JEANERETTE -- It all comes down to one game Thursday for Jeanerette Senior High.

Win and the Tigers capture their first district football championship, lose and that elusive district title depends on other factors they can’t control.

With a 7-1 record and riding a seven game winning streak after dropping a 63-24 decision to Catholic High in week 1, this has turned out to be a magical season for JSH, something that even coach Terry Washington couldn’t have imagined.

Jeanerette receiver Darion Hurst (3) heads upfield against Ville Platte on Oct. 16. The Tigers can clinch a share of the District 6-2A title with a win Thursday at Opelousas Catholic. Jeanerette (7-1) and OCHS (5-3) share the district lead with 3-0 records. - Lee Ball / The Daily Iberian Advertisement

“If you would have asked me this summer if we would be in this position, I would have said that we’re just trying to win some games and prepare our kids this year,” said Washington. “Now we have an opportunity to not only win a district championship but win the first one in the history of Jeanerette Senior High.

“I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights the last few weeks to have it right here for these kids and this community. It feels pretty good right now.”

The Tigers (3-0 District 6-2A) travel to Opelousas Thursday to battle the Opelousas Catholic Vikings (5-3, 3-0). The winner will clinch a share of the district title and can clinch it outright with a win in week 10.

The loser will drop into a tie for second place with Loreauville and have to hope that the district leader loses in week 10 to force a two- or three-way tie for the title.

But regardless of what happens, what Washington has accomplished this year deserves some recognition.

“To go from 0-10 the first year to 1-9 the second year to on the cusp of a district title has made it a dream season,” said Washington.

And while the Tigers were blown out in week 1, there were some good things to come out of it according to Washington.

“The game plan we had in week 1 wasn’t the greatest one,” said the coach. “We found out we could run the ball and that changed the philosophy from trying to pass the ball to running the ball and while we lost the game to Catholic High, we ended up winning in other ways.”

Junior running back Anthony Williams has rushed for 1,603 yards and 18 touchdown through eight games and is averaging eight yards a carry and 200 yards per game. With two games left in the regular season plus at least one playoff game, he has a good chance to break the 2,000-yard barrier this year.

Quarterback Kendell Charles had 644 yards passing, the majority of it to receiver Darion Hurst, who has caught 25 passes for 454 yards and four touchdowns.

“There is no doubt that Thursday’s game is going to be big and mean a lot,” said Washington.

“For the team and the community.”

In other games Thursday that kick off the ninth week of the season, Patterson travels to West St. Mary and Hanson travels to Central Catholic.

Patterson at West St. Mary

The West St. Mary Wolfpack (0-7, 0-3) are still looking for their first win of the year and play host to Patterson (5-3, 2-1) and running back Kenny Hilliard, one of the leading rushers in the state.

Hanson at Central Catholic

Fresh off their first win of the year last week against Ascension Episcopal, Hanson (1-7, 1-2 District 7-A) travels to Morgan City to battle longtime rival Central Catholic (5-3, 2-1).