Tom Dodge
Most normal football seasons, when teams are practicing during Thanksgiving week, it means they have advanced to the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
But this year, the COVID-19 season, teams are just beginning the LHSAA postseason.
No. 10 Eunice (4-2) will entertain No. 23 Bastrop (4-4) in a rematch of last year’s second round game – an 8-7 road loss for the Bobcats.
“Last year they ended our season, Eunice head coach Andre Vige said. “So are going to try and pay them back with a victory and make a long trip home for them.
“That was a long trip home last year.”
Bastrop opened the season with wins over West Ouachita (40-37) and Richwood (28-12) before a 62-26 loss to Ouachita Parish.
The Rams began District 1-4A with victories over Huntington (40-22), and Franklin Parish (41-12).
Bastrop then dropped district games to No. 12 Minden (27-26), No. 4 Neville (38-15) and No. 14 North DeSoto (40-6).
“They are going to present some problems as offensively they are a big play team,” Vige said. “Their quarterback can throw it down the field pretty good and he has guys who can catch and make big runs.
“Defensively, they are athletic and big up front,” the coach said. “They present a challenge for us.
“This is not the ideal draw you would like in the first round,” Vige said. “But we are happy to be in the playoffs and we will ready to play.”
Vige said he is confident his team can perform well and grab a win to advance to take on the winner between No. 7 George Washington Carver/No. 26 Belle Chasse.
“Our guys have been in the big games before,” he said. “A lot of these guys made the run two years ago and I think they are confident and ready.”
Vige said the coronavirus and other issues has been tough for his team to deal with this season.
“If we had a 10-game season, I thought we would finish 9-1, or 8-2 and get a top five seed,” he said.
“We started with an eight-game season and then we can two cancellations from Hurricane Laura and later we got shut down for two weeks because of COVID.
“We are hoping for a strong performance this Friday and see our season continue.”