Rematches dot prep football playoff brackets

• By ROBIN FAMBROUGH
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Nov 9, 2009

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Finding a theme that fits local teams headed to the high school football playoffs is not always easy.

The announcement that top-seeded St. John-Plaquemine (9-1) would host District 8-1A rival Christian Life (2-8) was a sign of things to come.

Rematches and match-ups with teams not far from home were recurring themes Sunday as the Louisiana High Athletic Association announced its playoff pairings in a meeting held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

“That’s all we wanted … a chance to be in the playoffs,” CLA coach Warren Capone said. “This hasn’t been the kind of season we wanted. At least we’ve got a chance.”

Other notable rematches include No. 22 Denham Springs (8-2) at No. 11 Catholic High (8-2) of District 5-5A in 5A and No. 26 St. James (3-7) at No. 7 Brusly (7-3) in of 8-3A in 3A.

“Coaches don’t have any say about who to play, and to be honest with you, we’re happy to be in the playoffs,” Denham Springs coach Dru Nettles said. “We know we’ll be facing a quality program. It’s also a program we know well.”

Catholic High coach Dale Weiner said, “After last year and not making the playoffs after going for 20 straight years, we’re just glad to be in. This will be a challenge because their guys will want to make amends for the game earlier this year.”

St. John was the only local team to garner a No. 1 seeding. Parkview Baptist of Class 3A got a No. 2 seed, while 2A Capitol High Academy (third), 5A Central (fourth), 3A Redemptorist (fifth), 5A Dutchtown (sixth) and 3A Brusly (seventh) were Baton Rouge metro area teams with the highest seeding placement.

Teams located just outside the metro area of note included No. 3 Lutcher of 4A and No. 6 Amite of 3A.

Christian Life, a 1A runner-up a year ago, and St. Michael of Class 4A were the two local teams that grabbed the final spot as a No. 32 seed in their classifications.

CLA and St. Michael took different routes to a No. 32 berth. A win over Ascension Catholic last Thursday helped boost the Crusaders into the playoffs.

St. Michael (6-4) lost to Glen Oaks last Friday, but wound up on the bracket because of a combination of losses by other teams and three forfeits by O.P. Walker of New Orleans. The Warriors travel to play No. 1 seed Franklinton (9-1).

“They (St. Michael players) have been texting me all weekend, and they’re excited,” St. Michael coach Eric Held said. “We didn’t play our best last week, and I’m glad we’ve got another chance.”