A look back before a step forward

For those football fans who said “Wait ‘til next year” - the next season is almost here.
But before the first coin is flipped, a look back to the 2013 football season could help be a predictor for the future.

District 4-1A
Of all the local area teams, Basile had the best season as the Bearcats went 11-1 overall and claimed the 4-1A title with a perfect 7-0 district run.
The Bearcats rolled to a 10-0 regular season and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. Basile grabbed a win over Louisiana New Tech (42-8) before Kentwood earned a 32-15 win in the quarterfinals.
East Beauregard went 8-3 overall, 6-1 in district and earned a first-round bye only to fall to White Castle (30-22) in the regionals.
Oberlin finished 7-5 overall, 5-2 in district behind Basile and East Beauregard. The Tigers opened the playoffs with a 34-10 win over Northwood Lena before a 53-30 loss at Kentwood.
Elton went 5-7 overall and 3-4 in district but opened the playoffs with a 52-47 win over Logansport before falling to West St. John (68-20).
Hamilton Christian went 3-8 overall with all three wins in district competition (3-4). The Warriors were also given a playoff spot, falling to Delhi Charter (12-7).
Merryville also finished 3-8 overall, 3-4 in district as the Panthers also made it the playoffs before dropping a 29-20 loss to Delhi.
South Cameron struggled to a 2-9 overall, 1-6 in district finish, with wins over Gueydan (50-0) and Grand Lake (43-28) and was given a playoff berth - a 42-7 loss at Block.
Grand Lake struggled to a 1-10 finish with an 0-7 district record, but was still awarded a playoff berth that resulted in a 38-6 loss to LaSalle.

District 5-1A
St. Edmund finished 8-4 overall and 4-1 in district including a controversial 50-46 loss to the Pointe Coupee Central Cougars as an apparent touchdown was ruled out of bounds as time expired.
The Blue Jays earned a first-round bye and then grabbed a 48-34 win over Ascension Catholic before ending its season with a 28-7 loss at Cedar Creek in the quarterfinals.
Pointe Coupee Central went 5-0 to earn the district title in their last year of existence as the parish school board voted to close the school.
The Cougars finished 8-3 overall to earn a first-round bye before a 37-26 loss to Block in the regionals.
Catholic High of Pointe Coupee finished 6-6 overall and 2-3 in district with a 27-13 win over Hanson Memorial before a 40-8 loss to Cedar Creek.
Sacred Heart of Ville Platte went 6-5 overall and 3-2 in district last season that included a 35-0 win over Lafayette Christian to open the playoffs. The Trojans’ season ended with a 40-7 loss at Ouachita Christian.
False River Academy struggled to a 1-10 overall, 1-4 district finish last season with a 33-18 win over North Central. The Gators were awarded a playoff spot that ended in a 38-0 loss to St. Frederick.
North Central also went 1-10 on the season with a 38-14 non-district win over Gueydan. The Hurricanes were given a playoff spot under the new format but North Central lost 56-30 at Montgomery.

District 4-2A
Mamou had a disappointing season as the Green Demons went 1-9 overall, 0-5 in district. The Demons’ only win was against South Cameron (35-17) in the second week of the season.
Kinder was the king of Class 2-A as the Yellow Jackets (14-1, 5-0) won the state title with wins over Istrouma (41-0), Homer (35-6), St. James (21-13), Winnfield (28-21) and Many (34-20).
Welsh had a good year as the Greyhounds finished 10-3 overall and 4-1 in district. Welsh advanced to the state quarterfinals with wins over Jonesboro-Hodge (42-16) and Red River (54-0) before a 70-28 loss to Loreauville.
Vinton also finished 10-3 overall with district losses to Welsh and Kinder. The Lions also advanced to the quarterfinals with wins over General Trass (49-14) and Rosepine (41-14) before falling to Winnfield (13-0).
Lake Arthur went 6-5 overall, 2-3 in district to earn a first round berth before falling to St. James (47-23).
DeQuincy went 3-8 overall, 1-4 in district highlighted by a 48-6 win over district rival Mamou.

District 4-3A
The Iota Bulldogs suffered through an 0-10 season in 2013, including a 34-0 shutout at home by the St. Edmund Blue Jays.
The best team of the district was Jennings as the Bulldogs went 10-4 and 5-0 in district play.
An early season indicator could have been their 15-7 win over Eunice as the Bulldogs advanced to the quarterfinals with wins over Jena (37-14), a second win over Westlake (38-13) and Patterson (27-14). The Bulldogs fell to state runners-up Livonia (25-20) in the quarterfinals.
South Beauregard finished 7-4 overall, 4-1 in district but fell in the first round to Donaldsonville (32-21).
The Iowa Yellow Jackets finished 7-4 overall, 2-3 in district, falling to North Webster (38-20) in the first round of the playoffs.
Westlake finished 6-6 overall, 3-2 in district and opened the playoffs with a 13-6 win over Franklin before their loss to district rival Jennings.
St. Louis struggled at 3-8 overall, 1-4 in district, highlighted by a 35-13 win over Iota in the ninth week of the season.

District 5-3A
Church Point had one of its best seasons in school history as the Bears advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time.
The Bears (9-4, 4-1) were demolished by Livonia in the regular season (40-9), but battled to a 27-26 loss to the Wildcats in the quarterfinals.
Livonia rolled to a 14-1 finish including playoffs wins over Carroll (43-12), Northwest (43-12) and Church Point before falling to Union Parish (33-17) in the championship game.
Northwest had a good year as the Raiders finished 6-6 overall, 3-2 in district. The Raiders earned a playoff spot and grabbed a 47-45 thriller over Buckeye before its loss to district rival Livonia.
Port Barre went 6-5 overall, 2-3 in district but fell 40-7 to Amite in the first round of the playoffs.
Ville Platte went 3-7, 1-4 in district with the most surprising event of the season was the cancellation of the Tee Cotton Bowl against cross town rival Sacred Heart of Ville Platte. The Bulldogs’ only district win was over Pine Prairie (41-0).
Pine Prairie struggled to a 2-8, 0-5 finish with the Panthers’ only wins came over North Central (15-0) and Mamou (12-6).

District 4-4A
Eunice finished 6-5 overall and 4-2 in district play.
The Bobcats kept in the district race with wins over Opelousas, Washington-Marion, Rayne and Beau Chene.
But losses to district champ LaGrange and Crowley kept Eunice from another district title.
The Bobcats lost to Westgate (23-7) in the opening round of the playoffs.
LaGrange won the 4-4A title last season as the Gators went 5-1.
LaGrange finished 6-6 overall with a 32-28 win over Lutcher to open the playoffs. The Gators then fell 34-7 to Landry Walker in the regionals.
Rayne went 8-3 last season with an 8-2 district run before falling to North DeSoto (15-13) in the first round of the playoffs.
Crowley went 8-4 overall, 4-2 in district with losses to Washington-Marion (28-21) and LaGrange (52-27).
The Gents opened the playoffs with a 20-13 win over Peabody before a 55-7 loss to Karr in the regionals.
Washington-Marion finished 5-6 overall and 3-3 in district competition.
The Indians lost to Plaquemine (28-12) in the bi-district round.
Beau Chene went 2-8 overall with wins over Bolton (48-14) and district rival Opelousas (12-8).
OHS struggled again in 2013 with an 0-10 finish as the Tigers went 2-8 in 2012.