Bunkie likely to remain undefeated; Marksville vs Avoyelles in 3AAA opener

    When District 3AAA expanded to eight teams from six, the number of district games in the 10-game season increased from five to seven.

   District play in 3AAA begins this Friday with intra-parish rivals Marksville and Avoyelles facing off at Mustang Stadium in Moreauville. Bunkie, whose District 3AA still has only five district games, will celebrate Homecoming in a non-district contest against Northwood.

   The MaxPreps strength ratings make Bunkie the parish’s best-rated team at 133rd, passing Marksville at 139th. Avoyelles' MaxPreps rating puts it 220th in the state.

     Marksville defeated Avoyelles in the final regular season game last year to force a three-way tie for second place in the six-team district.

The two teams played to a tie in the 15-minute Jamboree contest earlier this year. Since then, Both have gone 1-2. Avoyelles lone win was by forfeit against Sicily Island after that game was cancelled due to lightning and was unable to be rescheduled.   Marksville’s was an impressive season-opening win against Washington-Marion.

   The two intra-parish rivals always play each other tough and close, so it should be a good game -- despite the Tigers’ 81 place advantage in the strength rating.

     It may come down to which team has the ball last. It almost certainly will turn on which team makes the fewer mistakes. Most likely, the loser will be the one that makes the last mistake.

     The Northwood Gators are rated 308th in the state by MaxPreps. Bunkie is highly expected to remain undefeated after its Homecoming game this Friday.