JOURNAL STAFF
Huntington will be out to retain or improve its power rating for the playoffs when it finishes its regular season tonight against winless Bossier in a District 1-4A football game at Lee Hedges Stadium.
The Raiders (5-4, 4-2 in 1-4A) are ranked No. 15 in the LHSAA power rankings and will host a first-round playoff game with a win.
As they honor their seniors, the Raiders might still be without star senior quarterback Kam Evans, who is nursing an injured shoulder. With Evans in the lineup, Huntington has averaged a little over 400 yards a game but leaned on running back John Solomon last week and he responded with his best game of the season. The defense held Evangel to two scores last week and has been led all season by seniors Dylan Holmes, Deontrelle Jackson and Jaylon Buckner and junior Derrick Edwards II.
The Bearkat (0-9, 0-6) defense will have to play better than they have allowing just shy of 42 points and scoring only 13 a game. But an Evans-less Huntington lineup lowers the degree of difficulty for the Bearkats.
The other local team playing tonight is North Caddo (6-3, 2-2 in 1-2A), traveling to Farmerville to play D’Arbonne Woods (6-3, 2-2) in a District 1-2A game. The game was moved from Friday night to avoid rain and allow the Timberwolves to celebrate their seniors. The Titans will try to get back on track after falling to Loyola 41-22. All three losses have come when scoring 26 or less points.
Bossier (0-9, 0-6) vs. Huntington (5-4, 4-2)
Where: Lee Hedges Stadium
Series: Huntington 10-6
Last year: did not play
Last week: Bossier lost to North DeSoto 56-16; Huntington lost to Evangel 21-14
Rankings: Huntington ranked No. 10 in the Shreveport-Bossier Journal poll.
LHSAA power rankings: Bossier is No. 39 in Non-Select Division II; Huntington is 15th in Select Division I
Radio: none
Notables: The Bearkats will try to avoid their first winless season since 2014 … Throwback Thursday … this will be the fifth Thursday night game this season. Last week’s game with North DeSoto was moved due to the threat of rain in the forecast … The last time Bossier and Huntington played was 2018. Bossier lost 28-8 at Independence Stadium.
Running back John Solomon had a season-high 131 yards last week for the Raiders and now has 503 yards for the season. “He’s someone who has gotten better every week,” head coach Stephen Dennis said. … Quarterback Kam Evans (shoulder) is still listed as week-to-week, according to Dennis … Dennis was pleased with his overall defensive performance in the loss to Evangel. “We gave up a pick 6 and fumbled inside our own 5, so the defense was having to play with a short field” … Huntington is No. 15 in the Select-Division I power rankings, so the Raiders need a win to be in the running to host a playoff game. “We just need to try to execute at a high level,” Dennis said.
North Caddo (6-3, 2-2) at D’Arbonne Woods (6-3, 2-2)
Where: Farmerville
Series: North Caddo 4-0
Last year: North Caddo 50-7
Last week: North Caddo lost to Loyola 41-22; D’Arbonne Woods beat Green Oaks 28-14
Rankings: none
LHSAA power rankings: North Caddo is No. 9, D’Arbonne Woods sit 15th in Select Division III
Radio: North Caddo KNCB 1320 AM, K104 FM)
Notables: North Caddo’s game against D’Arbonne Woods was moved to Thursday at the request of D’Arbonne Woods’ head coach to avoid inclement weather for the Wolves’ senior night … North Caddo head coach Johnny Kavanaugh will be preaching to his team to finish strong this week. Last week, the Titans were outscored 27-6 in the second half … Last year, North Caddo went on the road and beat D’Arbonne Woods 50-7 in Farmerville … This will be the last regular-season game for a senior class which as a 28-13 record, that is the best four-year mark by one class in school history.
