Three weeks remain in the high school football regular season, but one game can change a team’s chances of making the postseason.

Several Southwest Louisiana teams’ playoff berths are secure, but for some, it will go down to the wire.

The top 28 teams in each non-select division and 24 in select divisions make the playoffs. The regular season ends Nov. 9, and the playoff pairings will be announced the next day.

The bi-district round will start on Nov. 14. The championship games will be played at the Superdome in New Orleans from Dec. 12-14.

Leading the pack

Four Southwest Louisiana teams have a strong chance of grabbing a first-round bye. Leading the pack is Non-select Division IV No. 3 DeQuincy (6-1) and No. 4 Welsh (4-3).

DeQuincy has the area’s best defense at 12 points a game, and an offense (34.3 ppg), led by quarterback Carson Rainwater (845 yards, 10 TDs) and running back Wyatt LaVergne (836 yds., 11 TDs), that seldom turns the ball over.

The Greyhounds’ road to a top-four spot will be tough. Not only will they face two powerhouses in Lafayette Christian and Notre Dame in Weeks 8 and 10, but they have to adjust to the loss of quarterback Jonovan Begnaud, last year’s American Press All-Southwest Louisiana Small Schools Offensive MVP, to a likely season-ending injury (collarbone).

At Nos. 5 and 6, respectively in Non-select Division III, Kinder (5-2) and Westlake (5-2) have 16 points or fewer to make up to secure a top-four seed.

Westlake’s path includes a game this week that will feature the area’s top quarterbacks in the Rams’ Brody Anderson (1,435 yds., 15 TDs) and Lake Charles College Prep’s Dylen Vital (1,548 yds., 12 TDs) followed by a Week 10 matchup with a Jennings (6-1).

Kinder’s final opponents are a combined 7-14, meaning they are likely must-win games to gain enough points to overtake No. 4 Oak Grove (6-1).

Home sweet home

Almost a dozen area teams could host in the first round, but a few sit in precarious situations.

Non-select Division I No. 15 Barbe (4-3, 12.21 power rating) has a slim advantage on No. 16 West Ouachita (6-1, 12.04 PR) and No. 17 Sam Houston (5-2, 11.8 PR).

Sam Houston’s offense is one of the most balanced in the area with a 1,000-yard rusher (Drew Bailey) and passer (Gavin Stout), but the Broncos have to travel to Class 5A No. 4 Acadiana in Week 9 plus a big rivalry game at home in Week 10 against Barbe.

In Non-select Division IV, five-hundredths of a point is all that separates No. 16 Lake Arthur (5-2) from hitting the road in the first round.

Select Division IV No. 15 Hamilton Christian (5-1) could host its first playoff game since 2008.

LCCP (2-5), No. 17 in Select Division II, is in but needs to win two of three against Westlake, Class 4A Comeaux (0-7) and South Beauregard (5-2) to have a chance at a home game.

Not yet safe

Non-select Division I No. 26 Sulphur (3-4) won its first two games, but needs to regain that momentum after losing four of five games, including two shutouts. A win at Carencro (3-4) would be a good start. The Bears are in a similar situation at No. 24 in Select Division I.

Non-select Division II No. 23 LaGrange (5-2) seeks its first postseason berth since 2019 and have games against top 10s Leesville and Iowa looming.

DeRidder (3-4) is 25th in Non-select Division II, and Grand Lake is No. 23 in Non-select Division IV. The Hornets ended a three-game losing streak last week with a solid 44-12 win over Basile, helping them move in the right direction.

Non-select Division IV Basile (4-3) has a difficult task to stay in contention with games against the Elton (5-2) and Hamilton Christian (5-1) over the next three weeks.

On the bubble

It has been a rough season for St. Louis Catholic (1-6), but the Saints are still in the playoff hunt at No. 23 in Select Division III. They will likely need to win one of their next two games against either South Beauregard (5-2) or Jennings (6-1) to stay in contention.

Oakdale (2-5) occupies the last spot in Non-select Division III at No. 28 and only .50 points ahead of No. 29 Vidalia. The plus is their final two games are at home against Avoyelles and Red River.