VARNADO �” Paul Meyerchick wishes the Class 1A state football playoff brackets have turned out a little differently, but is quick to add, “You got to play them anyway.”

“Them” is South Plaquemines High School’s Hurricanes (9-1), the No. 1-ranked team in the state and the defending state champions.

Tonight at 7, South Plaquemines and Varnado will tee it up in a second-round playoff game �” one that no one gives the Wildcats a snowball’s chance to win.

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“That’s ok,“ Meyerchick said before practice Tuesday. “We’re flying under the radar right now and that’s fine with me. I would have liked to have gotten a couple of games under our belts, but you got to play them before it’s (playoffs) over.”

Meyerchick, in his sixth season at Varnado, knows what it will take for his team to win.

“It’s the same as I’ve said all season �- we’ve got to play mistake-free football. The whole key is execution.”

Because South Plaquemines has so much speed, Meyerchick says, “We’re not going to bust out. We’re going to have to nickel and dime them and keep going after them.”

He thinks there is a possibility South Plaquemines’ playing in a relatively weak district can help the Wildcats.

“They’ve run up big scores, but they haven’t been tested in eight weeks,” he pointed out. “Their players are getting a lot of playing time, but how long has it been since they’ve had to play a whole game and really get with it in the fourth quarter?”

After beating a Hahnville team in overtime, beating Opelousas Northwest and losing to Helen Cox, the Hurricanes have reeled off seven straight shutout wins.

“It wasn’t a typical Hahnville team (strength-wise) and besides that,” Meyer said, “they didn’t have all of their players because of (hurricane) Gustav. They were like we were after Katrina.”

Meyerchick said he’s fine with the fact that all of the blog talk says the Cats have no speed and gives them no chance.

“That’s fine �- that’s why we play the games. You’ve got to ”

Meyerchick said if the Cats win the toss, they’ll take the football.

“I think they’ll defer if they win,” he said. “They have so much confidence in their defense.”

Against Grambling, the Canes scored 39 points in the first four minutes �” recovering three onsides kicks �” and when they do line up on defense, it is in a goal line formation.

“They have everybody in the box,” Meyerchick said. “If you put two wideouts on either side, they’ll gets heads-up on them, but if you get past that initial point of contact, there’s no one home to stop you. They figure they’ve got enough speed in No. 7 (Beau Fitte) to run you down.”

To get ready for such a defense, the Wildcats ran an 11-man offense against a 15-man defense on Tuesday.

“Get in tighter. Tighter!” coaches yelled instructions at players. “They really pack it in.”

Meyerchick said the Wildcats are at full strength for the game.

“We’ve gotten everybody back,” he said. “Tim Graves is even back for us,” he said, referring to one his top defensive players, out the past two games because of an in-school suspension.

Varnado will line up in a Power I formation and run straight at the Hurricanes.

“They’ve got a lot of faith in their defense �- they’re almost arrogant �- but I don’t think anybody knows what will happen when somebody lines up and runs right at them,” Meyerchick said. “We’re not going to be able to outrun them to the corners, but we’re faster than they think we are �- and I don’t care how many you stack in the box, I know they haven’t had a 320-pound fullback (Picasso McGowen) coming at them.”

The Cats will open with junior Colton Owens at quarterback and utilize senior Latraun Weary, junior Derrick Gibson and freshman Laterrius Crumedy to carry the ball. If the ground game is successful enough to allow Owens the opportunity to throw the ball, he’ll look for Conterrio Johnson from his wide receiver spot or Weary or Gibson coming out of the backfield.

And if South Plaquemines all-out pressure affects Owens, Meyerchick has the luxury of moving the more mobile Johnson to quarterback, a spot he held while Owens was out with shingles early in the season.

Wildcats to be on the lookout for include McGowan, Tim Curling (5-11, 285 Sr.), Rondreal Fields (5-10, 180 Jr.), T’arny Sheridan (5-8, 270 Sr.), Willie Smith (5-8, 290 Sr.), Golden Ootsey (5-8, 190 So.), Eddius Sheridan (6-1, 205 Sr.), D’Mika Peters (5-9, 180 Jr.), Kendareus Pigott (5-11, 185 Sr.) and Ta’jah Pigott (5-9, 160 Jr.).