Last chance: 4-1A teams battle for district championship, playoff position

The District 4-1A football race will come down to the final day of the season, with three teams in position to earn a share of the title.

Grand Lake, Basile and Hamilton Christian can claim a share of the title tonight. The Hornets (7-1, 5-1) host East Beauregard (4-5, 3-3) while Hamilton (6-2, 5-1) will play Merryville (2-7, 2-4) at LaGrange’s John J. Mims Stadium. Basile (5-4, 5-1) hosts Oberlin (4-5, 3-3).

Grand Lake, the state runner-up last season, is in position to make another playoff run. The Hornets are second in the Class 1A power ratings, a hundredth of a point ahead of defending champion Oak Grove. Should seeds hold, the second seed would be at home in the semifinal round of the playoffs.

Tonight the Hornets will have to slow East Beauregard’s offense, which is averaging 41 points per game in district play. Grand Lake’s Brycen Guillory and Brent Hardesty have combined for 553 yards and six touchdowns over the past two weeks.

Hamilton Christian is 13th in the Division IV ratings and will more than likely be on the road for the first round of the playoffs. The Warriors have won five games in a row and scored 127 points over the past two weeks. Last week Ze’beian Doffney, Elijah Belton and Logan Richard combined to run for 431 yards and scored nine touchdowns. Doffney led the way with 190 yards and six scores.

Merryville entered last week on the playoff bubble but gave itself some security with a 20-19 win over Oberlin. The win broke a three-game losing streak and moved the Panthers up to 21st in the power ratings, with the top 24 making the postseason. Cam’ron Williams ran for 138 yards and a touchdown in the win. He has reached triple digits in each game while totaling 1,271 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Bearcats have won four in a row since losing to Grand Lake in Week 5. Ethan Bazinet has run for 552 yards and 12 touchdowns in the streak. He has scored eight touchdowns over the past two weeks.

Basile is in line to host its first-round playoff game as the 10th seed. The Bearcats could earn a first-round bye if it finishes in the top eight.

SportsPlus

Local News

Longhorns stymie LSU to claim weekend series

life

SW La. school lunch menus March 24-28

life

Gratitude in Guatemala: Seeing beauty beyond the poverty

Business

Names in the News: People shaping the future of Lake Area business

Local News

LSU bullpen implodes as Texas snaps Tigers’ win streak

McNeese Sports

A double downer: Cowboys lose NCAA game, Wade

Local News

BREAKING: Wade inks 6-year deal with NC State

Local News

Community meeting on CO2 projects set for Monday

Jim Beam

Jim Beam column:Veteran firings sorry episode

McNeese Sports

Guzzardo new MSU women’s coach

Informer

The Informer: ‘Sleeping giant’ that was Chennault awakened in 1986

Local News

LSU tops Texas, Tigers now alone atop the SEC

life

PHOTO GALLERY: Special Olympics Spring Track and Field

Jim Gazzolo

Gazzolo column: Redemption tour for more than Wade

Local News

Another giant lay ahead

Crime

3/21: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff announces arrest list

life

Grab hope by the reins: Fundraiser benefits ailing horses

Local News

McNeese’s NCAA Tournament game win about more than just basketball

Local News

Jim Gazzolo Notebook: Breed back in old stomping grounds

Local News

Detained Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil appears in immigration case

Local News

Higgins letter says he will not run for Senate

life

Touch A Truck returns: Free, family-friendly fun set for Saturday

Local News

Kevin Lambert teaches history as a guide to living

Local News

Jennings mayoral candidates Guinn, Adams outline visions for city