Louisiana High School Football 5A Playoff Preview
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
It’s playoff time in Louisiana as the LHSAA have released the playoff brackets. The 5A playoffs kickoff this Friday as the 32 best teams are battling for a spot to play for the state championship on December 12 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
Acadiana won their second straight 5A state title last year and are now going for their third straight state championship as they are the No. 11 seed in 2015. Their title defense starts when they host No. 22 seed Central Lafourche on Friday night. The top four seeds in the bracket this year are West Monroe, Zachary, Destrehan, and C.E. Byrd.
Among the 32 teams in this year’s bracket there are plenty of great athletes all of which are trying to lead their teams to the ultimate prize by winning the state championship. These players include Destrehan defensive end Glen Logan (LSU) and defensive tackle Gerald Wilbon (Texas), Airline offensive lineman Colton Prater (Texas A&M), Mandeville linebacker Johnathan Picone (Texas Tech), Acadiana linebacker Kevin Moore (Texas Tech), Zachary quarterback Lindsey Scott (Syracuse) and offensive lineman Kellton Hollins (TCU), Dutchtown offensive lineman Lloyd Cushenberry (South Carolina), West Monroe linebacker Layton Garnett, and Parkway quarterback Keondre Wudtee (Louisiana Tech).
Along with these players to follow there are also some storylines to follow including whether or not Acadiana can three-peat? Can Parkway make a deep run after missing the playoffs last year? Will there be any upsets in the first round? Which lower seeded team will make a surprising deep run in the later rounds? Can Destrehan make a second consecutive appearance in the title game?
Who will survive this tough bracket and make it out as Louisiana 5A state champion? Only time will tell.
First Round Louisiana High School Playoff Games
No. 32 Central @ No. 1 West Monroe
No. 17 Ponchatoula @ No. 16 Airline
No. 24 East Ascension @ No. 9 John Ehret
No. 25 Live Oak @ No. 8 Ouachita Parish
No. 5 Scotlandville @ No. 28 Sam Houston
No. 21 Thibodaux @ No. 12 Mandeville
No. 20 Chalmette @ No. 13 Landry-Walker
No. 29 Fountainebleau @ No. 4 C.E. Byrd
No. 30 Denham Springs @ No. 3 Destrehan
No. 19 Haughton @ No. 14 Barbe
No. 11 Acadiana @ No. 22 Central Lafourche
No. 27 Natchitoches Central @ No. 6 Parkway
No. 26 Alexandria @ No. 7 Hahnville
No. 23 Covington @ No. 10 St. Amant
No. 18 Dutchtown @ No. 15 Ruston
No. 31 Sulphur @ No. 2 Zachary
Photo credit: nola.com; Destrehan DT Glen Logan tackles a West Monroe player in last year’s semifinal matchup