Three of the eight Rapides Parish high school football teams are in the state playoffs.

Unbeaten Alexandria Senior High (10-0) is one of the prime contenders for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Select Division I state championship and will have a first-round bye. Buckeye (6-4) and Menard (4-6) have first-round games Friday night, with Buckeye playing at home.

Playoff berths are determined by the LHSAA’s power ratings.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association, in a mild surprise, set playoff brackets Sunday after issuing a press release Friday saying that process would be delayed due to a lawsuit filed by University High (Baton Rouge). U-High was forced by the LHSAA to forfeit eight wins earlier last week over use of two ineligible players.

However, the LHSAA changed course over the weekend and set brackets including U-High.

That could potentially benefit Buckeye if the Panthers can win their opening game. If U-High’s legal challenge is unsuccessful, the Cubs would be disqualified from postseason. That would send the Buckeye-BTW (New Orleans) winner into the state quarterfinals.

If U-High wins in court (the hearing is scheduled for next Monday) and is allowed to remain in the playoff bracket, it will host the Buckeye-BTW winner in Round 2.

The schedules for the three Rapides Parish playoff qualifiers:

ASH – 2^nd seed, Select Division I, first-round bye, second-round home game vs. winner of Evangel Christian (18) at Captain Shreve (15)

Buckeye – 15^th seed, Select Division II, home against Booker T. Washington – New Orleans (18)

Menard – 22^nd seed, Select Division III, at Pope John Paul II (11)