Locals begin playoffs

The stakes will be quite a bit higher this week in local prep football and volleyball.

That’s because both sports are in the midst of the state playoffs and several local teams are hard at work vying for state championships.

Start in football and Class 5A, where two locals reached the 32-team playoff field.

Our area’s best team in the regular season, undefeated South Lafourche, earned the No. 8 seed in the bracket and will host No. 25 Ruston.

Ruston enters the game with just a 5-5 record on the season.

But their setbacks have come against some of the best teams in Louisiana – a list that includes West Monroe, Ouachita and Neville.

While South Lafourche enjoys the comforts of home in the opening round, Terrebonne will experience life on the road.

Thanks to a Week 10 victory, the Tigers squeaked into the playoffs as the No. 31 seed. They will travel to play No. 2 Barbe in the opening round.

An annual power, the Buccaneers own victories against Evangel and Acadiana this season.

In Class 4A, Vandebilt will begin its state title quest in Houma.

The Terriers earned the No. 8 seed in the playoffs and will host No. 25 Huntington – a 6-4 squad that has scored 38 or more points in four of their 10 games this season.

The only team to defeat Vandebilt this season will face a familiar foe in the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs.

E.D. White earned the No. 17 seed in the playoffs and will travel to take on district foe No. 16 Brusly.

The Cardinals will be seeking revenge in their rematch against their first round foe, having lost a 43-7 regular season game against Brusly.

On the bottom half of the 3A bracket, No. 31 Patterson will look to play spoiler against No. 2 Notre Dame.

The Lumberjacks will enter the playoffs red-hot, having won four-straight games – the last three by a combined 121-7 margin.

With a win, Patterson could play a second round game with St. Charles Catholic – the same team to knock them out last season.

In Class 1A, the Tri-parish area will send two to postseason play.

Houma Christian advanced to the playoffs in just their second-ever varsity season.

The Warriors earned the No. 28 seed and will travel to play No. 5 Kentwood in the opening round.

On the opposite side of the bracket, No. 19 Central Catholic will begin its road to the Superdome in a road tilt with No. 14 Cedar Creek.

With a win, the Eagles would likely host Vermilion Catholic in Round 2 – the same team that defeated Central Catholic Friday night by a 35-14 score.

While Friday night lights will provide drama this weekend, a few local volleyball teams will be chasing state titles this week on the hardwood.

In Division I, H.L. Bourgeois received the No. 8 seed and an opening round bye to the Regional Round.

With the bye, the Lady Braves hosted No. 9 Destrehan in a game played Monday. Scores for that game were unavailable at press-time.

In Division II, No. 12 Morgan City rolled to the second round with a 3-0 (25-16, 26-24, 25-23) win against Central of Baton Rouge.

With the win, the Lady Tigers advanced to face Cabrini in the second round in a road match.

In Division III, a pair of locals are among the top teams in Louisiana.

E.D. White earned the No. 2-seed and an opening round bye. The Lady Cardinals hosted DeQuincy in the second round Monday. No score was available at press time.

No. 6 Vandebilt also earned an opening round bye in that class and played host to No. 11 Lusher Charter Monday afternoon at the school’s volleyball gymnasium.

In Division V, Central Catholic entered postseason play among the favorites to win the state championship.

The No. 3-seeded Lady Eagles played No. 19 Christian Life in the second round after earning a first round bye.

While many locals played second round matches, others entered the playoffs and were defeated.

In Division I, No. 19 Terrebonne fell in four sets to No. 14 Comeaux.

In Division II, No. 15 South Terrebonne dropped a home match to No. 18 Salmen in straight sets.

And in Division III, No. 19 Berwick lost in straight sets to No. 14 Haynes Academy.