Race to the playoffs

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, October 18, 2017

With three weeks left in the regular season, the playoff picture for Teche Area football teams is becoming clearer.

In Class 5A, New Iberia Senior High (2-5 overall, 1-3 District 3-5A) stands at 40 in the most recent, unofficial power ratings by the LHSAA.

NISH has three district games left — Friday at home against Comeaux (4-3, 2-2), then on the road at Sulphur (4-2, 3-1) and finally at home against Sam Houston (3-4, 1-3) to close out the regular season. The Jackets probably have to win all three games and then get some help to move up into the top 32 in Class 5A to get into the playoffs. New Iberia hasn’t been in the postseason since 2013 where the Jackets advanced to the second round before losing to Zachary.

In Class 4A, Westgate (4-3, 0-2 District 4-4A) was 20th in the LHSAA power rankings with three district games left in the regular season — Friday at Teurlings (3-4, 1-1), then home against Rayne (5-1, 1-1) before closing on the road at Northside (3-4, 0-2).

A four-game win streak in the middle of the season helped the Tigers, who are trying to get into the top 16 of the power rankings for a home first-round playoff game.

WHS should be in the playoffs but another win or two would almost guarantee the Tigers a spot in the postseason.

St. Martinville (3-4, 1-1 District 5-4A) was 37th in the power rankings, currently on the outside looking in. The Tigers have three district games left, all at home, starting Friday against Opelousas (5-2, 1-1), followed by Beau Chene ( 4-3, 0-2) and then the regular season finale against Breaux Bridge (4-3, 2-0).

SMSH needs to post some wins to get back into the top 32 and into the postseason.

In Class 3A Erath (0-7, 0-2 District 8-3A) has three district games left, Friday at home against Kaplan (4-3, 2-0), then on the road at Patterson (4-3, 2-0) and at home against Abbeville (2-5, 0-2). Surprisingly because of the tough schedule they’ve faced, the Bobcats are 34th in the LHSAA power rankings and a win or two over the last three weeks of the season could be enough to get them into the playoffs.

In Class 2A, Catholic High (6-1, 3-0 District 7-2A) will be in the select Division III playoffs. The Panthers are currently third in Division III and have three district games remaining — Friday at home against Delcambre (0-6, 0-3), then at Ascension Episcopal (6-1, 3-0) before closing the regular season at Franklin (1-6, 1-3).

CHS is safely in the Division III playoffs and playing for as high a seed as it can get. If both Catholic High and Ascension Episcopal win this week, then next week’s game at AES would be for the district championship.

In the non-select playoffs, Loreauville (2-5, 2-1) is 22nd in the power rankings with three district games left, Friday at home against Ascension Episcopal, then two road games to close out the season against West St. Mary and Delcambre.

The Tigers should be safely in the playoffs but a couple of wins over the final weeks could be enough to get them into the top 16 and a home first-round game.

West St. Mary (3-4, 3-1) is just behind Loreauville at 24th in the power rankings. The Wolfpack originally had a district bye and an open date this week but picked up at game at Class 5A Thibodaux (1-6 overall). WSM plays host to Loreauville next week before closing out the regular season at Ascension Episcopal.

WSM is most likely safely in the Class 2A playoffs but a win or two over the last three weeks would guarantee a spot in the postseason.

Jeanerette (2-5, 0-4) is currently 26th in the power rankings with two district games left and a non-district game in the final week. The Tigers play host to Franklin Friday, then travel to Delcambre before closing out the regular season at Class A Lafayette Christian (7-0).

At 26th in the power rankings, JSH is almost a bubble team and most likely needs a win over the last three weeks to guarantee a spot in the playoffs.

Franklin (1-6, 1-3) is 37th in the power rankings headed into this week’s contest at Jeanerette. The Hornets then have a district bye and an open date in week 9 before playing host to Catholic High in the final week of the regular season.

FSH most likely needs to win out, then get some help to move into the top 32 for the playoffs.

Delcambre (0-6, 0-3) is 41st in the power rankings, just above last place D’Arbonne Woods Charter school. The Panthers travel to Catholic High Friday before closing out the regular season at home against Jeanerette and Loreauville. Delcambre would most likely have to run the table with three straight wins and then get some help to make the Class 2A playoffs.

In Class A, Centerville (4-3, 0-3 District 7-A) is 19th in the power rankings with three district games left, Friday at home against Highland Baptist, then home against Central Catholic (3-4, 2-1) before closing out the regular season at Hanson.

The Bulldogs are safely in the Class A playoffs and are playing to jump up a few spots to get into the top 16 and play host to first-round game.

Centerville has never won, nor hosted a playoff game in its brief football history

Both Highland Baptist (3-4, 1-2) and Hanson (2-5, 1-3) are fighting for playoff spots in the select Division IV postseason.

Hanson is 17th in the Division IV power rankings while Highland is 18th. Only the top 16 make the Division IV playoffs.

HBCS closes out the regular season with three district games — Friday at Centerville, home against Vermilion Catholic (5-2, 3-0) and the road at Gueydan (3-4, 1-3).

Hanson has two district games left and one non-district game. The Tigers are at Central Catholic Friday, then at Sacred Heart (5-2) for a non-district game before closing out at home against Centerville.

Both schools need to post a couple of wins to make sure they can jump high enough to get into the postseason.

In the Association of Christian Educators of Louisiana 8-man league, Assembly Christian finished third in the league and will travel to face John Paul the Great Thursday at 7 p.m. in the semifinals at Clark Field in Lafayette. If the Lions win, they will be in the ACEL Finals set for Saturday, Oct. 28 at Clark Field against the winner of the other semifinal between Northeast Baptist and Berchman’s Academy.