Post by iknownuthing on Jul 6, 2018 14:26:42 GMT -6
www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2018/07/03/bewers-predicting-football-district-outcomes-5-4-3/756465002/
I told ya, St. Martinville would be back!!!!
District 3-5A
1. Sulphur
2. Barbe
3. Acadiana
4. New Iberia
5. Sam Houston
6. Comeaux
7. Lafayette
8. LaGrange
Analysis: Sulphur, upset in the first round of last year’s playoffs, gets the edge in this usually top-heavy district. But frankly — and perhaps I’m hedging my bet — the top three could finish in any order. Any time a team returns an All-District first-teamer at the most important position on the field, quarterback, I like its chances. But the Tors do have to replace key pieces elsewhere, much like the Bucs and Rams. I imagine Acadiana, now under the direction of Matt McCullough, will start to hit its stride in the latter half of the season, but I love the Rams’ backfield. I’m not sure what to make of NISH offensively at this point, but they should be very solid on defense, led by Ja’Braylon Spencer and Thor Boudreaux. Comeaux is always a wild card, but a scheme change on offense should benefit them. I can’t see Lafayette going winless again this year with the talent they have on offense and the amount of returning starters on defense.
District 4-4A
1. St. Thomas More
2. Westgate
3. Teurlings Catholic
4. Carencro
5. Rayne
6. Northside
Analysis: This should be a fascinating district race, as it always is. I like the Cougars to finish on top again, but I’m extremely high on Westgate. For my money, they have the best collection of talent in the Acadiana area, especially at the skill positions, and plenty of experience. STM enters the season very inexperienced on defense, but the offense should be explosive, led by quarterback Caleb Holstein. Teurlings should never be counted out, and I expect Carencro to be improved with more experience on the offensive line. Rayne may take a step back, having to replace their top two rushers, and Northside is still growing under John Simmons.
District 5-4A
1. St. Martinville
2. Livonia
3. Breaux Bridge
4. Cecilia
5. Opelousas
6. Beau Chene
Analysis: Livonia should be dramatically improved from a down season a year ago, when it was in its first season under Marc Brown. It returns almost all of its starters, including All-District quarterback Kerri Wells. Four-star wide receiver Jacobi Bellazin, a member of the class of 2020, is also now a part of the program after transferring from Baker. But I’m going with St. Martinville as my early favorite to claim the league title. SMSH returns more first-team All-District selections (5) than any other team, four of which were on the offensive side of the ball. Second-team All-Acadiana selection Travien Benjamin, the district’s reigning offensive MVP, highlights those key offensive returners. I like what Breaux Bridge has coming back, which includes three All-District first teamers on defense and a now-healthy Dartravien Girod at wide receiver. Cecilia has 18 starters to replace, so it could be a rebuilding year for Dennis Skains. Opelousas has an electrifying playmaker in Kenny Frazier, while Beau Chene has a hard-nosed linebacker in Jacob Maddie. But I’m not sure either team has enough talent to keep up with the top four.
District 5-3A
1. Church Point
2. Iota
3. Northwest
4. Eunice
5. Crowley
6. Pine Prairie
7. Mamou
8. Port Barre
Analysis: It seems odd that Church Point won only three games in 2016, because in four of the last five years, the Bears have won at least eight games. That includes nine wins last year and their first outright district title in school history. So, for the most part, J.C. Arceneaux’s squads have been consistent winners in the regular season in recent years, and I don’t expect that to change in 2017. Church Point brings back one of the top rushers in the area, Rodney Dupuis, as well as speedy quarterback Breelyn Jones. With a returning starter at tight end and two on the offensive line, the Bears should be able to do what they do best on a weekly basis. But Iota has officially turned a corner under Josh Andrus, coming off its best season since 2008, so I expect the Bulldogs to be very much in contention. This district was one of the most competitive in the area last year — the preseason predictions were way off — but I’m uncertain how deep it will be in 2018.
District 8-3A
1. Kaplan
2. Patterson
3. Berwick
4. North Vermilion
5. Erath
6. Abbeville
Analysis: Kaplan coach Tank Lotief carries a chip on his shoulder, and his team personifies its leader’s attitude well. But the Pirates should never be considered the underdog as long as Lotief is around. In fact, he’s done such a stellar job with that program that they should be the favorites every year. Sure, they’ll have to replace their top rusher for the second straight year, but I fully expect them to overcome that because they always do. As for the rest of the district, I’m predicting it to finish as it did last year. Patterson and Berwick both return Division I athletes at quarterback. I’m intrigued by what Brett Blakey can do in his first year as North Vermilion’s head coach, especially with the versatile Malik Criner entering his senior year. Under first-year coach Eric LeBlanc, I expect a bounce-back year for Erath after a 1-9 campaign in 2017.
I told ya, St. Martinville would be back!!!!
District 3-5A
1. Sulphur
2. Barbe
3. Acadiana
4. New Iberia
5. Sam Houston
6. Comeaux
7. Lafayette
8. LaGrange
Analysis: Sulphur, upset in the first round of last year’s playoffs, gets the edge in this usually top-heavy district. But frankly — and perhaps I’m hedging my bet — the top three could finish in any order. Any time a team returns an All-District first-teamer at the most important position on the field, quarterback, I like its chances. But the Tors do have to replace key pieces elsewhere, much like the Bucs and Rams. I imagine Acadiana, now under the direction of Matt McCullough, will start to hit its stride in the latter half of the season, but I love the Rams’ backfield. I’m not sure what to make of NISH offensively at this point, but they should be very solid on defense, led by Ja’Braylon Spencer and Thor Boudreaux. Comeaux is always a wild card, but a scheme change on offense should benefit them. I can’t see Lafayette going winless again this year with the talent they have on offense and the amount of returning starters on defense.
District 4-4A
1. St. Thomas More
2. Westgate
3. Teurlings Catholic
4. Carencro
5. Rayne
6. Northside
Analysis: This should be a fascinating district race, as it always is. I like the Cougars to finish on top again, but I’m extremely high on Westgate. For my money, they have the best collection of talent in the Acadiana area, especially at the skill positions, and plenty of experience. STM enters the season very inexperienced on defense, but the offense should be explosive, led by quarterback Caleb Holstein. Teurlings should never be counted out, and I expect Carencro to be improved with more experience on the offensive line. Rayne may take a step back, having to replace their top two rushers, and Northside is still growing under John Simmons.
District 5-4A
1. St. Martinville
2. Livonia
3. Breaux Bridge
4. Cecilia
5. Opelousas
6. Beau Chene
Analysis: Livonia should be dramatically improved from a down season a year ago, when it was in its first season under Marc Brown. It returns almost all of its starters, including All-District quarterback Kerri Wells. Four-star wide receiver Jacobi Bellazin, a member of the class of 2020, is also now a part of the program after transferring from Baker. But I’m going with St. Martinville as my early favorite to claim the league title. SMSH returns more first-team All-District selections (5) than any other team, four of which were on the offensive side of the ball. Second-team All-Acadiana selection Travien Benjamin, the district’s reigning offensive MVP, highlights those key offensive returners. I like what Breaux Bridge has coming back, which includes three All-District first teamers on defense and a now-healthy Dartravien Girod at wide receiver. Cecilia has 18 starters to replace, so it could be a rebuilding year for Dennis Skains. Opelousas has an electrifying playmaker in Kenny Frazier, while Beau Chene has a hard-nosed linebacker in Jacob Maddie. But I’m not sure either team has enough talent to keep up with the top four.
District 5-3A
1. Church Point
2. Iota
3. Northwest
4. Eunice
5. Crowley
6. Pine Prairie
7. Mamou
8. Port Barre
Analysis: It seems odd that Church Point won only three games in 2016, because in four of the last five years, the Bears have won at least eight games. That includes nine wins last year and their first outright district title in school history. So, for the most part, J.C. Arceneaux’s squads have been consistent winners in the regular season in recent years, and I don’t expect that to change in 2017. Church Point brings back one of the top rushers in the area, Rodney Dupuis, as well as speedy quarterback Breelyn Jones. With a returning starter at tight end and two on the offensive line, the Bears should be able to do what they do best on a weekly basis. But Iota has officially turned a corner under Josh Andrus, coming off its best season since 2008, so I expect the Bulldogs to be very much in contention. This district was one of the most competitive in the area last year — the preseason predictions were way off — but I’m uncertain how deep it will be in 2018.
District 8-3A
1. Kaplan
2. Patterson
3. Berwick
4. North Vermilion
5. Erath
6. Abbeville
Analysis: Kaplan coach Tank Lotief carries a chip on his shoulder, and his team personifies its leader’s attitude well. But the Pirates should never be considered the underdog as long as Lotief is around. In fact, he’s done such a stellar job with that program that they should be the favorites every year. Sure, they’ll have to replace their top rusher for the second straight year, but I fully expect them to overcome that because they always do. As for the rest of the district, I’m predicting it to finish as it did last year. Patterson and Berwick both return Division I athletes at quarterback. I’m intrigued by what Brett Blakey can do in his first year as North Vermilion’s head coach, especially with the versatile Malik Criner entering his senior year. Under first-year coach Eric LeBlanc, I expect a bounce-back year for Erath after a 1-9 campaign in 2017.