Opening the playoffs on the road for the first time since 2000, the Bastrop Rams visit the DeRidder Dragons on Friday at 7 p.m.

Bastrop (6-4) is the No. 17 seed in the Class 4A bracket, while the Dragons (8-2) gained the final home playoff privilege with the No. 16 spot.

DeRidder is better known for its basketball and baseball tradition, but the Beauregard Parish town has caught football fever in 2009.

“From what I understand, it’s been awhile since DeRidder has had a home playoff game and the town is real excited,” Bastrop coach Brad Bradshaw said. “They had a packed house for their last home game when they played for the district championship.”

A 17-13 loss to Sam Houston in the regular season finale has done little to dampen the spirit of DeRidder’s fan base.

“This is a great time for the community,” said DeRidder coach Eric Parmley. “Everybody is excited, and the team feels that. The school is fired up.”

PLAYOFF INEXPERIENCE: Despite Bastrop’s recent playoff run (three quarterfinal appearances, three state championships, one semifinal finish over the last seven years),  both teams are short on playoff experience. Cornerbacks Jevante Watson and Dra Brandon and wide receiver Rodney Heard are the only current players on the Rams’ roster to have started a postseason contest.

“You hope they understand what the playoffs are all about,” Bradshaw said. “The ones we have now have never been in this experience. They’ve watched it, but that’s a whole different story from doing it.”

For DeRidder, the playoffs are entirely new.

“Our attitude is great, the team is excited, happy to be playing in Week 11,” Parmley said. “They are looking forward to the challenge.”

SCOUTING DeRIDDER: Watching the Dragons on film, Bradshaw sees a sound football team.

“They’re a very good football team,” Bradshaw said. “They beat the No. 7 team in the state (Jennings) pretty handily.”

Operating primarily from the “The Pistol” formation, the run-oriented Dragons feature four backs with over 300 yards (Bastrop has only one).

Alternating tailbacks Stephen Richmond (90 carries, 436 yards, 6 TDs) and Antonio Palmer (107-622-6) have combined for over 1,000 yards. Quarterback Samuel Peterson (93-371-1) and fullback Oneal Stenson (65-248-2) are also threats to run.

“The two running backs are very good as is the quarterback,” Bradshaw said.
Peterson has completed 66-of-131 passes for 732 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions.

Chris Jones (16 receptions, 174 yards, 1 TD) and Alvais Coronel (14-137-4) are Peterson’s favorite targets.

Defensively, the Dragons have yet to allow 20 points in a game while shutting out two opponents.

“Their defensive front kind of looks like a college front four,” Bradshaw said. “Number 71 (Defensive tackle Daniel Lyles) is a special player. Overall, number 5 (safety Deshazor Everett) is their best football player.”

Alvais Coronel gives the Dragons the edge in the kicking game.

“Their kicker is real good. He kicks the ball a long way,” Bradshaw said. “They also have a good return man (Rashad Robinson).”

SCOUTING BASTROP: Bastrop’s athleticism has caught Parmley’s attention on tape.

“They are very good, very athletic,” Parmley said. “You know any time you play somebody from the Monroe area, they are going to be tough.”

Parmley is particularly impressed with Bastrop fullback/strong safety Rodriguez Moore, who has been pulling double duty the past few weeks.

“They have some very good players, especially number 25. He is a special player, a very good football player,” said Parmley of Moore. “Their quarterback (Darren Anderson) has a very good arm, a strong arm, and is an accurate passer. Their wide receivers are big and can go get the ball.”

Anderson has completed 101-of-181 passes for 1,531 yards with 15 TDs against 11 picks.

Heard (27 receptions, 427 yards, 6 TDs), Adrian Witherspoon (26-366-2) and DeAndre Sellers (20-320-4) lead a balanced receiving corps. Witherspoon (9-140-1) and Heard (7-143-2) both went over the 100-yard mark in last week’s 60-21 victory over West Ouachita.

Anthony Phillips (128 carries, 808 yards, 7 TDs) is the Rams’ only rusher with over 200 yards.

Phillips spent most of his time at linebacker last week as Bradshaw overhauled the lineup.

“We’ll have some people going both ways again this week, but maybe not as many,” Bradshaw said.

Defensively, inside linebacker Devin Richards has caught Parmley’s eye.

“On defense, No. 42 is a player. He really stands out,” Parmley said.

Richards has a team-high 87 tackles with eight stops in the backfield. Inside ’backer Alex Jones is next with 58 tackles, seven for negative yardage. End Denzel Devall has 57 tackles while leading the team with 16 tackles for loss and four sacks.
 
TRIVIA: DeRidder won the last athletic event between the two schools, defeating Bastrop 11-1 in the 2003 baseball quarterfinals. DeRidder went on to win the state championship that year.

DeRidder head coach Eric Parmley was an assistant coach to his father, Brownie Parmley, at Bolton the last time he crossed paths with Bastrop. Ironically that meeting was also in the first round. Bolton, a No. 21 seed, stunned the eight-seeded Rams 28-10 in the last game of two-time All-State offensive lineman Jackie Skipper’s high school career. Skipper went on to Arkansas-Pine Bluff where he won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s outstanding center in Division I-AA. He played a season of Arena Bowl before rejoining the Rams as a coach.