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KTBS 3 Sports and Jeff Harper present the #3Fever Point-After Podcast, a local show highlighting high school football in the ArkLaTex. Alex Anderson and Bossier Offensive Coordinator Jeff Harper give you a weekly look at teams to watch, interviews with some of our area's top recruits, and all the information you need to be prepared for the Friday night lights . Join us every Thursday morning wherever you get podcasts for the KTBS #3Fever Point After Podcast.
Hey, welcome to another episode
of the Three Fever Point after podcast.
I'm one of your host, Alex Anderson.
The other host, Jeff Harper, offensive
coordinator of Knack and Essential
in the House for another our first playoff
edition of the podcast this year.
Coach, obviously your chiefs
not not in the postseason
before we kind of get going on
everything, we're looking forward to
just give you a chance to
to talk about the year with your team
and what you're building down there.
Natchitoches
Yeah, I mean, it's year one and we
we come in in January
and we start change in the culture
just established really the standard
of how things are going to be done.
And you know,
we went through a really good spring
and offseason workout program
and then had, you know, 120 something kids
make it through the summer
and fall camp and, you know, had had a,
you know, excellent fall camp.
And we get into the season
and now we're learning,
we're learning how to play
and we're learning
how to play our style of football
and the things that we want to do.
And we're learning,
you know, who we have on the roster and
you know, what we have at the freshman
and JV level and just kind of
building it out from there.
And so, you know, we had
we had the ups and downs.
I mean, the two and eight season,
it's really, you know, a lot of people
kind of find it hard to to, you know, what
what can we draw from this?
But, you know, we had four straight games.
We lost, you know, on the last drive,
or at least in it, you know,
had had an opportunity
to win it in the fourth quarter, too.
We lost on the last play, the last
two games before before this past week.
And and then, you know,
we just go into week
ten and it don't play well hard plays
well they're very difficult to game plan
for had
had you know really really bad injury
on the defensive side of the ball
in that game it kind of took
the wind out of the sails of our guys
and you know at the end of the day we're
we're not pleased with what we what we did
on the field as far as wins and losses.
But building in the program and
and changing things, changing the culture,
it's on the right track.
And so, you know, we're we're steadily,
you know, moving upward, trending upward.
And that's kind of the goal is every day
just get get a little bit better and
and try to narrow down the things that you
want to be able to fix in the offseason
and then how you want to evaluate
what you have coming back
and where you're going into the future.
And so that's really
what we're working on now
and looking forward
to seeing how teams in our district,
you know, fare in the playoffs
will be pulling for those guys to do well.
Yeah, of course.
And obviously you can count me
on the list of people that are
that are bought in to you and coach
Jess and everything.
You guys are doing down there.
I mean, for me,
you talked about coaches in our area.
It's kind of a dream team.
Two of my favorite guys in the area
teaming up there and very excited
for the future down there
with the chiefs in Natchitoches.
Before we get into the brackets, recap
of our pick
them last week,
I finally get a win two, two and one.
This week
I had Haynesville and I had North DeSoto.
You had Ruston taking down West
Monroe there.
I feel like we're going to talk about all
of those teams a lot as we get through.
So I don't want to spend too much time
on those games.
I would
I would like to mention North DeSoto
though, getting that win off of Northwood.
I know that their Twitter account
tweeted a little GIF or Jif or whatever
you call it of the the monkey, you know,
getting taken off your back there.
Big win for the Griffins
as they now head into the postseason.
Yeah.
And you know, in that situation
there I mean it was it
made I think it was six straight
wins, four for Northwest seven
in that match up seven straight wins.
I mean, that's that's impressive.
At some point that comes to an end and,
you know, North Dakota's rolling.
So we talked about that we made the picks
but I do like how we you know
we talk about your wins
when you win picks but we don't talk about
we do not talk about my wins
when I pick them.
Right.
It's just acknowledge
well you win again again
And so you know I appreciate the gut
punch there, Alex.
Thanks.
But you were right.
Let me let me stop you for a minute.
You got the Haynesville home game, right?
I mean, I've just waived on that one.
That was probably the best that I thought,
you know, there really was no opportunity
for you to take rest.
And you let me pick first.
I took rest and it was no way
I was going to take Western Road.
And then ultimately,
you know, the Northwood North.
So to match up,
I think both of us wanted North Dakota
and that deal just because how
well they're playing absolute.
It's really hard not to pick Northwood
when they're at home and they've won it
seven straight times.
So, you know, exciting, exciting week ten
but excited for
what lies before us and picking,
you know, who's going to
who's going to be, you know,
playing in the following weeks to come.
It's the best time of the year. Yeah.
And you know, it's old news when you win,
coach, It's surprising when I win.
So we got to talk about it a little more.
I it's the people around it.
I would
issue an apology there for our listeners.
I know my mike is live the entire time
so if you hear me
make any sudden movements
I am right here at my feet.
I'm watching the Buffalo Sabers
and they just scored.
So I was doing a little fist pump there
and if that came across up there.
So one, two, one, Carolina there.
I know everyone's very invested in that.
Okay,
So I guess we'll just go to the brackets.
You know, looking at it, it's
so different now.
I mean, you go back to a few years ago
when there was like 12 of them
and it's just seemed like
everyone is in certainly not the case now,
starting with division one non select
Russell and airline on Byes.
The only two local teams we have playing
this Friday night are Benton
and Parkway both on the road
I know for parkway disappointing
way to in that season
not get that home playoff game there.
Look Benton's got a tough test
at Walker Parkway at Bell Chase
which one if either
do you think has a better chance
of keeping their season going here?
I think both of them do
one thing about Parkway.
They're a little banged up on defense.
I know they had some guys
go out with injuries.
And the reason I know that is
my daughter just didn't have a cookout
at our house Friday
I mean Saturday for the LSU
Alabama game in walks the running back
and in walks K be the quarterback in walks
Aaron Burrell.
And the next you know here's Camaro Mayo
and then grand and number
29 one of the defensive guys
and then Ashton Jackson I'm like
and I'm wearing central staff
It's like what is happening right now?
They kind of gave me
the breakdown of what was going on.
And I'm I'm going to tell you, like,
I know that they would have loved
to have a playoff game, but the game
dropping that game probably gave them
a better match up, to be honest with you.
I mean, they've got a very winnable
game on the road.
You know, if they can get everybody back
and healthy and,
you know, their run game will travel.
We know defense and run
game travels in the postseason.
They've got great special teams.
So, you know,
I think that their matchup, they fare
well on that one and that bit and can beat
and can go on the road
and they can score with anybody.
So I think that both teams
have opportunities to win this week.
Now if you're a team like airline are
really Ruston would be more
I don't know
what the word is it would make more sense
to ask this question for us.
And there you go. In a long day.
You know, Russell is red hot right now.
I know obviously the benefit of a bye week
is to get healthy and all that stuff.
But is there a little that you think
maybe concern of a team that is so hot
to have that week off,
maybe disrupting that,
maybe having to ramp it
back up a week later, Is that a real thing
or is it something that we just kind of
make up as fans?
No, I think there's a lot of merit to it.
You know, in 2016, when I was at Loyola,
we we lost a week ten game
to Mansfield on a on a last second.
Throw in the back of the end zone
early in the game
when Jacob Allen goes out with a shoulder
injury.
Our 800 yard All-State Rusher
Ethan Stancil goes out with a knee injury
and we drop that game 3428
and we were undefeated
and just beat three the week before
and we got a bye
because we were the two seed
and then we, you know,
sitting there and Jada's like, man,
I mean, we have a week
when we're not playing
and then we're going to be hosting
most likely U Lab at Mesmer.
And so there was a lot of
there was a lot of anxiety going into that
because, you know, we had the injuries.
We came back, we almost won it late.
And then, you know, we had a week off
before we can play again.
That was tough.
I think with Ruston winning a close
game on the road at West Monroe
and it's different.
It sets up different for them
and some of these other teams
that they're sitting back, you know,
Shreve, they're sitting there
going to be sit at home this week too.
And they, you know,
they had a big win at Holton.
So, you know, it cuts both ways.
Yes, there's a lot of anxiety
that goes into it if you don't play well.
But there is also a lot of relief
if you do,
you know, have some injuries
and people are banged up
and you know that you
got to very manageable
second round game circumstance.
And now that the playoffs set up
the way they do, if you
if you're one of those you know top
four seeds you play every game at home.
So you know there is
there's a lot of merit to both sides.
But I would I would say in the likelihood
that somebody like a West Monroe
that goes on, I mean, a rust that goes on
the road beats West Monroe, We tend
to come back in and win that thing
and they win it on the road.
Now they get healthy,
they get to relax a little bit and,
you know, study their opponents, people
that they could possibly play
and then get an extra week of preparation.
So I don't think there's anything wrong
or anything bad with getting a bye
unless it's a situation similar to what
I just described with us in 2016.
I've been around for a long time.
I distinctively remember that
when you said Ethan Stansell,
it popped my hold my memory right back.
I remember that
that whole ordeal, obviously,
I didn't know you at that point,
so I didn't know
you were there on the staff that year.
But I remember that actually pretty
well that that was a
that was a crazy
year there for the fliers.
We're going to talk, obviously
a lot more about airline
next week
when we know who they'll be playing.
But I tell you, sitting at four right now,
I mean,
you got to think the Vikings would love
where they're at.
And, you know, they're itching
to get back on the field in the playoffs
after what happened a year ago.
Now, no doubt.
I mean, you know, Coach Dunn mentioned,
you know, last week when they got the win,
it was like
that monkey was off their back.
You know, they beat North
where they won the district.
I think that in the back of Scoggins
mind, in his team's mind,
they want to get on the field
and keep this thing rolling.
I mean, they they're they're hitting
on all cylinders, playing very well
in really, you know, only one game where
it just didn't it didn't go their way.
And they
they have bounced back in a big way.
So I think that, you know, the time
time off,
we'll let them get some of their guys
back and up and, you know, clean
some things up they want to work on
and and prep for the next opponent.
But yeah, I do believe
that in the back of their mind
they want to get on the field
and keep this thing rolling for sure.
And obviously we mentioned Benton
that Walker a tough matchup for the Tigers
but a Tiger team that has really improved
as they've gotten through the end
of the year here.
Yeah, no question.
I mean, they they're playing they're
playing well in every phase of the game.
And so, you know, Reynold Reynolds
is one of the best guys in our area.
And I don't think he gets enough credit
as a head coach.
Terence Smith is a great play
caller and offensive guy
And you know, he's done a really good job
getting these guys to play well.
At the same time,
you look over there, coach basketball,
you know, coming over from three
first year
DC at Benton he's got the defense playing
well so and their scheme is tough.
I mean if you if you if
you're not used to seeing a three safety
look it can cause some problems.
And so you know Walker Scott
got their hands full and they shouldn't
relax
just because you look at Benton schedule
and they may not be eight
and two or seven and three,
you better, you better have an answer for
Manning out of the backfield
because he can really play and
and if you don't, if you don't
respect the pass game and the tempo
that can get on your quick
so you know it's going to be look
Benton gets a huge win against Parkway
week ten at home You know
they got it rolling so I said this was
this is a big win for them
and I know they want it
because in the back of their mind,
they remember last year
where they were just seconds
away, really literally second
way, second away from being in the quarter
finals.
And so, you know,
we had that conversation last week.
I'm not going to bring that back up.
But yeah, they're ready to roll.
Yeah, You kind of take the words
out of my mouth right there.
Obviously,
they excited to get to this point.
We go to the Division
two non select bracket
and we only have two local teams in it.
It's Mendon it at 28 they're going to West
Feliciana and North DeSoto.
The top seed,
no surprise there getting a bye week.
We did kind of mention them the amend
and look they've had a tough year.
They won that game that they needed to win
last week to get in that playoff spot.
But I mean, you're on the road
against a five seed, not a place
many teams want to be.
Probably not.
But they've got they've
got one of the best players in the area.
And you know,
look, teams,
we just need to make the playoffs
and then the season resets
and it's a one game season every week.
And so, you know, you just
that would be cool
to see, you know, a team
like Mendon who's got
it was in a lot of games this year
and they just didn't go their way.
You know, being on the other end of that,
I know how it feels.
You just never know.
And so they get the opportunity to jump in
and be in the playoffs.
And, you know, I wouldn't count
anybody out. Don't look at the record.
You know,
you never know what's going to happen.
And when you got some of the guys that
Mendon has, some of the talent, they have
number
five seed or not, if you overlook them,
they can beat you.
So don't be surprised
if that thing is very competitive.
Yeah, absolutely. We see it all the time.
I mean, you know, we've already talked
about it, but hot in last year.
I mean, it's one of those things.
I mean, you can just it can just turn on
you right there in a second.
Obviously,
I don't think anyone is is
pick is not picking North DeSoto
to at least have a strong chance
of making it back to New Orleans.
Yeah, I mean, my money's on North Dakota.
Yeah. They, they are tough there.
They're very tough.
Good on defense and great on offense.
And it's one of those deals
where I can say
great on offense just because I've seen
more of what they do offensively.
They have not really got a chance to pay
attention to their defense,
but they can play defense.
They do a very good job.
So, you know, the tempo is killer.
They got they got a two headed monster
out of the backfield.
Delafield can sling it.
They got receivers,
I think three or four of them.
So Cole Corey's
one of the best in the state.
I mean, you know,
you had the top highlight.
Yeah. Landry Wyatt Yup.
You know,
you know those guys can really play
so they're they're going to be the team
in my opinion
they're the team to beat for.
Yeah, absolutely.
I'm with you there 100%
and I mean they've proven
and the only team they lost it was airline
and that was close
the first game of the year so yeah it's
sort of certainly a favorite here
so okay Division three non select
we have three teams in the mix.
The top seed.
What do you know it's Manny there
six hosting Springfield.
We actually had a couple Jeremiah
James and Tylan Singleton.
We had some of their comments
last week on a Thursday night
and you know, their message was clear,
hey, you know, we're we're still Manny.
We still have all this talent
and we still plan to to be in New Orleans.
And look, based on what I've seen
from them over the past few weeks,
I believe they can get right back.
Yeah, well,
the Jeremiah James kids legit and talent
Singleton's spot star, you know,
going to LSU arguably the best prospect
in his class in our state.
So you know you have to
you have to watch out for anything
that they do and whoever they're playing,
you know, I know that
they probably would like to have a bye.
But, you know, regardless,
they get a home game
and they get the opportunity
to play somebody.
They can they can they can get a good
look at and prepare for,
you know, for for upcoming games
that they plan on playing in.
But they don't need to overlook this team
that they're playing.
At the same time,
it gives them the opportunity
to go out there and work some things
out, you know, for this stretch, run
that they want to get on.
And here's the thing,
if they put Singleton in the backfield
and do the Wildcat stuff, you know, stuff
maybe is you
I've seen some cut up of it, cut ups of it
and he just looks like a manchild
with the ball in his hands.
And that's what it was like dealing with,
you know, that kid last year.
I mean that's a that was a cyborg
at quarterback like he's just a freak
and nobody stopped it.
I mean, he was stiff arm and dudes
from Union Parish last year in the Dome.
He was just you know, it was fun to watch.
And so this Manny Bunch you know teams
that that haven't done their homework
or really paid attention it's
not it's not the same scheme
on both sides of the ball.
And so you're going to get you're going
to have to prepare for them differently.
And you better have a plan
for for for Tyler.
And because he's a problem.
And Jeremiah James,
one of the best running backs in the state
so that that team is going to be a force
to be reckoned with whether they're
the one seed
or the sixth seed doesn't matter.
Yep, I agree with you 100%.
I'll tell you an interesting team
in this bracket for me.
And, you know, they play
in a brutal district over in the Monroe
area is North Webster 1419 matchup there
hosting Patterson
first big for them to have a home
playoff game here
but man they have some playmakers
you got to love coach where up there
I think this is a team I think this
you know 1419 matchup is great for them
and then if they do win that
they would have Saint James off a bye,
which obviously is tough on the road
there.
But man, I like this night team, my friend
Aaron Dietrich over there in Monroe.
Great guy. Kind of.
We should check him out.
He kind of said the same thing
after watching North Webster
a few games this year. He's like, Man,
this is a scrappy bunch.
And again,
that district they play in is brutal,
no question.
I mean,
yeah, I mean, it's a brutal district.
And, you know, they're they're
they're going to be tough to beat.
Like coach wears teams.
I can just remember when we were
in the same district with them at Loyola,
they were great on defense.
They were tough and hard nosed.
Football players take a lot of pride
in wearing the purple and black, and so,
you know, they are going to be
a tough opponent for whoever they play.
I don't know much about Patterson.
I do know that Patterson's
had dudes in the past.
I know they were good,
you know, last few years.
But, you know, North
Webster's got lots of athletes every year.
They've got athletes.
But here's the thing.
Have they have those strong,
mean country dudes?
Yes, they do.
They are.
They're they're the old school
football players.
And they will come in there and they will
just leak frickin rock your world.
So they like to hit.
They're not finished at all.
They're going to pop.
Yeah, they play know really good defense
and they got plenty of talent
and skill guys.
So I hope that they hope they can
put it together and win one this week.
And then let's see
what happens with Saint James next week.
Yeah, I hope so too.
It's alwa it's always the show's
always better with Northwestern.
Show's definitely better
if you get Coach Hoyer on.
There he is.
He is he is coming out he had a
he had a small stint on Twitter,
if you remember this about a year ago.
He said, I'm going to do Twitter.
And that lasted about a week.
But it was a what, a week? It was
finally in this bracket,
Red River, 26 on the road at Pine,
a seven seed there.
Red River struggled early,
kind of found their stride
as they got in the district play.
Obviously, the Manning game was tough
for them as it is for a lot of teams.
But they like like you said earlier,
you know, look
what happens in these playoff matchups.
A team could sneak up on somebody.
You know a lot about that program.
I mean, you were there last year.
Thoughts on Red River
heading into the postseason.
Well, I hope I hope they do.
Well, I know that, you know, like like
we've said and I've said over and over
and over again, they have they have
a, you know, really solid defense. And,
you know, coaching anything
does a really good job with those guys.
And then, you know, Coach Keller's got got
got the wing roll
and they they can run the football
and they can possess it
and they can eat up clock
and they can stay ahead of the chains.
And you know, that's
the one thing that they would like to do.
You know, they go on the road.
They want to keep the ball
from the other team.
They want to flip the field position.
They want to force the other team to go,
you know, 80 yards
to score at the same time,
try to try to put points on the board.
And so, you know, I hope Malik Smith, my
my one of my former quarterbacks,
you know, I hope that he can get out there
and speed the ball around.
They got plenty of young talent.
I remember, too, we had we had 26, 25
seniors last year at a two weight school.
And so they've graduated
nearly everybody off the offense.
And, you know,
a lot of the offense is back.
But those guys have been starting
since they were sophomores and new new
coaches come in, move them around,
got them in the right spots,
and now they're trying to get it rolling.
And so, you know,
if they can get down there and get a lead
and not turn the ball over and play
well, ball security,
you know, the things that they like to do
on defense causes problems.
You know, Reginald Perillo, Reggie
Perillo is one of those
one of those dudes
that play defensive end for us.
He's a stud.
Chris Carper
You know, they've got
they've got some you know, Terrelle
Gary is one of those guys.
They've got some DBS that can really play.
And so I'm hoping that, you know,
they go down there and they get pine
all they want and pull out the upset
of the two way bracket.
That'd be awesome.
I'm right there with you.
Now let's get to one of my personal
favorite brackets because of a potential
matchup in the semifinals.
I gosh, I hope we can get their division
four an on select.
You got one Logansport
you got for Haynesville.
Who could forget
that classic state championship game
they played so many years ago?
They both look so good right now.
It's almost like the
brackets begging for them to meet up here
in the semifinals.
Both offer byes, obviously, but both teams
that would not surprise anyone
if they won the whole thing here.
No, not at all.
In after what hangs well did last week.
You know, I have them in the conversation.
They're very and that would be awesome.
I do know that after having the lead
in 2016 and losing it there
in the second half to our boy Reagan Smith
when he was the only there I go
or you know I've heard that story
plenty of time
and watched that game on on TV.
I think it was Cox Sports, whatever.
They were showing them all the dome games.
I watched that game and was just
blown away with the second half.
And so that would be epic.
Yeah, they got to run it
back, man would be awesome.
So I'm hoping,
I'm hoping it sets up that way and I think
Tatum Everett could probably recall this
the same way.
I'll never forget texting her
after the first half.
And I said, I'm sending first half
highlights and should be all you need.
I'll get post-game after.
And then I just said like midway
through the third quarter, never mind
like reply to that message. Never mind.
And she had no idea what was going on.
And that I and then I tweet that Logan's
part one and my phone's going nuts.
She's like, What do you mean they won?
I'm like, Just wait, just wait.
These are going to be about three
and a half minute long highlights.
And they were,
but they were totally worth it.
So, yeah, both on byes, you know,
I can't tell you which one of these
is going to come out on top
if they get to that point.
I mean, what a game.
They're already talking about it
on the Friday football Facebook page.
And each time
I post something about Logansport,
the Haynesville people are in there
post on there about Haynesville.
The Logansport people are in there.
So very passionate fans there.
We also have Homer in this bracket
and they're the seventh seed
going to the L High or hosting Dale High.
The Homer is another team that you know
didn't love their result
in the Cleveland pair of Super Bowl.
But like their season
they know what it takes to get there.
That's a team that could sneak up
on a lot of a lot of squads
all eight in this bracket.
Yeah no question They got they've got the
the they've got the talent
and they've they've been there.
They're battle tested.
You know, they've made
those mistakes teams that that are hard
to beat in the playoffs for those that
may have lost it figured it out
made some adjustments and got it rolling
so don't sleep on on Homer
don't do it for sure.
Lakeview our other team in this bracket
27 seed, they'll be at Mangum.
But let's go to the let's
go to the select side now.
I've got a lot of papers here.
Coach Division one select
talking about local teams meeting.
Right.
Captain Shreve, number two, they're off.
They could very well host Northwood
next week.
That is,
if Northwood can beat Rummel at home.
Yeah, I mean, that's a
that's a tough draw.
But I you know,
I don't know what Rummel has.
I know that we're going off the name and,
you know, that's the one thing that that
that Northwood
is not going to care about is,
you know,
what a team has done in the past.
They're going to deal specifically
with what they're playing this week.
And I don't think
they get really intimidated.
You remember last year, I think they were
on the road in the playoffs.
I can't remember
it was road or if it was not sure.
Me and Mason
told me couple stories, different games,
but they were in the ballgame.
And I believe it was. Was it Brother
Martin that they were playing?
Yeah, I think it was at home.
I actually think it was
because they won District.
So they were.
Yeah,
I can't remember who the actual team was,
but it was a Catholic school.
I do believe it was Brother Martin
and they were in that game
and had opportunities
and you know,
people were kind of blown away like,
oh man, I mean, Northwood can play, man.
Those guys can play.
And, you know, Coach Brown and his guys,
they do they do a really good job
of coaching their kids up and preparing
for every opponent week in and week out.
They're really tough on defense
and they, you know, they
they just can get after you.
And so they're not a team that sits back
and and frets about who they're playing.
Just put the ball down. Let's go.
So don't be surprised
if we do get a Shreve Northwood matchup.
That'd be pretty cool.
Yeah, be awesome.
And and as for the Gators, obviously
we're going to talk
way more about them to get into next week,
regardless
of who their opponent will be. But
look, you know that Houghton game
the Bucs came out
I was there in the first half
they scored on the opening drive.
It kind of looked like
it would be one of those games.
And then it was just not because
of Courtney Beaner and Jamal and Otis.
And that's just seems to be the recipe
for this team.
It's worked week in, week out, I guess,
for the past ten, nine, ten weeks.
It's worked.
I love this team
and I don't know, having favorable
seeding here at too.
Obviously this bracket is as tough as they
as they can be.
But Shreve is hot and you mentioned two
things they do well, defense and run game.
That is their bread and butter
and they're good on special teams.
So you're
we really don't have an advantage,
you know unless you're really really good
at stopping the run.
If you can stop the run
and you can possess the ball,
you can you can be true.
If you can't,
it's going to be a long night.
So Tres, you know,
got the opportunity to sit back and
and look at their two potential opponents
and study
film on them and come up with tendencies
and get a lot of game plan in.
And in the back of their mind,
you know, they
think they may be playing one team
or the other.
They're going to prepare for both,
get their kids ready,
watch a little bit of film and then,
you know, ready to go
the following week. So
I think this this bye week will be
will be good for them.
You know, get over those bumps and bruises
and get some guys
healthy at the same time,
get their minds right,
you know,
for whoever they're going to play.
So they're going to be a force
to be reckoned with.
I mean it just people need to be prepared.
Shreve is is is really good.
And I know that they want to
they want to keep this thing rolling.
So watch out.
They they're they're going to be a problem
and they're going to be hard to get out.
And how poetic would it be,
Coach on the year of the league
had just passing
that they could make it back
you know to that that play Suddenly
he's taken them to that would just be
yeah what a story but a lot of wins
before we can get to that point.
But I know a lot of folks,
a lot of Gator fans are very fired up.
Two more teams left in this bracket.
We'll start with Bird.
They're on the road
at Jesuit, the 1617 matchup.
You never know.
This is a team.
You just got a firsthand
look at their kicker
Amber Murray is our player of the week
going to Miami.
What do you think, man?
A bird on the road.
I mean, it's look,
by the jacket standards,
they would tell you
it's been a tough year,
but hey, a chance to get a playoff
win here Friday night.
Yeah.
Don't don't sleep on bird.
They they
they are getting things worked out
and they're getting hot at the right time
and they played
a great game against us.
We felt like we had a really good game
plan going into it.
You know, we had to bust
busted assignments on defense,
but they force you to play assignment
sound football,
you know, every single snap,
and they're going to throw a bunch
of different formations that you,
you know, they're going to use it motions.
They're going to use all kinds of shifts.
They've got all kinds of stuff.
And then they're going to force you to
to to defend that dog,
the QB in the pitch every single snap.
And the
defensively coach, his coach, I believe,
is got the defense playing really well.
Now I don't know what you know
what what their struggles
may have been earlier in the year.
I know they had some some issues
with some injuries
and they had some personnel problems
in the secondary.
They seem to have those things worked out
because they caused problems for us
Friday night
and we had the things that we wanted
and they made it very difficult
for us to move the ball.
I mean, our running back
was averaging a little over 140 yards
every every night,
every Friday night, start a district
that he went out there
and he ran the ball really well
against some good defenses
in our district.
And I think he pulled up with
maybe 52 yards rushing on the night.
And so they shut the run game down
and it really forced us to throw it
brought lots of pressure,
you know, related pressures.
They weren't just bringing the gas,
but they were forcing portion
o it in the throws
that he didn't really want to make.
Made windows and zones very,
very small and hard to fit the ball into
change pre-snap alignment.
So you thought you had one thing
and then you didn't.
They rotated into trips
which we knew they were going to do,
but those windows were really tight.
And so, you know, they're playing well
and they're very good on special teams.
I mean, Murray, you know, arguably
one of the best kickers in the country.
We're not talking about state,
we're talking about country.
And so you got him and Aaron Burrell
in the same district.
You're talking one or two in the nation.
So they're they're
they're very difficult to game plan for.
And if one kid decides to do his own thing
on defense, they will torture you. Yep.
And that is why, you know, Jess
just went nuts and, you know, Tallahassee
defensive coordinator, these guys are
their defensive dudes like they all wait.
They were like, man, you cannot
you cannot do this.
You have to do this
and just walk in our guys through it.
And so I can imagine what was happening,
you know, with with with the opponents.
So they're getting ready to play Bird
because we were in those meetings
and we were having those conversations
and we told them,
if you don't do this,
it's going to be going to be bad, right?
Don't test us on it.
And, you know,
you look up and you're down 28 seven.
Yeah. Bird can ball control you to death.
They can they can make it very difficult
on you on offense.
And if they can get the lead
and they can chew that clock,
they can flip the field at special teams,
they can go on the road,
it doesn't matter who they're playing,
they can beat them.
So just a few years ago, two years back,
they beat John Curtis right there.
So this is this is a team
that can really, really play
and they very hard to gameplan for.
So get ready man.
Bird Bird's a team that I really
I hope they can keep it going
because they have overcome
some things this year
and they look really,
really good right now.
Yeah, man.
Coach Blue
told us at the beginning of the year
they would be a much different team
at this point than they were,
you know, from week one.
So true to his word at this point,
you know, look, 17, 16, winnable.
I mean, that's that's a tossup.
It's a tossup game right there.
Got a long road trip at Jesuit,
but we hope they come back with a win.
Then they would go to one Holy Cross.
But that's that's future us problem.
Let's talk about Huntington man
my Raiders I anytime I pick Huntington
it's just from the heart.
I love coach Dennis I love these kids.
I mean, you go out to their practice. It's
so much fun.
But hey a home playoff
game against Woodlawn out of Baton Rouge.
I know nothing about Woodlawn.
Baton Rouge, but I'm all over the writers.
Well,
this is a good year to catch them because,
you know, their quarterback
that was one of the best in the country
is at LSU.
So they've they've gotten, you know,
some of that talent has moved on.
And so this is a good matchup
for for Huntington
and it being a home game
coming off of you know
a really, really good season
they say this is a good matchup for them.
So I think that, you know,
they're really good on defense and,
you know, they they can
they can make your life miserable
and they've got athletes everywhere.
I mean, Caleb
Tucker is one of the best guys in the area
that people should be talking about
as a wide receiver.
You know, they've got
they've got lots of weapons.
So watch out for your Raiders, man.
They they are
they're going to be they're going to be
a tough, tough opponent in the playoffs.
And the longer
their season goes on, the more we can get
Coach Dennis on the show. And that's a win
for everyone involved there.
So certainly pulling for the Raiders
Division two select, that's
where we'll go next.
Where I mean, I don't know, Evangel,
the only team hosting a game as a 12 seed.
I feel like Evangel is a very,
very frightening 12 seed for anybody
going up against them.
Yeah, they're not a 12 seed.
They may be a 12 seed on that bracket
and that sheet of paper
that they're not as well seed.
And I'm sure Coach
Durant sitting there going Yeah
bring it, bring it
you come on, come on over here
to the literally they,
they're going to be,
they're going to be a handful for any
anybody that has the goal against them.
And then you know the Foljambe
boys can play they've they've got,
they've got that thing
figured out on offense. They're playing
really well defensively they're sound
so they've got lots of dudes.
They're going to be they're going to be
a team that I would not want to sleep on.
If you're looking at that bracket going,
Oh, well, you know, look at their record.
But hey, they they played some
they played some breaking juggernauts.
Right.
Neville is one of those teams that they
that they lost, too.
And I believe they had a chance
They went for the win.
But, you know north DeSoto,
you know, we're talking about
we're talking about big time games.
And then, you know, that Huntington game
has just become a rivalry game right now.
And it's it's it's staggering
to see how that thing is as played out.
But, you know, at the end of the day, man,
if they're healthy
and and they're rock and roll
and they're going to be
they're going to be hard to beat.
Now, the host, Bel Air 21 seed.
Yeah.
I mean I'm all over the Eagles
here in the first round
And then they would go to Archbishop Shore
which would be a tough one.
But again,
and they've got another guy, too.
We talk about the Fulghum Brothers
all the time, but
I think it's names Tyreke Robinson Brad
I maybe I'm missing on the name
he was number one
I do know that he's been unbelievable
these past few weeks
so they've got weapons
we know what Gabriel offered can do
on that defensive side I love love
love evangel in this bracket
two more teams both going on the road.
23 Woodlawn 24 Booker T Washington.
I know that that you have been
you've really liked Woodlawn this year
Isaiah Kennedy
and that crew for either of these teams.
What does it take to go on the road
an upset in a team here in the playoffs.
Well I mean preparation number one
getting getting your guys,
you know, to execute the game plan.
I mean these are all coaching points
go top points, whatever
your guys believe they can win
and they get off the bus with the desire
to win and believe they can do it
and they can go out there and they can,
you know, overcome those first few minutes
where it's just, you know,
you kind of you got to you got to deal
with the onslaught of the emotions
and the swings back and forth.
And, you know, in a playoff game,
if they can overcome that
and not turn the ball over and play
really well on defense,
both teams can go beat anybody.
So they've got the athletes,
they've got the scheme, they've got
they've got the coaches.
They've just got to go out and do it.
And Woodlawn is one of those teams where
I said the very beginning of the year,
they've got the pieces and they've got
they got some guys
that can really go in there well-coached.
And same thing with Booker T,
so I'm pulling for both of them,
especially for Isaiah,
just because he's he's a kid
that is worked hard to get to this
and you know he played so
well against us and it's just you know
continue to play really well all season.
I'm pulling for for both teams.
I really want to see him
be able to get that big playoff win.
Oh, absolutely. Same here.
The best part about this time of year
for us is that we can be
we can be biased now.
We can root for our teams
in the most of these matchups.
It's it's tough, you know,
and you had Shareef,
an airline playing this huge game
and it's like I don't know,
I want them both to win
because they're both nice to me
and, you know, we love to cover them. So
it is it is good to be able
to kind of pick a side here and be like,
yes, let's go of Woodlands,
Go Booker T Washington OC Division
three Select is St Charles
just like the greatest team of all time.
Because how in the world is Calvary
a two seed in this bracket?
I don't get it.
I don't going to get our on the phone
figured this out first of all
how how do you how are you do a two seed
when you beat two bodies.
Yeah. You didn't beat them
like you destroyed them. Yep.
And you turn around and you beat
Westgate,
you know,
they beat Weissman.
I mean,
they they run through their district,
and I mean,
it is what it is.
St Charles is very good.
But this is not a team.
This isn't the Calvary team
that they had last year.
I mean, they're they're primed.
They're, they're ready to go.
Wardell arguably,
you know, top two or three
quarterback in the state
and he deserves a recognition.
I mean, the kid's completed 80
plus percent of his passes,
you know, just under 3000
yards, over 30 touchdowns.
You know, they've got four receivers
that all have very similar stats
because he spreads the ball
around the running backs, catch the ball
out of the backfield.
The Simon kid is really good
out of the backfield.
You got Julius Miles that you put there.
I mean, it's like pick your poison.
Oh, by the way,
they're incredible on defense too.
So, you know, hey, it's cool.
They don't have to carry the way
to be in that that number one seed
Saint Charles Better not slip up though,
because you don't want to play Calvary,
you know, at home
and Calvary is not a team.
You want to go in Shreveport and
have to beat and they can run the ball.
They can throw it with the best of them
and they play really good defense.
And so, you know,
I am hoping and looking forward
to with great expectations
what Calvary is going to do.
They are going to be fun to watch
just like they are week in and week out.
But now that that that field
is getting smaller
and those matchups
begin to come like they are,
they're in a position
where they can really make some statements
and they're not going to have an easy
path.
I mean, there's not going to be a pushover
game in that in that select bracket.
So, you know, it's all good.
I mean, they are
they are really, really good,
but so is Calvary.
And anybody that sleeps on them
is going to be
they're going to be in for a shock.
A world of hurt.
I know up here in north Louisiana, we were
mindful
of our favorites, just like beating
South five.
Alexandria is the only football
that's ever played.
You know, no one plays football up here.
Everybody plays football down there.
That's how it is.
Please, please make that mistake.
Yep, Make that mistake with Calvary.
Make that mistake, Logansport.
Make that mistake with any of our teams.
They're going to come in
and they're going to ruin your season.
And this is a team that could do that.
So watch out for the Calvary Cavaliers
to see it or not.
Watch out. Same thing with Evangel at 12.
Please make that mistake.
That's not smart.
You know, Roy
Lane with The Advocate here in town
had a good post
the other day about our top area teams.
And you look at all their records,
you know, it was they are most of them
have one loss where there would be,
you know, airline beating north DeSoto
Captain Shreve than beating
airline Calvary beat all of them.
So that that's the crazy part about this
is that like Calvary
just not like they didn't squeak by
them they smoked everyone. So
if the starters
out in the third quarter and the starters
out in the third quarter, Yeah, starters
didn't even play into the second half
very long and that's not a slap.
It can of course.
I mean at a bird or shrimp,
that's just how good they are.
And they could have continued
to leave their starters in there,
just run the score. They didn't do that.
And so calories, they are
they are really, really good.
And they're sitting there
primed to make the deep run.
And they are mindful
of what happened at Durham last year.
It's in the back of their mind,
had to lead.
You know, things didn't go well.
And then all of a sudden,
they you know, they just
they got out of their rhythm
in all three phases of the game.
And what done them does on
offense is very similar to what
North Dakota does tempo vertical run game,
you know, downhill.
And then they're going to take
their shots and they've got
the jack combo kid in slot.
That's really good.
So you know that that team is one
that knocked them off
last year who
they could be playing in the playoffs soon
if if they Right if that quarter bracket
so whew boy watch out that would be
that would be
a rematch that I will be in the stands
see that if that game happens.
Absolutely. And then you can come here
and talk to us about it after the game.
That'll be great.
So, yes, obviously, Calvary,
I think everyone everyone around here
is picking them to go all the way.
That's not a question there.
Now toward the top of this bracket
where Saint Charles is, it is interesting
because there's a little cluster
of local teams, Narbonne Woods,
they have the bye week, but you have Green
Oaks going to Notre Dame.
Green Oaks.
They've shown flashes here.
Delirious
Marshall, extremely there for the Giants.
Just always it's always a tough
ask to get to get on the road here.
Yeah and you know congratulations They've
gotten that in a playoff
spot there in the dance.
Oh, yeah.
You're going to go to Notre Dame. Awesome.
They're good.
But hey, at the end of the day,
you and you put the ball down,
you play the game so anything can happen.
I don't want to take away
from their opportunities or their chances.
I've seen a little bit of their film
this year just because,
you know, we had a couple of opponents
that were similar.
I haven't seen anything on Notre
Dame that,
you know, you can't just go by the name.
You know, at the end of the day, you can't
go by what they've done in the past,
even though, like, you know,
people get scared when they see that
that little league on the side
in the back of their mind.
They think of all the state championships
and a national title and all the
the guys that came out of there
when they won and played in the NFL.
The end of the day, there is that
intimidation factor and it is what it is.
But, you know, I don't
I don't think anybody from
Green Oaks is going to get on the bus
and be scared to make a trip down
and play a football game.
They've got athletes. They got dudes.
They'll get after you and, you know,
put the ball down.
We want to play.
So at the end of the day,
I fully expect
that they could go out there
and give it everything
they got regardless on who they're playing
and you never know.
That's why you play the game.
That's it, man.
And then one last team in this bracket,
obviously your fliers.
Loyola 16, hosting Ascension.
They've
kind of been up and down this year.
Obviously.
I'd love to love to see them
have a shot at Saint Charles.
Maybe they could even do Calvary
a little favor.
Yeah, that would be awesome.
They had Calvary Week ten, which,
you know, not fun.
So, you know, here's Neil.
They're in the playoffs.
Coach
Green knows how to get his guys ready.
They're going to play sound defense.
They've got they've got,
you know, the ability to run the football.
They got carpenter back there.
They can spin it
and he can make plays with with his feet.
And so, you know you know hopefully
they got out of that Calvary game healthy.
I don't know how that thing went
as far as you know, if they had injuries
or anything like that.
But their games in the past,
it's in the rearview mirror.
You know, they hit the reset button.
Now they're in the playoffs, you know, at
you never know.
I mean, it is one of those deals
where Loyola is tough to play.
It doesn't matter who they're playing
and they play tough
and they do exactly as they're coached.
And those are hard teams to be.
Well, I knew this would be our longest
episode of the year.
It's certainly getting toward that point.
We only have one more bracket left
and only has two local teams in it.
And then we'll I'm going to try
to change it up here for our picks
because I don't want to do picks really
because we're going to
one of us has to pick against our teams
and I don't think that'll be fun
for for, for us.
But first Division for select Saint Mary's
the six seed on a bye
there awaiting the winner of Glenbrook
and Sacred Heart.
We talked about Reagan Smith.
He's got the Apaches playing so well.
They're hosting a playoff
game here for the chance to then
go to Natchitoches and play Saint Mary's.
I would assume that you're going to say
Glenbrook loves where they are right here,
no question.
And Reagans sitting back
enjoying every bit of this.
And yes, I'm sure he is aware of,
you know, what could happen
and who they can play.
But he is 100% focused on this game. So,
you know, I wish him the best.
I'm I'm excited for him.
And he's and they've had you know,
I want to see them
get hot and get on a roll
and make a deep run.
All right. Me, too.
That's all the brackets.
That's all eight of them.
And they're in their glory.
So here's what I think we should do.
I think we should each pick a road team
that we think will pull off the upset,
a local team that's going on the road
and then maybe a home team
that we think will hold serve.
What do you think we should do
for the third pick, though?
That's where I'm drawing a blank.
Let's
pick two
teams that we don't know anything about.
Okay. So I'm just like, pick.
Just.
Well, I'll just. I'll just pick it
up. Okay.
All right.
All right.
So I'm just going to pick at two teams
that are playing. Got it. Okay.
First, we'll do our road teams.
I'll let you go first.
I have a couple ideas
where you're going to go.
Yeah, I think Parkway goes on the road.
There we go. Those Great.
There we go. You know, I.
I'm not going to pick
against the Panthers.
Definitely not going to do that.
And I think that that game
is going to be one
where it'll if it's close, you know,
if it's close,
it lends itself to Parkway
just because of the special teams,
you know, I think that's really the only
the only thing that I see.
Parkway can get their guys back healthy.
I mean, they got some dudes
that are banged up,
but this game sets up
really well for them.
And their
the way they play football will travel,
so hopefully they can get their guys
healthy, you know, for that game.
Give me seabird on the road at Jesuit
you talked me into it
with all your talk about their film
and how they were stressing you all out.
This is such a smart pick.
That's a smart pick. It's
hard to prepare for it.
I don't care how much you you
you don't see double wing triple option
teams.
You see 11 personnel spread teams
and you see tempo.
All right.
If you play Bird
and you do not play assignment football
or you have a weakness on defense,
they're going find it all right.
And if you're not good on special teams,
they're going to flip the field.
And that's what these really good teams
like, you know, Bird Parkway
intrigue,
these teams that have really good
kickers,
they can flip the field at any point time.
You know, Murray can pin you
and you've got to go 80 yards on a kickoff
and you've got to go
75 to 90 yards on a punt.
Like,
I mean, he can pin you inside the box.
That is very difficult.
And so those aspects travel in
and you've got one week
to figure out how to stop
what bird is going to do.
And they really don't
have a lot of tendency,
you know, Tennessee issues
with their formations and their calls.
And so I'm giving you more information
you want.
That was an excellent pick.
Thank you. I love all the information
coach you could do.
We could do this all day,
except for the fact that our director
keeps throwing stuff up in the prompter
as to say,
okay, let's go. We got some stuff to do
for home teams.
This will be a little easier.
Hopefully we both get these right.
But I think that I should
pick with my heart one last time.
Give me the Raiders of Huntington
Woodlands coming to town from Baton Rouge.
They know how to beat teams
named Woodlawn.
I know that's not a real step,
but I love the Raiders.
Regardless
of who's playing quarterback for them,
I think they are so hot right now.
I'm all over Huntington in round one.
That's a good pick.
That's a quality pick.
So my question is, is Manny at home
or are they on a buy?
I think they're both,
yes They would be there at home.
And so somebody's got to come to Manny
and beat them in the first round.
And that wasn't your pick.
Did you see that graphic this
week of the most First,
like number one seeds?
And did you see that?
Yeah, like it was John Curtis then.
Manny?
Yeah. I'll go with the Manny Tigers.
Well, look, you were a little easy pick.
You were a little down off of your loss
this past week,
so I just wanted to give you an easy one.
Give you. Give me.
You know, sometimes you got to see one
go in the hoop, you know what I mean?
And I appreciate that.
Thank you. Thank you
for helping me out with a freebie.
As if you hadn't been just killing me
all year.
Okay, let's find our random game.
I think we should do a 1617
for a random game.
I think that'll be good. All right.
I'm trying to think of which ones
you would not have seen film on.
Actually burdened Jesuits. Two 1617.
I forgot about that.
Okay, here we go.
Division for non select
Franklin and Grand Lake.
You got Franklin's at home.
Oh, shoot.
I know nothing about either team
Mary Franklin.
You want? Yeah. You're going home. Team,
get me Grand Lake.
Yeah, they're grand by a lake.
So that's. That's the two things
I know about them. Brands in their name.
I mean, how could you not pick exactly
that? That's always a winner.
All right, Coach.
Man, that was awesome.
Well, we went about almost an hour
at this point.
You got any closing thoughts?
I know you're
probably going to be on the road
this week with the Panthers, correct?
As of right now, that's the
that's the game plan.
We've got, you know, potential
road trip to Arkansas Saturday morning.
And so there's there's
that scheduling conflict.
And so we're trying to figure that out
right now.
If not, if I don't go,
you know, follow the team down,
I'll be available to, you
know, talk a little ball if you need me.
Yeah, for sure. Of course. Yeah.
Just let me know as we as we get there.
We're filming this on a Tuesday,
so we do have some time.
Any closing thoughts for these teams
as they as they head off
into the postseason?
Man, you know, just congratulations.
You know, you've made it this far.
This is what you prepare for.
A lot of local teams
have an opportunity to big statements.
And I'm wishing all the guys
look, I'm wishing Huntington
luck as well and Manny
and all the other things.
And I looked at whatever.
That's my brain doing what it does best.
Huntington is going to win.
We're going to be fine.
Okay, Coach, you're the man I always love
having a chance to chat with you
and this is a nice little evening, man.
I mean, a little hour of football
talk really get you going.
I was off work yesterday,
so I needed to get back in the mix.
I'm officially back
in the mix, thanks to you.
Yes, sir.
I always enjoy my man.
Of course.
All right, guys,
that's going to do it for us
if you listened all the way
through to the end.
Thank you. You are a real trooper.
We're here every week,
every Thursday, to get you ready
for another week of Friday football fever.
Enjoy the playoffs
and we'll see you on Friday night.