PREDICTIONS

Surprises do come early, but wow! There were plenty of first week surprises coming from West St. John, Central, McKinley, St. Charles, False River, Hanson Memorial, and Dutchtown. I seriously did not think they were going to win their openers. But they did!

Finished with an 18-9 prediction record, but that is no surprise. I always start slow and finish good. I’m a fourth-quarter man, I guess.

Here goes the second week:

PLAQUEMINE VS GLEN OAKS: After the Green Devils pinned a close loss on the Oakers last year in Plaquemine, the Baton Rouge school went on to a very positive season.

This year the Panthers, led by QB Brandon Vessel, are picked to battle off Woodlawn, St. Michael, and McKinley in a very competitive 4-A district.

It will be tough for PHS to win on the road against a talented 4-A club, but I am giving them a boost of confidence until other results occur.

PHS in another close one against G.O...20-18.

ST. JOHN VS  POPE JOHN PAUL II: Some of the Eagle veterans say the PJPII boys were one of the hardest hitting players they face last year in Plaquemine. Now the Eagle must travel eastward to Covington and that should make this year’s game a bit closer.

Give the Eagles an edge like PHS in another close road game this week: SJHS by 3.

WHITECASTLEVS DONALDSONVILLLE: Look for the powerful Bulldog offense to continue to score points, but give up just as many. D’ville is just as explosive and WCHS, so look for a lot of points and offensive excitement in this one.

Hosting DHS by a score of fifty-something to forty-something!

EAST IBERVILLE VS DUNHAM: The hosting BR 2-A club is on both the EIHS and St. John non-district schedules this year. And this year in the year to beat them. Dunham is in a rebuilding mode this time around, but they will still be dangerous. The Tigers are so young on the front line they will struggle more this year than the recent two or three. Tiger fans must be patient.

Dunham by 15.

BRUSLY VS ST. THOMAS AQUINAS: Both teams seem to be rebuilding this year. Brusly must improve on its’ four-turnover performance against D’ville last week to win. I believe Coach Tait Dupont will work his Panthers hard this week in preparation and that will bring home a hard-fought road victory over a less-talented STA 2-A club by 10-15.

THE REST: West St. John over Bonnabel (maybe the Rams are better than anyone thought after they whipped St. James handily last week), Episcopal over ACHS, Central CHS over Christian Life, Livonia over UHigh (a close one), Westgate over St. James, Redemptorist over Patterson, Baker over Tara, West Feliciana over Pearl River, Acadiana over Parkview, DeRidder over Northeast, CHSPC over Gueydan, Oberlin over False River, Amite over Kentwood, Southern Lab over PCCHS, St. Charles over Vandy CHS, Riverside over North Vermilion, East Feliciana over St. Helena Central, Belaire over Capitol, Woodlawn over Cohen, St. Michael over Live Oak, Walker over Broadmoor, Catholic BR over McKinley, East Ascension over Denham, Lutcher over Scotlandville, St. Thomas More over Zachary, Hanmond over St. Amant, East St. John over Istrouma.