Class 3A Playoff Analysis: Jennings leads the way but class wide open for state honors

It may be the most wide open class in the nine classes of the state playoffs.

Class 3A has as many as eight to 10 teams who could conceivably win a state title.

Jennings (6-0) had a ton of starters returning from a team that reached the state title game a year ago so it is no surprise that the Bulldogs are the top seed and perhaps the team to beat.

Union Parish (7-0) is the second seed and the Farmers have been a juggernaut offensively, averaging 45.3 points per game.

No. 3 Lake Charles College Prep (6-0) has been very impressive and the Trailblazers are into the second round after No. 30 Caldwell Parish had to pull out of its first round game with LCCP. The Trailblazers advance to the second round to meet the winner of No. 19 Iowa and No. 14 South Beauregard.

No. 4 Church Point (5-0) is another unbeaten squad and the Bears face No. 29 Mansfield.

A pair of dangerous teams to watch are No. 5 St. James and No. 8 Donaldsonville.

The Wildcats (6-2) have won three straight games and are the defending champions.

The Tigers (4-2) have a signature 50-28 victory over St. James which opened everyone’s eyes.

Another team that could win it all is No. 9 Madison Prep.

The Chargers (6-1) lost only to Division II power University Lab and have posted a pair of shutouts.

No. 7 Green Oaks (6-2) is a good team that could make a run. The Giants lost only to 5A Alexandria, a very good team, and at Union Parish in a 48-42 shootout.

Do not ignore the winner of the New Orleans area matchup of No. 18 Booker T. Washington and No. 15 McDonogh 35. Both teams have the kind of athletes that compete with the best in class. The Lions downed the Roneagles 22-6 just last week so they will meet for the second straight week. McDonogh 35 lost to Jennings in the semifinals a year ago.