How many of the Acadiana area schools will be victorious in the second round of the LHSAA football playoffs this week?

13 schools from the area are still vying for state titles, in seven of the nine different classifications.

You have to like the chances of many of the local team this week, as most are favorites, with ten schools hosting second round action.

Let’s run down the different classes, and see what teams from the local area have the best chances at advancing to the quarterfinals:

In Class 5A, Acadiana, the #14-seed will travel to take on 3rd-seeded Ponchatoula.

Acadiana is not your typical #14-seed. They really have only two losses all year, but had to forfeit a game to Sulphur. As for their other losses; one was on the last play of the game to Carencro, and the other was a one-point loss to Ponchatoula.

So, this is a rematch of a week 2 contest, in which Ponchatoula won, 24-23.

The pick here is that Acadiana turns the tables this time, and advances.

In Class 4A, 7th-seeded Rayne is home to take on 10th-seeded Benton, with 9th-seeded Carencro traveling to meet 8th-seeded Loranger.

I'm looking for both schools to advance, although both games should be close.

The reason is the strengths of the districts that both Rayne and Carencro play in. Rayne is taking on a Benton team that went 1-2 against teams that finished with a record over .500 during the regular season, while Loranger doesn't have one single win against a 4A team that had a winning record during the regular season.

In Class 3A, 3rd-seeded Kaplan hosts 14th-seeded North Webster, while 8th-seeded Northwest hosts 9th-seeded Jena, and 17th-seeded Erath entertains top-seeded West Feliciana.

Kaplan just continues to roll, and the pick here is that they continue to do so, in a game that may be a defensive affair.

Northwest just continues to fly under the radar, but also just continues to win. They are now 11-0, and face a 9-2 Jena team.

It's time to start giving Northwest the benefit of the doubt so they're the pick.

As for Erath, there's no question they're the underdogs, and the pick is going to be West Feliciana, but any team that has the likes of Elijah Mitchell is certainly capable of pulling an upset.

In Class 2A, #7 Loreauville hosts #10 Ferriday.

Loreauville has won five-straight, and will be taking on a Ferriday team that has won 6 of their last 7.

Should be a good one, but I'm taking the home team.

In Class 1A, there are no teams from the immediate Acadiana area, so this bracket is an easy one to call.

In Division I, on the select side, there are no teams from the Acadiana area, so this is an easy one to call.

In Division II, 3rd-seeded St. Thomas More entertains #11th-seeded E.D. White this week, while 4th-seeded Teurlings hosts 5th-seeded Parkview Baptist.

I can't pick against STM. They're just too good, and have played too strong of a schedule, while E.D. White just hasn't played the caliber of competition that they have, recording only one victory against a team that finished over .500 during the regular season.

The Teurlings/Parkview Baptist game might be the toughest game in the area to handicap this week.

Parkview Baptist didn't have many great wins, going with their 6 wins coming against teams that had a combined record of 26-38.

On the only hand, Parkview Baptist suffered losses to Catholic (Baton Rouge), West Feliciana, Riverside, and John Curtis, who are a combined 39-1.

How about Teurlings? Well, their three losses were to Notre Dame, Catholic (Baton Rouge), and St. Thomas More, who are a combined 28-3.

The Rebels have allowed 114 points over the last three games, which is a major concern.

Truth be told, Teurlings, even though they are the higher seeded team, as well as the home team, is probably the underdog. So, I'll go with the mild upset here, and take Teurlings.

In Division III, 2nd-seeded Notre Dame hosts 7th-seeded Metairie Park Country Day, while 4th-seeded Catholic High (New Iberia) hosts 12th-seeded Newman.

Notre Dame and Catholic High should advance, and continue their march towards a possible state title match-up.

Both were impressive last week, both are at home, both are playoff-proven, and both are favorites.

Finally, in Division IV, top-seeded Ascension Episcopal will host 8th-seeded St. Frederick, while 4th-seeded Westminster plays host to 12th-seeded Central Catholic (Morgan City).

Ascension Episcopal just looks to be a juggernaut, but Westminster has been very good of late themselves, allowing only 8 points over their last four games.

Both are the picks to advance.

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