JOURNAL STAFF

Benton will host Byrd in a District 1-5A game tonight and the Tigers defense will be glad to play an opponent that doesn’t throw the football much. At least, the Yellow Jackets don’t pass nearly as much as Benton’s previous two opponents, Arch Manning-led Newman and the air show from Airline.

The Tigers have had a difficult time guarding against the pass in the last two games, giving up 129 points, mostly through the air. The Yellow Jackets have thrown the ball a little more than previous years – they have completed 20 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns.

Byrd (1-0, 4-0) at Benton (0-1, 1-3), Mason-Newman Field at Tiger Stadium

Series: Byrd 2-0

Last year:  Byrd 45-17

Last week: Byrd beat Captain Shreve 25-20; Benton lost to Airline 75-59

Rankings:  Byrd is ranked No. 1 in SBJ Top 10, No. 7 in LSWA 5A Top 10; Benton is No. 8 in SBJ poll

Radio: Byrd (The Tiger 1130 AM, 103.3 FM); Benton (The Light, 92.1 FM)

Notable: Byrd’s Stacy Ballew has won 13 of his first 15 games as head coach. To find a Byrd coach who has had a better start you’d have to go back to 1935 and Lee Dobson. Dobson’s team went 11-1 that season. The next season, the Yellow Jackets posted a record of 7-1-1, only losing a 6-0 game to Haynesville … the Byrd defense gives up an average of 14 points per game. Benton’s offense has averaged 55 points in the last two weeks … Byrd is one of 39 teams in the state who remain undefeated through four weeks of the season. 

The Tigers have allowed at least 50 points in consecutive games (75 to Airline, 54 to Newman) for the first time since 1992 (61 to Haynesville, 54 to Springhill). Including last year’s playoff game, the Tigers have allowed at least 50 points in three of the past five (at least 45 points in four of five) … in two meetings vs. Byrd, the Tigers have lost 45-17 (2021) and 48-35 (2019).

Southwood (0-1, 0-4) at Haughton (0-1, 2-2), Harold E. Harlan Stadium

Series: Haughton 14-4

Last year: Haughton 34-0

Last week: Southwood lost to Natchitoches Central 27-0; Haughton lost to Parkway 17-14

Rankings:  Haughton is ranked No. 7 in SBJ poll

Radio: none

Notable: With the forfeiture of their two victories (14-12 over Green Oaks and 9-0 over Woodlawn) because of player eligibility issues, the Cowboys go into the District 1-5A matchup against the Bucs 0-4 overall … “We will work with whatever decision is handed to us,” Southwood head coach Jesse Esters said prior to the LHSAA’s announcement of the forfeitures … both teams are coming off of district-opening losses as Southwood fell to Natchitoches Central 27-0 and Haughton lost a nail-biter to Parkway 17-14 on Aeron Burrell’s 50-yard game-winning field goal with 3 seconds left … the Cowboys put up a fight against the Chiefs last week, trailing just 6-0 at the half before giving up 21 second-half points … the Cowboys were shorthanded with seven starters out due to injury (in addition to the two held out for possible compliance issues) … “We are a far better team than our record suggests,” said Esters, “but we have to find ways to not hurt ourselves on the field.”