Bucs face series of must-win games
Published 3:48 pm Friday, October 31, 2025
The Barbe Bucs have turned the corner over the last few weeks.
They nearly stunned District 3-5A-leading Acadiana in Week 6, then won their last two games. Even with the turnaround after a 1-5 start, their postseason hopes still hinge on the next two weeks — a pair of rivalry games on their home field.
At No. 31 in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Nonselect Division I power ratings, the Bucs (3-5, 2-3 District 3-5A) are in a precarious position. They need to get to No. 28 or better. Because many games will affect where they ultimately end up, they are solely focused on tonight’s game against Sulphur (2-6, 1-4).
“We got one game at a time,” Barbe head coach Skeet Owens said. “We’ve got to win them both to even have a chance. You just never can guess. I think if we win them both, we’ll be close. I think we’ll know a lot more after this weekend.”
Barbe leads the all-time series 33-20, but has split the last six meetings. Barbe won 28-15 last year and 31-0 in 2023. Games in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 were decided by 10 points. The Tors won three of those games.
One of the Bucs’ biggest reasons for optimism is its offense, which has been humming at more than 51 points a game over the last three weeks. Quarterback Jelandon Gray accounted for six touchdowns last week in the Bucs’ 63-40 win over Lafayette and has more than 1,000 rushing yards and is approaching 2,000 passing yards. Wide receiver Sawyer Kuypers is the area’s top receiver, and running back Jordin Griffin and receiver Myles Ledoux are healthy again.
“The offense has been clicking,” Owens said. “The defense is playing better.
“Jelandon is obviously playing at an elite level. Sawyer Kuypers is playing at an elite level. We got Myles Ledoux, Jordin Griffin came back. Those two are back full throttle. We got Jaden Jasmine, who moved in. He’s been playing great football.”
Sulphur will play its first game under interim head coach Vinnie Bullara after Cody Gueringer resigned after last week’s game.
The Tors have scored 30 or more points in two of their last three games, which has caught Owens’ attention. Senior running back Tyler Joubert ran for a season-high 120 yards last week, and Jayden Shirley caught four passes for 108 yards and two scores in a 66-34 loss to Carencro.
“Sulphur’s playing much better,” Owens said. “They have a good offense. They’re putting up points, so we’re definitely not overlooking Sulphur. It’s going to be a rival game. Anytime you make more up Sulphur, records go out the window.”
Owens said the key for the Bucs will be to put any distractions behind them and stay focused.
“We’ve just got to come out playing fast football with our offense,” Owens said. “It’s going to be Friday night, Halloween. We need to control our emotions.
“No easy plays. No dumb penalties. You don’t want to give anybody a free yardage or easy touchdowns.”
Elsewhere
Two of the area’s three undefeated teams will play tonight with a chance to move closer to a perfect regular season.
In District 3-4A, Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 4A No. 5 Iowa (8-0, 3-0) hosts LaGrange (1-7, 0-3). The Yellow Jackets beat the Gators twice last season, including 48-6 in the first round of the playoffs. Iowa running back J’vien Adams has run for more than 100 yards in seven consecutive games and averages 135.9 yards a game.
Class 2A No. 8 Kinder (8-0, 2-0), who shares the lead in District 5-2A with Avoyelles (5-3, 2-0), will host Port Barre (3-5, 1-1). The Yellow Jackets have been tough to stop with an offense that has scored 50 or more points five times.