Week 9 to separate prep contenders, pretenders

• By SCOTT HOTARD
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Oct 30, 2009

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In most circles, Halloween signals costumes and disguises and a chance to live vicariously.

Not in prep football, where the end of October means just the opposite. It means revealing who you are.

Are you a district champion? A playoff contender?

As teams enter Week 9, some cling to hopes of a playoff bid after slow starts. Some look to finish what they started.

Southern Lab, which went 2-7 last year, has Varnado at A.W. Mumford Stadium tonight. The winner can do no worse than share the District 6-1A title.

St. James, with it loss to Port Allen last week, has left 8-3A’s title chase a mad scramble in which all five teams remain alive. The Wildcats, who travel to Plaquemine tonight, can get back to the top of the heap with a win.

Plaquemine can give itself a shot at the hardware by handing St. James another loss.

District titles make wonderful décor this time of year. But for some teams, Halloween weekend is all about dressing up the résumé.

For a team like Christian Life, it’s about fighting down the stretch to earn a playoff berth. The Crusaders likely need a win at White Castle simply to stay alive.

For a team like University High, it’s about climbing the power ratings. The Cubs, who play The Dunham School tonight, will probably get a home playoff game if they win out.

“It’s the biggest game of the year for us,” U-High coach Johnny Shoptaugh said. “We have to win is the approach we’re taking.”

Everybody’s fighting for something late in the season. Central Private Academy and Silliman Institute compete in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools. They’re fighting, too.

Central Private, the reigning MAIS 5-2A champ, travels to Centreville (Miss.) Academy for a winner-take-all showdown against the league’s other unbeaten.