Acadiana Prep Eagles fly coop, leaving Blue Jays stranded
By Jamie Anfenson-Comeau
Acadiana Prep’s decision this week to drop out of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association came as a bit of a surprise to Tom Andrus, athletic director of the Eagles’ Class 6-1A rivals, the St. Edmund Blue Jays.
“Every school has to put up a $10,000 bond,” Andrus said, “So I don’t know if they’re going to get that back.”
One month before the start of football season, Acadiana Prep’s David Barham announced that the school would be leaving the LHSAA for the Louisiana Christian School Athletic Association starting this upcoming school season.
Barham cited the LHSAA’s eligibility rules as a major reason for leaving the state organization.
Acadiana Prep exploded onto the football scene last year, going 5-0 before crashing into their District 6-1A rivals in their first competitive season.
Acadiana Prep also claimed the state 1A girls basketball championship, and the District 6-1A boys basketball title as well last year.
The departure of Acadiana Prep from the district mirrors that of St. Joseph’s of Plaucheville, which declined to field a football team last year shortly before the start of the season, leaving the other schools scrambling to fill the empty spot in their schedules.
St. Edmund managed to fill the open spot with Kinder last year, but Andrus is unsure if they’ll be able to fill this year’s open spot.
“I’m trying to get a hold of Fisher High School, in Lafitte. I understand they have a Week Seven opening, but I can’t get a hold of anybody,” Andrus said.
District rivals Catholic High of Point Coupee, North Central and False River Academy are looking at eight-game seasons if they can’t find a last-minute replacement.
Andrus noted that this year is a reclassification year, and that St. Edmund may find itself in a very different district next year.
“A lot of stuff is up in the air right now,” Andrus said. “Hopefully I’ll know more soon.
In the meantime, St. Edmund has scheduled a scrimmage game at Opelousas Catholic on Thursday, Aug. 21.
On the following Thursday, Aug. 28, St. Edmund will face Westminster Christian Academy in the John Bradley Memorial Jamboree at Donald Gardner Stadium at approximately 7:15 p.m.