East St. John, Warren Easton forfeit games, affect playoff seeds

Inevitably, it always seems to happen at this time of year.

With playoff seeds to be announced Sunday, movement occurred on the field Thursday and Friday with results.

With events off the field, movement occurred Friday which will have a ripple affect on several teams.

In Class 5A, East St. John was forced to forfeit three games for the use of an ineligible player. Two of the three games were wins for the Wildcats, which dropped them to 6-4 on the year and will cost them a home game in the playoffs. The forfeited wins came against West Jefferson and Sophie B. Wright while the other game was a loss to St. James.

East St. John went out and defeated Thibodaux 21-14 in overtime Friday night to ensure a spot in the playoffs, likely as a dangerous seed at anywhere from No. 22 to 24.

In Class 4A, Warren Easton was forced to forfeit its season opening win against De La Salle, a good 36-28 victory, for use of an ineligible player. The loss drops the Eagles down to around the No. 19-No. 21 seed and will put a very good team on the road in the opening round next week.

As a result of the East St. John forfeits, Walker and Captain Shreve and now have real shots at home games in the opening round.

As a result of the Warren Easton forfeit, De La Salle will now earn a bye in the opening round as a top two seed in Division II and has a good shot at being the No. 1 overall seed ahead of St. Thomas More while University High may drop to third and have to play in the opening round.