Prep Football Bracket breakdown: Favorites, dark horses, long shots with shot

So it is that time again. That is, time to try to handicap what is come in the nine brackets of the LHSAA state playoffs.

The defending champions in each class include Zachary, Karr, West Feliciana, Welsh and West St. John on the non-select side and Catholic of Baton Rouge, University High, Catholic of New Iberia and Lafayette Christian on the select side.

All are genuine contenders once again with all but West Feliciana ranking as true threats to repeat as champions in 2018.

In Class 5A, West Monroe, the top-seed, looks like the best team in class. The closest anyone played to the Rebels in-state was Neville, who lost by 15 points to its rival. Destrehan has tremendous firepower on offense while Acadiana overcame a shocking upset loss to Comeaux to finish strong. John Ehret lost only at West Monroe and East Ascension lost only to Catholic of Baton Rouge.

Zachary is very dangerous again while Ruston lost only to Longview, TX, West Monroe and Acadiana. Slidell lost early to Destrehan and narrowly to Walker but is playing very well while Hahnville is a wild card with Andrew Robison now at quarterback, a year after the Tigers made it to the state championship game.

In Class 4A, Karr is the unbeaten top-seed and two-time defending state champion and Warren Easton lost to the Cougars by one point and lost a competitive game to John Curtis Christian. They are the two best teams and could meet again. St. Martinville and Lakeshore are unbeaten, as is Northwood.

Plaquemine is dangerous, having lost only to St. Thomas More and Ouachita Parish while Bastrop lost only to Brother Martin and Neville. Do not ignore Carver. The Rams are under-seeded and have won six straight games and played Karr tough again, just as they did in the playoffs a year ago. Carencro is also under-seeded, a dangerous four-win team that played a very tough schedule.

Unbeaten Iota is the top-seed in Class 3A while Eunice, who barely lost to Iota, is the second-seed. Kaplan is good while Sterlington and Union Parish are definite threats. St. James has lost to very good teams and has an outstanding quarterback while Jena has good wins over Caldwell Parish and Marksville. Northwest lost only to Iota, Crowley and Eunice and is a good team while Church Point lost only to Crowley, Northwest and Iota.

In Class 2A, Many is unbeaten and very good but Amite looks like the best team. Ferriday has won four straight while Rosepine is undefeated. Welsh is very dangerous, losing only to Notre Dame and Kaplan on the field. St. Helena Central was in the Superdome a year ago while Kinder has played an extremely tough schedule and is battle tested.

In Class 1A, one of five teams could win it all, including top-seeded, unbeaten Oak Grove, unbeaten Haynesville, Kentwood, Logansport and West St. John. The Rams have improved significantly since a slow start to the season. Basile has won seven straight while Homer is a team to watch as well.

In Division I, unbeaten John Curtis Christian looks like the chalk but must get past second-seed and defending champion Catholic of Baton Rouge. Both have played very challenging schedules. Archbishop Rummel is a solid team and cannot be ignored while Evangel Christian is much better than its record and very dangerous. Holy Cross has gotten more healthy and a quarterback change has kicked in for the Tigers.

In Division II, University is the most prohibitive favorite of all, perhaps the best team in Louisiana once again. St. Thomas More can score with anyone while St. Charles Catholic and De La Salle are battle-tested teams. Archbishop Hannan is unbeaten and well coached.

In Division III, unbeaten Notre Dame is the clear favorite but that was the case last year when the Pios were beaten by Catholic of New Iberia in the title game. Brent Indest has his team as a dangerous sixth-seed this year. Country Day beat Amite, Newman and St. Charles Catholic in route to an unbeaten season. Newman is potent and throws it as well as anyone. Dunham is unbeaten and has Derek Stingley. Calvary Baptist has won seven straight games, including a good win over Sterlington.

In Division IV, Southern Lab is the favorite but may have to deal with Ascension Catholic again. The Kittens edged the Bulldogs 22-19 in the regular season. Lafayette Christian is unbeaten and the defending champion. Vermilion Catholic can score while St. Frederick has won five straight and has proven it can win close games.

Here are my favorite, dark horses and long shots with a shot in each of the nine classifications:

5A:

Favorites: #1 West Monroe, #2 Destrehan, #3 Acadiana, #4 John Ehret, #5 East Ascension

Dark Horses: #6 Zachary, #8 Ruston

Long Shots with a shot: #12 Slidell, #22 Hahnville

4A:

Favorites: #1 Karr, #2 Warren Easton, #3 St. Martinville, #4 Neville, #5 Lakeshore

Dark Horses: #8 Plaquemine, #9 Bastrop

Long Shots with a shot: #19 Carver, #22 Carencro

3A:

Favorites: #1 Iota, #2 Eunice, #3 Kaplan, 4 Sterlington, #5 Union Parish

Dark Horses: #9 St. James, #12 Jena

Long Shots with a shot: #11 Northwest, #13 Church Point

2A:

Favorites: #1 Many, #2 Amite, #3 Ferriday, #4 Rosepine, #5 Welsh

Dark Horses: #6 St. Helena Central, #7 Kinder

Long Shots with a shot: #15 East Feliciana, #19 Capitol

1A:

Favorites: #1 Oak Grove, #2 Haynesville, #3 Kentwood, #4 Logansport, #5 West St. John

Dark Horses: #6 Basile, #12 Homer

Division I:

Favorites: #1 John Curtis Christian, #2 Catholic (BR), #3 Archbishop Rummel

Dark Horse: #5 Evangel Christian

Long Shot with a shot: #7 Holy Cross

Division II:

Favorite: #1 University High

Dark Horses: #2 St. Charles Catholic, #3 St. Thomas More

Long Shots with a shot: #4 Archbishop Hannan, #5 De La Salle

Division III:

Favorites: #1 Notre Dame, #6 Catholic New Iberia

Dark Horses: #2 Country Day, #3 Dunham

Long shots with a shot: #4 Calvary Baptist, #5 Newman

Division IV:

Favorites: #1 Southern Lab, #2 Ascension Catholic, #4 Lafayette Christian

Dark Horses: #4 Vermilion Catholic

Long shot with a shot: #6 St. Frederick