MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 15, 2000

There has been only one round of the state high school playoffs and already the field is as jumbled as a Florida ballot.

Just when a highly-ranked team thought it was safe to go back onto the field, here comes an upset or two to take a bite out of their season. It was seen inSt. Amant as the fifth-seeded Gators were upended by 28th-seededComeaux in Class 5A action. Number 14 Byrd fell to No. 19 Neville, 30-27.And No. 15 Holy Cross saw its season end at the hands of No. 18 BakerSaturday.

In Class 4A, Walker at No. 5 was the highest seed to fall, dropping a 20-7decision to No. 28 Leesville. Number nine Chalmette also saw its season endearly, falling to No. 24 Terrebonne, 19-13. Woodlawn of Baton Rouge, seeded21st, pulled a 17-14 upset of No. 12 Pineville. The story was no different in Class 3A where another fifth seed, Karr, fell to 28th seed West Feliciana, 27-26. Westgate, seeded 26th, pulled a majorupset in defeating No. 7 Amite, 35-34 in overtime. Amite and Karr met in thestate championship game last season with Amite winning the championship.

No. 12 Belle Chasse also dropped out, losing to No. 21 Jena, 42-41. And No.20 Jennings shocked No. 13 Franklinton, 23-8. Class 2A was a little more settled although No. 12 DeQuincy was defeated by21st seed Many, 40-13. Christian Life, seeded 19th because of forfeits,upended No. 14 Springhill, 17-0. And No. 18 North Vermilion pulled a mildsurprise, defeating No. 15 Jewel Sumner, 27-20.There were two mild upsets in Class 1A. No. 19 St. John upended No. 14Country Day, 41-19, and No. 18 South Cameron defeated No. 15Montgomery, 28-14.

In a twist, the two teams that met for the Class 4A title in 1999, John Curtis and Capitol, opened the playoffs this year. Like last year, the Patriotsended Capitol’s season, 46-0.

Other than Class 2A runner-up Port Barre, which failed to make the playoffs, all the other participants in last year’s Superdome Classic moved on. WestMonroe, last year’s Class 5A runner-up and number one seed this year, had little trouble with Warren Easton, winning 64-0. Defending champion Evangelhad a lot more trouble with Destrehan, escaping with a 28-23 victory on a late touchdown.

In Class 2A, defending champion Iota dispatched South Beauregard, 55-20.

Oak Grove started its title defense in Class A with a 42-13 victory over Ringgold. And runner-up Kentwood moved on with a 38-6 win over NorthCentral.

Locally, six of the teams moved on. Hahnville got past Sulphur thanks toDawan and Laron Landry and the running of Skyler Boyle. A number of bigplays sent East St. John past Kennedy. And even though they came up short,there was no questioning the effort Destrehan gave against Evangel.

St. James rolled up over 500 yards in defeating Green Oaks. Lutcher’s ChrisJohnson had one of the nights players dream of in leading the Bulldogs past Lawless. Ditto for Devin Herbert as he led West St. John to a win overVinton. And Riverside’s win was never seriously in doubt thanks to a stiflingperformance by the defense.

Return To Sports Stories

Copyright © #Thisyear# Wick Communications, Inc.Best viewed with 4.0 or higher