By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports
(NOTE – Each Tuesday this season, the SBJ spotlights the staff’s selection as the local “Team of the Week.”)
Both the Green Oaks and Booker T. Washington teams would tell you that Saturday night’s Soul Bowl was for bragging rights.
But it was more important than that.
With both teams going into the contest with 0-2 records, the victory would be an early-season turnaround that both programs needed.
But it meant more than that.
The 28-6 win over BTW gave the Giants’ their first on-the-field victory since Nov. 20, 2020 (their only entry in the “W” column last season was by forfeit) and earned Green Oaks the title of the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s “Team of the Week.”
Any number of players could have been named the game’s Most Valuable Player. The honor – deservedly – went to Toryun Ellis, the junior running back who scored the Giants’ only offensive touchdown of the game on a 9-yard run in the second quarter that put Green Oaks up 10-0. Ellis was the game’s leading rusher with 12 carries for 59 yards.
Actually, the entire Green Oaks defense could have been awarded the MVP trophy. Kashaun Green recovered a Lions’ fumble in the endzone, Zachon Miller had a 14-yard scoop-and-score, Fred’Travious Benjamin had a 35-yard interception return for a score, the Giants got a safety, and the defense gave up just one scoring play – a 17-yard touchdown run by BTW’s Damion O’Neal in the third quarter.
There was lots of credit to go around after the victory, but Green Oaks head coach Chadwick Lewis was quick to mention one of his coaches.
“Hats off to James Bradford, Jr.,” Lewis said of his defensive coordinator.
While the offense struggled – getting just 140 yards on the ground and 44 through the air – the Giants’ defense was stifling as the Lions were held to just 39 yards rushing and 18 passing.
“There’s stuff we’ve gotta clean up offensively,” said Lewis. “I want to see all 11 guys doing the right thing together at the same time. We start moving the ball and then there’s a false start, holding, a bad snap that put us behind the chains.
“When we get in the red zone, we’ve got to score. The offense is going to have to help the defense.”
Lewis did see improvement in the running game against BTW and had high praise for the Soul Bowl MVP.
“Toryun is in a new position at running back,” Lewis said of Ellis, the 5-10, 160-pound junior who is listed as a wide receiver/defensive back. “He’s learning the plays and he asks for help. He says, ‘Coach, help me learn it.’”
It’s been a learning experience for Benjamin, also. Lewis said the 6-1, 170-pound senior wide receiver/defensive back has “played in some big basketball games” but hadn’t played football since the “sixth or seventh grade.”
“He had some jitters in the spring and beginning of the summer, but he’s settled in,” Lewis said of Benjamin, who had two interceptions and 22 of the Giants’ 44 receiving yards. “It’s just a matter of being confident playing football. He’s understanding routes. He’s been a pleasant surprise.”
With their Soul Bowl victory, the Giants will have a little pep in their step when they take on the Peabody Warhorses Friday night at Northwood.
“It just helps finally getting that win,” said Lewis. “We believe we can do this. We’re on the right track.”
Contact Harriet at sbjharriet@gmail.com
