Bogalusa’s Lumberjacks will open the Class 3A state playoffs Friday night with a road game against Union Parish at 7 p.m.
“They look extremely athletic,” Bogalusa coach Adam Brumfield said, about Union Parish. “You can tell coach Spat (Gerald Spatafora) does a pretty good job of teaching technique and fundamentals. It’s a long road trip, but hopefully come Friday, we’ll have our kids ready to play.”
No. 28 Bogalusa tallied a 4-5 regular season record this year. The Lumberjacks will enter the postseason on a two-game losing streak, with the two losses coming by a combined nine points.
Bogalusa lost to Loranger, 7-6, in overtime two weeks ago and 28-20 against Archbishop Hannan last week.
Four of the Lumberjacks’ final five games of the regular season were decided by eight or fewer points, and Bogalusa was 2-2 in those contests.
Bogalusa quarterback Josh Taylor did a good job of helping keep Bogalusa in the game last week. Taylor threw for 159 yards and a touchdown and he ran for 138 yards and a score.
“Josh always plays with a lot of effort and is always going to give you everything he has,” Brumfield said. “Sometimes, he’s a little emotional, which I think comes with being young, but I watched him make some strides in growing up some on Friday. Hopefully, he can continue to learn how to control his emotions. I think he played really well Friday.”
Talik Williams ran for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Chas Smith led the receivers in catches and yards last week with six for 78.
Dre’Toris Mark caught four passes for 36 yards.
Raheem Roberts caught a 32-yard touchdown pass just before halftime last week.
Keltron Harry had another solid game defensively, leading the unit with 14 tackles, one for loss.
Michael O’Ree had seven stops, one for loss.
Demarcus Spikes tallied six tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss.
These two teams met in the opening round of the 2015 Class 3A playoffs in Union Parish and Bogalusa won that game, 34-29, in a 14/19 match up.
Fifth-seeded Union Parish went 8-2 during the regular season. Last week, the team defeated Wossman, 50-45.
Union Parish was sixth in the final Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 3A poll.
The winner will face either 12th-seeded Jena (8-2) or No. 21 South Beauregard (5-5).