JOURNAL STAFF
Southwood plays host to Parkway at Independence Stadium tonight hoping to pull off the upset like it did when it last won a District 1-5A game in 2019. The Cowboys defeated the Panthers 18-16 for their only win of that season.
Parkway is the only undefeated team overall (5-0) left in the district and along with Airline the only ones 2-0 in district games. Southwood is 0-5 overall and 0-2 in district.
The only two district wins Southwood is credited with in its last 71 tries (dating back to 2010) involved Parkway. The Panthers had to forfeit a 34-0 win it had over the Cowboys in 2014. The previous win to 2019, on the field, was over Natchitoches Central in 2009. They had lost 55 straight before beating Parkway in 2019.
Loyola (1-3) comes off an open date week and travels to Northwood to open District 1-2A play against Green Oaks (2-3).
Here are the capsules for these games tonight:
Parkway (5-0, 2-0 in 1-5A) vs. Southwood (0-5, 0-2)
Where: Independence Stadium
Series: Southwood leads 13-10
Last year: Parkway 35-20
Last week: Parkway beat Captain Shreve 25-13; Southwood lost to Haughton 37-24
Rankings: Parkway is No.1 in Shreveport-Bossier Journal Top 10, No. 8 in LSWA Class 5A poll
LHSAA Power Ratings: Parkway is No. 8 in Division I Non-Select; Southwood is No. 32 Division I Select
Radio: none
Notables: Southwood’s last 1-5A victory came against Parkway … Panthers are 9-1 in its last 10 games played … Parkway’s defense is only allowing up 9.2 points per game and has posted two defensive scores and two shutouts, the only one in the district with more than one … last week Aeron Burrell broke the school record with 4 field goals in one game and Jaylan White became the school’s all-time leading rusher.
The Cowboys got on the board first at Haughton last week and trailed just 10-6 at the half but could not stop the Buccaneers in the second half … penalties and turnovers plagued the Southwood offensive effort. “That’s the most penalties we’ve had in a game,” said head coach Jesse Esters … there were some highlights as quarterback Cornelus Martin connected with wide receiver Detonion Arkansas for touchdown passes of 85 and 60 yards and Corinthian Walters scored on a 17-yard run and had an interception … “We’re rebounding from a tough week against Haughton,” said Esters … Southwood should have all of its offensive line back and ready to go … with workhorse running back Melvin Coleman still out, the running game will look a little different … “At full strength, we can play with anybody,” said Esters, “but with key pieces missing, it’s difficult” … while Parkway has been a problem for Southwood in the past, Esters said, “We should be able to put together a plan to get over the hump and turn things around.”
Loyola (1-3, 0-0 in 1-2A) vs. Green Oaks (2-3, 0-0)
Where: at Northwood, Jerry Burton Memorial Stadium
Series: Loyola leads 19-12
Last year: Loyola 62-40
Last week: Loyola did not play; Green Oaks lost to ASH 66-8
Rankings: none
LHSAA Power Ratings: Loyola is No. 16 in Division III Select; Green Oaks is No. 10 in Division. III Select
Radio: none
Notables: Despite the week off, the Flyers continue to battle the injury bug and will be making game-time decisions at a number of positions … Loyola and Green Oaks have split their last 10 meetings … Loyola has played Green Oaks in their district opener for the last seven years … Loyola is 9-10 all time at Northwood/Jerry Burton Stadium … this will be Loyola’s first district game in Class 2A since 2008.
Giants’ head coach Chadwick Lewis did see some bright spots (“here and there”) in the 66-8 loss at Alexandria last week … “We played a very good ASH team,” said Lewis. “They had more athletes and they were more experienced with size and strength. Our boys competed until the end of the game, which is the great thing. We just have to take this game, learn from it … the Giants came out “pretty clean as injuries go” against ASH, but will still have a couple of guys out with injuries … “We will get one back who was in concussion protocol last week, so that will help us,” said Lewis … Green Oaks is looking forward to district competition after playing up in its non-district schedule … “I believe we match up well with Loyola,” said Lewis. “We just have to take care of us and continue to get better and eliminate the silly mistakes.”
