Road to the Superdome begins tonight
Published 10:02 am Friday, November 14, 2014
Barbe will be hoping history repeats itself, while Sam Houston and Sulphur are hoping to reverse their recent playoff fortunes when the Class 5A playoffs kick off tonight.
No. 7 Barbe (8-2) hosts No. 26 Dutchtown (4-6) while No. 17 Sulphur (6-4) is at No. 16 East Ascension (5-5) and No. 24 Sam Houston (6-4) visits No. 9 West Monroe (8-2).
The Bucs have won at least one playoff game in each of the past seven seasons.
Barbe beat Dutchtown 28-26 in a 2008 regional-round game, stopping current Green Bay running back Eddie Lacy on a 2-point conversion with no time left on the clock.
Bucs head coach Mike Cutrera said the Griffins are better than their record shows.
“The schedule they played was very tough, when you are playing Rummel, Destrehan and them you are going to get tested,” he said. “They are a good team and they play hard. Coach (Benny) Saia does a good job. They have some great athletes.”
The Bucs are on a six-game winning streak.
“I like the way we are playing,” Cutrera said. “The kids are playing hard, practicing and having fun. This is an exciting time of the year.”
East Ascension is coached by Paul Bourgeois, who led the Tors to the 2006 state championship game. The Tors have not won a playoff game since that season.
“They have three guys that are really explosive,” said Tors head coach Jeff Wainwright. “The quarterback, running back and a receiver. They do most of the work. They have a very good offensive line. The first thing that strikes you when you pop in the film is their offensive personnel.”
Wainwright said his team is peaking at the right time.
“The last month or so we have been playing pretty good football,” he said. “The defense is getting turnovers and the offense is putting up points. We feel good about being prepared. It comes down to playing a good game in a big atmosphere. That is what happens in the playoffs, it is how you execute in all kinds of adversity.”
Sam Houston will be playing its first playoff game since moving up to Class 5A in 2011. The Broncos last won a playoff game in 2006, in Class 4A. Broncos quarterback Dustin Duhon has thrown for 1,576 yards and 14 touchdowns and run for 1,007 yards and 14 TDs.
