For Immediate Release
Contact: Patrick Wesley / patrick.wesley@shreveportla.gov
Date: July 12, 2017
City of Shreveport Announces 2017 Battle on the Border Matchups
SHREVEPORT, LA- The City of Shreveport will again host some of the top high school football programs in the region during the 2017 Landers Dodge Battle on the Border High School Football Showcase. Games will be held on September 8-9 at Shreveport Independence Stadium.
The seventh annual showcase features regional and national powerhouse high school football programs from six states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Georgia. The Battle on the Border features five games over two days, providing a full slate of weekend games for regional high school football fans. The 10 participating teams have combined to win 70 state championships. The John Curtis Patriots top the list with an incredible 26 state titles in the school’s 55-year history.
“The City of Shreveport and Landers Dodge are excited to bring these regional and national powerhouse teams to Independence Stadium. We look forward to a great weekend of high school football,” said Patrick Wesley, Assistant Director of Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation.
Tickets for the Battle on the Border start at $10 for advanced general admission, and one ticket is good for all five showcase games. For more information on the Landers Dodge Battle on the Border High School Football Showcase, visit www.thebattleontheborder.com.
2017 Landers Dodge Battle on the Border High School Football Showcase Schedule:
Friday, Sept. 8, 2017
Booker T. Washington HS Hornets (Tulsa, OK) vs. West Monroe HS Rebels (West Monroe, LA) – 6 p.m.
The BTW Hornets will be making their second straight appearance in the Battle on the Border. BTW has won eight state championships in the school’s storied history. The Hornets were knocked out of the Class 6AII playoffs last season after suffering a heartbreaking 21-20 loss to Bixby, the eventual state runners-up. The West Monroe Rebels returned to the Class 5A State Championship in 2016 before losing to Landry-Walker. West Monroe has captured eight state titles in its storied history, and recently completed construction on beautiful new home side to Don Shows Stadium.
Pearl HS Pirates (Pearl, MS) vs. Parkway HS Panthers (Bossier City, LA) – 8:30 p.m.
Pearl will be making its first appearance in the Battle on the Border. After losing three of its first games in 2016, the Pearl Pirates went on an incredible nine-game winning streak before falling, 49-35, to Clinton in the State Championship. The Parkway Panthers are coming off its third straight double-digit winning season. Parkway lost in the Class 5A quarterfinals to eventual State Champion Landry-Walker. The Panthers dynamic pass-catch combo of quarterback Justin Rogers and wide receiver Terrace Marshall are two of the top recruits in the country. Marshall (6’3”, 193), who is a 5-star recruit, is ranked ninth in the ESPN 300 and 20th in Rivals 250, while Rogers (6’4”, 200) is ranked 64th by ESPN and 59th by Rivals. Rogers has verbally committed to Texas Christian University. The duo’s teammate Israel Mukuamu (6’4”, 190) is a defensive back transfer, who is rated a 4-star prospect.
Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017
Brentwood Academy Eagles (Brentwood, TN) vs. Bishop Dunne Catholic School Falcons (Dallas, TX) – 11 a.m.
Brentwood Academy has won 12 state championships in the school’s 48-year history, including last year’s TSSAA Div. II-AA State Championship. Eagles head coach Cody White was named “Coach of the Year” by The Tennessean. Eagles wide receiver Camron Johnson (6’0”, 180) is ranked 243rd by ESPN, while quarterback Gavin Schoenwald (6’5”, 220) and outside linebacker Jackson Sirmon (6’2”, 188) are rated as 3-star recruits and are among the top prospects in Tennessee. Despite their 5-5 regular season record in 2016, the Bishop Dunne Falcons won three straight playoff games to reach the TAPPS Division I State Championship where they squared off against the rival Bishop Lynch Friars. The Falcons had beaten the Friars, 28-21, earlier in the season, but Bishop Lynch would get its revenge by beating Bishop Dunne, 21-17, to capture the state championship. Bishop Dunne defensive tackle Calvin Avery (6’2”, 324) is ranked 224th by ESPN.
Grayson HS Rams (Loganville, GA) vs. John Curtis Christian School Patriots (River Ridge, LA) – 3 p.m.
This matchup features two national powerhouse programs in the Grayson, Ga. Rams and the John Curtis Patriots. In 2016, the Rams posted an impressive 14-1 record and captured the 2016 GHSAA Class 7A State Championship. The only blemish on the Grayson record was a 26-7 season-opening loss to IMG Academy. The 2016 Rams finished the year ranked fourth by MaxPreps and fifth by USA Today. The John Curtis Patriots have captured a record 25 state championships and are coached by J.T. Curtis, Jr., who is the winningest active coach in the country. Curtis is also a member of the National Federation of High Schools’ Hall of Fame. Patriots tight end Glen Beal (6’5”, 245) is ranked among the top recruits in Louisiana.
Moss Point HS Tigers (Moss Point, MS) vs. C.E. Byrd HS Yellow Jackets (Shreveport, LA) – 7 p.m.
The Moss Point Tigers will make their first appearance in the Battle on the Border in 2017. Their opponents, the Byrd Yellow Jackets, will make their seventh appearance. The Tigers posted a 5-6 record in 2016, losing 10-3 to Purvis in the first round of the MHSAA Class 4A state playoffs. Moss Point has five state championships in its history, the last coming in 2000. After being decimated by injuries and struggling through a 4-7 record in 2016, the Byrd Yellow Jackets look to return to winning form in 2017. Byrd coach Mike Suggs, the dean of area coaches, will be in his 20th season as the Yellow Jackets’ head man.
NOTE: All games are Central Standard Time