Potential upset specials in second week of Louisiana high school football playoffs

A week ago, we hit on four upset specials in the nine classes. Of course, it is much more difficult to pick upsets in the opening round of the watered down, split playoffs.

Let’s dip into the second round and a potential upset in each classification.

Class 5A
The pick:
#10 Ouachita Parish at #7 Terrebonne
This one could go either way. The Lions escaped against Parkway a week ago while the Tigers escaped against Chalmette. If form follows both, neither team will go much further. On the other hand, some teams often feel the pressure is off after a narrow escape. Ouachita Parish has been in tougher, facing a more difficult schedule which gives them the edge in this one.

One to watch:
#6 Zachary at #22 Hahnville
You know the story line with Andrew Robison. If you do not think one guy can make that much of a difference, just look at last week’s game at Walker. Both teams faced and whipped Walker with the Broncos winning 38-9 while the Tigers won 35-9. Hahnville has put up 75 points in two weeks with Robison. The Broncos are the defending state champion with a terrific quarterback. Their only losses were to University High and Catholic High. I give thet edge to Zachary but this game is in play for the Tigers, who are rejuvenated and refreshed.

Class 4A
The pick:
#25 Westgate at #9 Bastrop
We have much respect for the Rams, a good team and program. It is a close vote for a hot team. The Tigers are a hot team, winners of four straight. They are playing their best now and have been in tough against Catholic of New Iberia, Captain Shreve, St. Thomas More, Carencro, Teurlings Catholic and Plaquemine. Bastrop has been in tough as well and has good wins over Calvary Baptist and Carver and close losses to Brother Martin and Neville. This should be an excellent game.

One to watch:
#12 Livonia at #5 Lakeshore
The Titans have been superb and Craig Jones has done a marvelous job with his program. The schedule has not prepared his team as well as he would have liked for the playoffs. The Wildcats are battle tested and not far removed from a state championship. Their only losses were to good teams in St. Martinville and Breaux Bridge. Livonia has two shutouts and have held seven opponents to seven points or less.

Class 3A
The pick:
#9 St. James at #8 North Webster
It is a long trip for the Wildcats but they are one of the top five teams in the class, based on talent and Robert Valdez is accustomed to leading teams to deep runs in the playoffs. Their losses to De La Salle and St. Charles Catholic were excruciating but this is a team that is well prepared for the playoffs and they have a terrific athlete at quarterback. The Knights have won four straight and are at home. This will be close but we are going with St. James.

One to watch:
#12 Jena at #5 Union Parish
The Giants have won five straight and they can score. They posted good wins over Marksville and Caldwell Parish in the midst of that run. The Farmers have scored 100 points in their last two games. I am not a betting man but if there were odds, you would take the over in this one.

Class 2A
The pick:
#6 St. Helena at #22 Northeast
Shaky vote here. The Vikings are 4-6 but all their losses were to good teams. They have played a tough schedule and upset No. 11 Lake Arthur on the road to earn a home game. The Hawks are good and went to the ‘Dome last year but they have not played the competition Northeast has played.

One to watch:
#14 General Trass at #3 Ferriday
This could be competitive but I like the Trojans at home.

Class 1A
The pick:
#9 Jonesboro-Hodge at #8 Oberlin
The home Tigers are 9-2 and they are at home. They lost to Basile and St. Edmund, the two best teams they played. The visiting Tigers have been in tough, losing to very good teams in Tioga, Logansport and Haynesville. They are talented and are a live lower seed with a great chance to win.

One to watch:
#10 East Iberville at #7 Delhi
The Tigers have played a very challenging schedule, losing to a playoff team in Capitol and falling to elite teams in Southern Lab, Kentwood and Ascension Catholic. The Bears are potent, having put up 54 points on North Central a week ago and they have scored 40 or more points seven times this season. This will be close.

Division I
The pick:
#5 Evangel Christian at #4 Byrd
This is a no-brainer. Virtually no one would consider it an upset if the Eagles win as they blasted the Yellow Jackets 42-7 at Lee Hedges Stadium in the regular season and the two will play there again Friday night. Byrd is a solid program and well coached but Evangel is simply better and a definite threat to win Division I.

One to watch:
#6 Brother Martin at #3 Archbishop Rummel
I did the first meeting at Tad Gormley Stadium. The Raiders struggled to move the ball against a good and improving Crusader defense and Brother Martin has gone to Garrett Mmahat at quarterback and the freshman has delivered and Brother Martin has won three straight. That said, Brother Martin did nothing against a good Rummel defense the first time and the Raiders played without stars Koy Moore and Logan Diggs. This one will be competitive but I still give the edge to the Raiders.

Division II
The pick:
#5 De La Salle at #4 Archbishop Hannan
The Cavaliers beat the Hawks 52-14 in the playoffs a year ago. This is not the same De La Salle team but it is still a good team and the Cavaliers have played very tough competition in Karr, St. Augustine, St. Charles Catholic and St. James. Scott Wattigny has done a tremendous job in leading Hannan to an unbeaten season and the Hawks will be at home. Hannan has closed the gap but De La Salle was in the final last year and the semifinals the year before. They know how to win these kind of games. It should be an excellent contest which you can watch live at CrescentCitySports.com.

One to watch:
#7 Parkview Baptist at #2 St. Charles Catholic
Has anyone played a tougher schedule than the Eagles? They opened the season with Catholic of Baton Rouge, East Ascension, John Curtis Christian, Walker, Southern Lab, Lutcher and Plaquemine. They lost six of those seven and won their last four games. They are physical. The Comets are tough, extremely well coached and really good on defense. Their offense is ordinary. This one will be very close, though it is hard to pick against Frank Monica at home.

Division III
The pick:
#5 Newman at #4 Calvary Baptist
The Greenies could very well be unbeaten and have an epic passing attack, led by Martin Butcher, Jarmone Sutherland and Murray Calhoun. It will not be easy. The Cavaliers have ripped off eight straight wins after an 0-3 start and they are at home. The weather will be a bit cool but there is no concern about rain or being too cold or windy, good news for the Newman passing game.

One to watch:
#6 Catholic (NI) at #3 Dunham
The Panthers are the defending champs and they have won seven straight games. They have scored 60 or more points five times and 42 or more in 10 of their 11 games. The Tigers are unbeaten and they have put up 40 or more points in nine of 10 games and scored 36 in the other game. Get your calculator out for this one!

Division IV
The pick:
#6 St. Frederick at #3 Vermilion Catholic
I really do not see an upset in Division IV. Vermilion Catholic has lost only to unbeaten Lafayette Christian and the Eagles are quite good. St. Frederick is a resourceful team that knows how to win. They have won their last six games, all by seven points or fewer. That is the sign of a tough squad.

One to watch:
#1 Southern Lab at #9 Ouachita Christian
The Kittens look like the team to beat overall in the class but they have to make a long trip to face a team that is accustomed to being in this position. While Southern Lab is better and should win, it should not come easily.