Many of usual suspects favored to win New Orleans area football districts

Some are rather easy to handicap while others are extremely difficult.

When it comes to districts with New Orleans metro area teams, there are many clear favorites.

In District 8-1A, defending state champion West St. John is the easy choice to repeat with a good Varnado program second. West St. John has a host of talent returning and the Rams appear poised for a return to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in December. Of the others, Covenant Christian would appear best suited to contend. Houma Christian is solid, having won seven games last year while St. Martin’s Episcopal is starting over again.

In 9-2A, Amite is absolutely loaded and the Warriors look like the favorite to win the 2A state title with two of the top five players in the state and four of the top 30. St. Helena, which went to the championship game a year ago, is the second choice. The Hawks lost a lot, including their coach, but still have very good size. Pine won seven games a year ago, including a playoff game. Independence also won a playoff game last year. St. Thomas Aquinas had a superb season but changed coaches. Northlake Christian is a sleeper, will be better, and could move up. Pope John Paul II is starting over with a new coach again and Springfield will work hard to improve on its two wins a year ago.

District 10-2A could be a wild race. Newman still has an outstanding quarterback and receivers with some returning players up front from its district championship team which went to the Division III semifinals a year ago. Riverside lost Jordan Loving to graduation but still has very good wide receivers and other skill. Country Day is a real threat with Justin Ibieta leading the way. Any of the three teams could win it. South Plaquemines won a playoff game a year ago and is a competent team. Fisher is in a tough league.

In 7-3A, Loranger advanced in the playoffs a year ago and is the favorite to repeat. Albany won eight games last year and is always a fast starter. Archbishop Hannan is solid and will try to build on a nine-win season and playoff win. Bogalusa has good athletes and could surprise and move up while Jewel Sumner is improving under Ross Currier.

District 9-3A is a wide open affair. Flip a coin to determine who wins this one. KIPP Renaissance won it last year and the Bobcats get the nod to repeat in a close call. Cohen is an improved team and a threat to win the league. Sci Academy has a real shot to break through and win it as a growing program. Sophie B. Wright has good leadership and a commitment to make its football team as good as its basketball team. Thomas Jefferson is well coached but battles the numbers issue.

District 10-3A will be very competitive as well, with three very good teams. Despite losing double figure seniors to college programs, De La Salle remains the team to beat by a very slight margin over St. Charles Catholic, which has a very good running game. St. James returns several key players and will also challenge for district honors. Donaldsonville is a talented team in a very tough league and Haynes will struggle to compete.

District 8-4A is now the domain of Lakeshore. Craig Jones has done a marvelous job with the Titans and while they will likely not be a threat to return to the ‘Dome this season with the presence of Karr and Warren locally, Lakeshore remains a very good team and the team to beat in its league. Salmen has a new coach in Eric Chuter and while the Spartans graduated Eddie Smith and others, they are still a worthy challenger. Franklinton is working to return to the elite status it owned under Shane Smith. Pearl River is improving but facing three proven programs.

District 9-4A may have the two best teams in the state in Class 4A. Karr is the two-time defending state champion and the Cougars have been to the state championship game in seven of the last eight seasons. Warren Easton may have more overall talent and played Karr to the wire in the playoffs a year ago but you cannot pick against Karr until proven otherwise. Helen Cox is vastly improved, with very good size and a very good running back. Belle Chasse made a nice run a year ago and will be solid again. McMain has a new coach and attitude. This is a very good league.

District 10-4A figures to be a two-horse race and the slight nod goes to Carver. The Rams have speed and they nearly knocked out Karr in the playoffs a year ago. McDonogh 35 is always talented and will challenge, though the Roneagles lost a ton of talent to graduation. Riverdale is improving under Willie Brooks and the Rebels could make the playoffs this year. John F. Kennedy has a new brand, a new coach and a new approach and could make waves.

District 6-5A is perhaps the toughest league of all to pick. There are three teams that appear virtually equal. History tells us that St. Paul’s is the team to beat and that is hard to argue with. Kenny Sears has done a consistently good job but Slidell has a senior-laden team under Larry Favre and gets the nod by a hair over the Wolves and over Ponchatoula, which has a legendary coach in Hank Tierney, a brilliant quarterback and running back. Covington lost a ton of talent but gets respect. Mandeville has a new head coach while Northshore, Fontainebleau and Hammond are all better and could easily move up. While the top three could end up in any order, so, too could the next five teams.

District 7-5A should be led by Destrehan. Steve Robicheaux has his best skill set and maybe his best team since winning the second of back-to-back Class 5A state titles in 2008. Hahnville would have been the pick but the unfortunate ruling on Andrew Robison and the suspension of Nick Saltaformaggio puts the Tigers second but very dangerous. Terrebonne has really good players and team speed and is a solid third. East St. John is moving up with a fast quarterback, an active defense and a very good coach in Brandon Brown while Thibodaux could challenge for that spot as well. Central Lafourche and Keith Menard cannot be dismissed while H.L. Bourgeois will struggle to compete.

District 8-5A is a two-team race. The slight nod goes to John Ehret and new coach Marcus Scott, who has as many as five very good college prospects to rely on. Landry-Walker is gifted, as always, and just two years removed from a state championship and could win it again. Chalmette was solid last season. The Owls are well coached and are the clear third team that could challenge the top two. East Jefferson is slowly building back to solid status from its improbable run to a state championship in 2013. West Jefferson has a state championship coach in Cyril Crutchfield. Grace King is improved and will compete for district honors while Higgins continues to work to return to the prominence it had under Wayne Meyers.

District 9-5A belongs to John Curtis Christian. The Patriots have gone unbeaten in the storied league the last two years and have a speedy, talented backfield and physicality up front. Who finishes second through sixth is a crapshoot. The next five teams are as close as close can be and could finish in any order. Holy Cross and new head coach Guy Lecompte is the second choice, with good skill and good fronts on both sides of the football. Archbishop Rummel has good skill but must be healthy. St. Augustine has some speed and size and a solid new coach in Nathaniel Jones. Jesuit is a sleeper. The Blue Jay defensive front is a wall and with improved quarterback play, the Blue Jays could finish second. Brother Martin is very well coached and can run the ball. The Crusaders could jump much higher if its young fronts mature quickly. Archbishop Shaw is rebuilding but will be better under second-year coach Tommy Connors.

Predicted District Standings: New Orleans Area High School Football

8-1A
1. West St. John
2. Varnado
3. Covenant Christian
4. Houma Christian
5. St. Martin’s Episcopal

9-2A
1. Amite
2. St. Helena
3. Pine
4. Independence
5. St. Thomas Aquinas
6. Northlake Christian
7. Pope John Paul II
8. Springfield

10-2A
1. Newman
2. Riverside Academy
3. Country Day
4. South Plaquemines
5. Fisher

7-3A
1. Loranger
2. Albany
3. Archbishop Hannan
4. Bogalusa
5. Jewel Sumner

9-3A
1. KIPP Renaissance
2. Cohen
3. Sci Academy
4. Sophie B. Wright
5. Thomas Jefferson

10-3A
1. De La Salle
2. St. Charles Catholic
3. St. James
4. Donaldsonville
5. Haynes

8-4A
1. Lakeshore
2. Salmen
3. Franklinton
4. Pearl River

9-4A
1. Karr
2. Warren Easton
3. Helen Cox
4. Belle Chasse
5. McMain

10-4A
1. Carver
2. McDonogh 35
3. Riverdale
4. John F. Kennedy

6-5A
1. Slidell
2. Ponchatoula
3. St. Paul’s
4. Covington
5. Mandeville
6. Northshore
7. Fontainebleau
8. Hammond

7-5A
1. Destrehan
2. Hahnville
3. Terrebonne
4. East St. John
5. Thibodaux
6. Central Lafourche
7. H.L. Bourgeois

8-5A
1. John Ehret
2. Landry-Walker
3. Chalmette
4. East Jefferson
5. West Jefferson
6. Grace King
7. Higgins
8. Bonnabel

9-5A
1. John Curtis Christian
2. Holy Cross
3. Archbishop Rummel
4. St. Augustine
5. Jesuit
6. Brother Martin
7. Archbishop Shaw