The wait is finally over.

Just about everyone else has started the playoffs or even gone two deep already, but everyone else who had postseason aspirations are either realizing they’ve finally reached that goal or are getting ready for basketball season.

It’s playoff week for five more teams in the Miss-Lou starting today: Adams Christian, Cathedral, Vidalia, Ferriday and Block. Only Vidalia and Block are at home Friday, while the remaining three will take their shows on the road in trying to extend the season.

It’s a big day for both Cathedral and ACCS, as both are snapping a postseason drought by getting in. Both were surprises of sorts &045; especially the Rebels after going 0-11 two seasons ago and 4-7 last year.

It’s their first time in the playoffs since the 2000 season, and the Rebels had Friday night off in order to prepare for Madison-Ridgeland Academy before making the trip there this week. The week off also allowed them to nurse some injuries, which were partly to blame for their five-game skid to end the regular season.

The Rebels haven’t won since a Sept. 19 win over Wilkinson Christian, but the offense showed enough spark in the season-ending loss to Silliman that it was snapped out of a slump that included 21 points in five games.

Cathedral isn’t getting in the way it wanted, but nevertheless the Green Wave is in for the first time since 1998. A disappointing 34-25 loss at home to St. Aloysius Friday put the Wave traveling to Scott Central Friday and face the No. 2-ranked team in Class 1A.

The Green Wave must regroup and take its show on the road to Forest after struggling to hold St. Al’s rushing game.

Over in Louisiana, Vidalia earned the No. 3 seed in the Class 2A playoffs and will host No. 30 seed Livonia on Friday. The Vikings, winners of 20 straight regular season games and 21 of their last 22 contests, may have gotten a break in the bracket by being on the bottom half with top-ranked teams Northeast, Sterlington, St. Helena Central and Many in the top half.

On the bottom half with Vidalia is powerhouse West St. John along with traditional power Iota.

That all could change, however, if Ferriday has its way Friday. The young and improved Trojans will follow that 61-6 blistering at the hands of Vidalia to enter the playoffs as the No. 31 seed to face the No. 2-seeded Rams from Edgard.

Block is in as the No. 8 seed in Class 1A and will host No. 25 seed St. Mary’s of Natchitoches. The Bears’ draw of the bracket is a little less welcoming than Vidalia’s with No. 1-seeded St. Edmund, East Beauregard, Logansport, Vermilion Catholic and Port Sulphur on their side.

Also this week is Trinity Episcopal’s South State championship against Tallulah Academy in MPSA Class A action. It’s the third straight playoff game at home for the Saints, and a win over Tallulah would put them playing for their second straight state title in three years.

KINGS OF THE WORLD &045; Being atop the food chain attracts a lot of starving animals.

That’s not to say Vidalia is uncomfortable being the hunted. Ever since the preseason the Vikings were ranked as the second overall team in Class 2A.

That is, until last Monday, when Vidalia moved up to No. 1 in the polls after Sterlington dropped a close 26-23 contest the previous Friday to Rayville, coached by Bo Barton, nephew to Viking head coach Dee Faircloth.

Vidalia proved it belonged in the state’s top spot with a 61-6 smashing of rival Ferriday to finish the season at 10-0 for the second consecutive year and capture the district 4-2A crown.

&uot;We had the pressure on us. It’s tough to keep on top of that mountain,&uot; Faircloth said. &uot;We saw how Sterlington reacted. That’s why I wish we weren’t even in that thing.&uot;

His Vikings do not mind that much, though. Their approach is to revel in the new digs, but keep a level head about what awaits them in next week’s first round of the playoffs.

&uot;We’re still No. 1, but there are still plenty of teams out there that look just as good as us,&uot; said running back Michael Randall, who ran for 147 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown early in the third to seal the win. &uot;We’ve got to play hard every week. There’s nothing easy in the playoffs.&uot;

The consensus is not to repeat what happened last year. Vidalia cruised into the playoffs under similar pretenses only to see a quick exit after Riverside Academy disposed of them in the second round.

HEART-STOPPER &045; Just as soon as everyone on Trinity Episcopal’s side of the field let out a sigh of relief late in Friday night’s game, they sucked it back in about 30 seconds later.

It was another chapter in a brewing rivalry between the Saints and Glenbrook out of Minden, La., and Friday night was no different. The Saints took the lead on a pass from Ryan Rachal to Dudley Guice Jr. with 59 seconds left, and on fourth down the Apaches got a 68-yard pass from J.C. Fleming to Chris Willis that nearly was turned in for a score.

The Apaches got down to the Trinity 7 on the play and later to the 4 with four seconds left before Walt Ketchings picked off a Fleming pass in the end zone to end it.

&uot;It was just a pressure-packed game,&uot; Trinity head coach David King said. &uot;We made mistakes, and they made mistakes. Both teams have nothing not to be proud of. Both teams made great plays. It was a great game &045; it’s just that simple.

&uot;(Glenbrook coach) Jerry (Almond) is a class act and a good friend of mine. His bunch played their butts off.&uot;

(

Chuck Corder

contributed to this report.)