by Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek and St. Frederick are no strangers to each other.
The two former district rivals — and possibly district foes starting once again next year depending on the LHSAA’s upcoming redistricting decision — will meet tonight when the Cougars travel down I-20 to face the Warriors in the first round of the Select School Division IV playoffs.
Kickoff from Chip Luffey Field is set for 7 p.m.
Cedar Creek (6-4, 4-2 District 1-1A) is the No. 19 seed while St. Frederick (5-5, 3-1 District 2-1A) is the No. 14 seed in a game that most expect to be tightly contested.
“This is awesome,” said Creek head coach Jacob Angevine, who has led the Cougars back to the playoffs in his first year after a one-year hiatus from the postseason. “It’s always fun when you can play a rival. It will be an energetic atmosphere (tonight).
“Our guys are fired up. I couldn’t be more excited about it. We haven’t played St. Frederick since 2023. It’s been a while. This senior class has never beaten them. The freshmen and sophomores have never played them on the varsity level. It should be an awesome atmosphere.”
Cedar Creek and St. Frederick will both look to bounce back after regular season ending losses last Friday night. The Warriors fell 32-29 to Delta Charter while the Cougars were blanked 30-0 by Jonesboro Hodge.
Angevine said his team is ready to put a different product on the field then what Cougar fans saw last week.
“That (loss) was tough,” said Angevine. “We talked on Monday about being able to flush it. We have had some tough losses this year to Loyola (Prep), Haynesville and Delta Charter. But we have bounced back every time and played better the next game.
“We have to flush it. I told them if we have the same type of performance (as last week), then next Friday we won’t have a chance to play again. We have put an emphasis on the level of practice each day this week. Are we satisfied with it. I think we have had some good days.”
The match-up pits two similar styles on the offensive side of the football, according to Angevine.
“They are a carbon copy of us,” said Angevine. “Both offensive coordinators run that old West Monroe veer. It’s going to be a battle of who runs the veer the best, and who can stop who. We have told the kids all week it’s going to be a battle of who wants it more.”
After starting the season scoring a total of 35 points in three straight losses to Loyola Prep, Franklin Parish, and Jena — all playoff bound teams — St. Frederick has averaged over 40 points a game over the last seven.
Defensively, the Warriors have been hot and cold. During a four-game winning streak in the middle of the season, St. Frederick allowed a total of 37 points. However, in the other six games (five of those losses), the Warriors surrendered over 42 points a contest.
“I think they will do some unconventional things to try to stop our run game,” said Angevine. “We will probably see a six-man front, maybe a 6-2 box. They have two linebackers that really, really good. Those two really make their defense go.
“It’s going to be important for us to take our double teams to the second level. We have to get a body on a body.”
The winner of the contest will play the No. 3 seed Hamilton Christian.
