Avoyelles Parish proudly has three teams in the LHSAA football playoffs

This coming week Avoyelles Parish will proudly have three teams participating in the LHSAA football playoffs. The Avoyelles Mustangs, Marksville Tigers and the Bunkie Panthers will represent their schools and their parish, as they have all earned the right to compete in this years playoffs. A special thanks to the coaches, Coach Boone of Avoyelles, Coach Webb of Bunkie and Coach Dunbar of marksville and all their coaches, support club and their fan base.

The following is a break down of the first round games scheduled for our parish teams and my personal insight as to how I think these games will play out.

In classification 2-A #30 seed Bunkie will travel north ward near Shreveport to take on #3 seed Calvary Baptist. The Panthers will come into the contest with a (4-6) overall record. Bunkie's most noted game of the season came in a loss to district 3-3A runner up Avoyelles (9-1 on the season), by a final score, of 60-58. Calvary Baptist comes into the contest with a (8-2) record, with notable victories over 4-A power Teurlings Catholic (7-3) in a 63-53 slugfest and a win over power house Evangel Christian by a score of 42-38.

This will be a tough trip up north for the Panthers. On paper this should be a route in favor of the home team Calvary Baptist. Best wishes to the Panthers.

In class 3-A the #12 seed Avoyelles Mustangs will host a first round game for the first time in ages, after finishing the regular season with a sparkling (9-1) record. Avoyelles only blemish on the season came at the hands of the Marksville Tigers in the final regular season game of the year, a game played at Warren Douglas Memorial Stadium, in Marksville. Avoyelles will host #21 seed McMain out of district 10-3A. McMain (7-3) on the season and (4-0) in district play has quality wins over Newman (5-5) and DeLasalle (5-4). Both teams feature very talented running games. I am sure Coach Boone will have his troops ready to go in this one.

This game for the most part should be tightly contested, but you have to like the Mustangs chances playing at home. This is a game Avoyelles can and should win. I like Avoyelles by at least 12 points. Good luck Mustangs.

In the other 3-A classification contest, the #16 seeded Marksville Tigers (7-3) on the season and district 3-3A champions, will welcome to Marksville #17 seed Donaldsonville out of district 7-3-A. Donaldsonville sports a (5-5) overall record, and has an impressive win over ED White and loss in the games final minutes to a solid Port Allen team (8-2), by a final score of 30-34.

This game will feature two teams that have played tough regular season schedules. Lots of speed at running back for both teams. I see Marksville drawing an advantage from their experience from last years playoffs and this years solid schedule to play well in this contest. Also playing this first round game at home in front of a huge crowd will benefit the Tigers. Coach Dunbars battle tested Tigers should be well prepared in this one. I like the Tigers in this contest by at least 14 points.

Best wishes to all our parish teams.

Kobe East

Lafayette (formerly of Bunkie)