JOURNAL SPORTS
Two of the three local high school football teams playing home playoff games tonight are coming off Week 10 losses, and the other one is still stinging from a defeat exactly a year ago to the same team they’re hosting tonight.
The tables are turned this time around for Booker T. Washington, which has earned a home game with a 6-4 record and a 13th seed in the Select Division II bracket.
“We’re really looking forward to this rematch with Istrouma. We are familiar with them from last year’s 46-44 loss in the first round,” said Lions coach Gary Cooper. “I’m very excited for this senior class having the opportunity to host a playoff game.”
Parkway is back at Preston Crownover Stadium tonight after falling at Evangel last Friday in the District 1-5A championship game. Coach Coy Brotherton is happy his team’s travel is just a few minutes up the road from the Parkway campus, not in the other direction.
“I’m glad we are at home,” he said. “It’s tough in the playoffs to make that five-hour bus trip.”
Instead, it’s Covington with that task and the 9-1 Panthers are counting on a style clash to give them an edge.
“On film Covington looks like a very physical defensive football team with good skill players at the wide out position,” said Brotherton. “We are hoping one thing that gives us advantage is the style of offense we play is something they don’t see down there.”
The Northwood Falcons (8-2) are stinging after losing 28-27 at Loyola in Week 10, an outcome that probably cost them a first-round bye. As they enter the Non-Select Division I postseason, Austin Brown and his coaching staff have used last week’s game tape to their benefit.
“Our guys are excited to right their wrong,” said Brown. “We’ve had tough accountability film sessions.”
As for facing Barbe, a team that opened the season with a 56-27 loss at Airline, Brown says the Bucs have made big strides since then and he’s counting on a homefield advantage at Jerry Burton Stadium to help the Falcons.
“Barbe has some exceptional offensive athletes that are big time baseball players,” he said. “It’s a very strong 26th-seed coming in here and we are expecting a big home crowd to push us through for a victory.”
Tonight’s LHSAA playoff schedule involving local teams:
NON-SELECT
Division I
No. 27 Covington (6-4) at No. 6 Parkway (9-1)
No. 26 Barbe (5-5) at No. 7 Northwood (8-2)
No. 17 Airline (7-3) at No. 16 Westgate (6-4)
Division II
No. 22 Bossier (4-6) at No. 11 West Feliciana (6-4)
SELECT
Division I
No. 20 Captain Shreve (6-4) at No. 13 Hammond (7-3)
Division II
No. 20 Istrouma (5-5) at No. 13 Booker T. Washington (6-4)