All eight of the teams in Southwest Louisiana’s largest football district will open play tonight.

District 3-5A boasts a trio of state title contenders and five tradition-rich programs that could all beat one another on any given Friday night.

Barbe, Sulphur and Sam Houston represent the Lake Area and are accompanied by Acadiana, Carencro, Comeaux, Lafayette and New Iberia.

Each team will have to go through a grueling, seven-game gauntlet if they hope to reach the state playoffs and win a state championship.

Barbe (3-0) is the lone local squad to open district play with a home game as they host the Carencro Bears (1-2).

Carencro has made multiple runs deep into the playoffs in recent years.

“We are preparing for this game just like we would every other week, but we do realize that this is a big game against a good team,” said Barbe head coach Mike Cutrera. “Carencro has a great football program and they always field a good team.”

The Bucs are fresh off their second consecutive home victory over state power West Monroe, a win that saw their defense step up to assist their star-studded offense.

“You always want to start your district campaign off with a win, and we just make sure that our kids are getting better every week so we can ride that momentum,” Cutrera said.

Sam Houston (2-1) goes on the road for the first time in three weeks as the Broncos travel to Comeaux (2-1) in Lafayette looking for their first district win as a Class 5A team.

“I am excited for the opportunity to compete in this district this year, but Comeaux is a very good football team and we will have to be well prepared if we are to win our first game as a part of this district,” said Sam Houston head coach Vaughn Eggleston.

The Spartans have beaten the Broncos in each of the past two seasons, but things may be different this year as Sam Houston has shown an explosive offense and a stout defense.

“Our guys have been working hard in preparing for every game, and we have had a lot of guys step up when their teammates have gone down to injury,” Eggleston said. “I am very pleased with a lot of things I have seen from this team so far this year.”

Comeaux picked up wins over Cecilia and Alexandria.

Also traveling east will be Sulphur (1-2), which is fresh off its first win under new head coach Jeff Wainwright. The Tors battled through the mud and the muck last week en route to a 14-0 win over Washington-Marion, but get set to battle a completely different type of beast in the New Iberia Yellow Jackets (2-1), whose lone loss came at the hands of 4A powerhouse Teurlings Catholic.

The game will be televised by Cox Sports Television at 7 p.m.

“Momentum is everything in sports, and we are going to ride it as long as we can, but New Iberia is a very good ballclub that we will have to be well prepared for,” Wainwright said.

They will also need another big performance from sophomores Garrett Brame and Toby Duhon.

Garrett Brame earned his first start at quarterback last week for the Tors, while Toby Duhon rushed for 114 yards and both scores.

(American Press Archives)

Kirk Meche