VC holds steady at No. 2 in polls

Holding fast at the No. 2 spot on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association polls is Vermilion Catholic, the last ranked team in the parish. 

It’s a position earned as the Eagles began the season with a victory over Catholic High of New Iberia, and followed it up with a win over Welsh and then picked up a televised victory over Erath.

Then district began with Lafayette Christian, who had one of the top running backs in the state. The Eagles dealt with them quickly before making their way through Central Catholic, Gueydan and Highland Baptist.

Now, there’s a break in district play as the Eagles take on Eunice, a 3A team that just recently had a big victory over a talented Rayne squad.

“We’ll prepare for them like we did with our other tough games,” head coach Russell Kuhns said. “We’ll do the same thing we did for Catholic High, Welsh and the others.”

The victory over Highland Baptist kept VC the only undefeated team in their district, and leaves them in prime positioning in the LSWA poll. Just above them sits Haynesville from up north. Below them is Ouchita Christian.

Basile is also undefeated, and rests at the No. 4 spot in the polls, while West St. John rounds out the top five.

After Mangham (No. 6) is LaSalle at No. 7, who shares a district with Montgomery, who ranks in at No. 9 on the poll. In between them is Kentwood at No. 8.

Point Coupee Central rounds out the top ten.

Local 3A schools are still looking at Notre Dame to sweep district, and the Pios are No. 3 in the state in the class. Kaplan previously held a spot on the top ten, but losses against Iowa and North Vermilion knocked them off as Caldwell and, later, West Feliciana came in to take the bottom two spots.

And, two of Delcambre’s district rivals are on the LWSA top ten in 2A. Loreauville is No. 2 in the state (just under Riverside) and Catholic of New Iberia (who began the season in the top five) sits tied at No. 9 with Hannan. The Panthers have gone 0-2 in district as they fell to Loreauville last Thursday night.

With three games left in the regular season, these polls don’t affect the teams’ chances at postseaon play, but they do give an indication of the teams to beat.