NEW IBERIA - A chance to play for a district championship in the regular season finale is an opportunity every football team would welcome.

And that’s an opportunity both Lafayette Christian and Catholic High of New Iberia have this week.

“That’s one thing I think that has kind of gotten lost in today's high school football world and that’s winning a district championship,” Knights coach Matt Standiford said. “It’s a big goal for us. We want to win a district championship. Winning a district championship also means you're setting yourself up for a better seed in the playoffs. So, Friday night will be a big one for a couple of reasons and winning the districts is the main one.”

Panthers head coach Matt Desormeaux agreed.

“Absolutely we want to win a district championship,” Desormeaux said. “One of the goals every year for us is to be a district champ.”

Both teams will have a chance to accomplish that feat at 7 p.m. Friday when the Knights travel to face the Panthers. With a win, the Knights would win the District 8-2A title outright, while a win by the Panthers would give them a share of the title and possibly forge a three-way tie.

“Our kids are excited,” Desormeaux said. “They know what kind of team we're going up against.”

“It would be really good for our kids and I think ultimately you know it's gonna have a huge impact on our playoff implications,” Standiford said. “A win gives us a chance to be the No. 2 seed and play at home all the way through the playoffs. So there's a lot of things riding on this game.”

The Knights (7-2) have been one of the best teams in the state this year, led by a defense that has proven to be even better than expected. Leading their defensive attack are seniors defensive back Sky Ryan, defensive end Josh Wilson, linebacker Kaleb Simon and junior defensive end Joseph Adams.

“I knew our defense was going to be good,” Standiford said. “I knew we had a lot of pieces coming back on that side of the ball. But to be headed into Week 10 allowing something like 11 points a game and with the schedule we play, that's something to be really, really proud of.”

Desormeaux, whose Panthers lost in the quarterfinals last year to LCA, said the Knights are very talented on defense.

“Defensively, they're really good up front and their secondary is good,” Desormeaux said. “They’re probably either the best or second best defense that we've seen this year. So, we know they're going to give us some trouble. They just play good football. They're really talented, really athletic and just do a lot of things good.”

Offensively, the Panthers (6-3) have the talent to be explosive, led by quarterback John Parker Robison, receiver Khylon Edwards and Kyan Batiste.

“They are well-coached and a team that has some championship pedigree,” Standiford said. “They have some really talented players. Kyan is one of the more versatile players in our area, so we have to make sure we keep him away from the ball as much as possible.”

Robison has completed 107 of 182 passes for 1,524 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. Robison’s top targets have been Edwards, who has 34 receptions for 618 yards and four touchdowns, and Batiste, who has 432 yards and five touchdowns on 29 carries.

“I feel like offensively our skill guys are some of our strengths,” Desormeaux said. “Khylon Edwards has had a phenomenal year at receiver for us. Kyan Batiste has done a lot of different things for us and JP's made some good decisions with where to put the ball. Overall, our guys are just playing really well, playing really hard, and I think we can continue to do that.”

With both teams excelling on both sides of the football, Standiford and Desormeaux agree winning the turnover battle and inside the trenches will ultimately determine the winner of the game.

“I think the trenches is going to be a huge battle for us,” Standiford said. “The battle in the trenches is going to dictate who wins this game.”

“First and foremost, we have to take care of the football,” Desormeaux said. “If we can win that turnover battle, it definitely puts us in a good position to win the game.