JOURNAL STAFF
Severe weather predictions for last Friday prompted many schools to move their games up to Thursday, but Friday’s bad weather didn’t hit mostly until after the games were over, leaving the prognostications a little off.
It’s a good thing those prognosticators aren’t the ones trying to pick local games because there was only one surprise from Friday night. Unranked Loyola defeated 10th-ranked North Caddo 41-22 and vaulted the Flyers into this week’s Shreveport-Bossier Journal Top 10.
Airline and Benton posted wins to keep them the top two ranked teams.
The top-ranked Vikings (6-3) defeated No. 3 Parkway 41-20 to clinch a tie for the District 1-5A title and run their win streak to six games. Second ranked Benton (6-3) slipped past previously-ranked Captain Shreve 22-21.
Byrd (6-3) moved up one spot to No. 3 after a convincing 58-0 win over winless (with two forfeits) Southwood. Parkway (7-2) slipped a place to No. 4 after its loss to Airline.
Haughton (5-4) moved up two spots to No. 5 after defeating Natchitoches Central 56-20. Calvary (7-2) continues to win with its sixth straight but dropped one level to No. 6. Northwood (7-2) moved up one to No. 7 after shutting out Woodlawn 48-0.
Loyola (5-3) moved into the poll for the first time at No. 9 after its surprising win over North Caddo.
Evangel (5-4) used a 21-14 win over Huntington (5-4) to move up a spot to No. 8. The Raiders dropped from No. 6 to 10 after the loss.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal sports staff votes on the local Top 10 each week.
| SBJ Top 10 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| School (1st) | W-L | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1. Airline (7) | 6-3 | 70 | 1 |
| 2. Benton | 6-3 | 61 | 2 |
| 3. Byrd | 6-3 | 52 | 4 |
| 4. Parkway | 7-2 | 49 | 3 |
| 5. Haughton | 5-4 | 41 | 7 |
| 6. Calvary | 7-2 | 39 | 5 |
| 7. Northwood | 7-2 | 31 | 8 |
| 8. Evangel | 5-4 | 21 | 9 |
| 9. Loyola | 5-3 | 11 | NR |
| 10. Huntington | 5-4 | 10 | 6 |
Lang’s Lines
Road favorites are the story as we close the regular season. Three teams have an opportunity to claim the inaugural SBJ ATS Championship – Airline, Calvary and Evangel. The Vikings clinched a share of the 2022 crown with a win (and cover) against Parkway. However, the Cavaliers and Eagles are just one game back in case Airline underwhelms against Southwood in Week 10.
WEEK 10 LINES
Airline -47.5 vs. Southwood
Haughton -6.5 at Captain Shreve
Byrd -25.5 at Natchitoches
North DeSoto -16.5 vs. Northwood
Evangel -29.5 at BTW
Calvary -25.5 at Loyola
Minden -9.5 at Woodlawn
Huntington -32.5 vs. Bossier
North Caddo -15.5 at D’Arbonne Woods
Lakeside -1.5 vs. Green Oaks
Arcadia -39.5 at Plain Dealing
Magnolia -16.5 at Ringgold
Parkway -3.5 vs. Benton
By the numbers
Favorites: 11-2 straight up in Week 9 (105-16 on season), 7-6 vs. spread in Week 9 (62-60 on season)
Local standings vs. SBJ spread
Airline 7-2, Calvary 6-3, Evangel 6-3, Benton 5-4, Magnolia Charter 5-4, Parkway 5-4, North Caddo 5-4, Huntington 4-5, Green Oaks 4-5, Woodlawn 4-5, Southwood 4-5, Northwood 4-5, Haughton 4-5, Captain Shreve 3-6, Byrd 3-6, Loyola 3-5, BTW 3-6, Bossier 2-7, Plain Dealing 2-7.
Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com or via twitter @Roylangiii.
