Iowa’s Matthew Vest kicks a field goal during a game on Thursday against Cecilia at Iowa High School. (Rick Hickman / American Press)

The Iowa Yellow Jackets made history Sunday morning, earning the programs first No. 1 seed when the Louisiana High School Athletic Association released the football playoff brackets.

Iowa wrapped up its second consecutive 9-1 regular season Thursday with a 17-7 win over Cecilia (7-3) which helped them jump two spots to the top of Division II non-select. Also, No. 4 North DeSoto (9-1) and No. 5 Carroll (8-1) were handed their first loss in Week 10 to help the Yellow Jackets rise to the top.

“We weren’t quite expecting that,” Iowa head coach Tommy Johns said. “We thought we were going to be around 3 or 4. We are just happy to have a bye, to be honest.

“Our kids have worked hard all year and have earned it, but there is still work to work on regardless of what seed you are.”

With the new playoff format, the Yellow Jackets will get a bye in the first round and plan on using it to sharpen up on fundamentals.

“It is nice. It is going to be an adjustment. It is not something that is typical of high school football. We are trying to keep the kids focused on the task at hand without an opponent. We are going to mentally focus on the fundamentals, a lot of things you work on in August. We are fortunate to have a home playoff game, and that was the main goal.”

Iowa will host the winner out of No. 16 Brusly (6-4) and No. 17 Abbeville (6-4) in the regional round.  The Yellow Jackets earned a top-four seed in 2021 and 2016, reaching the quarterfinals for the third time in program history in 2016. Iowa has never won a quarterfinal game.

The only other area team to claim a first-round bye is District 5-1A champion Basile (9-1) in Division IV non-select. The fourth-ranked Bearcats could get a rematch with district rival Oberlin (7-3) if the Tigers dispatch No. 20 Gueydan (6-4) , another District 5-1A team. Basile beat Oberlin 35-13 in Week 7.

Nine other area teams will host in the first round.

Division II select No. 9 St. Louis Catholic (8-2) will be home in the first round against No. 24 Northside (3-7).

In Division II non-select, No. 9 Leesville (8-2) will host No. 24 Pearl River with a potential rematch with Iowa in the quarterfinals. The Wampus Cats won that game 30-14 in Week 3. District 4-3A champ Iota (8-2) entertains district rival No. 21 Northwest (6-4) in the bi-district round.

Division III non-select No 9 Rosepine gets a rematch with No. 24 Red River (3-7). The Eagles beat the Bulldogs 43-42 in overtime in the regional round last season.

In Division IV non-select, No. 9 Welsh (8-1), No. 12 Oakdale (6-3) , No. 13 Oberlin (7-3) and No. 14 Grand Lake (8-2) will be home in the bi-district round against No. 24 Varnado (3-7), No. 21 Franklin (4-6), No. 20 Gueydan (6-4) and No 19 LaSalle (6-4), respectively.

Football bi-district playoff pairings

Non-select

Division II

No. 1 Iowa, bye

No. 17 Abbeville at No. 16 Brusly

No. 24 Pearl River at No. 9 Leesville

No. 25 Jennings at No. 8 Plaquemine

No. 28 Breaux Bridge at No. 5 Carroll

No. 21 Northwest at No. 12 Iota

No. 20 Franklinton at No. 13 Cecilia

No. 4 North DeSoto, bye

No. 3 Opelousas, bye

No. 19 Albany at No. 14 Lakeshore

No. 22 DeRidder at No. 11 St. Martinville

No. 27 Wossman at No. 6 Lutcher

No. 26 Rayne at No. 7 Church Point

No. 23 North Vermilion at No. 10 Franklin Parish

No. 18 Eunice at No. 15 Erath

No. 2 West Feliciana, bye

Division III

No. 1 Many, bye

No. 17 Richwood at No. 16 Caldwell Parish

No. 24 Red River at No. 9 Rosepine

No. 25 Westlake at No. 8 Pine

No. 28 Lakeside at No. 5 Avoyelles

No. 21 St. Helena College & Career Academy at No. 12 South Plaquemines

No. 20 Vidalia at No. 13 Loreauville

No. 4 St. James, bye

No. 3 Union Parish, bye

No. 19 Baker at No. 14 Sterlington

No. 22 Port Allen at No. 11 Patterson

No. 27 Mamou at No. 6 Winnfield

No. 26 Rayville at No. 7 Amite

No. 23 Mansfield at No. 10 Jena

No. 18 Berwick at No. 15 Jewel Sumner

No. 2 Bogalusa, bye

Division IV

No. 1 Kentwood, bye

No. 17 East Beauregard at No. 16 General Trass

No. 24 Varnado at No. 9 Welsh

No. 25 Centerville at No. 8 Oak Grove

No. 28 East Iberville at No. 5 Haynesville

No. 21 Franklin at No. 12 Oakdale

No. 20 Gueydan at No. 13 Oberlin

No. 4 Basile, bye

No. 3 Mangham, bye

No. 19 LaSalle at No. 14 Grand Lake

No. 22 Lake Arthur at No. 11 Arcadia

No. 27 Delcambre at No. 6 White Castle

No. 26 Jonesboro-Hodge at No. 7 Logansport

No. 23 Elton at No. 10 East Feliciana

No. 18 Delhi at No. 15 Jeanerette

No. 2 Homer, bye

Select

Division II

No. 1 St. Thomas More, bye

No. 17 St. Michael the Archangle at No. 16 Helen Cox

No. 24 Northside at No. 9 St. Louis Catholic

No. 8 Madison Prep, bye

No. 5 John F. Kennedy, bye

No. 21 Archbishop Hannan at No. 12 Kenner Discovery Health Science

No. 20 Istrouma at No. 13 Evangel Christian

No. 4 E.D. White, bye

No. 3 De La Salle, bye

No. 19 Vandebilt Catholic at No. 14 Lord Beaconsfield Landry

No. 22 Peabody at No. 11 McDonogh #35

No. 6 Lafayette Christian, bye

No. 7 Archbishop Shaw, bye

No. 23 Federick A. Douglass at No. 10 Livingston Collegiate

No. 18 Booker T. Washington-N.O. at George Washington Carver

No. 2 Teurlings Catholic, bye

Division III

No. 1 Isidore Newman, bye

No. 17 D’Arbonne Woods Charter at No. 16 Sophie B. Wright

No. 24 Green Oaks at No. 9 Metairie Park Country Day

No. 8 University Lab, bye

No. 5 Calvary Baptist, bye

No. 21 Houma Christian at No. 12 Northlake Christian

No. 20 Thomas Jefferson at No. 13 M.L. King Charter

No. 4 Dunham, bye

No. 3 Notre Dame, bye

No. 19 Lake Charles College Prep at No. 14 Catholic-New Iberia

No. 22 St. Thomas Aquinas at No. 11 Loyola Prep

No. 6 Episcopal, bye

No. 7 North Caddo, bye

No. 23 Holy Savior Menard at No. 10 Parkview Baptist

No. 18 Patrick Taylor-Science/Tech. at No. 15 Ascension Episcopal

No. 2 St. Charles, by