Month: December 2022

Notice of Death – December 22, 2022

/ NPJ

Shirley B. Norris Shelton
January 20, 1926 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life Memorial: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, 2:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.

Kevin Mark Lanigan
October 17, 1962 — December 17, 2022
Visitation: Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Aulds Funeral Home, 7849 East Kings Highway, Shreveport.
Mass: Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, 2:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 315 Marshall Street, Shreveport.

Master Nikolus Pierre Little
January 23, 2014 — December 13, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Booker T. Washington High School, 2104 Milam Street, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Booker T. Washington High School, 2104 Milam Street, Shreveport.

Yoshiko Armani (Smith) Little
October 28, 1992 — December 13, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Booker T. Washington High School, 2104 Milam Street, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Booker T. Washington High School, 2104 Milam Street, Shreveport.

Virginia Lee Wallace
May 13, 1945 — December 15, 2022
Viewing: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Precious Memories Mortuary Chapel, 4017 Greenwood Road, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at New Friendship Baptist Church, 3220 Friendship Road, Frierson.

James Jordan
August 30, 1930 — December 15, 2022
Celebration of Life: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 740 Turner Lane, Shreveport.

Carl Anthony Johnson
September 20, 1954 — December 12, 2022
Graveside Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Carver Cemetery, 498 Kennie Road, Shreveport.

Virginia Chambers
July 31, 1962 — December 20, 2022
Graveside Service: Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, 6915 W 70th Street, Shreveport.

William Marshall ‘Bill’ McCutcheon
September 8, 1951 — October 24, 2022
Memorial Gathering: Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at North Highlands United Methodist Church, 835 Poleman Road, Shreveport.

Marianne Schwartz Jones
December 24, 1928 — December 7, 2022
Graveside Service: Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Forest Park Cemetery West, 4000 Meriwether Road, Shreveport.

Christopher Everett Ecker
July 27, 1970 — August 31, 2022
Memorial Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 9891 Texas Hwy, Many.

Kenneth Roy Anderson
April 2, 1953 — December 18, 2022
Funeral Service: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Good Samaritan Funeral Home, 2200 Laurel Street, Shreveport.

Eyashadonna D. Foster
June 22, 1970 — December 9, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 1:00-6:00 p.m. at Precious Memories Mortuary, 4015 Greenwood Road, Shreveport.

Eva English Daigrepont
August 25, 1947 — December 19, 2022
Memorial Service: Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Henrietta Congregational Methodist Church, Converse.

Michael Wayne Hughes
April 27, 1970 — December 19, 2022
Celebration of Life: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.

Evelyn Cooper
March 13, 1936 — December 17, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 11:00-12:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Dec. 24, 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Providence Cemetery, Spring Ridge.

Calvin Webb
July 4, 1951 — December 12, 2022
Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, following service at Liberty Hill Cemetery, Coushatta.

Vernita Jones-Hodge
November 3, 1986 — December 11, 2022
Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant B.C., Round Grove Cemetery.
Interment: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, following service at Carver Cemetery, 498 Kennie Road, Shreveport.

Jimmy Miles
December 10, 1990 — December 15, 2022
Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 1:30 p.m. at Prince of Peace B.C., 3850 Mayfield Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, following service at Carver Cemetery, 498 Kennie Road, Shreveport.

Michael Stringer
August 13, 1973 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Graveside Service: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Friendship Cemetery, 3825 Coleman Road, Benton.

Betty Sherman
March 16, 1943 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at New Bethel MBC, 3300 Greenwood Road, Shreveport.

Erma Cook
April 19, 1931 — December 17, 2022
Visitation: Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, following service at Carver Cemetery, 498 Kennie Road, Shreveport.

Betty Waddles
September 9, 1951 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, 11:00 a.m. at New Bethel MBC, 3300 Greenwood Road, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, following service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, 6915 W 70th Street, Shreveport.

Ruby Mae Bailey
July 31, 1926 — December 9, 2022
Graveside Service: Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, 10:00-10:45 a.m. at Minden Cemetery, 301 Goodwill Street, Minden.

Rosetta Rogers
November 5, 1952 — December 9, 2022
Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Winnfield Funeral Home, 3701 Hollywood Avenue, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, following service at Forest Park Cemetery West, 4000 Meriwether Road, Shreveport.

Dianne Renee Phillips (Kiser)
September 27, 1978 — December 7, 2022
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church Sibley, 124 NE 2nd Avenue, Sibley.

Lori Lewis Maddry
May 11, 1968 — November 16, 2022
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal, 1107 Broadway Street, Minden.

The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $90. Contact your funeral provider or SBJNewsLa@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to SBJNewsLa@gmail.com)

 

Behind every good Metro Coach of the Year …

/ Megan Lowe

Like they say, behind every good Shreveport Bossier Journal All-Metro Coach of the Year is a good woman.

Sometimes, that woman is eight months pregnant.

Meet Bonnie Matak Scogin, former Centenary softball standout, former Parkway High softball coach, and bride to Airline head football coach Justin Scogin, that SBJ Coach of the Year we were gabbing about.

The Scogins are also parents to son Brady, four-and-a-half years old. His little brother is due in five weeks, and yes, since both parents have playing and coaching experience, there was strategy involved concerning the preferred kickoff date.

“We wanted that three-year or four-year gap before I would have more kids,” Bonnie said. “Two kids in diapers, I mean …”

We parents know exactly what she means.

“And we definitely planned not to have another one during football season,” she said.

Sounds like Barry might have been born in …

“August,” she said. “Born in August.” She said it with a tone of relief and laughter, with the voice of someone who’d decided to take a beach vacation during monsoon season but lived to tell the story.

So, the new baby is thrilling offseason news. The football season news was thrilling too, but a different kind of birth. More accurately, a re-birth.

Scogin was hired in March to coach Airline, 1-9 last fall, and all he and his staff and their players did this fall was produce a perfect 7-0 run through District 1-5A to win the title.

That was after an 0-3 start, back when a district title was hardly expected, even from someone expecting.

“I always had faith, but I knew these things just take time,” Bonnie said. “I reminded him that someone had posted somewhere about the new ‘Scogin Era.’ Not the ‘Scogin Day’ or ‘Scogin Month.’ It’s not all going to happen in a day.”

But when it did start happening …

“Absolutely, it started to get really fun,” she said. “He tries to keep the coaching at school with the other coaches; he doesn’t talk to me much about it. But I could tell he had a lot more confidence after they started winning. Once you realize it can happen, you start thinking, ‘Hey, we can continue this.’ It just took that first time for it to happen.

“I thought it was awesome,” she said of the Coach of the Year honor, “especially for a first-year head coaching job to do what he and the staff were able to do with the program.”

It’s an honor that hasn’t gone to his head. “Most humble person you’d ever want to meet,” Bonnie said. “He always goes the extra mile for us. He’ll take Brady and go to a basketball game or baseball game (when Scogin was coaching at Leesville) and say, ‘You stay here and relax and we’ll go watch our players.’ He’s going to be there when he can to show support, but he’s still working to find ways to do it with family.”

He even spent his first day as All-Metro Coach performing the unassuming task of cleaning out closets — but not to get re-organized or tidy up.

“This is just still trying to get ready from when we moved in (during the spring),” Justin said. “We’ve never really gotten it done.”

Understandable. Team Scogin has been … well, a little busy.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu or on Twitter @MamaLuvsManning

Annual Independence Bowl FCA Breakfast continues to inspire

/ Megan Lowe
COMMON GROUND: Players from Louisiana-Lafayette (in dark sweats) and Houston shared testimonies Wednesday morning at the Independence Bowl’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes Breakfast. (Photo by JERRY BYRD, Journal Sports)

By JERRY BYRD, Journal Sports

The University of Louisiana–Lafayette’s Eric Treuil has served as the team chaplain for the Ragin’ Cajun football program for the past 30 years. Through those three decades, Treuil has served six different head coaches. 

“Over the 30-year time frame each coach, honestly, has seen spirituality (as) more and more important,” Treuil said. “Today, it is a cornerstone of our program. Coach Mike (Desormeaux) looks to me –- however, it’s the students and seeing these young men have a hunger for God, grow in their faith, and then influence their teammates. It’s been a great time to see that take place.”

Treuil introduced several Louisiana-Lafayette players to the crowd assembled at the 45th Fellowship of Christian Athletes Independence Bowl Prayer Breakfast at the Shreveport Convention Center on Wednesday morning.

The Cajuns collide with the Houston Cougars in the 46th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Friday at 2 o’clock at Independence Stadium. 

Among the Ragin’ Cajuns who spoke to the crowd was Johnny Lumpkin, a 6-6 redshirt senior tight end from Atlanta. After making his way to Lafayette via Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, Lumpkin became involved with Cajuns for Christ, an on-campus group that meets every week to hold Bible studies and devotionals.

Earlier this month, with temperatures in the high 40s, Lumpkin was one of six players on the team to be baptized in a pool on campus. 

“It was an opportunity for me to lead my teammates in the right direction,” Lumpkin said of the baptism experience.

Where Lumpkin led, his fellow teammate Damani Burrell, who also plays tight end, has followed. 

“I started going every Tuesday because Johnny was going,” Burrell said. “It has made a difference in my life.”

Freshman quarterback Zeon Chriss has shown his Ragin’ Cajun teammates that when it comes to living out your faith, you don’t have to be a senior. Chriss, who led Madison Prep Academy to a state championship in 2021, uses social media to influence others. Using Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, Chriss has over 5,000 followers. 

“The younger generation, they’re all on social media,” Treuil said. “Here comes Zeon. He is on fire for Christ. He is not ashamed of the Gospel in any way, shape or form. On TikTok, Instagram … all these different social media platforms, he’ll do devotionals live and he’ll invite people to send in prayer requests and pray for them. It’s powerful. It’s wonderful to see that. That’s a great influence.”

During his testimony, Chriss talked about growing up “doing church” but it wasn’t until “going through the storms of life” that he started living for Christ.

Treuil encouraged the audience to follow Chriss on social media.

“I’m going to be speaking to you boldly,” Chriss promised the attendees who chose to follow him on social media.

Like the players from both Louisiana–Lafayette and the University of Houston who shared their testimony, the FCA prayer breakfast itself has grown over the years. 

It started during the Independence Bowl’s second year in 1977 when FCA’s Lynn Mitchell spoke to members of the Louisiana Tech football team in the lobby of the old Holiday Inn-Bossier. 

One of the players who listened to the message that morning was Terry Slack, who is now the director for FCA in Louisiana. 

“I don’t know if he went to the hotel where Louisville was staying and had a devotional there or not,” Slack said, “but that is how the Independence Bowl Prayer Breakfast started and we have had it every year since.” 

Before taking a leadership role in FCA, Slack was the head football coach at Airline High School for 12 seasons. Each year, Slack would take members of his team to the FCA Prayer Breakfast. 

For the last 33 years, Slack – along with his FCA staff – have organized the event.

Contact Jerry at sbjjerrybyrd@gmail.com

Minimal drama on Signing Day, but emotions run pure

/ Megan Lowe
GUNS UP:  After officially committing Wednesday to Texas Tech, Captain Shreve’s Marquez Stevenson and his parents flashed the Red Raiders’ 51-year-old ‘Guns Up’ hand sign.  (Photo by JERRY BYRD, Journal Sports)

By JERRY BYRD, Journal Sports

Three hats made the final table at Wednesday’s signing ceremony for Captain Shreve’s Marquez Stevenson, a wide receiver and standout sprinter for the Gators.

Hats bearing logos from LSU and Oklahoma State got tossed to his friends in the crowd. The red and black Texas Tech cap ended up on the head of Stevenson, who will play football and run track in Lubbock, where he was verbally committed for months.

Just 11 days ago, Texas Tech head football coach Joey McGuire sat in Stevenson’s home and visited with his future Red Raider while watching their favorite NFL team — the Dallas Cowboys.

Stevenson was emotional as he addressed the crowd and spoke about the sacrifices both he and his family have made to get to this point in his career. 

“From day one, Coach McGuire has been on me heavy,” Stevenson said of Texas Tech’s recruitment. “He did all he could to get me there. He visited with the family. He checked in on me every day. I mean, the Raider family, it’s just strong. It’s a home away from home. That’s what you want in a program.”

Stevenson was happy to share the moment with family, friends, and coaches.

“It feels good,” Stevenson said. “I know the community is there for me. It was a long day today. There were five other signees. I was there. We just had to support each other and see each other win.”

As the only local two-sport recruit, Stevenson headlined several Division I signees, including his Shreve teammates, on Wednesday. A list follows below.

Stevenson wasn’t the only two-sport star from Louisiana headed to Texas Tech. The Red Raiders flipped John Curtis’ linebacker/hurdler Justin Horne, who had been committed to Louisiana-Lafayette, earlier this week.

In a social media statement, Horne said that he was happy to be joining the “fastest recruiting class in the nation.”

When asked about his new teammate from New Orleans, Stevenson said, “We’re about to turn up.”

With his signing behind him, Stevenson turns his attention to the 2023 indoor track and field season where he will look to defend his LHSAA Division I 400-meter dash title (he has a personal record of 48.93). 

Last season, he was the only athlete in Louisiana to break 49 seconds in the 400 indoors.

This year, he may have some company as Horne’s John Curtis teammate, junior King Taylor, who finished second to Stevenson a year ago at the LHSAA Indoor Meet, opened with a 49.1 at the Galleria Games Indoor Meet in Birmingham last Saturday.

“Don’t wake a sleeping dragon,” Stevenson said with a smile when asked about defending his 400 indoor title. “I’m about to come for it.”

Caddo-Bossier Division I football signees reported Wednesday

DB, Kody Jackson, Evangel – Louisiana-Lafayette 

QB, Kam Evans, Huntington – Texas Southern 

OL, Ja’Marion Kennedy, Northwood – Louisiana Tech 

DB, Mar’Javious Moss, Northwood – Memphis 

DL, Ta’Derius Collins, Northwood – Indiana 

WR, Marquez Stevenson, Captain Shreve – Texas Tech 

OL, Chris Allen, Captain Shreve – Northwestern State 

WR, Will Derrick, Calvary/ULM (grad transfer) – Northwestern State


Contact Jerry at sbjjerrybyrd@gmail.com

Shreveport-Bossier Prep Hoops Report: Plenty of holiday action

/ Megan Lowe

T’was the week before Christmas and all through the city, there were round balls bouncing on the hardwood and district and tournament play aplenty….

Seriously, the holidays bring about a time for families to gather. If high school hoops are being played, that is a time for families to go and support their sons, daughters, nephews, and nieces who play. Shreveport-Bossier has plenty of hoops going on before Christmas Day. In this edition, we will talk about the past and present before we take a basketball break for Christmas.

Road Warriors? Not so much 

In recent history, the top boys’ teams in District1-4A have been Huntington, Woodlawn, and Booker T. Washington. All three took their act on the road to the Rumble on the River hosted by Madison Prep. The teams in south Louisiana were rude hosts as the three local teams went 2-5 on the weekend. Woodlawn went 0-2 and BTW was 1-1, beating East Ascension by 20. Huntington took two of its biggest losses to the Chargers and Catholic-Baton Rouge. The Raiders lost each game by 20 or more. All three teams will have to shrug off the disappointment if they plan on seeing these south Louisiana squads later in the playoffs.

Captain Shreve continued its winning ways, gaining a W over Lake Charles College Prep as the Gators went 2-0 in DeRidder. Southwood went 1-1 in Ruston and C.E. Byrd ended the Midland tournament at 2-1. The Lady Raiders split their two games at Walker, defeating Ruston and losing to Albany.

Ranking the area 

Tuesday saw the release of the latest power rankings in Louisiana for the Non-Select and Select classes. On the boys’ side, there was some movement in each division.

On the Select side, Captain Shreve is No. 5 in Division I followed by Huntington at 9. Southwood took the largest drop due to some of its recent losses and is now ranked 25th. The Evangel Eagles sit at No. 3 in the Division II power rankings. They are followed by Woodlawn at 16 and BTW at 18. The Calvary Baptist Cavs are the highest-rated local team in any Select classification coming in at No. 2 in Division III. Green Oaks and Loyola are also in the top 25.

Boys’ Non-Select is a little more cut and dried. Parkway (13th) and Airline (19th) are the only schools rated in the top 20 of the power ratings.

On the girls’ Select side, all local teams are in the top 25 in their respective divisions. The Huntington Lady Raiders are the highest rated local team at No. 5 in Division I.

Non-Select is where all of the Bossier Parish schools reside. Every public school is rated 19th or higher with Parkway being the highest-rated team at No. 3.

The strength of District 1-5A in the power ratings is why…

1-5A is the best girls’ 5A district in Louisiana 

District 1-5A is the best district in the state by far. Parkway has gotten off to a 2-0 start with wins over Captain Shreve and Natchitoches Central. As a matter of fact, the only team that does not have a district win are the Lady Cowboys of Southwood. Parkway is head and shoulders the class of the district but every team will have a say before playoffs.

Big local games 

Calvary and Evangel began the week with a top tier boys’ matchup. The Cavs came out the victors, 60-46. Bossier topped Captain Shreve in a nip-and-tuck battle 51-45 at Bossier High. The biggest game left comes today when Huntington meets Calvary. If teams want to enhance their resume, these games will play a part.

Teams of the Week 

The Lady Panthers of Parkway have rattled off six of their last seven and sit at 9-4 on the season. They have won their first two district games and are as hot as anyone in the area.

For the boys, the Byrd Yellow Jackets have turned their season around before Christmas. They have won 7 of their last 8 and are primed for the highly competitive competition in District 1-5A.

Contact Preston at preston9360@gmail.com or Twitter @peedee1906

Wednesday’s basketball, soccer scores; today’s games

/ Megan Lowe
MAKING HIS MOVE:  Quandre Bullock heads to the rim Wednesday for Louisiana Tech in the Bulldogs’ romp over Jarvis Christian. (Photo courtesy Louisiana Tech Athletics)

College Basketball 

Wednesday’s Scores

MEN

Louisiana Tech 108, Jarvis Christian 52
LSU 72, East Tennessee State 68

Today’s Games 

No games scheduled. 

High School Basketball 

Wednesday’s Scores 

GIRLS

Airline 58, Many 22
Parkway 63, Gibsland-Coleman 26
Southwood 57, Ouachita 55

BOYS

Bossier 51, Captain Shreve 45
Parkway 79, Gibsland-Coleman 64

Today’s Games 

GIRLS 

Lakeside at Plain Dealing 

BOYS 

Huntington at Calvary

Menard at Benton

Plain Dealing at Lakeside 

High School Soccer 

Wednesday’s Scores

No games scheduled 

Today’s Games 

GIRLS

Benton at Magnet 2 p.m.

BOYS

Sterlington at Airline 3:15 p.m.

Neville at Benton 5:30 p.m.

Kavanaugh’s departure from North Caddo lands him down south

/ Megan Lowe

JOURNAL STAFF

Former North Caddo head football coach Johnny Kavanaugh was announced Wednesday as the new head coach at Fountainebleau High School in Mandeville.

On Tuesday, Kavanaugh announced he was departing North Caddo following five successful seasons as head coach and athletic director. Wednesday morning, Fountainebleau principal Nathan Corley issued a press release naming Kavanaugh as his school’s new head coach.

Kavanaugh posted a 33-21 record in five seasons leading the North Caddo program, guiding the Titans to playoff appearances in each season. The Titans were ranked in the top five in the LHSAA power rankings every year, and he won District 1-2A Coach of the Year honors twice, in 2019 and 2020.

His 2021 team won a school-record 10 games and reached the state quarterfinals for the first time, setting a school scoring record with 516 points.

While Kavanaugh oversaw explosive offenses at North Caddo, Fountainebleau struggled scoring in 2022. The Bulldogs were 2-8 overall, 0-7 in District 6-5A and had a season single-game scoring high of 21 points.

Like father, like son, 36 years later

/ Megan Lowe

I had the privilege of writing a story 36 years ago of an impressive buck taken by the late Tommy Simmons of Ruston. On November 13, 1986, Simmons was hunting in northern Lincoln Parish when a buster of a buck stepped out and he dropped the 12-point. I still recall the emotion Simmons shared with me as he told his story. Although this was before antler score and measurements were in vogue, his buck was likely in the 160-inch class.

Tommy’s son, Joe, not yet born when his dad nailed the big buck, took up where his dad left off.

After an extended illness, Tommy passed away in 2020. Joe, age 29, encountered another big Lincoln Parish buck this season and was successful in bringing the big 13-point trophy to the ground on November 27.

“When you write the story of my buck,” Joe Simmons said, “please include the fact that my dad set the stage for my success. In fact, he got his big buck within a couple of miles of where I currently live in the Pea Ridge community of Lincoln Parish.”

Joe Simmons was hunting on a 53-acre tract north of Choudrant in Lincoln Parish. The day before his encounter with his buck, he was bow hunting from his lock-on stand when he heard a fierce fight between two bucks.

“They were fighting in a thicket next to my stand and it went on for five or six minutes. I’d hear antlers clashing, brush breaking and deer running when finally a small 8-point stepped out. I felt the other buck was likely the big one several of us had been after, but he didn’t show. I decided that tomorrow, I’d be in my box stand with my rifle because I felt like he was in the area and I might have a chance at him,” Simmons said.

It had rained the day he was bow hunting but the rain had stopped and the morning of November 27 dawned cool and damp. Simmons’ stand overlooks two shooting lanes where wheat, oats and rye are planted. The woods were previously a mixture of pines and hardwoods that had been cut some 15 years ago, leaving the area a dense thicket — perfect habitat for a big buck.

“I got out early and had to walk through corn I had scattered on one of my lanes. I used an Ever Calm scent cover on my boots and every 50 yards or so, I put out some Code Blue estrous doe scent before climbing into my stand,” he recalled.

After not seeing any action the first hour or so after daylight, a buddy hunting nearby texted him about a nice buck he had just shot with his bow.

“Since I wasn’t seeing anything and my buddy was excited about his bow kill, I shut the windows on my stand, called him to hear his story and we talked for maybe 15 minutes. After we finished talking, I opened the windows again and half an hour later, I looked up to see a big buck walking across my lane at 65 yards. I couldn’t be sure if it was the big one I was after, but since it was bigger than any others I knew about in this area, I put my Browning BAR .270 short mag on the window, grunted to make the deer stop and I took the shot. The buck crumpled but then disappeared into the woods,” said Simmons.

Walking to the site of the shot, there was no blood and Simmons considered going to get his blood-tracking dog. There was no need for a tracking dog because he took two steps into the woods and saw antlers. The big buck had only run 15 yards before collapsing.

The buck sported 13 points with an inside spread of 17 5/8 inches, bases around 5 inches each with main beams stretching to near 27 inches each. The buck, which was rutted down, weighed 170 pounds and was determined to be around 5 ½ years old. Simmons took the buck to Greg Hicks, official scorer for Buck Masters, and the rack measured 174 3/8 inches.

“It’s hard to express what I feel,” Simmons said, “about getting another Lincoln Parish trophy buck 36 years after my dad got his.”

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

A very cold Christmas

/ NPJ
Bossier Parish Police Jury prepares for any hazardous road conditions.

With extremely frigid conditions expected to hit the area Thursday, the Bossier Parish Police Jury highway department is gearing up in preparation for any hazardous road conditions.

Although there’s only a slight chance of precipitation in the area, the department has readied its snow plow and has equipped trucks with ice and sand spreaders. Crews will be on standby to address any situations that may arise.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service are predicting extremely cold temperatures across the four-state region starting Thursday afternoon and continuing into Friday morning. Temperatures could fall below freezing (32˚ F) for at least 36 hours from I-20 and south, and for up to 72 hours in areas north of the corridor.

Strong northwesterly winds behind the cold front, with gusts up to 35-40 mph will result in wind chills below zero Thursday night and Friday morning. Temperatures in the teens and twenties are expected to continue into the weekend.

Forecasters say there’s a narrow window for any precipitation and freezing is not expected due to the winds at time. Impacts would be to elevated roads and bridges but due to ground heat, no low-level road impact is expected. Motorists are encouraged to monitor area road conditions before traveling.

Notice of Death – December 21, 2022

/ NPJ

Kenneth Roy Anderson
April 2, 1953 — December 18, 2022
Funeral Service: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Good Samaritan Funeral Home, 2200 Laurel Street, Shreveport.

Eyashadonna D. Foster
June 22, 1970 — December 9, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 1:00-6:00 p.m. at Precious Memories Mortuary, 4015 Greenwood Road, Shreveport.

Eva English Daigrepont
August 25, 1947 — December 19, 2022
Memorial Service: Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Henrietta Congregational Methodist Church, Converse.

Michael Wayne Hughes
April 27, 1970 — December 19, 2022
Celebration of Life: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.

Darlene Laborde
March 1, 1955 — December 16, 2022
Funeral Service: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Marksville.

Evelyn Cooper
March 13, 1936 — December 17, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 11:00-12:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Dec. 24, 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Providence Cemetery, Spring Ridge.

Michael Paul Grace
June 11, 1961 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 2:00-3:30 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport.
Memorial Service: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 3:30 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport.

Louie Bess Pace Myers
January 29, 1940 — December 18, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport.
Graveside Service: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 2:00-3:00 p.m. at Minden Cemetery, 301 Goodwill Street, Minden.

Herman Alvin Denmon
December 25, 1937 — December 18, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 11:00-12:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Interment: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 12:30 p.m. at Forest Park West Cemetery, 4400 Meriwether Road, Shreveport.

David Nelson
April 29, 1955 — December 16, 2022
Funeral Service: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Round Grove Cemetery, 2869 Round Grove Lane, Shreveport.

Calvin Webb
July 4, 1951 — December 12, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, following service at Liberty Hill Cemetery, Coushatta.

Vernita Jones-Hodge
November 3, 1986 — December 11, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant B.C., Round Grove Cemetery.
Interment: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, following service at Carver Cemetery, Kennie Road, Shreveport.

Jimmy Miles
December 10, 1990 — December 15, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 1:30 p.m. at Prince of Peace B.C., 3850 Mayfield Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, following service at Carver Cemetery, Kennie Road, Shreveport.

Michael Stringer
August 13, 1973 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Graveside Service: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Friendship Cemetery, 3825 Coleman Road, Benton.

Betty Sherman
March 16, 1943 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at New Bethel MBC, 3300 Greenwood Road, Shreveport.

Erma Cook
April 19, 1931 — December 17, 2022
Visitation: Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, following service at Carver Cemetery, Kennie Road, Shreveport.

Betty Waddles
September 9, 1951 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, 11:00 a.m. at New Bethel MBC, 3300 Greenwood Road, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, following service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, 6915 W 70th Street, Shreveport.

Ivory Perot Pueblo Christianson
January 22, 1933 — December 16, 2022
Funeral Service: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier.

Ruby Mae Bailey
July 31, 1926 — December 9, 2022
Graveside Service: Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, 10:00-10:45 a.m. at Minden Cemetery, 301 Goodwill Street, Minden.

Rosetta Rogers
November 5, 1952 — December 9, 2022
Viewing: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Winnfield Funeral Home, 3701 Hollywood Avenue, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Winnfield Funeral Home, 3701 Hollywood Avenue, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, following service at Forest Park Cemetery West, 4000 Meriwether Road, Shreveport.

Dianne Renee Phillips (Kiser)
September 27, 1978 — December 7, 2022
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church Sibley, 124 NE 2nd Avenue, Sibley.

Lori Lewis Maddry
May 11, 1968 — November 16, 2022
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal, 1107 Broadway Street, Minden.

The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $90. Contact your funeral provider or SBJNewsLa@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to SBJNewsLa@gmail.com)

 

The best Christmas movie is, of course …  

/ NPJ

Although the answer seems a paradox, the debate over Santa’s best reindeer is easy: it’s Rudolph, by a nose.  

Deciding the best Christmastime movie, that’s a whole other sleigh full of toys.  

Any sane person would of course say the warm but comedic Scrooged from 1988 is the best. It stars Bill Murray as a rotten, entitled TV exec, a modern-day Scrooge who sees the light after experiences with three unforgettable spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future.  

But then any person with Christmas truly in his heart would say that’s not even the best movie based on Dickens’ book, A Christmas Carol. That spots belongs to The Muppet Christmas Carol from 1992, the brilliant comedy musical starring Michael Caine as Scrooge, Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as his wife, and you get the picture. (The Rats stole the show. I love a funny Muppet rat. In a top hat. And a scarf.) 

But then a person with anything more than figgy pudding for brains would agree that even the 1984 made-for-TV drama A Christmas Carol starring a George C. Scott as Scrooge was the best — unless you go another route entirely and raise your hand for A Christmas Story from 1983, now a Christmas classic thanks to Ralphie and his quest for the Red Ryder, and thanks to the late Jean Shepherd, who wrote the story in his 1966 book, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. 

And we haven’t even mentioned The Grinch or Charlie Brown yet. Gee whiz …   

To each his own in Christmas movies. One man’s Top Gun: Maverick (good!) is another man’s Top Gun (the original: booo!). If we’re choosing reels for reals, I shouldn’t even be given a vote since I’m the only American living or dead who has never seen Christmas Vacation or Home Alone or Die Hard all the way through. 

Maybe one of these lonely days …  

But maybe on this we can agree. Our favorite movies, should we think about it, were lacking in production value, were grainy and hardly in sharp color, and had no script. They weren’t pretty, but they were authentic. My favorites were filmed in the 1960s, a less-than-celebrated decade marked by indoor wood paneling and shag rugs and shaggy hair and bright colors. The ’60s put the “T” in “Tacky.” 

But boy, did it turn out some great Christmas movies. All filmed live. 

Dad in the T-shirt with “the camera,” a projector with two-big bulbs. Looked like he was filming with a giant insect. In nearly every shot, the “actors and actresses” — us and our aunts and uncles and cousins and Christmas morning friends — are shielding our eyes from the double deadly bright Lumen Rays of Death emitted from this contraption our father was shooting us with. (The smarter children of that era decided early on to become eye doctors and specialize in the treatment of “Holiday Retina Burn” — and they’re retired today and have no clue how much money they have stashed, all because of those torturing Christmas bulbs.) 

In those filmed-at-home movies, I see in my mind the old scene with a 4-year-old boy and the bike. My baby sister holding a doll, and big sis, Sissy, with combs and a pink dress. A chihuahua dragging wrapping paper across the wood floor. 

That archaic filming machine captured us with magic sets and footballs and Hot Wheels and Barbies and E-Z-Bakes. Captured Christmases cold and Christmases warm and Christmases wet. Scenes around the table with grandmothers and grandfathers, year after year, older as we grew, but still grainy, shading our eyes, as if trying to squint into the future, with no idea as to how much these movies would mean to us when we finally got there.  

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu or on Twitter @MamaLuvsManning 

Hilary Wooley’s decision to move to Shreveport pays off – for everyone  

/ NPJ

By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD

In 2008, Hilary Wooley had graduated from the University of Texas School of Law and was practicing at a firm in Austin when she was faced with a decision – stay in Austin and raise a family or move to her husband’s hometown of Shreveport. When Wooley talked to her parents about what she should do, they said, “Well, you can live in Austin – it’s this great beautiful city – but it’s kind of isolating. Or you could have Shreveport, where there’s a real opportunity to make a difference and be really involved in a lot of things in the city.”

Hilary Wooley did exactly what her parents predicted. She made the move to Shreveport, where she is “really involved in a lot of things in the city.”

And she is making a difference.

I sat down with her for lunch at Glow Alchemy Kitchen and discovered all that has happened since she made that fateful decision.

When Shreveport Mayor-Elect Tom Arceneaux recently announced his transition team, he made good on his promise to “include voices from across the community.”

One of those voices belongs to Hilary Aldama Wooley, corporate counsel at the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, who will serve on the Blight Abatement Transition Committee – along with chair LeVette Fuller, Lydia Jackson, Mike Moore, and Tim Magner. Her insight will likely be sought by the Economic Development Committee also.

Wooley, who calls Arceneaux a “friend and mentor,” has known the Mayor-Elect since she moved to Shreveport in 2008. In addition to attending the same church, the two have worked together in the legal field and developed a strong working relationship.

When Arceneaux decided to run for mayor, Wooley was torn.

“I told Tom, ‘I don’t know what to do,’” she recalls. “LeVette (Fuller) and Mario (Chavez) were also running and I had a lot of respect for them. Tom said, ‘I understand that.’ And we left it at that.”

When Arceneaux and Greg Tarver emerged victorious in the primary and went up against each other in the runoff, Wooley knew what to do. She posted a message on Facebook explaining why she supported the former Shreveport Councilman.

“I wanted to tell people what I know about Tom and maybe convince them if they weren’t sure about who to vote for,” she says. “I just wanted to say, ‘Here is someone good for Shreveport.’”

(Chavez was also named to the transition team and will serve on the Community Building Committee.)

Wooley, who was appointed Board Chair for the March of Dimes in 2013 and has also served on the board of the Junior League, has served as corporate counsel for BRF since 2015. That same year, the newly divorced mother of two was asked by her friend Judy Williams about going on a blind date with a friend of hers.

Actually, it didn’t really have to be a blind date. Williams just thought she would enjoy meeting her friend, Bill Joyce, whose wife had passed away recently.

Sure, said Wooley. The three of them would go out to dinner, but both Wooley and Joyce told Williams beforehand that they would give her the “signal” if it wasn’t going well.

Williams never got the signal. It went well.

So well that Wooley and Joyce have now been married for two-and-a-half years.

I first met Wooley in 2019, when she and Joyce were sitting in a packed classroom on “Back-to-School Night” at University Elementary School, where her adorable twins Maximus and Isabel would be two of my third-grade students that year.

The twins are now sixth-graders at Southfield School, where Isabel is a cheerleader and plays basketball and soccer and runs cross country. While Max also plays sports, he is very involved in the theater arts and was a member of the cast of The Crying Bull, a short film that was a 2022 Louisiana Film Prize finalist.

When asked how she can balance everything – motherhood, a career, so much involvement in the community – Wooley smiles and says, “When you love what you do, it’s not difficult.”

Wooley has done a lot since making that decision to move to Shreveport.

“And one of the crazy things,” Wooley says as she recalls those early days, “happened when I was a baby lawyer in Shreveport in 2008.”

That’s when Kay Medlin, an attorney at Bradley Murchison (where Wooley started practicing in Shreveport), was drawing up the papers for Moonbot Studios and asked Wooley to notarize them.

“It’s my first week there, and I walk into this room where there’s all men – except for Kay and me,” says Wooley. “Nobody acknowledged me when I walked in the room. I was really nervous. One man — across all these tables — in dark, black glasses stood up, walked all the way to the door, reached out and grabbed my hand and said, ‘Thank you so much for being here today.’”

That man was Bill Joyce.

“We both go through so much in our own personal lives and don’t see each other again until Judy gets us together in 2015,” she says. “You look at those papers now and there’s my signature, there’s my stamp. And there’s William Joyce’s signature.”

Some things are meant to be.

Contact Harriet at sbjharriet@gmail.com

MAKING THE TRANSITION: Hilary Wooley has been very busy since deciding to move to Shreveport back in 2008.

SBJ All-Metro Individual Awards: Spotlighting the best of the best

/ Megan Lowe
NUMBER 1 IN YEAR ONE:  In his first year as head coach at Airline, Justin Scogin revitalized a struggling program and guided the Vikings past an 0-3 start to an unbeaten district championship. (Photo by KEVIN PICKENS, Journal Sports)

MONDAY: The All-Metro offense 

YESTERDAY: The All-Metro defense 

JOURNAL STAFF

The players chosen as Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year shouldn’t come as a big surprise, but being Coach of the Year was probably the last thing on Justin Scogin’s mind when his Airline Vikings opened the season 0-3.

“The kids were resilient,” Scogin said. “I think the coaching staff was the biggest part as well as the kids and the parents. It was always a very positive vibe, even at 0-and-3. Lots of positive attitudes.”

When the dust settled, the Vikings finished as District 1-5A champions, earning Scogin the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s Coach of the Year honor. It’s even more impressive when you consider this was Scogin’s first year as head coach.

“It’s quite an accomplishment to win in this area because there are so many good coaches around,” Scogin said. “There weren’t any weeks off when you play in this district.”

Once the Vikings began to turn it around – they won seven straight at one point on the way to the District 1-5A championship – Scogin may have been the least surprised of anybody.

“I always thought we were going to be pretty good,” he said. “I knew it was going to take a couple of games for us to get going on offense. Once we figured that out, we played pretty well on a consistent basis.”

As for the Players of the Year, both had already established themselves before the season even began … and then they turned it up a notch.

Parkway senior running back Jaylan White ran for 1,519 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2022 and is the Offensive Player of the Year.

Byrd senior linebacker Brooks Brossette is the Defensive Player of the Year, leading the Yellow Jackets for the second straight year in tackles.

Entering the season, White had already established himself as one of the top local running backs, rushing for 1,397 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior.

But White did more than just run the ball. He caught 36 passes for 493 yards and six scores.

“He made up a lot of our offense this year,” said Parkway coach Coy Brotherton. “If we needed a guy to throw the ball to, we took advantage of his speed and put him out wide. And if we ran it, he was the one getting the ball. He was explosive.”

How’s this for explosive? White averaged 9.1 yards per carry.

“We knew we were going to have to count on him this year to get yards for us,” Brotherton said.

Meanwhile, Byrd knew it was going to have to get tackles from Brossette this year and he delivered.

“Brooks is just a great competitor,” said Byrd head coach Stacy Ballew. “He’s always had a knack for finding the ball and great instincts. But each week, by watching film and understanding his opponent, it made him that much better.”

Brossette had 115 tackles in 2022, which was 40 more than any other Yellow Jacket. And there’s a good reason for that.

“He was a great tackler,” Ballew said. “He didn’t miss very many. At any level of the game, it’s usually the second-level guy who makes the tackle. But with him, if he was the first one there, he made the tackle.”

Brossette also led the team with 18 tackles behind the line and had a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown. He finished his career with 233 tackles, which is third on the school’s career list.

Runner-up for Offensive Player of the Year was Benton senior quarterback Gray Walters.

Brossette was chosen for Defensive POY over the Northwood duo of defensive back Mar’Jayvious Moss and defensive end TaDerius Collins.

Coach of the Year and Players of the Year were chosen by a vote of the Shreveport-Bossier Journal staff.

I-Bowl Watch: St. Andre at home again, for the first time

/ Megan Lowe
ALL FOURS: Jake St. Andre (44) might have crawled all the way from Lafayette to Independence Stadium for the chance to play in front of family and friends in Friday’s I-Bowl. (Photo courtesy Ragin’ Cajun Athletics)

By TEDDY ALLEN, Journal Sports

He’s played in eight games and made four tackles, one solo, but you’ll have to look hard to find anyone who is happier about playing in the 46th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl than Jake St. Andre.

“A lot of people have messaged me or called to tell me they’ll be there,” said University of Louisiana-Lafayette redshirt freshman linebacker St. Andre, two years ago a first-team All-State linebacker for the Haughton Bucs and the program’s all-time leading tackler. “Quite a few Haughton and Bossier people have contacted me; my old coaches from Haughton told me they plan on coming.”

The first person to text St. Andre when it was announced the Ragin’ Cajuns (6-6) would take on Houston (7-5) in Independence Stadium at 2 p.m. Friday was Jason Brotherton, his old high school head coach.

“He might have been more excited about us being in the game than I was,” said St. Andre, the enthusiasm evident in his voice. “So many of my friends and family will be there. My grandfather (former Airline High and BPCC basketball coach Joe St. Andre) is going to be able to be there. It’s just going to be an awesome experience, playing in front of the people in your home city in a college game.”

Another first for St. Andre Friday will be playing in Independence Stadium. Haughton played Southwood, who plays its home games there, all three times of St. Andre’s high school career at Haughton’s Harold E. Harlan Stadium, a quirk of the schedule and of the pandemic season in 2020.

“I was joking with my dad the other day that I had to wait to go to college before I got to play in our hometown’s high school stadium,” he said. “I got to see my brother play there; I was the little kid in the locker room and running on the field. But I’ve never gotten to play a real game there.”

That changes Friday when St. Andre and the Ragin’ Cajuns try to end their season with a winning record, something they came closer to already accomplishing than their .500 record shows. They lost on the last play of the game to both Sun Belt champ Troy and runner-up South Alabama, and lost on the road, 21-17, to a 4-8 University of Louisiana-Monroe team when the Warhawks scored a touchdown late, then held the Ragin’ Cajuns.

“That’s a tough one, to look back at the scores in various points in those games, then see we were neck-and-neck the whole way through,” said the kinesiology major. “A bounce here or there changes the outcome of any of those games. I think we’re definitely better than our record shows.

“Now,” he said, “we’ve got to send the seniors out the right way.”

A couple of those seniors are linebackers Jourdan Quibodeaux and Kris Moncrief, first and third on the team in tackles, “super-productive players,” said St. Andre of guys he is learning from.

“We’ve got great leadership from them,” he said. “They take pride in leading the team as a whole; our team thinks the world of them both.”

Sophomore K.C. Ossia, fifth on the team in tackles, and junior Jasper Williams, the team’s 12th leading tackler, round out a quartet that St. Andre says “have done a great job all year.”

St. Andre was District 1-5A Defensive Player of the Year after his senior season at Haughton. Since, when he hasn’t been playing on special teams for the Ragin’ Cajuns, he’s been in the weight room, doing extra work on the practice field, keeping up in the classroom, understanding what he says is the “development” part of the process “that’s been preached to me since I got here and for the last two years.”

He might not have known it at the time, but he’s been on this Football Development Road since birth. His uncle Dustin played quarterback at Southern Miss and with Cleveland in the NFL. His father coached and his grandfather coached. His other grandfather, Bossier High and Northwestern State pass-catching great Mike Almond, 1979’s “Mr. Irrelevant” when he was drafted by Pittsburgh, is a member of NSU’s exclusive N-Club Hall of Fame. His big brother is former Demons’ quarterback J.D. Almond.

“It was something I was always around,” St. Andre said of sports. “I grew up in the middle of it. Whatever I was doing, seems like there was always a ball in my hands. I’m thankful I got to grow up around the game.”

He is also grateful for his college choice, and grateful he got to play high school at a place that, football-wise, is like Haughton.

“It’s similar in a lot of ways; both fan bases are awesome,” he said about playing “Between the Pines” and at Cajun Field. “The people support you and do a lot of little things for you at UL, just like they did at Haughton High. They give everything a local ‘feel’ that everybody takes pride in. We have a good time every time we play at home.”

Friday in the I-Bowl, St. Andre gets to do that again. For the first time.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu or on Twitter @MamaLuvsManning

SBJ College Hoop Scoop: Local D-1 teams chasing Christmas cheer

/ Megan Lowe
BALL HAWK:  Junior Cobe Williams has made five steals in each of the last two games for Louisiana Tech, which plays at home today at noon against Jarvis Christian. (Photo by KANE MCGUIRE, Louisiana Tech Athletics)

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

’Twas the game before Christmas, which as Baylor coach Scott Drew puts it, makes the difference between a holiday break or a merry Christmas.

For the area’s Division I basketball programs, most of those contests are in the books. However, the Louisiana Tech men will be expected to head home happy after today’s noon game at the Thomas Assembly Center against underdog Jarvis Christian. The Bulldogs are likely to be the exception, not the rule, as the other teams at Tech, Grambling and Northwestern State will need to find good tidings at home and not in their last outings before Saint Nick makes his rounds.

MEN 

Louisiana Tech:  The Bulldogs (6-5, 0-1 in Conference USA) should roll at home today and get untracked offensively after a miserable outing in their CUSA debut Saturday night at UTEP. In that 60-55 loss, Tech committed 20 turnovers and made just 4-of-25 from behind the 3-point arc. The 55 points was a season low, along with the 16 field goals made. Bright spot: junior guard Cobe Williams made five steals for the second straight game.

Next game:  Today at home, noon against Jarvis Christian. 

Grambling State:  The Tigers (6-5) have dropped their last two on a northern swing that wraps up, weather permitting, Friday night at No. 17 Wisconsin. Grambling fell 74-48 Saturday at No. 24 Virginia Tech, then was dumped 75-56 Monday down the road in Lynchburg by Liberty. 

Next game: Friday at No. 17 Wisconsin. 

Northwestern State: The Demons (8-4) were flying high heading into Saturday’s visit to Rice. Then the Owls shot 67 percent and flew past NSU 110-73. Monday night, Northwestern played much more competitively but missed its first 10 3-pointers after halftime, fell behind by 16 and got no closer than eight in a 58-48 loss at No. 12 Baylor.

Next game:  Dec. 27 at Texas A&M

WOMEN 

Louisiana Tech: The Lady Techsters (7-4, 0-1) suffered a surprising league-opening homecourt loss to UTEP, 62-54, despite shooting 51 percent from the floor to 36 percent for the visitors. But the Miners combined offensive rebounding with Tech turnovers to get off 25 more shots and held on for a CUSA road win that will fester for the Techsters, who have an 11-day break between that one and the next one.

Next game:  Dec. 29 at UTSA.

Grambling:  The Lady Tigers are done with their brutal non-conference schedule after dropping a competitive 56-45 decision at TCU. It’s all Southwestern Athletic Conference competition from here.

Next game: Jan. 2 at Prairie View.

Northwestern State: The Lady Demons (4-6) are also finished with out-of-conference play after a 96-64 drubbing at Tulsa on Monday night. They’ll open the Southland season against preseason favorite Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Next game:  Dec. 30 at home against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

Kavanaugh steps away from head coaching role at North Caddo

/ Megan Lowe
LOTS OF SUCCESS:   North Caddo’s football program enjoyed plenty of success in Johnny Kavanaugh’s five seasons as head coach, but will have new leadership next season.

JOURNAL STAFF

With a Facebook post Tuesday morning, Johnny Kavanaugh provided a holiday surprise.

After five quite successful seasons as head football coach at North Caddo, Kavanaugh announced he is stepping away from that role, without being specific about his future plans, but with every indication he will move on from the school, as well.

Kavanaugh finished with a 33-21 record, guiding the Titans to playoff appearances in each season. His 2021 team won a school-record 10 games, advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time and scored a school-best 516 points. He led NC to outright District 1-2A titles in 2019, 2020 and a tie for the title in 2021.

“There are times in life when you know, you just know, it’s time …” he wrote. “I know, without a doubt, this is one of those times. It’s time for me to step aside and give others a chance to take this program, and school, into the future.

“I have zero doubt that the leadership at North Caddo will put in place a coaching staff that will continue the trajectory we are on, or better yet, take things to a higher level.

“I will be forever grateful to Mrs. Annie Cherry for having faith in me, and allowing me to run the North Caddo Football Program, and Athletic Department. What an honor it has been for me.

“While all our wins, district championships, and playoff victories are special, my most lasting memories will be of the personal relationships built at North Caddo. I pray that my coaches, students, athletes, friends and the North Caddo community know how much they mean to me. I am truly blessed to have spent so many years with a group of friends that I truly love,” wrote Kavanaugh.

It’s the first coaching change for any of the 19 high school football programs in Caddo and Bossier parishes following the 2022 season.

Tuesday’s basketball, soccer scoreboard; today’s schedule

/ Megan Lowe
ATTACK MODE: The Bossier boys defeated Ouachita Parish 1-0 Tuesday night at Bossier’s Memorial Stadium.  (Photo by MADISON ERSOFF, Journal Sports)

College Basketball

Tuesday’s scores 

MEN

Baylor 58, Northwestern State 48

Today’s games

MEN

Jarvis Christian at La. Tech, noon

East Tennessee State at LSU, 7 p.m.

High School Basketball

Tuesday’s results

GIRLS

Captain Shreve 46, BTW 38
Haughton 62, Simsboro 46
Southwood 42, JS Clark Leadership 35
Lakeview 52, Green Oaks 9
North DeSoto 57, Plain Dealing 35

BOYS

Benton 40, Minden 38
Captain Shreve 43, BTW 15
Evangel 61, North Caddo 47
Lakeview 54, Woodlawn 46
Red River 69, Natchitoches Central 64
Southwood 45, JS Clark Leadership 32

Today’s games

GIRLS

Many at Airline

Gibsland-Coleman at Parkway

Southwood at Ouachita

BOYS

Archbishop Hannan at Airline

Captain Shreve at Bossier

Gibsland-Coleman at Parkway

High School Soccer 

Tuesday’s scores

GIRLS

Magnet 9, West Ouachita 1
Ouachita Parish 4 Bossier 0
Haughton at Natchitoches Central, cancelled
North Desoto 1, Evangel 1
Ouachita Parish 5 Northwood 0 

BOYS

Shreve 4, Magnet 1
West Monroe 3, Benton 0
Bossier 1, Ouachita Parish 0 

Today’s games

No games scheduled. 

Schedules are subject to postponements and cancellations.

Remembering Freddie “Fred” Joe Smith

/ NPJ

November 13, 1933 — December 10, 2022

A Memorial Service to Celebrate the Life of Freddie “Fred” Joe Smith will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Following the service at 2:00 p.m. will be an inurnment at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 7970 Mike Clark Road, Keithville. Officiating the service will be Pastor Calvin Hubbard and Pastor Chuck Clark.

Fred went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday evening, Dec. 10, 2022. He was 89 years old at the time of his passing. Fred was a man of strong personal beliefs and convictions, living a life devoted to his Christian faith, family, and country.

Fred was born in Converse to Elvin and Mildred Smith and grew up learning the value of family, friendship, and hard work. Soon after graduating high school, he joined the Air Force, where he proudly served for 22 ½ years. Before retirement, he achieved the rank of Senior Master Sergeant and earned numerous commendations and awards for outstanding service including two (2) Bronze Stars.

Fred was a member of the distinguished 509th Bomb Wing, one of only two Air Force Units to operate the B-52 Spirit Stealth bomber. After his active service, he became a member of the 509th Bomb Wing Veterans Association, where he served two terms as President and thoroughly enjoyed attending annual reunions all over the country with his wife Loretta.

Upon retirement from the Air Force, Fred immediately transitioned to the civilian workforce. He managed a local hardware store where he was always quick with a smile and a helping hand. Shortly thereafter, he began his next career at the United States Post Office, where he was soon promoted to Supervisor and eventually became Postmaster of the Keithville Post Office. He enjoyed his time with the U.S. Post office serving for twenty (20) years until he retired once again.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Loretta D. Smith, with whom he enjoyed 39 years of marriage filled with love and laughter. He leaves behind his son, Michael David Smith and his wife, Kellye of Rockwall, Texas; granddaughters, Amanda Lockwood and Hannah Nicole Smith; great-granddaughter, Emilee Lockwood; stepdaughter, Katarina Scott and stepson, Grant Sloan.

Additionally, he is survived by stepdaughter, Glenda Williams and husband, Gary of Bossier City; stepson, Mike Karageorge and his wife, Naoma of Boerne, Texas; grandchildren, Garrett Williams, Gennifer Williams Seigmund, Sophia Mae Karageorge, Michael Andrew Karageorge; great-grandchildren, Brody Williams, Sol Seigmund and Luc Seigmund.

Bossier City to go under hard freeze watch; no change in garbage collection over holidays

/ NPJ

JOURNAL STAFF

A severe Hard Freeze Watch is in effect for Bossier Parish from Thursday evening through Saturday morning.

Sub-freezing temperatures ranging from 4 to 12 degrees with wind chill values below 0 degrees are possible. Areas in effect include portions of south central and southwest Arkansas, north central and northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, and east and northeast Texas.

Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

Remember these tips:

PIPES:

·       To keep your pipes from freezing, open the cabinets under the sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms to allow heated air to circulate around the water pipes. Outdoor water pipes should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. In-ground sprinkler systems should be drained and above-ground pipes should be covered.

·       Let indoor faucets drip, but do not run a heavy stream of water (remember, it only takes a small drip).

·       Find your water shut-off valve prior to the winter weather event. In the event of busted pipes, turn the water off at the shut-off valve. If you can’t get the water turned off, call the number listed above.

PETS:

·       If you have an outside dog or cat, bring them in.

PLANTS:

·       Make sure to bring all your potted plants indoors. If they are too big, move them closer to the house. Your home gives off radiant heat.

NOTE: Bossier City will adhere to its regular garbage collection schedule over the Christmas holidays.

Notice of Death – December 20, 2022

/ NPJ

Michael Wayne Hughes
April 27, 1970 — December 19, 2022
Celebration of Life: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.

Darlene Laborde
March 1, 1955 — December 16, 2022
Funeral Service: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Marksville.

Evelyn Cooper
March 13, 1936 — December 17, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 11:00-12:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Dec. 24, 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Providence Cemetery, Spring Ridge.

Michael Paul Grace
June 11, 1961 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 2:00-3:30 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport.
Memorial Service: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 3:30 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport.

Louie Bess Pace Myers
January 29, 1940 — December 18, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport.
Graveside Service: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 2:00-3:00 p.m. at Minden Cemetery, 301 Goodwill Street, Minden.

Herman Alvin Denmon
December 25, 1937 — December 18, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 11:00-12:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Interment: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 12:30 p.m. at Forest Park West Cemetery, 4400 Meriwether Road, Shreveport.

Francene Johnson
September 16, 1933 — December 17, 2022
Visitation: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.

Francis Dotson
December 31, 1933 — December 15, 2022
Funeral Service: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at New Life Full Gospel House of Worship, 7937 Line Avenue, Shreveport.
Interment: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, following service at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 79701 Mike Clark Road, Keithville.

Diedra Adams
October 31, 1957 — December 15, 2022
Funeral Service: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, following service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, 6915 W 70th Street, Shreveport.

David Nelson
April 29, 1955 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Round Grove Cemetery, 2869 Round Grove Lane, Shreveport.

Calvin Webb
July 4, 1951 — December 12, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, following service at Liberty Hill Cemetery, Coushatta.

Vernita Jones-Hodge
November 3, 1986 — December 11, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant B.C., Round Grove Cemetery.
Interment: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, following service at Carver Cemetery, Kennie Road, Shreveport.

Jimmy Miles
December 10, 1990 — December 15, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 1:30 p.m. at Prince of Peace B.C., 3850 Mayfield Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, following service at Carver Cemetery, Kennie Road, Shreveport.

Michael Stringer
August 13, 1973 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Graveside Service: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Friendship Cemetery, 3825 Coleman Road, Benton.

Betty Sherman
March 16, 1943 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at New Bethel MBC, 3300 Greenwood Road, Shreveport.

Erma Cook
April 19, 1931 — December 17, 2022
Visitation: Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, following service at Carver Cemetery, Kennie Road, Shreveport.

Betty Waddles
September 9, 1951 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, 11:00 a.m. at New Bethel MBC, 3300 Greenwood Road, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, following service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, 6915 W 70th Street, Shreveport.

Harry C. Shirey
October 16, 1927 — December 17, 2022
Visitation: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, 2:00-2:30 p.m. at Weldon Cemetery, Bernice.
Graveside Service: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, 2:30-3:30 p.m. at Weldon Cemetery, Bernice.

Ivory Perot Pueblo Christianson
January 22, 1933 — December 16, 2022
Visitation: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier.
Funeral Service: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier.

Ruby Mae Bailey
July 31, 1926 — December 9, 2022
Graveside Service: Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, 10:00-10:45 a.m. at Minden Cemetery, 301 Goodwill Street, Minden.

London M. Nichols
January 30, 1950 — December 13, 2022
Celebration of Life: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Shreveport Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center, 5307 Alex Lane, Shreveport.

Freddie ‘Fred’ Joe Smith
November 13, 1933 — December 10, 2022
Visitation: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier.
Memorial Service: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, 11:00-12:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier.
Interment: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, 2:00-3:00 p.m. at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.

Rosetta Rogers
November 5, 1952 — December 9, 2022
Viewing: Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Winnfield Funeral Home, 3701 Hollywood Avenue, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Winnfield Funeral Home, 3701 Hollywood Avenue, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, following service at Forest Park Cemetery West, 4000 Meriwether Road, Shreveport.

Dianne Renee Phillips (Kiser)
September 27, 1978 — December 7, 2022
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church Sibley, 124 NE 2nd Avenue, Sibley.

Lori Lewis Maddry
May 11, 1968 — November 16, 2022
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal, 1107 Broadway Street, Minden.

The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $90. Contact your funeral provider or SBJNewsLa@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to SBJNewsLa@gmail.com)

 

SBJ All-Metro Defense: Performance easily identified standouts

/ Megan Lowe

BYRD’S EYE:  Linebacker Brooks Brossette kept close tabs on opposing ballcarriers all season long and was one of three unanimous choices as the top-ranked performer at his position on the SBJ All-Metro Defensive Team. (Photo by APRIL JOHNSON, Journal Sports)

YESTERDAY: The All-Metro offense

TOMORROW: Coach of the Year and the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year

JOURNAL STAFF

The voting for the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s All-Metro Offensive team, featured in Monday’s edition, was predictably varied as 22 different players received votes for 12 spots.

Not so for the Journal’s All-Metro Defensive team.

Choosing four players at each level – defensive line, linebacker and defensive back – the voting was fairly clear-cut.

The four players chosen at both defensive line and linebacker were on every ballot. And at each level, there was a player who received the maximum of possible first-place votes – Northwood teammates TaDerius Collins (defensive line) and Mar’Jayvious Moss (defensive back) and Byrd linebacker Brooks Brossette.

Collins had an amazing 13 quarterback sacks and 25 tackles behind the line for the Falcons. Moss patrolled the middle of the field from his safety position and was easily the leading tackler for Northwood with 85.

Brossette was the unquestioned leader of the Byrd defense and had 115 total tackles, including 21 against John Curtis in the quarterfinal playoff game.

On the defensive line, Byrd’s Isaiah Ford was third on the team in tackles for the Yellow Jackets with 64 and had 6.5 sacks and 12 tackles behind the line. Evangel’s Gabriel Reliford (23) and Parkway’s Ray Mayweather (16) also made a living making tackles behind the line.

Calvary’s Cade Bedgood led a defense that had three straight shutouts at one point in the season and recorded 110 tackles with five tackles for loss. Linebackers Connor Blank of Haughton and Barrett Newman of Parkway each had more than 100 tackles for the season.

In the backfield, Benton’s Sawyer Simmons had two interceptions and 5 ½ tackles for loss while Calvary’s Landon Sylvie had 68 tackles and led the Cavaliers with three interceptions. Playing mostly man-to-man all season, Parkway sophomore Camaro Mayo had 10 passes broken up and allowed only one touchdown all season.

Parkway led with three defensive selections with Byrd, Northwood and Calvary having two each. 

DEFENSE

Defensive line – TaDerius Collins, Northwood (Sr.)*

Defensive line – Isaiah Ford, Byrd (Sr.)

Defensive line – Ray Mayweather, Parkway (Sr.)

Defensive line – Gabriel Reliford, Evangel (Jr.)

Linebacker – Cade Bedgood, Calvary (Sr.)

Linebacker – Connor Blank, Haughton (Sr.)

Linebacker – Brooks Brossette, Byrd (Sr.)*

Linebacker – Barrett Newman, Parkway (Sr.)

Defensive back – Mar’Jayvious Moss, Northwood (Sr.)*

Defensive back – Carmaro Mayo, Parkway (Soph.)

Defensive back – Sawyer Simmons, Benton (Sr.)

Defensive back – Landon Sylvie, Calvary (Jr.) 

* Received unanimous first-place votes at his position

Listed below are the Journal’s “Best of the Rest,” which recognizes those who either had a high recommendation or received point totals in the voting that put them in consideration for the first team. 

BEST OF THE REST

Defensive line – Jaylon Buckner, Huntington (Sr.)

Linebacker – Gray Deason, Loyola (Sr.)

Defensive back – Christian Jones, Byrd (Sr.), Zach Halbert, Benton (Sr.)