By GEORGE MAHL

St. Charles Catholic versus Lutcher

LUTCHER – Both St. Charles Catholic High School and Lutcher High School got impressive victories last week. Now, the two district 10-3A schools meet each other Friday in Lutcher in the final regular season game.

The winner claims third place in the district. The SCC Comets are coming off a convincing 56-14 crushing of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, while Lutcher is coming off an equally impressive victory over Donaldsonville, 39-19.

“That was one of our finest performances this season. We needed that type of win after the St. James game,” LHS head coach Tim Detillier said.

Both teams will be in the playoffs and are looking to improve their seeding.

“I think it’s going to be a playoff-type atmosphere. Week 10 of the regular season is going to feel like week one of the playoffs,” said Detillier.

Currently, Lutcher is ninth in the 3A power ratings and SCC is 12th. Four district 10-3A teams will see post-season action at the end of the season. E.D White, St. James, Lutcher and St. Charles Catholic will make it into the playoffs.

The top 16 teams get to host a first-round playoff game on Nov. 15.

“Anytime you have two River Parishes schools get together it’s going to be big. I think both teams want to head into the playoffs on a positive note,” Detillier said.

Adding a little flavor to the game is the fact Detillier used to coach at St. Charles and SCC head coach Frank Monica was once a coach at Lutcher.

“I have a good friendship with Coach Detillier. I think he has done a good job with his team this season,” said Monica.

Monica said this week’s match-up is a big game with playoff implications for both teams.

“We still need to improve in some aspects in order for us to catapult to the next level,” Monica said.

Hahnville versus Central Lafourche

MATHEWS – The Hahnville High School Tigers (8-1) can claim another district 6-5A championship if they defeat the Central Lafourche High School Trojans Friday in Mathews.

Even though Central Lafourche is having a down year, HHS head coach Lou Valdin is not taking his opponent lightly.

“It seems they run a million different formations each week. They will be letting it all hang out because this is their playoff game,” said Valdin.

An extra incentive for the Trojans is the fact CL head coach Randy Breaux is resigning after the game.

“I think they’ll be ready not only because of their coach leaving, but also because it is a rivalry,” Valdin said.

The HHS Tigers are going to have to stop offensive threat Keylen Davis if they are going to be successful.

“They moved him from wide receiver to tailback and ever since he’s been awesome,” Valdin said. “This game in the past has been a war. The two schools are only separated by a bayou.”

District 6-5A will end up having four teams make the playoffs: Hahnville, Destrehan, East St. John, and South Lafourche. If CL upsets Hahnville and South Lafourche defeats Destrehan, then the SL Tarpons will claim the district crown.

Destrehan versus South Lafourche

DESTREHAN – The Destrehan High School Fighting Wildcats will look to finish their regular season Friday with only one district loss, 24-21 to Hahnville, when they host South Lafourche High School.

DHS (8-1) is coming off an impressive 41-7 defeat of Terrebonne High School.

“We were able to open up our passing game against them,” said DHS head coach Stephen Robicheaux.

Win or lose, the Fighting Wildcats will be hosting a first round playoff game the following week. In the victory over THS, quarterback Demarko Hutchinson passed for nearly 200 yards and three touchdowns.

This week DHS will need to stop an explosive SL running game.

“I think we need to control the line of scrimmage against them. What concerns me is that their backs may not be big, but they are quick,” Robicheaux said.

East St. John versus Terrebonne

RESERVE – The game last week between the East St. John High School Wildcats and Central Lafourche High School was over before the start of the third quarter.

At that point, ESJ head coach Larry Dauterive benched the first string and let freshmen and sophomores play. Ultimately, ESJ destroyed CL, 48-13.

“We shut them down for the entire game. It was a good all-around performance,” Dauterive said.

Wildcats running back Derron Thomas led the ground attack with 218 yards.

The Wildcats (7-2) will look to improve their 5A power rating when they host Terrebonne.

“Right now, we are 11th in the power ratings. We are in good shape to host a first-round playoff game,” Dauterive said.

The THS Tigers will likely come out with an option or triple option offense. In addition, even though THS has only won three district games, Dauterive said his club will be playing a powerful team.

“We give respect to everybody we play against. In this district you can’t take anyone lightly,” he said. “I think our focus has been good this year. We have the same players that went 3-7 last season. I’m looking for senior leadership as we head into the playoffs.”

West St. John versus Buras

EDGARD – The hottest team in the River Parishes is West St. John High School.

After an opening-game loss to St. James, the Rams have reeled off eight consecutive wins. Last week, the Rams’ victim was Riverdale High School, a 5A school.

The offensive star of the game was WSJ running back Patrick Jackson. He rushed for 141 yards.

This week West St. John will look to conclude its district schedule undefeated when they play Buras High School in the regular season finale. Regardless of the outcome, WSJ will host a first-round playoff game.

Riverside versus Newman

RESERVE – The Riverside Academy Rebels extended their winning streak to four last week with a 42-13 rout of Fisher High School.

RA (5-4) will try to win its fourth district game of the year Friday when they host rival Newman High School.

“Defensively, we are going to find a way to stop their starting quarterback (Damian Carter) from having a big game. He has been a starter for about two years and is someone that may cause us some problems,” said RA head coach Mickey Roussel.

Carter is been recruited by several big universities and will likely play NCAA Division 1A football in the future.

During the winning streak, the Rebels have played with intensity, according to Roussel.

“I think we have gotten our swagger back. We’re just like our old selves these days,” he said.

Riverside is currently 11th in the 2A power ratings and needs a win to improve its playoff position.

St. James versus Assumption

VACHERIE – St. James High School will look to rebound from a difficult loss against E.D. White High School when they host Assumption High School Friday in a non-district game in Vacherie.

“We didn’t play our best against E.D. White. Their guys made plays and we did not get that many opportunities,” said SJ Wildcats head coach Rick Gaille.

The loss snapped a six-game winning streak and was the first loss at home in more than two years for St. James. This week, St. James plays an AHS team fighting for its playoff survival.

“They have played some close games against some good teams. They took Vandebilt (Catholic High School) down to the wire recently,” Gaille said.

In order for the SJ Wildcats to be successful, Gaille said his players need to play with the same intensity they had before the loss.

“We have got to be consistent this week. Everyone is treating this week’s game as the first round of the playoffs,” he said.