By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

EDGARD — For almost a year now, West St. John has stewed.

The Rams were so close, yet so far from a state championship last season, a nine-game winning streak ending in the Superdome at the hands of Ouachita Christian, 23-7 in the Class 1A state championship game.

23-7. Numbers that have surely fueled the Rams’ fire in 2012.

“Our kids are hungry,” said West St. John coach Robert Valdez. “Last season did not end the way we wanted.”

West St. John seeks another opportunity to take that final step. It begins Friday when the Rams host Opelousas Catholic (6-4) in the first round of the 1A playoffs.

This year’s West St. John (6-3, 5-0) team is putting up results similar to it’s 2011 counterpart.

The Rams are winners of five straight, all district games and none close — the slimmest margin of victory was 19, a 41-22 win over White Castle.

West St. John scores fast and plays faster, their no-huddle, Oregon style attack about a month into its installation. It’s given the Rams an edge, one Valdez says they need to keep on Friday.

He thinks his experienced bunch – the Rams brought back a large number of key starters from last season’s state runner-up — will do just that.”

“Our kids understand the process it takes,” said Valdez. “Being able to take care of your body at this point and to understand the magnitude of what’s at stake.”

Valdez said that Opelousas has brought a number of different offensive looks to the table this season and expects the same on Friday.

“They’re very multiple with their scheme,” said Valdez.

“They’re like us in that regard. “They can run the spread, then shift gears to a power formation … Their quarterback makes them go. He can run the zone-read option, move it to spread … and the running back is very shifty.”

Ditto on defense, where Valdez said Opelousas looks to confuse the offense.

“You’ll see multiple coverages, multiple looks. They’re coached very, very well,” said Valdez.

West St. John enters the postseason ranked 5th in the LSWA Class 1A poll and as the No. 6 seed overall.

A win Friday would set up a potential rematch with White Castle, the District 9-1A runner-up.

Opelousas Catholic enters on a two-game skid, losing to St. Edmund and Westminster, the most recent game a 62-14 loss.