Believe it or not, we're approaching week nine of the 2013 high school football season, and the race for district championships, as well as playoff seeding, is more than hot and heavy.

Here are five intriguing high school football games in the Acadiana area this week:

1)---NEW IBERIA at COMEAUX

This is a match-up that many wouldn't have highlighted before the start of the season. But that has changed, with both teams having outstanding years, and now this District 3-5A contest may be the best game in the area this week.

New Iberia, ranked ninth in the latest LSWA 5A poll, is 7-1, overall, and 5-0 in district play. They have won six straight, following a 34-20 loss to Teurlings in week two, their only defeat of the year, and have wins over the likes of Breaux Bridge, Westgate, and Barbe.

The Yellow Jackets have been one of the most pleasant surprises this year, and may be one week away from facing Acadiana, with the district title on the line.

First things first however, as they'll be on the road to take on a playoff-caliber foe.

Comeaux, who is 5-3, overall, and 3-2 in district play, is having a fine year, and are primed to make the playoffs.

The Spartans have dropped two of their last three, but those two losses were against ranked teams, in Acadiana and Barbe, and they'd love nothing more than to clinch a winning season on Friday night with a big home win over a ranked team.

 

2)---CROWLEY at EUNICE

These longtime rivals are in the same district for the first time in a few years, and it seems only fitting that this one will have some say in who wins the District 4-4A crown.

Eunice and LaGrange are both 3-1 in district, with Crowley and Washington-Marion both 3-2, while Rayne is 2-2.

To go along with their 3-2 district record, Crowley is 5-3 overall, and have scored 40 or more points in three game this year, including 52 last week, in that wild 52-48 win over Rayne.

Eunice, who is also 5-3 on the season, is more defensive-oriented, having not allowed more than 21 points in any game to date. The Bobcats, with a win this week, along with a victory next week over Beau Chene, could grab a least a share of the district title.

This is a real interesting match-up between two long-time rivals, who have very different styles, with a possible share of the district championship on the line, so what's not to like?

 

3)---CATHOLIC-NEW IBERIA at LOREAUVILLE 

This promises to be a good one, with ninth-ranked Catholic-New Iberia traveling to take on top-ranked Loreauville, with the District 5-2A title on the line.

Catholic-New Iberia is 5-3, overall, and 3-0 in district play, and have won three-straight, scoring a combined 182 points in the process. The Panthers, who have suffered losses to Vermilion Catholic, Patterson, and Notre Dame this year, are playing their best football of the year, just in time for this district showdown, and just in time for a playoff run.

Loreauville, who is 8-0, overall, and 3-0 in district play, is the top-ranked team in the 2A poll this week. The Tigers have a scary offense, having scored 227 points, total, over their last five games. Their defense has been pretty good too, having kept the opposition out of the end zone in four of their eight games this year.

This is a match-up that features two special offenses. That being said, it will likely be a defensive play, or stand, that turns out to be the difference in this tilt.

 

4)---WESTGATE at TEURLINGS

This is kind of crazy to think about, but after this game, one of these teams will have a non-winning record.

Now, that doesn't mean that the loser of this game will be in danger of not making the playoffs, or that they don't have a good team, because they won't, and they do.

All it means is that whoever falls to the .500 mark has done so because of a strong schedule that they've played.

Teurlings, who is 4-3, overall, and 3-1 in District 5-4A play, has come up short against University Lab, Notre Dame, and St. Thomas More.

What do those teams all have in common?

Yep, they're all undefeated.

Westgate, who is 4-3, overall, and 2-2 in district play, has losses to New Iberia, Breaux Bridge, and St. Thomas More, all of whom are ranked, or are receiving votes in their respective polls.

Regardless of what happens, both of these teams should end their regular season with winning records, and both should be dangerous when the playoffs begin in two weeks.

 

5)---HANSON at VERMILION CATHOLIC

Vermilion Catholic, the second-ranked team in the class A poll this week, is one win away from clinching the District 71A crown.

The Screaming Eagles have been a machine this year, going 8-0, with wins over Catholic-New Iberia, Welsh, Erath, and Eunice, all teams from higher classifications.

In their four games against class A competition this year, Vermilion Catholic is 4-0, and have outscored their opponents, 197-58.

VC is not only the team to beat for the district crown, they will also beat one of the prime contenders for a state title as well.

Hanson is having a nice year as well, with a 6-2 overall mark, and a 4-1 district record.

The Tigers have won two-straight, including an impressive 56-38 win over Highland Baptist last week, and have scored 103 points over the past two weeks.

Nobody has been able to solve VC this year, but Hanson, with their ability to put points on the scoreboard, has at least a fighting chance.

 

 

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