By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The first weekend in October marked the beginning of the second half of the 2011 high school football season in the River Parishes, which has had no shortage of excitement over the first five weeks.

The season has been competitive, and seven of the eight teams playing across St. John the Baptist, St. James and St. Charles parishes are in contention for spots in the statewide postseason tournament.

With the second half of the season kicking into gear, L’Observateur last week asked visitors to its website to give their opinion on which River Parishes team has the best chance to reach the Superdome in New Orleans later this year and compete for a state title. Schools in St. John the Baptist Parish led the poll.

Nearly 40 percent of those who voted said St. Charles Catholic in LaPlace has the best shot at a state title. The Comets have amassed a 6-0 record in Class 2A. Right on the Comets’ tail is East St. John High School, whose 4-2 record in Class 5A garnered 21 percent of the vote. East St. John’s west bank counterpart, West St. John High School, which also boasts a 4-2 record in Class 1A, captured 18 percent of the vote in the poll.

Lutcher High, despite its 5-1 record, garnered only 7 percent of the vote.

Complete results of the poll are as follows:

• 39 percent of respondents chose St. Charles Catholic.

• 21 percent of respondents chose East St. John High School.

• 18 percent of respondents chose West St. John High School.

• 7 percent of respondents chose Lutcher High School.

• 7 percent of respondents chose Hahnville High School.

• 4 percent of respondents chose Destrehan High School.

• 2 percent of respondents chose Riverside Academy.

• 2 percent of respondents chose St. James high School.