It’s a perfect night for high school football as the playoffs continue tonight. In Class Five-A, top seeded West Monroe is on the road as they’ll visit Dutchtown. Seventh-seeded Ruston hosts Hahnville, who features one of the best running backs in the state in Pooka Williams. Also, 15th seeded Ouachita Parish tries to upset second-seeded Covington, who is undefeated.

In four-A, third seeded Benton is home to Cecillia, sixth-seeded Leesville takes on Rayne and seventh-seeded Neville faces a talented McDonogh 35 squad from New Orleans.

This LSU Tigers arrived in Knoxville this afternoon where they’ll take on Tennessee tomorrow night. The Vols winless in the SEC and searching for a new head coach. Edge rusher Arden Key and inside linebacker Donnie Alexander are questionable, which means freshmen K’Lavon Chaisson and Tyler Taylor could start in their place. Kick-off is at 6 PM and it’s expected to rain during the game.

Louisiana Tech, ULM, and UL-Lafayette all need to win this Saturday to keep hope alive of a bowl bid. The Bulldogs and Cajuns have a good chance at winning. Tech is at winless UTEP, while the Cajuns host New Mexico State for homecoming. The Warhawks are at sixth ranked Auburn.

McNeese State needs to win tomorrow in order for a chance to receive an at-large berth into the FCS Playoffs. The 8-and-2 Cowboys are at Lamar, who have just two wins on the year. Last night, Southeastern beat Nicholls 21-17. That loss might have knocked the Colonels out of the playoffs.

On Sunday it’s the Saints versus the Redskins as New Orleans goes after its eighth straight win. Washington is 4-and-5 and a tough team to figure out. Two weeks ago, the Redskins went on the road and beat Seattle, but lost to Minnesota at home last week.

The Pelicans are at Denver tomorrow night. The Nuggets are 8-and-6 and the Pels are just 1-and-7 against teams that currently have a winning record. Tonight’s game is on ESPN at 9:30.

LSU makes the trip to Rocky Top today where they’ll visit Tennessee, who is a disappointing 4-6, 0-6 in the SEC. Former Michigan Head Coach Brady Hoke has taken over as the interim head coach, after Butch Jones was fired earlier this week. Quarterback Danny Etling says they expect to face a fired up Tennessee team…
cut 17 (17) “….be ready”
Kick-off is at 6 PM.

In other action tomorrow, Louisina Tech is at winless UTEP. The Bulldogs need to win their final two games to be bowl eligible. ULM is at 6th ranked Auburn. Auburn is coming off a huge win over Georgia and face Alabama next Saturday. And the Ragin Cajuns host New Mexico State for homecoming.

Southeastern Louisiana beat Nicholls 21-17 last night in Hammond and the Colonels will wait and see if they’ve done enough to get into the FCS playoffs. 17th ranked Nicholls finishes with a regular season record of 8-3.

McNeese State is also in position to make the FCS playoffs. The Cowboys are at Lamar tomorrow, Northwestern State hosts Stephen F Austin. Has Jay Thomas done enough to keep his job in Natchitoches? The Demons are 3-and-7.

The high school football playoffs continue tonight….In Class 5-A Ruston hosts Hahnville. Tigers running back Pooka Williams rushed for five touchdowns last week in a win over Denham Springs.

In four-A….North Desoto is at Warren Easton, while Northwood-Shreveport hosts Salmen. In Three-A, Jennings versus Church Point should be a good one and Division Two…quarterfinals has St. Thomas More versus Parkview Baptist.

The forecast calls for rain and temperatures falling into the 50s on Saturday in Knoxville for the LSU-Tennessee game. But the Tigers should have success running the football as the Volunteers rank last in the SEC in rushing defense. LSU Quarterback Danny Etling hopes success on the ground will lead to good results through the air…:
Cut 16 (14) “get involved”
Kickoff tomorrow is at 6pm.

What a game last night in Hammond. It was expected to be tight as the River Bell Classic typically is, and Southeastern couldn’t be stopped in the second half — the Lions marched on to beat Nicholls State 21-17. It was a big blow to the 17th ranked Colonels who were looking to lock up their first FCS playoff berth since 2005.

The LSU men’s basketball team had an easy time against Samford last night at the PMAC. The Tigers picked up a 105-86 win. Junior Brandon Sampson and sophomore Skylar Mays led LSU in scoring with 20 points each. Here’s a highlight of a Sampson dunk…with Chris Blair on the call from the LSU Sports Radio Network…:
CUT 25 (12) “off of Samford”
Sampson had a career-best seven assists. The Tigers now will fly to Maui where they will begin play in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational on Monday.

Also in college hoops last night, ULM beat SLU 86-75. Grambling fell to Iowa, 85-74.

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan was added to the Thursday injury report with a back injury. New Orleans will face the Washington Redskins Sunday who listed 18 players on their injury report.

LSU Quarterback Danny Etling says he’s feeling more healthy heading into Saturday’s game against Tennessee. Head Coach Ed Orgeron said Etling reinjured his surgically repaired back-up during warm-ups against Arkansas. Etling says he’s ready to play this Saturday against the Vols…
cut 30 (22) “…recognized the difference”

There’s college football in the state tonight as Southeastern Louisiana hosts Nicholls State at Strawberry Stadium for a 6 PM kick-off. A win for the Colonels puts them in position for their first appearance in the FCS playoffs since 2005. The Lions need to win, to finish the season with a winning record.

The Saints go after their eighth straight win on Sunday when they host the Washington Redskins, who are 4-and-5 on the season. Kirk Cousins ranks third in the NFL with over 24-hundred passing yards. He’s tossed 14 touchdown passes and has been intercepted five times. Head Coach Sean Payton on what he sees from the Redskins offense on tape…
cut 29 (21) “…his teammates”
Kick-off is at noon on Sunday.

Tonight at the PMAC, the LSU Tigers host Samford as Coach Will Wade tries to start the season off with a 2-0 record.

In other action, ULM hosts Southeastern Louisiana, while Grambling visits Iowa.

LSU heads out tomorrow to play Tennessee in Knoxville. Edge rusher Arden Key and linebacker Donnie Alexander remain questionable as both did not practice yesterday. Head Coach Ed Orgeron said on his radio show last night that starting left tackle K-J Malone also remains questionable, but O did say he’s walking around and looking much better.

There’s college football in the state tonight as Southeastern Louisiana faces Nicholls State. Colonels Head Coach Tim Rebowe says they are worried about the Lions explosive offense…
cut 28 (10) “…at receiver”
The Colonels are 8-and-2 overall, 7-and-1 in the Southland and still in position to earn a berth into the F-C-S playoffs,.

The Pelicans had their three-game winning streak snapped last night as they lost to Toronto 125-116. New Orleans is now 8-and-7 on the year and have yet to beat a team with a winning record. The Pels are at Denver on Friday.

Tonight, the LSU men’s basketball team looks to go 2-and-0 on the season when they host Samford. The Tigers are comign off a 40-point season opening win over Alcorn State. Samford is 1-and-1 on the year, a season opening loss to Arkansas and a victory over Alabama A-and-M.

Also tonight, ULM hosts Southeastern Louisiana and Grambling is at Iowa. Last night SMU downed Northwestern State 81-35.

The exciting Nicholls State versus Southeastern Southland rivalry kicks off tonight in Hammond, and a win for the Colonels could mean they make the playoffs for the first time since 2005. The Lions are 5-3 in conference play, and Nicholls Coach Tim Rebowe says they are prepared for a tight contest…:
CUT 25 (11) “and getting after you”
The past two times these teams met the games have been decided by a combined five points, with Nicholls winning in 2015, and the Lions taking the 2016 matchup. Southeastern Coach Ron Roberts…:
CUT 26 (12) “Classic”
Kickoff inside Strawberry Stadium is 6pm.

There is a lot of hype on a national level about the recent winning ways of the New Orleans Saints, but Coach Sean Payton says they still have a long way to go…:
CUT 27 (19) “we have been”
The Saints kick off against the Redskins at noon Sunday.

The New Orleans Pelicans saw their three-game winning streak snapped in a home loss to the Raptors. The score was 125-116.

LSU Quarterback Danny Etling’s back stiffened during warm-ups before the Tigers’ game against Arkansas last Saturday. But Head Coach Ed Orgeron says Etling is much healthier now. The Tigers take on the Vols this weekend in Knoxville.

LSU Head Coach Ed Orgeron said on the SEC Teleconference this morning that the kicking competition has been re-opened after Conner Culp missed two extra points and a field goal in the win against Arkansas. Jack Gonsoulin replaced Culp and made two extra points. Coach “O” also said Quarterback Danny Etling is feeling a lot better this week after tweaking his back before the Arkansas game.

In LSU’s first three SEC games, they allowed opponents to rush for 189 yards or more in each of those contests. The Tigers run defense has been much better since the Auburn game. Defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence explains why…
cut 17 (20) “…the ball”

Two upcoming Saints games have been moved to a 3:25 kick-off time. The November 26th matchup against the Rams in Los Angeles and the December 3rd home game against Carolina.

In SEC news, sources say Jeff Long has been fired as the athletic director at the University of Arkansas. Not a good sign for Razorbacks Head Coach Bret Bielema, who will not produce a winning season in Fayetteville this year.

Alabama is number one in the latest college football rankings and there are reports Texas A-and-M is interested in Florida State Head Coach Jimbo Fisher.

College basketball last night…5th ranked Villanova beat Nicholls 113-to-77, while the Ragin Cajuns handled Louisiana College 113 to 58. Tonight, Northwestern State is at SMU and the Pelicans host the Raptors tonight at the Smoothie King Center. Toronto beat New Orleans by four last week in Canada.

LSU continues its preparations today for Tennessee. The Volunteers could throw some new stuff at the Tigers as interim head coach Brady Hoke takes over a program that hasn’t won an SEC game. LSU defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence says they’re ready for what Tennessee will try to bring…:
cut 16 (14) “establish the run”
LSU moved up four spots to No. 20 in the College Football Playoff ranking, released Tuesday.

Now that the Saints are riding a seven-game winning streak, and leading the NFC South, the NFL wants to feature some of their games unlike the start of the season. The league announced the Black and Gold’s November 26 game at the Los Angeles Rams, and the December 3rd home game against the Carolina Panthers have been moved to 3:25pm kickoffs.

The Ragin Cajuns will play their first home game in over a month when they host New Mexico State for homecoming on Saturday. UL Lafayette is 4-5 overall and 3-and-2 in the Sun Belt and Coach Mark Hudspeth says this team can still accomplish a lot, if it can win its three remaining games..:
cut 18 (19) “special group”

In college hoops, UL-Lafayette opened the season last night with a 113-58 win over Louisiana College. Nicholls was smashed by 5th ranked Villanova, 113-77.

Former LSU star and current Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, along with the United Food Bank, provided 200 Thanksgiving meals to families in Phoenix, according to the team’s Twitter account.

LSU linebacker Devin White has been named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for a third time this season after he recorded 14 tackles in the Tigers 33-10 win over Arkansas. White leads the SEC in total tackles with 103. The former North Webster High School standout gives a lot credit to defensive coordinator Dave Aranda…
cut 18 (15) “…I play”
The Tigers are at Tennessee this Saturday. Two starters on defense are listed as questionable, Arden Key and Donnie Alexander. Also, no word on when left tackle K-J Malone will return to the field.

Ragin Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth anticipates true freshman quarterback Levi Lewis will start in Saturday’s home game against New Mexico State, despite a sprained ankle.

The Saints have reportedly signed running back Jonathan Williams from the Denver Broncos practice squad. The former Arkansas standout appeared in 11 games with the Buffalo Bills last year. He joins the roster as back-up running back and special teams contributor Daniel Lasco will miss the rest of the season with a bulging disc. Lasco was carted off the field last Sunday and needs surgery, but Coach Sean Payton says the prognosis is good.

The Pelicans have won five of their last six after beating Atlanta 106 to 105 yesterday. New Orleans hosts Toronto tomorrow night. The Raptors beat the Pelicans last week. Toronto has won the last five meetings between the two teams.

Tonight in college basketball…Nicholls State is at 5th ranked Villanova in a game that will be shown on F-S One. The Colonels opened their season with a 111-106 win over Texas Rio Grande Valley.

UL Lafayette has its home opener tonight as the Cajuns host Louisiana College.

Louisiana Tech defeated Southeast Missouri 96-95 in overtime last night.

For the third time this year, LSU linebacker Devin White has been named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. The sophomore from Springhill, Louisiana had 14 tackles in the Tigers 33-10 win over Arkansas. Coach Ed Orgeron says White has been a big leader on and off the field
Cut 17 (19) “I’ve been around”
White says he doesn’t get tired of winning SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors…
Cut 19 (15) good awards”

The Saints next opponent is the Washington Redskins. Washington is 4-5 and coming off a 38-30 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings. New Orleans is 7-and-2 and they have a half game lead over Carolina in the NFC South, who easily defeated the Dolphins 45-21 last night. Cam Newton looked healthy as he threw four touchdown passes.

The Pelicans won for a fifth time in six tries last night as they rallied to beat Atlanta 106-105. New Orleans has relied a lot on Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, but last night it was E-Twaun Moore who led the team in scoring with 24 points and Darius Miller added a career-high 21 points, including 14 in the 4th quarter.

Big overtime win for Louisiana Tech last night as the Bulldogs beat Southeast Missouri 96-95 in overtime. Jalen Harris and DaQuan Bracey combined to score 46 points. Also last night, Tulane topped Southeastern Louisiana 89-66.