2016 Louisiana High School Football Division II Playoff Preview

Written by Charlie Beuttel

Twitter: @charlie_cds3

Its playoff time in Louisiana with 11 teams in the Division II bracket kicking off postseason play Friday night.

Last year, the No. 4 seed Parkview Baptist won the Division II state championship by escaping past No. 2 seeded St. Thomas More, 24-21. This season, De La Salle has clinched the No. 1 seed by finishing the regular season undefeated.

Rounding out the top five seeds are No. 2 Loyola College Prep, No. 3 St. Thomas More, No. 4 Teurlings Catholic, and No. 5 Parkview Baptist. All five top seeds have received first round byes and one second round matchup has already been set as Teurlings Catholic will host Parkview Baptist. It will be exciting to see if Parkview Baptist can repeat as champions.

Some other storylines to follow is whether or not No. 1 De La Salle can run the table and cap off an undefeated season to win a state title? Can St. Thomas More make another trip to the Dome and overcome their loss in the title game last year? Can any lower seeded team pull off an upset and make a run towards the Dome?

In this bracket there are many athletes looking to lead their team to a state championship including De La Salle linebacker Josh Paul (Arkansas), St. Thomas More wide receiver Griffin Hebert and linebacker Noah Fontenot, Parkview Baptist linebacker Matthew Murla, and Loyola College Prep running back Ethan Stansell.

Who will escape this tough bracket and bring home a state championship title?  Only time will tell.

Louisiana Division II First Round Matchups

No. 9 St. Louis Catholic (3-7) @ No. 8 Lusher (5-5)

The Saints of St. Louis Catholic will make the 200 mile trip from Lake Charles to New Orleans to battle the Lions of Lusher. The winner of this game will face No. 1 seed De La Salle in the second round.

No. 11 E.D. White (3-7) @ No. 6 Vandebilt Catholic (8-2)

The Cardinals of E.D. White and their fans will make the 15 mile drive from Thibodaux to Houma to take on the Terriers of Vandebilt Catholic. Fans of both teams will be eager to pack the stands to cheer on their respective squads. The winner of this game will battle No. 3 seed St. Thomas More in the second round.

No. 10 St. Michael (5-5) @ No. 7 University Lab (6-4)

The Warriors of St. Michael the Archangel High School and their fans won’t have to leave Baton Rouge for their playoff game taking on the Cubs of University Lab. Both teams will be ready to play with hopes of advancing to the second round where the winner will face No. 2 seed Loyola College Prep.

Photo credit: The Shreveport Times; Loyola College Prep RB Ethan Stansell