Playoffs to start early for some local teams

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November 1, 2017

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November 1, 2017

There’s one game left in the 2017 prep football regular season.

But there’s still an awful lot to be decided on the field before the postseason begins.

A lot of our area teams have clinched spots in the playoffs, but seeding is still very much up for grabs.

And for some teams – like Thibodaux and Central Lafourche – the postseason will begin now because both schools need to win their final game to reach the playoffs.

The trick? They’re facing one another – some added spice to an always heated annual rivalry.

“I think it’s going to be a great atmosphere – almost like those old school Thibodaux and Central Lafourche games of the past,” Thibodaux coach Chris Dugas said. “We’re both pretty much in the same situation. We both need to win to have a shot at moving on. We have so much respect for Keith (Menard) and those guys over there and they’ve gotten a lot better throughout the year. We expect it to be a great game.”

“We talked about it with the kids and we know what’s at stake,” Central Lafourche coach Keith Menard. “We want to get ourselves ready with a good week of practice and prepare to face a good opponent with a chance to play a playoff game. We wouldn’t want it any other way.”

In Class 5A, the meeting between the Tigers and Trojans is pretty much a play-in game. Both teams are just outside of the Top 32, but it’s expected that with a victory, the winner will catapult themselves into the field.

Also in Class 5A, Terrebonne is a lock to make the postseason, but they, too have a ton to play for in the final game of the regular season.

Recent power rating projections have the Tigers ranked No. 17 in Class 5A.

With a win on Friday against Destrehan, Terrebonne would jump into the Top 16, which means a home game in round one of the round of 32.

Terrebonne walloped H.L. Bourgeois on Friday, but didn’t earn many points to make a significant move.

The Braves are eliminated from contention and cannot make the field.

In Class 4A, South Lafourche will be in the playoffs, but like Terrebonne, their seed is largely up for grabs.

The Tarpons are currently ranked No. 12 in Class 4A projections. If the playoffs started today, the Tarpons would be at home against No. 21 Carver next week.

But there’s still a lot at stake for the Tarpons. With a win on Friday, the Tarpons would guarantee themselves a home game, while also moving up a couple notches in seeding.

With a loss, there’s a small chance that the Tarpons would drop out of the top 16.

Coach Blake Forsythe said he wants his team to play its best in week 10 – regardless of opponent.

The Tarpons beat South Terrebonne 30-7 on Friday, but had several penalties, which left the first-year coach hungry for more.

“We don’t want to be content and look at it like, ‘Oh, we’re in the playoffs, so we don’t need to play as hard in Week 10 because we’re already there,’” Forsythe said. “We want to keep working and keep fighting and try and get this win because it would affect our seeding but it would also let us get into the bracket on a high note.”

Also in Class 4A, South Terrebonne will be taking on Ellender, but the game is for nothing more than pride. Both the Gators and Patriots cannot earn enough points to make the 32-team field.

In Division II, Vandebilt’s matchup with E.D. White in Week 10 will be a pride-filled contest between two of the best teams in the area – and also two of the biggest rivals.

But postseason implications will also be in play for both teams.

Vandebilt is currently No. 9 in Division II’s 16-team field. With a win over the Cardinals, Vandebilt would likely host a home playoff game in round one. With a loss, the Terriers will travel in the opening game.

For E.D. White, it’s unlikely that any result would bump the Cardinals out of the top 8. They are currently No. 6 in Division II projections.

Vandebilt coach Jeremy Atwell said he’s hearing from fans on both sides that they will show up to Buddy Marcello Stadium early and leave late – an expected wild atmosphere for high school football.

“How can you want anything more?” Atwell said. ”It’s two good football teams – big rivals. We think it’s going to be just an excellent contest.

In Division IV, Houma Christian will be in the playoffs, but their seeding is up for grabs. The Warriors are ranked No. 8. The top eight teams host a playoff game in round one.