Analysis: 2021 Louisiana High School Boys Soccer Playoff Brackets

BOYS’ SOCCER BRACKETS

Before discussing the brackets in Louisiana’s boys soccer playoffs, I want to thank the LHSAA for bending over backwards to both keep the players safe but also have a full soccer season as well.

This season has been a very unique experience which I hope we will never have to repeat. I feel for the teams that have had to opt out because of COVID-19 issues.It will stain our memory of this year’s championships for sure. H

Not having consistent line-ups and having to change games at the last minute have taxed all of us to the max. Everyone should be commended this year on how everything played out.

Despite the pandemic, anyone winning a championship this year will remember it for a lifetime.

Division I

A fun division to watch this year has more parity, it seems. St. Paul’s has dominated here for years now while everyone has scrambled just for the chance to play them in the finals. Now, the unthinkable has happened The Wolves had three losses and now everyone else feels that this is their year.

While there seems to be hope at the end of the tunnel, I wouldn’t count out St. Paul’s from again repeating as state champions. They have experience, and losing three games is a great year for most of us. For them, it’s prime motivation.

The top 4 seeds in DI are Catholic-Baton Rouge, Jesuit, Captain Shreve and Byrd. All of them have had great seasons and appear more than capable of winning it all. Captain Shreve would see St. Paul’s in the quarterfinals and would have to beat them in Covington. A tough task indeed.

Other local teams of note are (25) Archbishop Rummel, (12) Mandeville, (13) Destrehan, (30) Grace King, (27) Slidell, (10) Brother Martin and (15) West Jefferson, who gets to host the first round game after a strong season. Most coaches privately are split as to whether or not it will be Catholic or Jesuit on top at the end. I’m one of those on the outside that says overlooking St. Paul’s would be a lethal mistake.

Division II

Holy Cross is the leader in Division II, going for their forth straight state title. The Tigers have proved with an impressive schedule that they are well poised to do it again. Everyone in DII will have to realize that it is highly probable that Holy Cross will be their opponent if they make a postseason run.

St. Thomas More is seeded second with Benton and a dangerous Ben Franklin team filling out the top four. Other local teams that are in the mix are (9) Belle Chasse, (10) East Jefferson, (11) Lakeshore, (13) Bonnabel, (14) Archbishop Shaw and (20) Riverdale.

As for who could upset the Tigers, St. Thomas More feels the burn from not being the state champion for three years now. I expect them to rally and make a run.

Division III

Unlike DI and DII, DIII is markedly more wide open. Coaches around the state feel that on any given day, anyone in the top 20 can win and make a run.

University is the top seed even though second seed Lusher has a better record. The third seed is Loyola Prep while No. 4 is an exciting, undefeated North Vermillion team. E.D. White, the fifth seed, has only a month with their starters from the football team so perhaps they might not have peaked just yet; the Cardinals have been hard to beat lately, and many feel that this is the year for EDW to win it all.

Sixth seed Parkview Baptist has had a great rebuilding year, posting only one loss and proving that they are a force now.

Other local teams that have punched their ticket in are (11) NOMMA, (12) Archbishop Hannan, (19) Haynes, (21) De La Salle and (22) Pearl River. Interesting note: the 24 and 25 seeds had identical power ratings but due to divisional tie-breakers, Erath will fill the final spot in the bracket, leaving a very good St. Martinville team out in the cold.

Division IV

The top seed, Pope John Paul II, is strong with a roster that most DI teams would give anything to have. The Jaguars are fast, dynamic and solid defensively.

The No. 2 seed is Catholic of New Iberia which has suffered only one loss while the third seed Episcopal of Acadiana comes back in the fold with perennial power Northlake Christian taking the fourth seed.

One team that got their groove on late in the season is the defending champion Isodore Newman. The No. 8 seed has shown recently that they can score on anyone. I think Pope will have to deal with them in the quarterfinals uptown which will be a great test and a game I would show up early to watch. Pope beat them 3-2 on Jan, 8, but that was when Newman was just starting to get their rhythm.

Other local teams that made the cut are (13) Country Day and (19) St. Martin’s.

This year’s playoffs will be a fine reward for all we’ve been through to reach this point. It is my hope none of these teams have issues with the virus after braving such a difficult season. The threat is real, however, and we will just have to see.

You can follow all the action here on Crescent City Sports and hear analysis of the playoffs on the Monday Night Futbol podcast as well.