LaGrange will be looking to lock up the District 4-4A championship tonight when it hosts Washington-Marion, which will be looking to secure a playoff berth.

The Gators (5-4, 5-0) clinched a share of the district title and can win it outright with a win over W-M (4-5, 3-2).

A LaGrange loss would give Crowley (7-2, 5-1) a share of the title.

The Gators have won five straight after opening the season with four losses against a brutal nondistrict schedule.

“We go into every season saying our number one goal is to be district champs, and secondly to make it to the playoffs and take it one game at a time,” said Gators head coach Jules Sullen.

“We are basically exactly where we thought we would be at, regardless of if we were 0-4 or not. We play those (nondistrict) opponents trying to prepare us for the type of teams we would play in the second or third round of the playoffs.”

The Gators have found their stride in district play, outscoring opponents 211-55.

“We have been maintaining some consistency, understanding what we can and can’t do as a team,” Sullen said. “We are finally starting to understand our blocking rules and what we have to do defensively.”

W-M enters the game 29th in the Class 4A power ratings. Thirty-two teams make the playoffs in each class. The Charging Indians have won three straight.

“I think we have grown up a little bit,” said W-M head coach Freddie Harrison. “We have got in situations where the kids have been able to be successful.

“Opportunities for the kids to grow and get together came late in the season. If you look at the district schedule, we lost to Crowley by one point and to Rayne by one touchdown. I figured we would grow up after the tough 5A (nondistrict) schedule. I think the kids understand that you have to win every play you possibly can.”

Both coaches downplayed the significance of the crosstown matchup.

“I know a lot of people look at it as a rivalry game, but we really don’t,” Sullen said. “In our minds, it is just Week 10. We just want to come out healthy and be ready for the playoffs.”

“LaGrange is not our rival,” Harrison said. “Lake Charles-Boston is Washington-Marion’s rival, LaGrange is nowhere near that. This is a rivalry people are trying to make. It has not been long enough to say it is a rivalry.”

In District 3-4A, Leesville (6-3, 4-0) has won a share of the district title and can win it outright if it beats Peabody (6-3, 3-1) in Alexandria. Peabody gets a share of the title with a win, and DeRidder (6-3, 3-1) can also get a share with a win over Tioga and Peabody win over Leesville.(Rick Hickman/American Press)