of two strong teams, each with its own set of strengths. Both teams come into the 2024-2025 season with similar records and have demonstrated resilience in their respective campaigns. Let’s break down the performances, key stats, and notable players from both teams.
Overall Records and Performance Breakdown
Both Red River and Union Parish have shown consistent performance with identical overall records of 7-4 this season. Their success can be attributed to strong performances in district play, where both teams boast impressive district records. Red River finished with a perfect 4-0 in district play, while Union Parish wasn’t far behind at 5-1.
However, Red River has had more difficulty on the road, finishing 3-4 in away games, while Union Parish demonstrated a stronger road presence with a 3-2 record away from home.
Key Team Statistics:
- Red River:
- Win %: .636
- District %: 1.000
- Points For (PF): 322
- Points Against (PA): 220
- Union Parish:
- Win %: .636
- District %: .833
- Points For (PF): 358
- Points Against (PA): 217
Scoring Averages
When it comes to scoring, Union Parish holds a slight edge, averaging 32.5 points per game, compared to Red River’s 29.3 points per game. Both teams start strong, with Red River posting a 6.9 point average in the first quarter, while Union Parish scores at a higher rate, averaging 10.6 in the opening quarter. However, both teams show a balanced attack across all four quarters, maintaining consistent scoring throughout the game.
| Quarter | Red River | Union Parish |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 6.9 | 10.6 |
| Q2 | 8.9 | 7.8 |
| Q3 | 4.9 | 8.0 |
| Q4 | 8.9 | 8.2 |
| Total | 29.3 | 32.5 |
Team Stat Comparison
Rushing Game:
- Red River: 29.7 yards per game
- Union Parish: 212.9 yards per game
Union Parish is notably superior in the rushing game, averaging an impressive 212.9 yards per game. In contrast, Red River struggles on the ground, averaging only 29.7 yards per game. This stark contrast highlights the running game as a key strength for Union Parish.
Passing Game:
- Red River: 16.2 yards per game
- Union Parish: 91.4 yards per game
Both teams have similar passing yardage averages, but Union Parish’s ability to mix both the rushing and passing game gives them a more dynamic offense compared to Red River, which relies more on its running backs to generate yards.
Defensive Comparison:
- Tackles per Game:
- Red River: 16.4
- Union Parish: 68.9
- Sacks per Game:
- Red River: 0.2
- Union Parish: 1.6
Union Parish’s defense is significantly stronger, posting more tackles and sacks per game than Red River. This indicates a more aggressive defensive style, which could be a decisive factor in upcoming matchups.
Standout Players
Red River:
- Montreveun Smith: A dual threat, Smith leads the team in rushing, receiving, and total yards. His versatility has been a key factor in Red River’s offensive production.
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 56.3
- Receiving Yards Per Game: 24.7
- Total Yards Per Game: 81.0
- Points Per Game: 4.0
- Jacob Kellogg: The leading tackler for Red River, Kellogg’s defensive contributions are crucial to the team’s success, with 11.7 tackles per game.
Union Parish:
- Tyquereis Wilson: The standout player for Union Parish, Wilson has been instrumental in both rushing and tackling, with impressive numbers across the board.
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 72.5
- Tackles Per Game: 11.2
- Points Per Game: 5.6
- Braxton Patterson: As the primary quarterback for Union Parish, Patterson has been efficient in the passing game, throwing for 91.4 yards per game.
Head-to-Head and Common Opponents
Both Red River and Union Parish share a common opponent this season: Oakdale. Both teams defeated Oakdale in impressive fashion, with Red River winning 36-8 and Union Parish posting a dominant 42-6 victory. This suggests that both teams are capable of handling strong competition, setting up a thrilling potential matchup when they face each other.
Conclusion
Both Red River and Union Parish have had successful seasons, boasting solid records and strong individual performances. Union Parish appears to have the edge with a more dynamic offense and stiffer defense, particularly in the rushing game. Red River, however, remains a tough competitor with a balanced offensive attack and a reliable defensive core. The showdown between these two teams promises to be a tightly contested game that could come down to execution in key moments.
As both teams head into the remainder of the season, fans can expect fireworks as these two top-tier programs battle it out on the field.
