The time for some real tackle football is finally upon us.

There are no more scrimmages or jamborees to keep us mildly entertained, or distracted, until the regular season officially kicks off. As much fun as the Iberia Parish Sugar Cane Jamboree Coaches Luncheon always is, especially with New Iberia Senior High’s Rick Hutson holding court like the nine-time “Not-So-Swert Award” champion that he is, it pales in comparison to how coaches, players, fans and the media will feel this Thursday and Friday night.

That’s when the 2018 high school football season kicks off for the Teche Area’s 14 teams.

NISH and St. Martinville will get things started as the two old rivals will meet in St. Martinville on Thursday night. That same night, West St. Mary will play host to Abbeville, and Assembly Christian travels to play Southwest La. Homeschool.

Then comes Friday night’s full slate of games for the rest of the area with area teams traveling on the road to open the season. Highland Baptist will play at Houma Christian, Hanson Memorial is at St. Edmund, Erath will go over to Ascension Episcopal, and Loreauville will load up the bus for a game against Vermilion Catholic. 

There will be plenty of action closer to home as well with six home games on the schedule Friday.

Franklin hosts Patterson, Centerville will welcome Northwood-Lena, Delcambre takes on South Cameron, Jeanerette will play host to Sci Academy and of course there is the marquee matchup of the night — Catholic High at Westgate. Last year’s game between the two ended in a 42-35 victory for the Panthers. Here’s hoping this year’s game is as exciting.

But that is not all as college football kicks off this week as well.

UL Lafayette will begin the Billy Napier era on Saturday at Cajun Field against Grambling State, LSU takes on the University of Miami at AT&T Stadium in Arlington in primetime on Sunday night, Southern University will play at TCU on Saturday, while McNeese State travels to play Northern Colorado, and Nicholls eyes an upset at Kansas University on Saturday as well.

And not long after that, the Who Dat Nation will be cheering on the New Orleans Saints who will open the regular season at home in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 9.

Football has returned and we couldn’t be happier.

RAYMOND PARTSCH III

MANAGING EDITOR