By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports
For most of the first half of the 2022 high school football season, North Caddo and Calvary embraced the opportunity to schedule games against stout teams in higher classifications. The idea is to be unfazed by any postseason opponent.
However, the way this season has progressed, the iron-sharpens-iron mentality will be put to use in district play.
The Titans (No. 4 in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 2A poll) and Cavaliers (No. 7) meet tonight in Vivian.
“It’s hard to put into words – this will be an atmosphere our guys have dreamed about playing in,” North Caddo head coach Johnny Kavanaugh said. “There are serious implications – a lot on the line.”
Indeed. The 1-2A race, playoff seeding. And of course, bragging rights.
“It’s going to be fun,” Calvary head coach Rodney Guin said. “A lot of these guys play 7-on-7 together. They will be picking on each other for sure. (The Titans) are very good, but we’re used to playing good teams so we’ll be ready to go.”
Calvary is 3-2 with losses to District 1-5A stalwarts Byrd and Captain Shreve.
The only blemish for North Caddo (4-1) came against perennial Class 4A state contender Neville. The Titans have collected wins against Bossier (4A), 3A foes North Webster and Bolton, and formerly undefeated West Ouachita – a 5A squad ranked No. 1 in power points until the home loss to North Caddo.
“I told them the reason behind (scheduling opponents in higher classes) is due to my belief in them,” Kavanaugh said. “They wanted to prove their coach right, that they were good enough to compete with this competition. They have what it takes. They haven’t disappointed at all. I’m extremely pleased with their effort.”
North Caddo quarterback Aiden Brock has a pair of superstars at his disposal, including running back KJ Black (390 rushing yards, four TDs) and wide receiver Omarion Miller (673 receiving yards, 8 TDs).
“They’re great kids,” Kavanaugh said. “Neither one of them get into trouble. They go to school, go to football practice and go home and play video games. It’s hard to describe the drive they have to compete. No matter what it is, they want to be the best, be first and the most impressive every time. And usually they are.”
This is undoubtedly a big game for the Titans and the Vivian community. However, it’s only Week 6.
“We also have to remember this is just one regular-season game,” Kavanaugh said. “No matter what happens (Friday), if we want to accomplish our goals, we are aware we’ll probably have to beat this same Calvary team in the playoffs.”
Contact Roy at roylangIII@yahoo.com
Calvary (3-2, 0-0) at North Caddo (4-1, 0-0)
Where: Sanders-Prudhomme Stadium
Series: Calvary 12-0
Last year: did not play
Last week: Calvary beat Mansfield 52-6; North Caddo beat West Ouachita 28-27
Rankings: Calvary is 6th in Shreveport-Bossier Journal Top 10, No. 7 in LSWA 2A Top 10 poll; NC is No. 10 in SBJ Top 10, 4th in LSWA 2A Top 10 poll
LHSAA power ratings: Calvary is No. 7 in Division III Select; North Caddo is No. 5 in Division III Select
Radio: Calvary (Promise 90.7 FM; North Caddo (KNCB 1320 AM, K104 FM)
Notables: Usually teams select weak opponents for homecoming. Not North Caddo. They scheduled perennial 2A power Calvary … North Caddo is coming off its first victory over a 5A opponent in school history. And they accomplished the feat against a 5A opponent with a 4-0 record … another first, this will mark the first time in school history that North Caddo will host a game featuring two of the top 10 teams in the state at Sanders-Prudhomme Stadium.
The Cavaliers are 12-0 against the Titans since 2007 (last game was in 2018, 43-0). Calvary has scored at least 41 points in every matchup. The Cavaliers have allowed 90 points in the 12 matchups (7.5 points per game).
Plain Dealing (0-5, 0-2 in 1-1A) at Homer (4-1, 2-0)
Where: Homer
Series: Homer 18-6
Last year: Homer 49-0
Last week: Plain Dealing lost to Haynesville 48-0; Homer beat Ringgold 65-8
Rankings: Homer is No. 1 in 1A LSWA poll
LHSAA power ratings: Plain Dealing is No. 41 in Division IV Non-Select; Homer is No. 7 in Division IV Non-Select
Radio: none
Notables: This just in from the No Rest For The Weary department: Ringgold tripped the Lions in OT two weeks ago, 36-34, the closest Plain Dealing has come to victory in its uphill battle in 1-1A. The reward for that was a gauntlet of Haynesville last week, defending district and state champ Homer tonight, then a rising Glenbrook program in two weeks … next up after Homer for PD is Magnolia.
Glenbrook (5-0, 2-0 in 1-1A) at Magnolia (0-5, 0-1)
Where: Magnolia Charter
Series: Glenbrook 1-0
Last year: Glenbrook 51-6
Last week: Glenbrook beat Arcadia 53-20; Magnolia lost to Westgate 77-0
Rankings: Glenbrook is No. 9 in 1A LSWA Top 10 poll
LHSAA power ratings: Glenbrook is No. 2 Division IV Select; Magnolia is No. 29 in Division IV Select
Radio: none
Notables: Last week, the Mariners traveled to New Iberia and fell to the defending Class 4A champion and the LSWA’s No. 1-ranked team in the Westgate Tigers in a non-district game … Magnolia resumes district competition this week at home … every week, the Mariners prove that they have the toughest schedule in the state in their class … this week’s opponent has scored 50+ points in the last three games – including victories over District 1-1A rivals Haynesville (56-17) and Arcadia (53-20) … after putting up points in their first three games, the Mariners have been held scoreless the last two weeks (including the district-opening 47-0 loss to defending Class A state champion Homer in Week 4).
