Local teams working toward playoffs

With three weeks to go in the regular season, Teche Area football teams are making final moves to get into the playoffs, or act as spoilers to prevent other teams from making the postseason.

One Teche Area team can clinch a playoff spot this weekend, another can step a major step toward the postseason and several others can improve their power rankings as the home stretch approaches.

New Iberia at Pineville

The Jackets can clinch their spot in the Class 5A playoffs with a win at Pineville Friday night.

New Iberia (4-2 overall, 2-0 District 3-5A) automatically gets in with a victory because the Jackets will have a 3-0 district mark.

With the team drawing a district bye next week and playing longtime rival St. Martinville, the worst that the Jackets can do is lose to Lafayette High in the final week and finish tied for first with one or two other teams each with a 3-1 mark.

But as co-champions NISH would automatically get a berth into the postseason and with a high enough power ranking, could play host to a first round game.

Pineville (1-5, 0-1) lost 35-0 to Westgate last week. The Rebels have lost eight offensive linemen to injury this year and have scored a grand total of seven points in the last four games.

Westgate at Lafayette

The Tigers (2-3, 1-1), fresh off last week’s rout of Pineville, travel to Lafayette this week for a key District 3-5A contest.

A Westgate win would move the Tigers into second place in the district with one district game left against Carencro. If WHS wins out in district and NISH drops its last game against Lafayette, Westgate and NISH would be co-champions of the district and both would get into the playoffs.

Lafayette (1-5, 0-1) had a district bye last week and lost to Class 4A Eunice High. The Lions would need to win all three district of their remaining district games to tie NISH for the district title.

Ascension Catholic at Delcambre

The Delcambre Panthers (4-2, 2-0 District 8-A) have a district bye this week and will play host to the Ascension Catholic Bulldogs (5-1) for homecoming in a game between schools that have received votes in the latest Class A poll but not enough to get into the Top 10.

DHS has a one-half game lead on Gueydan in district and if the Panthers win against Vermilion Catholic next week and GHS wins its next two games, the district title would be decided in week 10 at Gueydan.

Hanson at Central Catholic

The Hanson Tigers (0-6, 0-2) travel to Morgan City to battle Central Catholic (1-5, 1-1) with the Tigers still seeking their first win of the year.

Jeanerette at St. John

The Tigers (1-6, 0-1 District 7-2A) look to end a five-game losing streak as the team travels to Plaquemine to battle the Eagles (4-2, 1-0). JSH enters the game off of a close 12-6 overtime non-district loss to West St. John last week.

St. John beat Livonia 20-6 last week for its first district win of the year.

Loreauville at Northwest

The Tigers (3-3 overall) step out of district play this week to travel to just north of Opelousas Friday to battle the Class 3A Raiders (2-4).

Loreauville’s Dillon Anthony has rushed for 1,015 yards this year, which is the 10th best total in the state this year. His 90 points scored is tied for 12th best in the state.

Northwest was crushed 49-0 by Notre Dame last week.

North Vermilion at Erath

The Bobcats (3-3, 0-2 District 6-3A) look to end a three game losing streak with a district win at home against the Patriots (3-3, 1-0) for homecoming.

After beating Rayne 49-21 on Sept. 26, the Bobcats have lost three straight games including two in district to Catholic High and Cecilia.

North Vermilion opened district play last week with a 28-24 win over Catholic High.

Berwick at Franklin

The Hornets (2-4, 0-1 District 7-3A) look to get their first district win of the season Friday against the Panthers (4-2, 1-1).

Franklin dropped a 26-6 decision to E.D. White last week in the district opener while Berwick was crushed 63-14 by Patterson.

West St. Mary at Patterson

The Wolfpack (1-5, 0-1 District 7-3A), fresh off a 28-6 non-district win over W.L. Cohen in which Jerwone Kiel ran for 275 yards and three touchdowns, get back into District 7-3A play this week at Patterson (4-2, 2-0).

St. Martinville at Teurlings

The Tigers (3-3, 2-2 District 5-4A) travel to Lafayette Friday to take on the Teurlings Rebels (4-2, 3-1) in a key district match up.

SMSH enters the game off a 40-14 win over Beau Chene while TCHS comes into the game off of a 30-27, double overtime loss to Northside.