Blake Branch
Playoff time has arrived around the state of Louisiana, and just like that, we’re down to two teams in Webster Parish.
Minden and North Webster are the only schools who haven’t shifted their focus to the hardcourt, as the No. 5 seeded Crimson Tide and No. 14 Knights clinge to Dome dreams.
For Minden, the journey took an unexpected turn when the Woodlawn Knights upset them last week in the district 1-4A title game, but the Tide were able to maintain the fifth spot in Class 4A.
This week, they will take on the Patriots from Franklin Parish, the Class’s No. 28 seed, who finished just 3-7 in the regular season. However, do not let the record fool you. These Patriots have played a difficult schedule and came on strong down the stretch. Their signature win is a 34-27 triumph over a team that could be waiting for the winner in round two, the Bastrop Rams.
The game being in The Pit should be all the juice Minden needs to be ready to play.
North Webster will be at home as well for their first-round game against another group of Rams in Richwood High School.
Richwood, like North Webster, finished 6-4 against a difficult schedule, and feels they could make a run to the Dome.
The Knights and Rams have a common opponent in Ouachita out of Class 5A. North Webster fell to the Lions 41-13, while Richwood dropped their contest with Ouachita 51-20.
It should be a toss-up in Springhill, but the Knights should be favored at home with an improved defense and an offense beginning to take their game up a notch.
Both games kick off at 7 p.m.