If there’s one thing the Westgate High Tigers know how to do, it’s win in the playoffs.

Including this season, WHS has been to the football playoffs four of the last five seasons. In that span, the Tigers are 7-3, having reached the quarterfinals in 2005 and the semifinals in 2007. Last week’s 21-14 win at Mandeville improved Westgate’s record on the road in the playoffs to 6-0 over the past four seasons.

“I talked to the team before the game,” said Westgate coach Brian Fine. “I told them Westgate’s only 10 years old. There’s not a lot of traditions at Westgate. But one tradition is, come playoff time, our teams play well, whether it’s basketball or football or whatever.”

Lee Ball / The Daily Iberian Files Westgate receiver Fred Joseph (8) heads upfield against New Iberia Senior High during the two city rivals’ jamboree game on Aug. 28. Westgate, a 21-14 winner at Mandeville last week in the first round of the playoffs, plays host to South Lafourche in a second-round playoff game Friday at Lloyd G. Porter Stadium. WHS coach Brian Fine expects between 2,000 and 4,000 South Lafourche fans to attend the game. Tickets are on sale in advance at Westgate High School. - Lee Ball / The Daily Iberian Advertisement

Last week’s win was far from perfect, he said, but the Tigers played well enough to win, and that’s what counts in the playoffs.

Defense keyed the win over Mandeville, with Duval Jackson returning an interception for the game-winning touchdown after the Tigers had rallied to tie the score at 14-14.

“They were a good football team,” said Fine. “I didn’t think either team was going to get away from the other (on the scoreboard). The difference in the game was our defense came up with plays when they had to.

“For the most part we’ve been a good defensive team all year. We’ve got good player up front, our linebackers are pretty good, the secondary. At all three levels, we’re pretty solid.”

Westgate will need to continue to be solid defensively against No. 5 seed South Lafourche, a 45-14 winner over Central Lafourche in the first round. The Tarpons are 10-1, with their only loss by 2 points to E.D. White, the No. 3 seed in the Class 3A bracket.

“They look good,” said Fine. “They like to run the football. It’s going to be an interesting matchup.”

SLHS has good size up front, and uses a variety of formations on offense. Gene Blanchard, Rusty Borne and Sly Cheramie do the bulk of the ballcarrying, said Fine.

“They all do a good job of running the ball,” the coach said.

Defensively, the Tarpons are big up front as well.

“They get after it,” said Fine. “They’re hard to move. I think they play hard, and that’s always a big factor.”

Westgate will stick with what’s been successful so far on offense, he said. That means a strong running attack with tailback Brandon Malveaux and quarterback Diontae Spencer leading the way.

“I think we need to make them defend the field,” said Fine.

“I don’t think anybody’s going to do a lot different this time of year. Our running game’s not going to be any different than it has been with Brandon and Diontae.

“You want to stop the run, and be able to run, and thrown when you want to. If either team becomes one-dimensional, it’s going to favor the other.”

Tickets for Friday’s game, scheduled for 7 p.m. at Lloyd G. Porter Memorial Stadium, are on sale in advance at the school for $8 apiece.

Fine expects a big crowd, with South Lafourche asking for 2,000 tickets in advance. Fine said as many as 3,000-4,000 fans could follow the Tarpons this week.