2016 Louisiana High School Football 5A Playoff Preview
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
Its playoff time in Louisiana with the 32 best teams in class 5A all battling for a chance to be called state champions. The top four seeds this year are Destrehan, West Monroe, Ponchatoula, and Parkway.
Destrehan will host No. 32 Terrebonne, West Monroe will host No. 31 Bourgeois, Ponchatoula will host No. 30 Comeaux, and Parkway will host No. 29 Captain Shreve. Last year’s champion, Zachary, is the No. 11 seed and will host Chalmette in the first round. The 2015 runner-up, John Ehret, is the No. 9 seed hosting Haughton.
All the players have worked very hard to get their team to the postseason however some stars know this is their last chance to help their squad bring home the trophy. Some of the talented players taking the field in the playoffs this season includes Destrehan wide receiver Michael Young (Notre Dame), Landry-Walker quarterback Keytaeon Thompson (Mississippi State), West Monroe defensive tackle Dennis Collins (TCU), John Ehret cornerback Terrell Bailey (Tennessee), and Zachary linebacker Donovan Perkins.
Other players to follow during the 5A playoffs includes Parkway wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., Hahnville athlete Anthony Williams, and Landry-Walker wide receiver Devonta Jason.
Along with the players to follow are some storylines to keep an eye on including whether or not Zachary can repeat as champions? Will there be any upsets in the first round? Which lower seeded team will make a surprising deep run into the later rounds? Can John Ehret make a second straight trip to the dome? Can Parkway make their first trip to the Dome since 2013?
Who will survive the opening weekend and clinch a spot in the second round? Only time will tell.
Louisiana 5A First Round Games
No. 32 Terrebonne @ No. 1 Destrehan
No. 17 Mandeville @ No. 16 Thibodaux
No. 24 Haughton @ No. 9 John Ehret
No. 25 Covington @ No. 8 Hahnville
No. 28 Fontainebleau @ No. 5 Landry-Walker
No. 21 Airline @ No. 12 Sulphur
No. 20 Central-Baton Rouge @ No. 13 Live Oak
No. 29 Captain Shreve @ No. 4 Parkway
No. 30 Comeaux @ No. 3 Ponchatoula
No. 19 Alexandria @ No. 14 Acadiana
No. 22 Chalmette @ No. 11 Zachary
No. 27 East Ascension @ No. 6 Ruston
No. 26 Slidell @ No. 7 St. Amant
No. 23 East St. John @ No. 10 Barbe
No. 18 Ouachita Parish @ No. 15 Walker
No. 31 Bourgeois, H.L. @ No. 2 West Monroe
Photo credit: varsitypreps.com; No. 10 Destrehan Wide Receiver Michael Young