OHS Is Playoff-Built
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
It’s the playoff-deep, Thanksgiving week of Louisiana high school football and Jimmy Zachery, Jr. says his Opelousas High Tigers are right where they are supposed to be.
“This is what we have prepared for since earlier in the year, with the preseason, the summer, the regular season and now we’re in the quarterfinals,” says Zachery, whose team is also the defending Division II non-select champion.
Opelousas is on the road again – also a familiar assignment – as the Tigers travel Friday night to play No. 6 Plaquemine in a D-II third-round contest
The Tigers had to win three straight road games in 2023 before defeating Cecilia in the Superdome to capture the school’s first ever state football championship.
Since the start of the 2023 playoff run, Opelousas has won seven straight playoff games, including five consecutively away from Donald Gardner Stadium in 2023-24.
This season the scenario is somewhat similar to last year.
After eliminating Bastrop in a bi-district game, the Tigers won at No. 3 Jennings 30-19 last Friday night.
Awaiting No. 14 Opelousas (8-3) if the Tigers defeat Plaquemine, are either No. 7 North DeSoto or No. 18 Cecilia in the semifinals.
The goal all along for 2024, Zachery has said, is to repeat as a state champion.
“We have pushed them harder than we ever have this year, because that is a goal that we have set for ourselves. It’s what the players and the whole program wants, so let’s put in the work to do that,” Zachery said.
The Opelousas regular season schedule was also constructed to act as a platform for the postseason.
Zachery scheduled Edna Karr, Teurlings Catholic, Zachary and Alexandria Senior High.
Plaquemine (10-1) has won 10 consecutive victories and a nine-game winning streak at home.
“You look at Plaquemine and they have some nice athletes, both up front and elsewhere. They run the spread offense, which can give you some trouble,” Zachery said.
Plaquemine defeated Northwest High 49-34 last Friday night after supporting that victory with an early lead.
Nico Victorian passed for 207 yards, completing 13-of-16 passes. Tyrese Mosby ran for 97 yards and three touchdowns.
Plaquemine is capable of scoring points. The Green Devils have scored 92 in their two playoff wins.
All season and in the two playoff games, the Tigers have depended upon the running of senior De’Shaun Ford, a 220-pound running back who has gained at least 200 yards in each of the preseason games.
When Ford doesn’t have the possession, quarterback Zack Malveaux and wide receiver Korey Fontenot have connected on six postseason touchdown passes.
Malveaux has also continued to be a running threat.
Defensively the Tigers feature two Division 1 football commitments in linebacker Corey Amos (Ole Miss) and Landon Hammond (Tulane), Zachery has said.
Ford has had playoff offers, Zachery has noted, but Ford hasn’t publicly committed to any program.
While the offense and defense have coalesced both during the regular season district championship conquest, Zachery said there are still concerns about the Tigers’ kicking game.
“It’s something that we are working on and continuing to work on,” Zachery said.
Opelousas ran for three successful two-point conversions against Jennings.
