By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
NATCHITOCHES – Airline. Defense.
Despite appearances, they do go together. They did Friday night at Turpin Stadium. You wouldn’t look at the Vikings’ 41-21 win over Natchitoches Central and think that, but both coaches, both teams knew that.
It wasn’t the Vikings’ slaughters of the last couple of weeks, virtuoso fireworks displays that were out of reach well before halftime. Airline was in control Friday night but not in command for very often, at least by its recent standard.
“We were up 27-7 and could never get comfortable,” said Airline coach Justin Scogin. “They do a lot of things to make you uncomfortable. For the first time in a while we had some adversity and our guys handled it well. I was very proud of them.”
The Vikings (5-0, 2-0 in District 1-5A), newly-ranked (9th) in the LSWA’s Class 5A Top 10 for the first time this season (and for a long while), weren’t hitting home runs, although they tried enough long shots. A gritty NCHS defense frequently harassed the state’s passing leader, Ben Taylor, generally bottled up the Vikings’ run game, and batted away plenty of passes. Airline didn’t score in the third period, a long time for its first offense to go without reaching the painted grass.
“We didn’t play our best (offensive) game, and a lot of that was credit to them,” said Scogin. “They play a suffocating brand of football, and it was tough.”
But the Smothers Brothers were wearing visitors’ white uniforms.
“We saw our guys needed some help, so we stepped up and did what we are supposed to do,” said senior linebacker Champ Endris. “(Those were) definitely some of the best athletes we’ll play all year.”
“I’ve been saying for a long time, we have a good defense. We have a great defense, but they get overshadowed because we score fast,” said Scogin. “We do a phenomenal job on defense and it really showed tonight.
“(On the Chiefs’ offense) 9 (receiver Cam Davis) is fantastic, the quarterback (Calvary transfer Owen Smith) is great, 8 (WR Dillon Braxton) is really good. They have a lot of threats,” Scogin said. “I’ve been preaching but not many people listen about our defense. Tonight it showed.”
The Vikings kept NCHS contained until the final five minutes, when in a 49-second span, the Chiefs (2-3, 1-1) flashed their firepower, scoring on a 40-yard Smith-to-Braxton bomb, recovering an onsides kick and quickly cashing in. One snap later Davis ran a short out route, danced away from a tackle, and dashed 41 yards, closing to a 20-point spread with 4:02 left.
Nothing to overly stress about, primarily because between the first and second Chiefs’ scores, the ‘D’ clamped down. Hard. NCHS netted just 70 yards in that span.
“We played well, really did,” said Vikings’ defensive coordinator Zack Pourciau. “Probably the best complete game we’ve put together, where we tackled well the entire time, fit where we were supposed to fit, and everybody played to the best of their ability. For the most part the pursuit was fantastic and tackling was good.
“The D-line stepped up bigger than they have and that was a big part of us playing well. They made plays we haven’t made in the last couple weeks. All the way across the board, the kids played their tails off. Chamberlain (Endris) probably had his best game of the year.”
Any fleeting NCHS hopes for a comeback were stalled by a patient Airline offense that chewed clock after halftime while eventually padding the spread, then ate up the final 4:02 with a couple of first downs.
“It got a little tense, but we did what we had to do,” said Scogin. “That’s the sign of a good team. We were able to slow it down and still get it in the end zone (on a 10-play, 59-yard drive to a 41-7 lead with 5:39 to go), and that was a step forward. That made me happy.”
Taylor posted excellent numbers, going 22 of 37 for 303 yards with four TD passes, but under his amazing averages of 367 yards and 5.5 scores.
Scogin said it was a good step forward going into next week’s showdown with the other 1-5A leader, Captain Shreve, which has a two-dimensional offense.
The Chiefs also made strides Friday, said first-year coach Jess Curtis.
“They had a big fourth-down touchdown, and they had a third-down and a bus ride touchdown. I know it’s ifs and buts, but those two plays go another way and it’s on,” said the former Many coach. “That’s why Airline is winning. They understand the game is won in those big moments.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com
AIRLINE 41, NATCHITOCHES CENTRAL 21
Airline 14 13 0 14 – 41
NCHS 7 0 0 14 – 21
A – Ben Taylor 19 pass to Bob Patterson (Preston Doerner kick)
NC – Cam Davis 8 run (Mateo Restrepo kick)
A – Taylor 37 pass to DJ Allen (Doerner kick)
A – Taylor 14 pass to Allen (Doerner kick)
A – Taylor 39 pass to Tre’ Jackson (kick failed)
A – Jarvis Davis Jr. 42 run (Doerner kick)
A – Allen 6 run (Doerner kick)
NC – Owen Smith 40 pass to Dillon Braxton (Restrepo kick)
NC – Owen 41 pass to Davis (Restrepo kick)
RUSHING: Airline (23-105, 2 TDs) – Jarvis Davis Jr. 1-42, TD; Tre’ Jackson 10-34, DJ Allen 6-14, 1 TD: Brandon Cooper 1-12, Bob Patterson 1-7, Bryson Broom 1-0, Evon Wndrock 2-minus 1, Ben Taylor 1-minus 3. NCHS (26-63, 1 TD) – Zion Thompson 16-39, Owen Smith 9-16, Cam Davis 1-8, 1 TD.
PASSING: A – Taylor 22-37-1, 303, 4 TDs; NC – Smith, 12-18, 149, 2 TDs.
RECEIVING: A – Jackson 5-92, 1 TD; Patterson 4-37, 1 TD; Davis 7-70, Allen 3-62, 2 TDs; Bryson Broom 2-34, JaMarcus Mourning 1-8. NC – Davis 6-88, 1 TD; Dillon Braxton 4-38, 1 TD; AJ Scott 2-23.