The parish playoff picture this week has been narrowed to just three parish teams still playing.
Bowling Green is in the MAIS 4A championship game this week against undefeated Tri County. Despite a mid-season coaching change, the Bucs have persevered and are playing for a championship for the second consecutive year.
#1 seed Franklinton will play their first LHSAA playoff game this week vs the 7-4 West Feliciana Saints. Winner of this game plays the winner of 8 Lakeshore vs 9 Iota. If Franklinton wins this Friday, the next round game would be at Demon Stadium versus either opponent.
Pine defeated a game St Helena and now will go to 8 Kaplan. Winner gets the winner of 1 St James vs 19 Donaldsonville. If Pine is successful, they would go to St James but host Donaldsonville.
Notes and Quotes
"Well, we haven't won a playoff game since 2015, so no time like the present. We have to win at practice every day and transfer that to Friday night. West Feliciana is a good football team. They have an excellent offensive line and a great back. Everyone must play their best every day this week."
---Nick Saltaformaggio, Franklinton coach
"We're extremely proud of our football team for fighting back in the second half from adversity and picking up a win. Brody Estave came up huge for us with a punt block, recovered it and took it in for a touchdown, which was the difference in the football game. We talk about winning all three phases and while offensively we were sluggish, we played well defensively and we won the special teams game. We have a very tough opponent this week in Tri County which comes into the game undefeated. There is no doubt we are the underdog so it's time to go up there and turn it loose this week. We'd like to thank all of our fans and local supporters for coming out and being at the game Friday and for all of their support throughout the year."
---Bowling Green coach Phill Junkins
"It's hard to win playoff games so the win was a great accomplishment for our program. We were able to start fast and get a lead. But I was worried at halftime because we allowed a touchdown on the last play of the first half. I felt we had a chance to put them away in the first half and did not do it. That is a good way to lose games. But we played well in the second half ,especially on defense. We have a challenge this week going to Kaplan."
---Bradley Seal, Pine coach.
"It's been a long year full of ups and downs. I hope some of these seniors have not just become better football players but better young men. It's time to take a break for a few weeks and spend some time with my own kids and family. Then go back and do some self evaluating and figure out the next steps and where to go from here."
---Varnado coach Adam Brumfield
"Defensively we were stellar! Defensive line played great, limiting Reed's run game and were able to get three picks. Jeremy Franklin paced the offense with touchdown passes to Brandon Coleman and Jimmie Hunt and a trio of backs had touchdown rushes. Next week we travel to highly ranked Bunkie."
---Amite coach Zephaniah Powell
"It was a wild game, started slow and missed some opportunities early. The best defense to that offense is to jump up on them and we could not do it. But never count our young men out, they battle and they gave us everything. Down two scores with less than five minutes, we score, get a three and out, they hit an incredible punt that puts us on the two and we go 98 yards with no timeouts and around a minute left, amazing drive. Waited too late to get going. But I couldn't be more proud of how they finished and fought. A true testament to what our program builds and this senior group embodies the never give up mentality. Because of this these seniors will be amazing men and successful at whatever path they choose. I will forever be grateful for the last four years with these kids and at watching them grow up."
---Denham Springs coach Brett Beard (Brett Beard is a former Franklinton assistant.)
Last week's results
Pine 40 St Helena 16
Logansport 61 Varnado 0
Lakeside 37 Bogalusa 12
Bowling Green 14 Wayne Academy 10
Hannan 29 St Michael 20
Cecilia 50 Pearl River 29
Loranger 60 Kenner Discovery 7
Lakeshore 48 Rayne 14
Covington 36 Barbe 29
Amite 56 Sarah T. Reed 0
Kentwood 56 St Mary's 6
West Feliciana 22 Carroll 13
Kaplan 50 North Webster 0
West Ouachita 42 Denham Springs 41 OT
Jefferson County 38 Tylertown 20
This week's playoff schedule
•MAIS 4A Championship
Bowling Green vs Tri County at Jackson Academy, Friday 7pm
•LHSAA Playoff games of local interest
Non Select Division I
16 Covington at 1 Neville
21 West Monroe at 5 Mandeville
Non Select Division II
16 West Feliciana at 1 Franklinton
9 Iota at 8 Lakeshore
18 Cecilia at 2 Lutcher
Non Select Division III
9 Pine at 8 Kaplan
Select Division II
16 Loranger at 1 Shaw
22 Hannan at 6 Vandebilt Catholic
Select Division III
12 Amite at 5 Bunkie
13 Slaughter at 4 Sumner
11 Pope John Paul at 6 Episcopal
Select Division IV
12 Kentwood at 5 Ascension Episcopal
