The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 16

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SEPTEMBER 10. 2003 2C in tag nf qp 0 0 This looks like a tough week to pick high school football winners. One week of scores provides a little bit on in the area featuring two 1-0 teams, and just one year ago it was a district game. So there should be plenty of pleasantries exchanged. Take the team which has done more winning lately.

Green Oaks 8, North Caddo 6. Red River vs. BTW: The Lions are at home and coming off a big win, so they will need to guard against a letdown. But they should be the favorite. BTW 20, Red River 14.

Last week: 8-3. Brian McCallum is the prep sports editor for The Times. been in recent years. Haughton 28, Northwood 14. Logansport vs.

Loyola: The winner of this game should be headed for an outstanding season, but the loser shouldn't get down. Both defenses will be seriously tested. Loyola 23, Logansport 16. Minden vs. Springhill: This is a rivalry game, but Springhill has a better football team right now.

This is the Lumberjacks' game if they play well. Springhill 24, Minden 13. North Caddo vs. Green Oaks: This is one of three games production despite a new list of names in the backfield. The Cowboys have to prove their worth.

Airline 22, Southwood 15. Captain Shreve vs. Huntington: Look for a low-scoring game from two teams with sound defenses. If the Raiders can keep from fumbling and can use their size to push the Gators around, they should have the advantage. Huntington 19, Captain Shreve 10.

Northwood vs. Haughton: The Falcons might be better, but the Bucs like the Vikings look to be just as explosive as they have and came home with wins. The Vikings should have beaten Tioga, but is 400-plus yards of rushing something to be overlooked? But that's the job here. Take on the questions and come up with some predictions for a number of games which could go either way. Parkway vs.

Benton: Irt's assume West Monroe's defense is as advertised and the shutout of the Panthers wasn't a bad sign. Go with the team which should have more offensive options. Parkway 17, Benton 12. Airline vs. Southwood: The Vikings haven't lost any offensive Monroe? Could be.

but the Panthers travel again this week to play a Benton team which undoubtedly is having a focused week of practice after nearly losing to North-wood. Or is Northwood improved enough that the Tigers should be proud of the win? Is Captain Shreve's passing game honed enough to give Huntington trouble, or is a big Huntington team going to be more of a challenge of a Bossier team hurt by injuries and youth? Are Airline and Southwood really any good? Both went on the road THIS WEEK'S GAMES -'Sv ir it Sf I if I A J- information to go on, but perhaps it's Brian McCallum too early to judge anyone based on the chance for improvement. And tliere are still plenty of questions remaining. For example: Is Parkway toughened up from the stiffest competition it will face this season in West Opinion Thursday's games Captain Shreve vs. Huntington WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Independence Stadium RECORDS: Captain Shreve (10); Huntington (0-1) LAST WEEK: Captain Shreve def. Bossier, 2114; Huntington lost at Marshall (Texas), 36-14 LAST YEAR: Huntington, 21-19 Montgomery vs. Cedar Creek WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Cedar Creek RECORDS: Montgomery (1-0); Cedar Creek (0-1) LAST WEEK: Montgomery def. Gueydan.

28-0: Cedar Creek lost to St. Frederick. 20-6 LAST YEAR: No meeting Friday's games Evangel vs. Suwannee WHEN: 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Live Oak.

Fla. RECORDS: Evangel (0-0); Suwannee (0-1) LAST WEEK: Evangel was idle; Suwannee lost to Columbia County. 34-20 LAST YEAR: No meeting Natchitoches Central vs. Byrd WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Lee Hedges Stadium RECORDS: Natchitoches Central (1-0); Byrd (0-1) LAST WEEK: Natchitoches Central def.

Leesville 48-20; Byrd lost to Ruston. 28-17 LAST YEAR: Byrd 27-17 Airline vs. Southwood WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Independence Stadium RECORDS: Airline (1-0); Southwood (1-0) LAST WEEK: Airline def. Tioga 49-6; Southwood def.

Eunice 28-13 LAST YEAR: No meeting Fair Park vs. McCall WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: McCall RECORDS: Fair Park (0-1); McCall 'I'IIH Loyola's Taylor McGimsey (8) is with six catches and in scoring Flyers opened the season with a Ruahinf CP B.J. Chandler. UCP 3 Wade Gore.

UCP 3 Buck Tellifero. Mont. 1 Calvin Dawson, Airline 1 Stephen Wilson. L'soort 1 Bud Bogan. Huntington 1 Ricky Scott.

Manstield 1 Bradford. Airline 1 Washington. St. Mary 1 Cardrich Jones. Minden 1 Rod Auberry.

Springhill 1 Travis Warren. Airline 1 Teieray Jefferson. Bvrd 1 Conrad Stough. UCP 2 Jamarkus FobDs. Huntington 1 Nick Wilson.

Haughton 1 Eddie Conwav. Benton 1 Dekernyo Sterling. Minden 1 Matthew Harrington. Loyola 1 Brent Smith. Byrd 1 Charlie Delaney.

Haughton 1 Alex Dempsey. UCP 2 Art VdTDs 34 370 5 9 158 22 157 11 139 20 135 9 131 20 124 14 122 28 117 19 101 20 97 3 93 1 0 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 0 1 4 15 90 5 90 14 86 8 83 18 81 0 15 70 1 10 68 14 68 9 62 5 62 Demond Wheatley. Benton 1 13 59 Passing GP A -CM Yds. TDs Brennen Fnck. UCP 3 52 25 3 430 3 Kinsmon Lancaster.

BTW 1 24110 183 3 Darnei Bates. Lakeview 1 14-0 162 1 Dale Calhoun. Mansfield 1 17-11 1 155 3 Chris Ludwig. Ruston 1 1211 0 149 2 Nick Wilson. Haughton 1 7-6A 136 1 Kenrdrick Hill.

Logansport 1 14 50 128 3 Harry Johnson. Loyola 1 19-9-1 119 2 Steven Thoma. C. Shreve 1 26-9 0 103 2 Bud Bogan. Huntington 1 12-3 1 64 0 Mullikm.

St. Mary 1 15-41 53 1 Travis Warren. Airline 1 21-0 50 1 9 dd kill "II 1 la (1-0) LAST WEEK: Logansport def. Joaquin, Texas, 42-0; Loyola def. Ouachita Christian, 18 6.

LAST YEAR: No meeting North DeSoto vs. St. Mary WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Natchitoches RECORDS: North DeSoto (1-0); St. Mary (1-0) LAST WEEK: North DeSoto def.

Plain Dealing. 18-2; St. Mary lost to Lakeview. 21-12 LAST YEAR: No meeting Minden vs. Springhill WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Springhill RECORDS: Minden (0-1); Springhill (1-0) LAST WEEK: Minden lost to Haughton, 40-14; Springhill def. Haynesville. 21-14 LAST YEAR: Springhill 34-10 Homer vs. Rayville WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Rayville RECORDS: Homer (1-0); Rayville (1-0) LAST WEEK: Homer def.

Farmerville. 32-21; Rayville def. Oak Grove, 28-26 LAST YEAR: No meeting North Caddo vs. Green Oaks WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Northwood RECORDS: North Caddo (1-0); Green Oaks (1-0) LAST WEEK: North Caddo def.

Red River, 20-18; Green Oaks def. Woodlawn, 6-0 LAST YEAR: Green Oaks, 14-12 Mansfield vs. Jonesboro-Hodge WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Jonesboro RECORDS: Mansfield (1-0); Jonesboro-Hodge (0-1) LAST WEEK: Mansfield def. Richwood, 25-0; Jonesboro-Hodge lost to Winnfield, 44-14 LAST YEAR: Mansfield, 16-14 as starting Because of that, the Tigers have kept their cards close in 4-2A.

knowing that the Lions would be waiting to challenge them at the end of the season. Feaster said he doesn't have that luxury this year, but he does have an idea what to expect on Friday. "Vinton always has one great receiver and the routes are not really complicated. That's where it starts," Feaster said. "1 was look Feaster ing back at our film over the last four years, and we haven't really blocked them.

We've just done enough to beat them." He hopes that changes in 2003, and he believes he has the tools in what he said could be "the best offensive line we've ever had" with TE Morris Thomas, OT Dierk Remedies, OT T.J. Geoghagan, OG William Jacobs, OG Ollie Davis and Clint Raines. "All of those guys are potentially all-district," Feaster said. They're all athletic and smart, and I don't think any of them are going to get overmatched." NORTH CADDO: The Rebels didn't win once last year, so beating Red River on the road in the season opener was a big deal for the team of first-year head coach Jerry Byrd. "It's like we won the Super Bowl almost, Byrd said.

I was just haDDV for them. Thev have worked A 1 IA5 Jeulca Ulgtv The Times among the area leaders in receiving with 18 points. McGimsey and the victory over Ouachita Christian. 1 Racaivintf Cf Rac Yd. TO Nick Lacy.

UCP 3 12 211 2 Tavlor McGimsey. Loyola 1 6 109 2 Wade Gore. UCP 2 6 105 0 James McNairy. BTW 1 5 104 2 Antonio Shannon. Mansfield 1 5 88 1 Ale Dempsev.

UCP 2 4 77 1 Tre Veals. BTW 1 5 65 1 Jordan Wiggins. Ruston 1 5 62 1 Taylor Gossiee. Capt. Shrevel 4 49 0 Dernck Gray.

Logansport 1 3 103 3 John Williams. Huntington 1 3 64 0 Josh Keith. Haughton 1 3 62 1 Michael Jones. Mansfield 1 3 28 1 Pere. St.

Mary 1 2 52 1 Matt Oneal. Haughton 1 2 510 Melvin Manson. Mansfield 1 2 36 1 Clint Davis. Capt. Shreve 1 2 29 2 Scoring GPTD FQ Xr 2Pt PU B.J.

Chandler. UCP 1 3 5 0 0 33 Nick Wilson. Hau. 1 4 0 0 0 24 Taylor McGimsey. Loy.

1 3 0 0 0 18 Stephen Wilson. sport 1 3 0 0 0 18 Clint Davis. C. Shreve 1 2 0 0 0 12 Dernck Gray. sport 1 2 0 0 0 12 Tezeray Jefferson.

Byrd 1 2 0 0 0 12 Alex Dempsey. UCP 2 2 0 0 0 12 Nick Lacy. UCP 3 2 0 0 0 12 Sacks OP Sacks Yds. Daniel Fobbs. Haughton 1 2 Doug Lazarus.

Haughton 1 2 Colby Moss. Loyola 1 1 15 Bryan Williams. Mansfield 1 1 11 Antonio Shannon. Mansfield 1 17 Trey Harrison. Minden 1 1 Willie Penton, Minden 1 1 game, the players are exhausted, and it's the teams that can concentrate and focus when they're tired that are going to win the games." And his Rebels? "For this time of year, I would say we're in pretty decent shape.

We're still working to get in shape, but I think, compared to some, we're OK in that category." RUSTON: After showing off its new passing offense in a season-opening win against Byrd, the Bearcats get to try things out against a Neville team which has a few years of experience with the wide open game. Despite the loss of Neville's starter at quarterback, Ruston coach Tommy Reeder is still planning for a Tigers team ready to throw down field. They're still getting into the spread out sets and mixing up the run and the pass," Reeder said. The challenge for us is trying to keep them contained. They can really run." Ruston's defense looked impenetrable early on against the Yellow Jackets, but Byrd managed to get the running game going as the game dragged on.

"We had some breakdowns, but some of that had to do with Byrd," Reeder said. They're a good football team." Compiled bv Brian McCallum 4 fe fcvf Evangel tabs Denny Rodney Duron quarterback for opener Jim HudaltonThe Times the reach of Byrd's (27) Albert during the Bearcats' win Friday. RECORDS: Parkway (0-1); Benton WEEK: Parkway lost at West Monroe, Benton def. North-wood. 9-8 LAST YEAR: Benton.

30-0 Neville vs. Ruston WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Ruston RECORDS: Neville (0-1); Ruston (1-0) LAST WEEK: Neville lost to Long-view (Texas). 35-12; Ruston def. Byrd.

28-17 LAST YEAR: Neville, 30-27 Red River vs. BTW WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Barnes Stadium RECORDS: Red River (0-1); BTW (1-0) LAST WEEK: Red River lost to North Caddo. 20-18; BTW def. Fair Park, 32-28 LAST YEAR: No meeting Logansport vs.

Loyola WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Messmer Stadium RECORDS: Logansport (1-0); Loyo- High School Notes they can step in that quickly and do well." The kicking game having won one for Haughton against Minden, it could be the offensive line's turn in Game 2. Guin has watched Northwood's 9-8 loss to perennial power Benton and is impressed with the rebuilding Falcons. "They played really well on defense, and we're really concerned about that," Guin said. "They try to send more guys than you have people to block.

They're going to cause problems, I know." MANY: The Tigers begin play in a new District 2-2A this season, but before they can get to that they have a little unfinished business from 4-2A. Many and Vinton have competed for the district championship for the last four seasons, and the two meet in a non-district game this week in Many with less on the line but some emotion still involved. Coach David Feaster said he expects Lakeview, another member of the new 2-2A, to become a rival for the Tigers, but, otherwise, Many doesn't have any neighboring rivals for football. The Tigers have to go all the way to Vinton to find that "The last few years we've been playing them for the district championship," Feaster said. "Vinton is the one that really has become a rivalry, because every year we always played for so much." Ruston's Tony Cox (22) passes by Fullwood on his way for a touchdown (10) LAST WEEK: Fair Park lost to BTW.

32-28; McCall def. Tallulah. 57-0 LAST YEAR: No meeting Richwood vs. Bossier WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Bossier RECORDS: Richwood (0-1); Bossier (0-1) LAST WEEK: Richwood lost at Mansfield.

25-0; Bossier lost to Capt. Shreve. 21-14 LAST YEAR: No meeting Northwood vs. Haughton WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Haughton RECORDS: Northwood (0-1); Haughton (1-0) LAST WEEK: Northwood lost to Benton.

98; Haughton def. Mind-en, 40-14 LAST YEAR: No meeting Parkway at Benton WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Benton bring a new dimension to the team in the key position. "We will do some things that we haven't done as an Evangel offense," Dunn said. "It's still going to be high-octane, a lot of no-huddle." And the goal is what it would have been no matter who had started at quarterback: Get the ball to KB Jacob Hester, WK Connor Campbell and KB Detrlck James.

In regards to Hester, the second-year running back and Texas commitment has slimmed down since last season, going from about 240 to 225. "He's still got the explosiveness," Dunn said. "He did that feeling like he was going to gain speed. He's lost about 15 pounds, but he's not little, by any means." HAUGHTON: Bucs coach Rodney Guin has a simple answer to whether his team is as good as a 40-14 winning score against Minden would lead one to believe. "No.

We got some breaks in the kicking game. We worked with a 30-yard Geld all night We've got a ways to go, but we look pretty good." Having lost a starting quarterback and two key receivers to graduation, Guin is comforted by how quickly nine new starters have taken to running the offense. "I think our kids have kind of bought into what we're doing really well," Guin said. "Every kid on the team knows the system now. Evidently, that's helped us a lot.

It says something about the program that extremely hard this year to learn the new offensive system and new defensive system. I just think they want to win. After going 0-9 last year and winning this past Friday against a pretty good program, they're hungry to win again." To do that. North Caddo will have to beat old 1-3A rival Green Oaks, which also opened with a win. The two teams played each other in a jamboree.

The players know it's possible if they go out and play hard and do what they're coached to do," Byrd said. They can come up with another victory, not that that will be easy by any stretch. McDonald (Green Oaks RB) LaQuarius McDonald is a stud, and (Giants QB) leland Kelly does a good job at quarterback. I didn't expect Green Oaks to be as competitive as they were in the jamboree, having lost so many players and being young. I think it's going to be a good game." And Byrd expects it to be decided late, won by the team which is better conditioned to handle the early-season heat.

"It seems like every high school game, in the first two or three weeks of the season, it comes down to which team is in the best shai)e to play for four quarters, and which team, late in the game, can exe- cute." Bvrd said. "At the end of the "ST When Evangel loads the bus to head to Live Oak. on Thursday, it will have an official starting quarterback. "We named Denny (Rodney Duron) as the starter," head coach Dennis Dunn said. "We will just go with him as long as we feel like we need to.

I think (Duron and Jared Jennings) will play. Jared does a lot of really good tilings offensively, but he is our kick- mg game. Jennings kicks off, kicks field goals and extra points and punts for Evangel, and Duron Dunn said that is too important for now to give him double duty. "In terms of where we are at this point, we're going to have to play great defense and be very good in the kicking game," he said. "I think this relieves some of the pressure for him to be able to do that," But it does create a new problem.

Duron has the best hands on the team, and he will be missed on the other end of the passing game. "Obviously, it doesn't help, because you take one of our best receivers and take him out of the game," Dunn said. "Hopefully, with the ball in his hands all the time, that will make us better period." Also a skilled bast-ball player and the starting shortstop for the Eagles in the spring, Dunn considered Duron a top athlete who could Tr- VrV.