2018 Battle on the Border Preview Thursday and Friday Games
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
The wait is over for the Seventh Annual Battle on the Border event set to kickoff this weekend at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. This year will feature 12 team from six different states including Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi. All six games will feature some of the best high school recruits in the country and fans from all 12 teams are looking forward to this great event.
Thursday, September 6
6:00 p.m. John Curtis Patriots (LA) vs. Bishop Lynch Friars (TX)
John Curtis, located near New Orleans, finished 2017, 11-2, advancing all the way to the Division I state championship where they lost to Catholic-Baton Rouge, 20-14. Their only other loss was to Grayson (GA) in last year’s Battle on the Border, 22-9. In Week 1 the Patriots kicked off 2018 with a 42-18 win over Landry-Walker.
Junior Collin Guggenheim is the star quarterback for the Patriots, however he is suffering through a foot injury which caused him to miss Week 1 and it may cause him to miss this big battle against Bishop Lynch. Senior running back Ma’Khi Smith led the Patriots to victory last week by gaining 134 yards with two scores on the ground. Two other running threats include Corey Wren and Shane Goins. Wren had 78 rushing yards and Goins chipped in with 52 on the ground and two scores.
On defense, John Curtis is led by defensive lineman Colby Orgeron (Tulane commit) and Jayden Barfield. Senior safety Donald Clay (SMU commit) is the playmaker in the Patriots secondary.
Bishop Lynch, located in Dallas, finished 2017 with a 12-1 record making it all the way to the state semifinals where they were upended by St. Pius X, 34-15. Last week the Friars fell in their season opener at Trinity Christian 23-19.
The Friars defense is led up front by senior defensive end Warren Walls (SMU) and two outstanding senior linebacker Gabriel Murphy and Grayson Murphy, who are both committed to North Texas. A playmaker in the secondary is junior safety Plae Wyatt. On offense, two playmakers to watch is quarterback Kaidon Salter and wide receiver Jaedon Wilson. Another impact player to watch is senior tight Jack Bradley who is committed to Rice.
Friday, September 7
6:00 p.m. McGill-Toolen Yellow Jackets (AL) vs. West Monroe Rebels (LA)
In 2017, McGill-Toolen Catholic located in Mobile started 13-0 advancing all the way to Alabama 7A state championship game; unfortunately, that is where they suffered their only defeat in 2017, a 48-20 loss against Hoover. So far in 2018, McGill-Toolen is 2-0 after outscoring their first two opponents, 78-16.
The Yellow Jackets are led on offense by senior quarterback Sheldon Layman (Memphis) but he sat out last week with a groin injury. Other players to watch on the McGill-Toolen offense is wide receiver Jennings Clayton who caught a touchdown pass last week and athlete CJ Evans who can make plays on the ground and in the passing game. 
Three players to watch on this impressive defense is senior defensive tackle LeDarrius Cox (Tennessee), senior linebacker Nick Ruggs, and defensive back Jayden Mosley, who had 65-yard interception return for touchdown last week.
West Monroe, located about 90 miles east of Shreveport, finished 14-1 in 2017 as they advanced to the 5A state playoffs where they suffered a heartbreaking 29-27 loss to Zachary. They beat Booker T. Washington (OK) 30-21 in last year’s Battle on the Border. Last week the Rebels crushed John Ehret 44-20 to open their 2018 campaign.
On defense, West Monroe is led up front by senior defensive tackle Dalvin Hutchinson (Louisiana-Lafayette) and senior linebacker Chandler Moncrief (Northwestern State). A player to watch in the secondary is senior safety Colton Harvey.
On offense, the Rebels are led by junior quarterback Garrett Kahmann who finished with 133 total yards and three total touchdowns in last week’s win. Another offensive weapon is senior Michael Hamburg who returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown on the opening kickoff of the season.
8:30 p.m. North Little Rock Charging Wildcats (AR) vs. Evangel Christian Academy Eagles (LA)
North Little Rock is making their first appearance in Battle on the Border as the Class 7A defending Arkansas state champions. The Charging Wildcats squeaked past Bentonville 44-37 to win their first title since 1972 a year ago. To open 2018, North Little Rock escaped past Oklahoma’s second ranked Booker T. Washington 29-28. They were led to victory by senior Oscar Adaway (North Texas) who had 195 total yards and three touchdowns. Three other players to watch on the offense is sophomore Kareame Cotton, who threw two touchdowns passes last week, senior tight end Drew Martin (Memphis), and junior running back Brandon Thomas. Some players to watch on the Wildcats defense include junior linebacker Abram Terry, who recovered three fumbles last week, junior defensive end Rashad Muhammad, and senior defensive back Sedrick Cain.
Evangel Christian Academy, located in Shreveport, finished 8-2 and advanced to the Division I state semifinals where they were tripped up by Catholic-Baton Rouge 14-6 last season. Last week they were dominated by Bishop Dunne (TX), 23-14. The Eagles defense is very strong again this season and is led by senior defensive lineman Elijah Chapman (SMU), who can make big hits all over the field, and linebacker Na’Drian Dizadare (Oklahoma State), who returned a fumble 43 yards for score last week. Another player to watch is senior defensive end Chris Thomas.
The Eagles offense is led by senior running back Tamauge Sloan who rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown last Friday. Three other players to watch on the offensive ball is junior quarterback Blake Shapen, senior wide receiver Horatio Ruffins, and senior offensive lineman Christian Perry.
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Photo credit: Thomas Metthe Credit – Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; North Little Rock RB No. 26 Oscar Adaway vs. Maumelle