When I talk to friends of mine outside of the River Region, I have a bit of a nickname for Acadiana, a football team I’ve covered in multiple playoff games since arriving at L’OBSERVATEUR in 2007.

The Reaper.

The Wreckin’ Rams always make an impression, I’ll say that. The past three times I’ve seen that team face one of our River Region squads, it hasn’t gone as planned for the home team: a 56-6 victory over East St. John in the first round of 2010, spoiling a season that saw the Wildcats earn a 6th seed; a 28-21 bi-district victory over ESJ again in 2008; and last season’s 35-7 semifinal win over Destrehan

Each time, I saw the same type of team take the field: huge, disciplined, and running a veer option offense even more visually impressive than the one John Curtis runs — and Curtis has been running that sucker for almost 40 years!

Most striking of all is how machine-like that team looks when it operates. The offensive line walks to the line of scrimmage, everyone drops down into their stance together and immediately fires off the ball. It’s hard to describe unless you’ve seen it, but when Acadiana is rolling, few teams are as impressive.

That said, the last River Region team to bring the crucifix, holy water and garlic necklace necessary to slay Dracula?

You’ve probably guessed it by now, given the context of today’s column (and a tidy preview story featured on Page 1A!)

Destrehan knocked off Acadiana 41-21 in the Superdome, where the two teams will meet again tonight, in 2007 to decide the Class 5A state championship.

I’ve been lucky enough to see Destrehan play a number of big, big games since I’ve been sports editor at L’OBSERVATEUR. The first 30 games Destrehan played since I accepted this position, it won. Stephen Robicheaux’s career record is sensational; but since I’ve covered the River Region, he’s put together four undefeated regular seasons and may be on the verge of his third championship. That’s come in his last six seasons — remember, he took a two-season sabbatical.

Maybe I’m his lucky rabbit’s foot. Or maybe Robicheaux, and his players, are just really, really good at what they do.

I’m very much looking forward to seeing tonight’s game because in my mind, it’ll be a clash between the best of the best 5A programs over my tenure as a sportswriter. Acadiana has been on a sick run under coach Ted Davidson.

And while you can’t take away the three off years Destrehan had, the “Robicheaux Wildcats” are as dominant an entity as there is. Hopefully, recent history doesn’t repeat itself; but then again, some not-as-recent history repeating … we could deal with that.