District 1-A Week 9 Preview

Calvary is all but locked down the District 1-A title.  The Cavaliers will finish up against Plain Dealing and Ringgold.   So most teams are now in a race for playoff positioning to try to get a bye or home first-round matchup.   Plain Dealing may be overpowered by Calvary this week, but the power points for the Lion will help their playoff positioning and push them in contention for a home playoff game.  The last week’s game for the Lions against Lincoln Prep will be crucial for both teams.   Lincoln Prep will all but clinch a home playoff game but they will have their hands full with Haynesville who is in contention for a first-round bye.   The Claiborne Parish showdown between Homer and Haynesville in the last week of the season could come down to determine who will get the first-round bye.   Arcadia who started the season at 0-5 is making a playoff run and pushing for a home playoff game.  

Four teams are still receiving recognition in the LSWA Class A poll.  Calvary is at No. 2 and received two first-place votes in the poll.  Homer dropped three spots to No. 8 after their loss to Union Parish.  Glenbrook and Haynesville are both receiving votes in the poll. 

Arcadia Hornets (2-6, 2-4) at Ringgold Redskins (0-8, 0-6)

Arcadia has a lot riding on getting the 10 power-play points that are associated with adding to their power point ranking and shooting for a home playoff game.  The third win might lock it up for them.  This will be Ringgold’s last opportunity to get a win this season as they will close out with district juggernaut Calvary at their place.  A win may not be enough to push them into the field of 24 but it couldn’t hurt for at least a morale boost for the long season for the Redskins.  It should give Keesean Johnson and Madrelyn McCray a chance to boost some stats.  Markecion Carr and GeAuntre Nelson should get time to shine for the Hornets.  The main question in this game is which Hornets team will show up.  

Plain Dealing Lions (2-6, 2-4) at Calvary Cavaliers (7-1, 6-0)

A win and the Cavaliers will clinch at least a share of the district title.  The Lions’ small squad will have their hands full with all the Cavalier weapons and the home team will not want to give up anything on their homecoming night.  Calvary is currently sitting at a No. 2 power ranking in Division IV and will get a maximum of 22 power points over the next two weeks.  Unless No. 1 Sacred Heart slips up, Calvary could be in a battle for No. 2 seed with Ouachita Christian.  0.33 points separate Calvary from No. 1 and 0.20 points from No. 3.  Either way, they are looking at home field through at least the quarterfinals unless an upset occurs.  Calvary does have a battle for the No. 1 seed to look forward to. 

Haynesville Golden Tornado (5-3, 4-2) at Lincoln Prep Panthers (5-3. 3-3) 

This could be looked at as a battle. for the first-round bye.  Currently, Haynesville is sitting at No. 8 which is the last slot for a first-round bye.  A win over Lincoln Prep could push their ranking up and help solidify one of those byes.  Lincoln Prep is currently at No. 10, only two notches below that coveted No. 8 slot.  The Golden Tornado has a lot riding on this game and cannot afford to look ahead to the Claiborne Parish Superbowl in the last week.  A win by Haynesville will give them momentum heading into the highly emotional final regular-season matchup with Homer.  Lincoln Prep is in a good position to have a first-round home game which at best will be a neutral field close to Grambling.  They will have their hands full with the hard ground attack of the Tors.  Ta’rell Simmons will have to find his weapons in Dmitry Payne.  Also, Haynesville is going to have to get past Emmanuel Bryant.  Should be the game of the week. 

Magnolia SOE Mariners (1-7, 1-6) at Homer (5-3, 5-1)

Homer currently is sitting at No. 5 in the power rankings and is solid for a first-round bye.  When you look at this matchup, Homer needs this game to dust themselves off from the Union Parish game and get a confidence boost heading into next Friday’s game against Haynesville.  The Pels need to build that momentum to make another run to state which they have a good opportunity to make in Class A.  In Class A, there are only 0.30 power points that separate the No. 1 seed Logansport and No. 5 Homer.  This means there can get into the Top 2 slots which could home playoffs through the semi-finals.  Magnolia is looking for that second win and one over Homer would push them close to the 24-team field.  Not going to happen for the Mariners because the Pels have too much riding on the next two weeks.  The playoffs will start with Haynesville next week in Homer’s psyche.  A loss to the Tors could cause mental chaos heading into the playoffs.

Glenbrook Apaches (6-2) at Beekman Charter Tigers (0-8)

You can just say that it’s not fair for the Apaches that they have to sit and watch the playoffs due to an initiation rule by the LHSAA.  David Feaster will push his Apaches to finish strong and show that they are a threat in the next year.  The first-year LHSAA Glenbrook team will push to finish at 8-2.   They have the option to play spoiler in the last week at home against Arcadia and possibly dash any hopes for a home playoff game.  Glenbrook should light up the scoreboard against the Tigers who have not scored more than 20 points a game this season.  In the games the Tigers have played short of the two forfeits, the minimum amount of points allowed was against was 40 against 1-7 Lakeview.  Should be a big stat night for the boys from Minden. 

Division IV

Class A