Cougars dominate season opener in Lafayette
St. Thomas More High School opened its 2026 football season with a convincing 35-0 victory over Teurlings Catholic on Friday, Sept. 4, at the Cougars’ home field in Lafayette, La. The result, captured in a series of staff photographs from the game, showed a balanced attack and a defence that kept the visitors off the scoreboard all evening.
The game featured several standout plays captured in images distributed after the match. Running back Landyn Craft provided multiple strong rushing efforts, while quarterback Grayson Heard finished plays near the goal line. Receivers also made their mark, including a touchdown catch by Jacques Christie celebrated alongside teammate Jared Quoyeser II.
“St. Thomas More defeated Teurlings Catholic 35-0 in the opening game of the 2026 high school football season.”
Teurlings Catholic’s head coach, Michael Courville, and players such as running back James Benoit and defender Esiere Granger were also visible in the photos, which document the ebb and flow of the contest though not a play-by-play account. The visual coverage underlined both individual efforts and the collective nature of a shutout victory.
Game snapshot and what it means for communities
From small towns to mid-size cities, high-school football often serves as a focal point for community identity, and the season opener frequently sets the tone. For St. Thomas More, a dominant opening performance can bolster confidence heading into the middle of the schedule and energize supporters — students, parents and alumni — around the program. On the other side, Teurlings Catholic will look to regroup and adjust as the season progresses.
- Score: St. Thomas More 35, Teurlings Catholic 0
- Date: Sept. 4, 2026
- Location: St. Thomas More High School, Lafayette, La.
| Team | Notable players shown | Result |
|---|---|---|
| St. Thomas More | Landyn Craft, Grayson Heard, Jacques Christie, Jared Quoyeser II | 35 |
| Teurlings Catholic | James Benoit, Esiere Granger; coach Michael Courville | 0 |
Photographs from the match show the Cougars executing a ground game that repeatedly moved the chains and a defensive unit that prevented Teurlings from converting opportunities into points. Visuals of Heard diving for the end zone and Craft breaking through defensive lines form a clear narrative: St. Thomas More controlled the game’s momentum.
While the contest took place in Louisiana, the themes are familiar to sports communities in Ontario, including St. Thomas: early-season wins build programme momentum, while tough losses oblige teams and coaches to reassess schemes and personnel. For parents, students and local fans, weekend games remain a chance to gather and reinforce neighbourhood ties — in small towns and cities alike.
As the schedule unfolds, both schools will face new opponents and adjustments will come into focus. For supporters of St. Thomas More, Friday’s shutout will be remembered as a statement performance — a baseline from which the season’s ambitions can grow. Teurlings Catholic will take lessons from the defeat as it seeks a rebound.
Local readers tracking high-school sports may find parallels to their own communities: a single game can elevate a roster’s belief, create highlight moments for individual players and spark conversation about coaching and depth. The photographs from this opener preserve some of those moments — and, for the Cougars, a clean-sheet start to the season.
