Copyright American Press
Four Southwest Louisiana high school football teams — Iowa, Lake Charles College Prep, Kinder and Hamilton Christian — earned top-four seeds when the Louisiana High School Athletic Association released playoff brackets on Sunday. It was the most top-four seeds for the area since power ratings began in 1999. In all, 16 area teams qualified for the playoffs. Iowa, which recently completed the third undefeated regular season in program history, boasts the area’s highest ranking at No. 2 in Nonselect Division II. It is the seventh time the Yellow Jackets (10-0) have earned a No. 8 seed or better in the last 10 seasons. Iowa reached the semifinals last year as the No. 5 seed. Lake Charles College Prep (8-2) is the No. 3 seed in Select Division II, matching its previous best seed in 2020 when it reached the Class 3A semifinals. At No. 3 in Select Division IV, Hamilton (9-0) earned its highest seed since the program joined the LHSAA in 2005. The Warriors were the four seed in Class 1A in 2007. Kinder (10-0) is the No. 4 seed in Nonselect Division III for a second consecutive season after reaching the quarterfinals last year. All four received a first-round bye in the playoffs, which start Thursday. For the first time in a dozen seasons, the Vinton Lions (8-2) will host a playoff game after putting together their best regular-season record since a quarterfinal run in 2013. But the Lions will face their biggest rival in No. 25 DeQuincy (4-6). A few days ago, the Lions needed a last-second touchdown to beat the Tigers 21-17 in DeQuincy to win their first district championship since 2006. Select Division II Leesville (5-5) will open the playoffs at home for the sixth consecutive season and will face No. 19 Kenner Discovery Health Science (4-6). The winner would travel to play LCCP in the regional round. DeRidder (5-5), ranked 16th in Nonselect Division II, will start the playoffs at home for the first time since 2020 against District 3-4A rival No. 17 Eunice (4-6). The Dragons edged the Bobcats 13-12 in Week 6 at home. Nonselect Division II No. 9 Jennings (7-3), looking to atone for its regional-round loss to Opelousas as a three seed last year, hosts No. 24 St. Martinville (3-7). In Nonselect Division IV, No. 11 Elton, No. 12 Welsh and No. 13 Grand Lake will all start the playoffs at home. Elton (7-3) will take on No. 22 LaSalle (6-4), while Welsh (4-6) and Grand Lake (7-3) will face teams they beat in the regular season. Welsh beat District 6-2A rival No. 21 Lake Arthur (5-5) 59-20 in Week 9, while Grand Lake beat No. 20 Montgomery (5-5) 62-34 in Week 4.
