Neither Kinder nor Westlake liked the way they ended the regular season. Kinder won a close mistake-prone game while Westlake got the wrong end of a lopsided game.

Both know they must improve to go on a deep playoff run.

They meet for the first time in the postseason tonight at John C. Buck Stadium in Kinder in the regional round of the Non-select Division III playoffs.

“It was a very evenly matched contest, so I feel like it is going to be a very good game,” Westlake head coach John Richardson said. “It is going to come down to who executes better and makes the fewer mistakes.”

Kinder (8-2) had a first-round bye but wants to fix its mistakes after narrowly beating Avoyelles 30-26 to win the District 5-2A title in Week 10.

Head coach Justin Reed said the Yellow Jackets need to stay balanced to handle the Rams’ defense that shut out Crowley in the bi-district round. Running back Logan Lebeouf (166 carries, 1,120 yards, 13 TDs) and quarterback Isaiah Thomas (116-197-7, 1,593 yds., 15 TDs) lead the Kinder offense that averaged 35.2 points a game.

“We turned it over six times two weeks ago against the Avoyelles,” Reed said. “They have really good defense,” he said of the Rams. ““They give you multiple looks. They play really hard. They’re physical.

“In order for us to be successful over four quarters, we cannot become one-dimensional. If we’re able to run the ball, as well as take our shots down the field in the passing game when they’re there, then I think that would be a good recipe for us in that game.”

After a humbling 55-0 loss to No. 3 Jennings in Week 10, the Rams (7-4) did a 180 to beat Crowley 55-0.

“We bounced back from a hard loss Week 10,” Richardson said. “I thought we played really good football last week.

“We had a great week of practice, and I thought we had another great week of practice this week. I feel like it is going to be a really good game. I feel really good about our preparation going into the game.”

While the Rams average more than 400 yards a game, the Yellow Jackets’ defense will be tough to break with linebacker Bryson Eaglin (96 tackles), free safety Noah Romero (85 tackles) and defensive tackles Trey Lavan (17 tackles for loss) and Eli Self (17 TFL).

Westlake sophomore quarterback Brody Anderson (124-214-7, 1,941 yds., 22 TDs) is approaching 2,000 yards passing, while Ryan Allen has 16 total rushing and receiving touchdowns.

“We have to make sure we take care of their blitzing,” Richardson said. “They stunt and blitz a lot.

“We just have to execute on offense and make sure we protect the football. On defense, we have to make sure that we prevent the big plays. We have to make them earn it going down the field. Those are the things that we really feel like we need to do.”

Elsewhere

In Non-select Division IV, No. 3 DeQuincy looks to start its first playoff appearance since 2021 with a win. After a bi-district round bye, the Tigers (9-1) open the playoffs tonight at home against No. 19 Franklin (6-5).

The Tigers’ defense has been tough to break, allowing 10.6 points a game, and are 9-0 when holding opponents two 20 or fewer points.

Coming off a big fourth-quarter comeback, No. 13 Grand Lake (7-3) hits the road to take on No. 4 Jeanerette (7-2), looking to reach the quarterfinals for the third time since its run to the Class 1A final in 2020.

No. 11 Elton (8-3) heads north to No. 6 Logansport (8-2). The Tigers extended their win streak to six games after dominating Varnado 61-0 last week in the first round. The Indians look to continue to ride 1,000-yard backs Tristan Leblanc (1,963 yds., 23 TDs) and Makelin Lemoine (1,594 yds., 21 TDs).

Select Division IV No. 10 Hamilton Christian (9-1) will test its nine-game win streak on the road at No. 7 Riverside Academy (7-2).

Hamilton sophomore Javon Vital is one of two Southwest Louisiana quarterbacks with 1,000 rushing (1,481, 25 TDs) and passing yards (1,152, 71-114-3, 17 TDs). The other is South Beauregard’s Christian Wold.