@Practice

Meredith and Steven Bell

Christian Leadership: Integrity

Integrity is best learned by imagining the end result. Integrity is being a person that lives the high standards for self and others. People with integrity live each day by making right choices that do good over harm.  John Wesley, the foundation of the Methodist movement, encouraged Christians to “do all the good you can in all the ways you can.”

If this is your work and life each day, you are living with integrity inspired by Jesus Christ.

When you find people who live with strong integrity, it is best to learn from them. They know something about life that you need to know.

Rev. Wally Chappell lived a life of service and integrity.  As a young man, he used his mind to study engineering at Rice University in Houston, Texas.  He felt a call to serve others in the church and felt the need to study theology. He attended Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

His integrity included living in his true-self with a true understanding of God’s work in the world around him. At the end of his life, he wrote these words:

“My Legacy” by Rev. Wallace Chappell

The Sunday School teacher asked, “What legacy do you leave your family? Sons? Their wives and your great-grandchildren?” Here are some of my thoughts on the matter.

With respect to BEING:

  1. An example of a man of transparent integrity: true blue; real. What you see is what you get. The opposite of phony. I see this as God’s design for humanity.
  2. An example of a man of love:  love of kin, love of ‘The Great Mystery’ of life, and
    love for commitment to the well-being of everyone; while holding all in warm regard; a love not necessarily connected to liking people. I see this as Jesus’ understanding of love.
  3. An example of one who looks steadily in the eyes of all I meet, communicating openness and acceptance. I understand this to be ‘The Way’ of Jesus and his followers and may be labeled ‘utmost hospitality.’
  4. An example of a man who lives the call to silence: at moments each day to cease the rush, to turn off the mental chatter, to learn to ‘hear’ the ‘voice’ of ‘The Mystery’ that speaks in our thoughts; and to hear so clearly, so discernibly, that the ‘Great Yes’ of faith wells up within: ‘Yes’ to ‘The Mystery,’ ‘Yes’ to grace, and ‘Yes’ to fulfillment and an abundant life. I believe this will not happen in the notice and speed of modern life unless we attend the silences and heed the messages of the ‘Still Small Voice.’

So, my legacy is: if we do observe the silences, religion will again make sense, and ‘The Other” will communicate with us in ways that produce love, compassion, justice, kindness, and hospitality. This I see as ‘spiritual’ life.

  1. An example of a man who follows 1 through 4 above so diligently and consistently that a new care for the earth, its people, and its resources is established and maintained; soon; since our window of survival seems to me to be steadily closing. This is the life of a caretaker of God’s creation.

With respect to DOING:

That I leave as a pastor, churchman, servant, preacher, husband, daddy, grandfather, engineer, kinsman, educator, citizen and friend.

With respect to GROWING:

That I hope to leave as one who is going on toward a perfection that will never be completed in this life, a perfection measured by ‘Holy Mystery’ alone, which will continue to re-visit me, and nudge me on, as long as sentences and faith remain.

This is my legacy.

Join us every Thursday as we explore practices that connect us with our Creator God. God’s greatest desire is to BE with us. Spiritual practices keep us in the flow of the Holy Spirit and God’s presence. We are thrilled you are here and @Practice with us. This simple moment can be a retreat from daily life and a space for you to BE with God in your every day activities.

Meredith and Steven Bell share many things in common and share many differences. They met 24 years ago in Dallas, Texas while studying theology. With each having a science degree already, they both decided a theology degree was the next right step. For the past 24 years, they have served communities in ministry together in a number of different ways. The relationships they have built along the way with friends, colleagues and churches is a blessing to their lives. The biggest blessing is being parents to two amazing young women. From diapers to driver’s licenses, they have parented, laughed, sacrificed, loved, prayed, cried, and grown together. Their differences simply make life interesting. Growing up in different states, listening to different music, enjoying different hobbies and just seeing the world around them differently keeps conversations lively! You can find Steven at First Methodist Church of Shreveport most days unless he is looking for waterfowl with his dog, Sam. You can find Meredith writing grants for non-profits and coaching people in ministry. More than anything, you can find the Bells living grateful lives. We are grateful to live in Shreveport and even more grateful to join with others to spread hope, love, and faith in the community!


Young LSU corners square up to Kirklin mantra for inspiration

VETERAN APPROACH: LSU linebacker Greg Penn III says the inexperienced  cornerbacks set to play against Alabama need the same “Fighting Tigers” attitude shown two seasons ago by Jontre Kirklin, a receiver pressed into duty as the starting quarterback. (Photo by GUS STARK, LSU Athletics)

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE — LSU starting junior linebacker Greg Penn III knows what it feels like when the odds aren’t on his side.

Two seasons ago, he was a wide-eyed freshman on a 4-4 Tigers team led by a lame-duck head coach. That LSU team headed to Alabama as a 28-point underdog to play the defending national champion and No. 3 ranked 7-1 Crimson Tide.

“It was a crazy game,” said Penn, who’ll play in his third Tigers-Tide tiff Saturday night at 6:45 in Tuscaloosa. “A lot of people didn’t think we had a shot.”

The Tigers did have a shot but lost 20-14 in a battle that could have scuttled Alabama’s chances of returning to the national title game.

It was a game LSU could have possibly taken to overtime, but already-fired head coach Ed Orgeron took a fourth-and-goal gamble from the Alabama 7 with 6:46 left, which failed. He could’ve let placekicker Cade York kick a 24-yard field goal to cut the score to 20-17.

If that had happened, York, who made 15 of 19 field goals 50 yards and beyond in his three-year LSU career, would have had a chance to tie the game with a 47-yard goal as time expired. Instead, LSU’s only choice was for quarterback Max Johnson to launch a pass into the end zone intended for Brian Thomas Jr. that was batted away incomplete.

A couple of months after that game, LSU had just 39 scholarship players, an interim head coach and no quarterback available when it lost to Kansas State 42-20 in the Texas Bowl.

With Johnson already decided to enter the transfer portal and backup Garrett Nussmeier deciding to not play to preserve his freshman redshirt season, the Tigers were forced to play wide receiver Jontre Kirklin, a former high school QB, as the starting QB.

In Tuesday’s LSU players media availability, Penn recalled Kirklin’s postgame comments of throwing two TD passes in the game’s final four minutes, including an 81-yard scoring strike to Chris Hilton Jr. as time expired.

“Shoot, we’re Fighting Tigers.” Kirklin said. “We’re not going to back down from nobody. If we’ve got 11, we’re going to go play.”

Penn is using those words this weekend as a team mantra when the 14th-ranked Tigers (6-2 overall, 4-1 SEC West), handicapped by having to rely on a trio of little-used true freshmen cornerbacks and a sophomore, face the No. 8 Tide (7-1, 5-0 SEC West).

“We just gotta go out there and fight like Tigers,” Penn said. “You’ve got to love it. It is what it is.”

Upperclassmen have offered this week loads of encouragement to true freshmen corners Ashton Stamps, Jeremiah Hughes and Jason Toviano, and sophomore Laterrance Welch.

That collective college game experience of the foursome is 41 games with 1 start, 23 tackles, a ½ tackle for loss and 2 pass breakups.

“Those young guys are doing a great job (in practice), Penn said. “We’re trying to make their job as easy as possible. They’re doing a good job communicating out there. We just want them to go out there and play fast and play with confidence.”

Here’s a brief look at each cornerback:

Ashton Stamps, 6-0, 188, Fr., New Orleans Archbishop Rummel: Was rated only a 3-star prospect. Had 65 tackles and 9 pass breakups last season as a high school senior, despite being targeted 10 times. Added 10 pounds of muscle in summer workouts. He impressed coaches and teammates with his intelligence. Had an outstanding preseason camp with the Tigers, breaking up passes and collecting interceptions. “Ashton is going to be a very good player,” Hilton said in the preseason. “We saw a (practice) play on film in which he rerouted the receiver, then dropped back and then made the pick. That’s something you don’t see every day from a freshman.” Stamps has played in six games, including a start against Ole Miss when he re-aggravated a groin injury. He sat out the Auburn and Army games and returned to practice this week.

Jason Toviano, 6-1, 201, Fr., Arlington (Texas) Martin High: Was rated a 4-star prospect by Rivals, which also tagged him as the fourth-best high school cornerback in the nation last season when he had 38 tackles, 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles. Has played sparingly in all 8 LSU games, mostly as a reserve safety. Has 6 tackles.

Jeremiah Hughes, 6-0, 187, Fr., Las Vegas (Nevada) Bishop Gorman: From the same high school as current LSU senior basketball forward Mwani Wilkerson, he’s a 3-star prospect who was moved from wide receiver to defensive back as a junior. Was rated as one of the top five high school players in Nevada last season. Has played in all 8 LSU games this year as a backup corner. Has 3 tackles.

Laterrance Welch, 6-1, 193, So., Lafayette Acadiana High: Was rated in 2021 as a high school senior as a four-star cornerback by ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals. Ranked No. 12 nationally at his position by ESPN. Played in 13 games as an LSU freshman last season, mostly on special teams. Has played in six LSU games this season with 6 tackles, a ½ TFL and 1 PBU.

“These guys are inexperienced,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly of his young group of cornerbacks. “But they are really good players and they’ll get out there and compete for LSU.”

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com


Northwood as underdog tries to beat North DeSoto again

UNDERDOG ON A ROLL:  Austin Brown’s Northwood Falcons have an impressive series streak against their District 1-4A rivals, North DeSoto, going into tonight’s meeting in Blanchard. (Journal file photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL)

By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

The Northwood Falcons have come down a different street, but they have arrived at the same address when it comes to Friday’s game with North DeSoto.

Playing the Griffins for a district championship isn’t anything new, but this time, the Falcons will be a decided underdog.

And it’s OK to say that. Northwood coach Austin Brown actually likes being in the underdog role. 

Whether or not the Falcons have been the underdog in the last few years in this matchup may have been up for debate, but the Falcons certainly had their share of credentials in the days leading up to this game. In the last six years — excluding the COVID-19 year of 2020 which had a shortened season — Northwood has had teams with a record of at least 8-2 in the regular season.

This year is shaping up differently. North DeSoto comes in to the game ranked No. 4 in the state and sitting on top of the District 1-5A standings with a 6-0 record.

Northwood is 5-4 overall but the Falcons are 5-1 in in the district, which gives them a shot to win the district if they are able to take down visiting North DeSoto Thursday night at 7 o’clock at Jerry Burton Stadium.

But then there is also this. In the last six years, Northwood has beaten North DeSoto seven times on the field (one was later ruled as a forfeit), which includes a 2021 playoff matchup.

“The last couple have been awesome games, down to the wire,” Brown said. “I think we’re very similar teams, we just go about it in different ways. Those two styles tend to clash, and the last couple years we’ve had epic games.”

Last year was one of those as North DeSoto led 13-0 before Northwood came roaring back. The difference ended up being a missed extra point in the fourth quarter and a defensive stand inside the 20 by the Falcons to end the game.

The Falcons started the season 0-3 before catching fire. That’s quite similar to North DeSoto in 2021, when the Griffins started 0-4 before winning five straight and reaching the playoffs before losing to, you guessed it, Northwood in the second round.

That’s not the only similarity between the two schools.

“We feel like we’re similar communities,” Brown said. “We take the underdog mentality as far as Blanchard (Northwood) vs. Stonewall (North DeSoto), but from a football standpoint, it’s gone our way. It just adds an extra element. Two small towns, suburbs of Shreveport. It’s what high school football is supposed to be.”

Plus, the football field isn’t the only place where some of the players on both teams have met before.

“A lot of the best players on our teams are also baseball players,” Brown said. “We’ve got their number in football so far, and they’ve got our number in baseball.”

North DeSoto beat Northwood in the baseball quarterfinals in 2022 in an epic, extra-inning first game of the best-of-three series. Last spring, Northwood won 17 of 19 games to end the regular season. The only two losses? Both to North DeSoto.

Northwood is currently No. 14 in the Division 1-Select power rankings. The top 16 get a first-round home game, so that gives the Falcons even more incentive.

The Falcons are coming off a 48-18 win over Woodlawn in which senior quarterback Hutson Hearron passed for 232 yards and three touchdowns, completing 12 of 16. Northwood also had a 60-yard punt return from Elijah Crawford and a 25-yard blocked kick return by Christian Blackmon. 

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

NORTH DESOTO (8-1, 6-0) at NORTHWOOD (5-4, 5-1)  

Where: Jerry Burton Stadium 

Series: Northwood 9-6 

Last year: Northwood 20-19 

Last week: Northwood beat Woodlawn 48-18; North DeSoto beat Bossier 55-8 

Rankings: Northwood #6 in SBJ Top 10 poll; North DeSoto #4 in LSWA Class 4A Top 10 poll 

LHSAA power rankings: Northwood #14 Select Div. I; North DeSoto #1 Non-Select Div. II 

Radio: none 

Notables: Northwood moved up to No. 14 in the power rankings and with a win would move up more by playing the No. 1 team in Non-Select Division II … Falcon QB Hutson Hearron completed 12 of 16 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Woodlawn … Tucker McCabe had two touchdowns on three receptions and 102 yards receiving … Jalil Wainwright had three catches for 77 yards and a touchdown … North DeSoto is among the state leaders averaging 50.8 points per game … Sophomore QB Luke Delafield has passed for 2,243 yards connecting on 125 passes of 196 attempts and 24 TDs; Kenny Thomas has rushed for 927 yards and 13 touchdowns; Trysten Hopper has 803 yards on 145 carries and 14 touchdowns. Cole Cory has 1,062 receiving yards on 53 catches and 10 touchdowns.


High-scoring Airline, Huntington visit last-place teams Southwood, Bossier 

LOOKING FOR SPACE:  Huntington receiver Preston Summage (1) takes an angle trying to get past Byrd’s Kaiden Abraham-Miller (14) in an early-season game won 44-43 by the Raiders. (Journal photo by GAVEN HAMMOND, landgphoto.com)

JOURNAL SPORTS 

Winning games late in the regular season usually means you increase on your power points and improve your rating, that is unless you are Airline and Huntington.  

Both schools will finish the regular season with games against teams that are in last place in their respective districts. Wins aren’t likely to help either team but will keep them from dropping too far in power rankings for the postseason divisions they are in.  

Airline (8-1, 5-1) plays winless Southwood (0-9, 0-6) tonight at Independence Stadium in a District 1-5A game. The Vikings are the No. 2 team in Non-Select Division I and playing a team that hasn’t won a game could mean they drop a spot or two from the lack of points a winless team is worth.  

Huntington (6-3, 4-2) goes across the river to play Bossier (1-8, 0=6) at Memorial Stadium in a District 1-4A game. The Raiders are the No. 12 team in Select Division I and playing the one-win Bearkats isn’t likely going to improve their spot.  

AIRLINE (8-1, 5-1) vs. SOUTHWOOD (0-9, 0-6)   

Where: Independence Stadium  

Series: Airline 29-19  

Last year: Airline 42-14  

Last week: Southwood lost to Byrd 37-18; Airline beat Parkway 33-16  

Rankings: Airline #3 in SBJ Top 10 poll  

LHSAA power rankings: Southwood #31 Select Div. I; Airline #2 Non-Select Div. I  

Radio: none   

Notables: Tonight’s regular-season finale will bring an end to another tough year for the Cowboys … Southwood is riding a 36-game losing streak … The Cowboys’ last win came on Nov. 1, 2019 (18-16 over Parkway) … RB Jeremy Tyler had two of the Cowboys’ three touchdowns last week … Airline can win more than eight games in a regular season for the first time since 1998 … Justin Scogin is the third straight Airline head coach to have winning seasons his first two years and with two more wins will also have at least 17 wins those first two seasons … QB Ben Taylor had his fifth straight game of 300-yards passing against Parkway, following his season-high 471 yards against Benton in the 1-5A opener … he continues to lead the state In passing with 3,187 yards and 40 touchdowns … RB Brandon Cooper had 115 yards on 12 carries last week, his second 100-yard game of the season.

District 1-4A 

HUNTINGTON (6-3, 4-2) at BOSSIER (1-8, 0-6)   

Where: Memorial Stadium  

Series: Huntington 11-6  

Last year: Huntington 48-0  

Last week: Bossier lost to North DeSoto 55-8; Huntington beat Evangel 34-29  

Rankings: Huntington ranked #5 in SBJ Top 10 poll.  

LHSAA power rankings: Bossier #38 in Non-Select Div. II; Huntington #12 Select Div. I  

Radio: none  

Notables: Huntington averages 32 points per game and 38.7 in the six games it has won … Landon Gibbs stepped in at quarterback for the injured Loranzo White and passed for 128 yards, hitting 8 of 15 passes in last week’s win over Evangel … Jamarion Washington led the Raiders’ ground game with 164 yards on six carries and two touchdowns .. Marcus Willis had 132 yards on 15 carries and 1 TD … Tight end Michael Casey had the game-winning 24-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the game as the Raiders amassed 386 yards on the ground … Bossier has scored in each of its last four games after being shut out the previous three.   


Evangel’s senior class doesn’t lack for college talent

By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine/YouTube TV

The Class of 2024 at Evangel Christian Academy is a special one. It is a close group of kids who have played for the most part four years of varsity football together, gradually improving as a team and individually.

The Eagles have a large group of kids who have a chance to play college ball and some are already committed to colleges.

It starts on offense with the talented and productive Fulgham brothers. Quarterback Peyton Fulgham (6-1, 190) has committed to Nicholls for football and will get a chance to also start in baseball for the Colonels. Peyton’s brother, the gifted receiver Parker Fulgham (6-2, 185), has many offers: Evangel Christian University, Southern Arkansas, Grambling, Nicholls, Ouachita Baptist, Louisiana Christian, Centenary, Northwestern State, and walk-on offers from Clemson and Rice. More will follow.

The offensive line has two players already committed to colleges in guard/center Jacob Carpenter (6-3, 265), who’s also set to join Tim Rebowe’s program at Nicholls and OT/OG Tristan Santoro (6-7, 305), who’s been committed to the Baylor Bears. Carpenter, if he gets moved to center in college, could be special. Santoro has tons of raw ability to become a great one. 

There is a third prospect who, if given a chance, would start for a few small colleges in OG/OC Matthew Garrett (6-1, 230). He plays fullback, tight end and even running back. He is tough as nails.

Receiver Roy Morris is a late bloomer in football and at 6-3, 185 has a great frame to be a steal for some college.

WR/CB Tyreek Robinson is one of the better athletes in Shreveport-Bossier. He runs a 4.4 forty at 5-10, 165 and has offers from Central Michigan, Southeastern and Texas State. Robinson will get more offers once the season is over.

The Eagles’ defense has some really good prospects in the senior class, headlined by Texas A&M commitment DE/LB Gabriel Reilford (6-2, 255). I think he’s not only one of the better defensive linemen in Louisiana, but he’s among the elite in the country.  He’s not an Aggie yet; he’s made some visits to Baton Rouge recently and could flip to LSU before signing day next month.

More ECA defenders to consider: OLB Jamal Jordan (6-1, 215), strong safety Jacob Wilson (5-11, 195), and CB/SS T’Ziah Glynn (5-9, 165). Jordan has an offer from Louisiana Tech, and with his size and 4.69 forty speed, his list will get longer. Glynn is a big-time sleeper with 4.59 speed. Wilson has an offer from Centenary and is talking to UL-Lafayette.

Kris Jenkins (5-11, 210) is an Evangel linebacker I like. He’s tough and he’s a leader. He’s played DE and LB for coach Denny Duron. I see him at linebacker in college.

Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com


LSUS wins nailbiter in the Shreveport Showdown

HOT HAND:  Quentin Beverly of Centenary led all scorers in the Gents’ last-minute loss to LSUS Wednesday night. (Photo courtesy Centenary Athletics)

By PRESTON EDWARDS, Journal Sports

Whether the game is known as the Crosstown Showdown, the Shreveport Showdown, or the Kings Highway Clash, it is always a raucous environment when LSUS and Centenary hook up on the hardwood. This year’s edition was no different Wednesday night at the Gents’ Gold Dome.

While this is considered a rivalry game, the Pilots have come out on the winning end in six of the previous seven games in the series. So, this rivalry has been somewhat one-sided.

The eighth edition of this classic was the season opener for both squads and it was full of fireworks and drama. LSUS built a 10-point lead with a minute left only to squander it. However, missed last second looks by Seth Thomas and Jalen Behr helped the Pilots escape the Gold Dome with a 67-64 victory.

LSUS coach Kyle Blankenship spoke about the atmosphere and each team’s performance after the game.

“Shreveport showed up (for this one tonight). Great atmosphere. It was our first time out with some new guys. We try to schedule tough in the preseason to put them in situations they will see later in March. We had a 10-point lead late that we tried to give away. That (Centenary) is a well-coached team.”

His Pilots looked like they might lose their second game in the rivalry as the game opened. Seth Thomas, Centenary’s fifth-year senior, scored eight of the first 10 and helped the Gents build a 15-2 lead by the first mandatory timeout.

The Pilots walked the Gents down, however, and made it a one-point game midway through the first half by getting to the charity stripe. LSUS made 11 free throws to help cut the margin to single digits. Despite the Pilots’ surge, Centenary managed to carry a 33-29 lead into intermission.

The second half became a back-and-forth contest. Melvion Flanagan began the scoring with a traditional three-point play cutting the lead to one. From there, each team traded baskets and the lead most of the way.

There were six ties and nine lead changes in the second half. LSUS took command at the three-minute mark, going on an 8-0 run which gave it that 10-point lead. Paul King, who went perfect from the free throw line, led the Pilots with 15. Guard Damon Davis followed with 14.

Quentin Beverly and Seth Thomas were the Gents’ dynamic duo on the night. They had 20 and 18 respectively, which led all scorers.

Centenary coach Chris Dorsey talked about the maturation of the night’s leading scorer.

“Que has become a verbal leader while last year he led by example. He is one of our top offensive guys and we expect a lot from him.”

Both teams can take positives into their next game from this one.

LSUS and Centenary will open their home schedules next Wednesday. LSUS will hook up with John Melvin in their annual Champions of Character game while the Gents will host Texas College.

Women — LSUS 88, Centenary 48

Blankenship got his first win as the interim coach of the women’s team as a nine-point run at the end of the first quarter broke open a tight game in Wednesday’s first contest. The Lady Pilots led by 11 after one, and took a commanding 20-point lead at the break.

The Lady Pilots saw five players score in double figures, led by Tyquanna Ross who had 12. TaNyjah Plumber of the Lady Gents led all scorers in the game with 13 points, going 3-5 from three.

LSUS moves to 1-1 on the young season. They will play Dillard on Saturday at The Dock.

The Centenary Ladies will officially open their season next Wednesday on the road at Jarvis Christian. Their game against the Lady Pilots counted as an exhibition.

Contact Preston at preston9360@gmail.com


Week 10 local football stat leaders remain the same

RAIDER PASSER:  Lorenzo White ranks fifth in passing among local quarterbacks entering the final week of the regular season. (Journal photo by GAVEN HAMMOND, landgphoto.com)

JOURNAL SPORTS

Airline quarterback Ben Taylor had his fifth straight 300-yard passing game in last week’s 33-16 win over Parkway and continues to lead the state with 3,187 yards and 40 touchdowns.

Taylor has only one game with less than 300 yards passing in his junior season in breaking his own school record a year after becoming the first Vikings QB to pass for more than 3,000 yards.

Captain Shreve junior running back Jamarlon Otis had his third game of more than 200 yards rushing and continues to lead area rushers with 1,492 yards. His junior season total leaves him one yard shy of 2,000 career yards.

Airline receiver Jarvis Davis Jr. continues to lead the area with 985 yards on 63 catches. He is one of four Vikings that has 32 or more catches and one of five with 300 or more yards on the season.

Here are the area statistical leaders through 9 games.

RUSHING

Name, school- Att-Yds-TDs

Jamarlon Otis, Captain Shreve, 168-1,492-16

Greg Manning, Benton, 211-1,323-19

Antonio Gladney, Parkway, 151-976-11

Mason Jackson, North Caddo, 97-900-na

Marcus Willis, Huntington, 93-757-7

James Simon, Calvary, 92-716-10

Christian Turner, Haughton, 66-686-9

Quortni Beaner, Captain Shreve, 94-667-15

Malachi Johnson, Byrd, 68-660-12

Patrick Gosslee, Loyola, 101-654-9

Quintin Wilson, Woodlawn, 67-538-na

Desmond Simmons, Byrd, 102-512-1

Chris Mayes, Haughton, 50-486-2

Tray Morris, North Caddo, 71-486-na

Tre’Von Jackson, Airline, 68-476-6

Damari Drake, Evangel, 45-469-8

Bryce Carpenter, Loyola, 60-349-6

PASSING

Name, school, Com-Att-Int, Yds, TDs

Ben Taylor, Airline, 236-326-7, 3,187, 40

Abram Wardell, Calvary, 167-211-1, 2,599, 31

Peyton Fulghum, Evangel, 133-200-9, 2,193, 21

Jeffrey King, Benton, 113-202-4, 1,617, 18

Lorenzo White, Huntington, 85-153-8, 1,311, 15

Kaleb Williams, Parkway, 116-172-2, 1,287, 11

Christian Turner, Haughton, 83-152-2, 1,272, 16

Hutson Hearron, Northwood, 101-167-7, 1,180, 13

Isaiah Kennedy, Woodlawn, 57-84-8, 1,060, 7

Brodie Savage, Captain Shreve, 44-71-3, 708, 7

Mason Jackson, North Caddo, 66-107-3, 659, 7

Bryce Carpenter, Loyola, 46-94-4, 648, 8

RECEIVING

Name, school, Rec-Yards-TDs

Jarvis Davis Jr., Airline, 63-985-7

Tre’Von Jackson, Airline, 53-636-8

Parker Fulghum, Evangel, 52-1,080-11

Bryson Broom, Airline, 47-772-14

Jalen Lewis, Haughton, 46 -661 -9

Aubrey Hermes, Calvary, 43-871-11

Tyreek Robinson, Evangel, 42-611-10

Trey Smith, Benton, 40 -729 -11

Kolby Thomas, Calvary, 40-504-6

Jayden Lewis, Parkway, 36-616 -5

Tucker McCabe, Northwood, 35-505-8

Chris Jackson, Calvary, 34-437-5

Preston Summage, Huntington, 34-401-2

Jamarion Montgomery, Haughton, 33 -410 -5

John Simon IV, Calvary, 32-634-7

Bob Patterson, Airline, 32 -322 -5

Kaleb Tucker, Huntington, 31-610-8

Jackson Jones, Benton, 28 -343 -4

Antonio Gladney, Parkway, 28 -237 -3

Greg Manning, Benton, 27 -354 -2

Chancellor Washington, North Caddo, 27-292–

Jamarion Washington, Huntington, 26-491-6

Reagan Coyle, Loyola, 25-280-2

Keaton Flowers, Captain Shreve 24-328-5

Jordan Wiggins, Captain Shreve, 22-517-6

Phat Mayweather, Parkway, 21 -200 -0

Jude Gaitan, Loyola, 20-275-4

Desmond Harris, Northwood, 20-238-3

Kenny Darby, Airline, 18 -300 -5

Delarrious Marshall, Green Oaks, 16-236-3

Cody Wilhite, Benton, 15 -195 -2

Zu’Moundis Davis, Haughton, 13 -304 -4


More ‘bear’ facts to consider

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is expected to vote at its November meeting on whether our state will schedule a hunting season for black bears in 2024-25. 

 There are those, especially hunters and hunting camp and other property owners in parishes bordering the Mississippi River, who welcome the possibility of scheduling a hunting season for bears. They have grown tired of seeing hunting stands, feeders and camps damaged or destroyed by what they consider nuisance animals. They also point to the fact that bear numbers especially in that part of the state continue to grow.

 On the flip side, there are animal rights activists and others who hate the thought of our resident bears being hunted. What the Commission decides will dictate which of the two groups gets what they prefer.

 OK, let’s assume you are a proponent of bear hunting in Louisiana, your name gets drawn to enable you to hunt bears. What if you get one? What will you do with it? Process it yourself or take it to a taxidermist? I talked with a taxidermist friend about his thoughts on processing a bear.

 “There’s a good bit more work involved. Most folks who bring in a bear want a half body mount, full body mount or a bearskin rug. This involves skinning out the feet, the toes and front legs. It takes more time because of the size. They make beautiful mounts; we have done several brought in from out of state,” he said.

 Comments I read concerning preparing and eating bear meat differ as much as the pro-hunt/no hunt parties.

            “Bear meat is nasty,” said one. “Bear meat is wonderful,” another counters. “Just treat it like pork. I have eaten every bear I’ve killed and turned it into roasts, breakfast sausage, Italian sausage and prepared on the smoker,” a fan of eating bear added.

            Google has much to say about bear meat for food. “Bears are known to carry the disease trichinosis, like pork. To prevent getting it, killing the trichinosis in the meat is as simple as making sure the meat hits 160 degrees when cooking.”

            Other comments I found on the Internet are interesting…“Stuff like chili, tamales, shredded bear, burgers, tacos and stew are going to make you love bear meat more and more.”

Another writes, “The best steaks come from the loin, aka, backstrap. You can cut several large roasts from the front and hind quarters and reserve the rest for stew meat and/or grind into burger.”

Here’s another thing to consider. Peterson Hunting magazine has this to add to the pro/con of eating bear meat. “It pays to consider their diet. Bears shot in the fall eat wild berries and in spring, they feed on grass; it’s like they’re grain fed. Perhaps only dumpster bears, scavenging on the soiled scraps of what we humans eat should be avoided.”

I would conclude that bears that have grown fat on corn when they rip into a corn feeder, should provide a better taste than the dumpster divers.

The jury is still out. Some folks like to eat bear meat; others wouldn’t touch it. If you are selected to hunt bear and you get one but you can’t relish the thought of eating one, here’s a comment I read from a guy who doesn’t plan to eat bear meat and who might have trouble getting along with folks.

“Give the meat to neighbors you don’t like.” 

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com


LSUS alum Angela Bowman-White: A lifelong commitment to adoption services

As an LSUS student, Angela Bowman-White had a passion for learning that extended across various fields of study. She found herself drawn to sociology, criminal justice, and a range of other courses, ultimately earning a general studies degree in 2008. Little did she know that this diverse academic background would play a crucial role in her future.

Fast forward to 2023, and Angela Bowman-White is applying every bit of that knowledge as the director of the only adoption agency of its kind in the region.

After a successful career in community and outpatient mental health centers, Angela’s mentor suggested that she explore opportunities at Open Arms Adoption Services, Inc., working alongside D. Missy Everson. This shift into the world of adoption marked a significant change from her previous work in mental health.

“Adoption was completely different than the mental health arena,” Angela said. She earned a master’s degree in social work from LSU in 2012 and joined Open Arms Adoption Services in 2016, primarily working with families hoping to adopt. However, when Missy Everson announced her plans to retire, Angela found herself being groomed to take over the agency.

This transition required Angela to dive into the adoption arena from the perspective of birth mothers who choose adoption and understand the business concepts of operating the agency.

Open Arms specializes in infant and toddler placement in Louisiana, connecting adoptive families and birth mothers. The agency offers a wide range of services, including various types of support for birth mothers during their pregnancies. Birth families have the option to choose adoptive parents, and the agency provides intensive orientation, home study, and post-adoption supervision for adoptive parents.

Angela took over as the agency’s director in early 2023 after a year of intense mentorship from Missy Everson. She sought additional training, including a certificate in Training for Adoption Competency through the Center for Adoption Support and Education, to prepare herself for the new role.

Whether it’s being present at births or working around a family’s schedule for evening or weekend supervision visits, Angela Bowman-White might be running the roads all across northwest Louisiana.

“I very much feel like adoption work is purposeful; there’s a bigger picture behind it – it’s not just a job,” Angela said. “I can see a bigger hand moving the pieces. When you see a lifelong, ongoing relationship with a birth family and adoptive family staying connected, it’s a beautiful thing.”

Open Arms’ services have become even more critical after Louisiana’s 2022 ban on virtually all abortions, with exceptions only in cases where the mother’s life is in danger or the fetus is not expected to survive the pregnancy.

The organization’s services extend well beyond the adoption process. Counseling services are available to the adopted child, birth families, and adoptive families.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s been five weeks or five years since the adoption; we offer counseling services throughout the lifecycle of that adoption,” Angela explained. “Part of the benefit of placing through an agency like ours is that those lifelong resources exist. It’s broader than just the adoption.”

The field of adoption services allows Angela to merge her varied interests, which she discovered in part through her time at LSUS. Whether it’s assisting pregnant mothers who might be in unstable environments or assuring a couple battling infertility, Angela finds fulfillment in her work.

As a LaPREP graduate who spent three summers on LSUS’s campus during middle school and also visited her father, Michael Bowman, who worked in computing services at LSUS, Angela has always had a close connection with the university.

November is National Adoption Month, and Angela Bowman-White’s story is a testament to the profound impact that one individual, armed with knowledge and compassion, can have on the lives of countless families.

To learn more about Open Arms Adoption Services Inc., visit Open Arms Adoption Services.


Celebrating outstanding philanthropists Dr. George and Sandra Bakowski

In a world that often requires a helping hand, the shining examples of generosity and community commitment are truly inspiring. Meet Dr. George and Sandra Bakowski, the regional 2023 National Philanthrophy Day Outstanding Philanthropists, whose remarkable contributions are leaving a lasting, positive impact on the Shreveport community.

“Exhibits exceptional generosity to the community” – these words perfectly encapsulate the unwavering dedication of Dr. George and Sandra Bakowski. Beyond their roles as business entrepreneurs, they have embraced the essence of philanthropy, understanding its profound ability to transform our community for the better.

The Bakowskis have donned many hats, from business owners and educators to property developers, and are being honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals of North Louisiana.

Their philanthropic journey has seen them actively involved in numerous volunteer roles within the Shreveport community. Dr. Bakowski, a practicing optometrist, and Mrs. Bakowski, a former Caddo Parish Public Schools teacher, played pivotal roles in establishing the Caddo Parish Child Advocate Program.

One remarkable contribution that stands as a testament to their commitment is the Bakowski Bridge of Lights on the Texas Street Bridge. As lead advocates and donors for this beautiful LED light project, Dr. Bakowski’s meticulous research on the lighting product and advocacy with government leadership was instrumental. This bridge not only adds a touch of elegance to our community but also acts as a catalyst for both community pride and economic development.

The Bakowskis’ support extends far and wide, and LSU Health Shreveport has been a fortunate recipient of their generosity since 2010. They funded the Dr. George and Sandra Bakowski Endowed Professorship in Aerodigestive Malignancies for the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center (FWCC). In 2014, they made a commitment to renovate the library in the FWCC, resulting in the creation of the Dr. George and Sandra Bakowski Center of Learning. This modern space provides patients with essential resources to understand cancer care, treatment, and prevention.

With the introduction of the new Center for Medical Education building, the Bakowskis have gone even further by committing to fund the Bakowski Center for Culinary Medicine. This innovative center will include a demonstration kitchen, offering culinary medicine educational programming courses, making it a valuable resource for the community.

However, the Bakowskis’ giving spirit goes beyond the boundaries of these organizations. Their donations have touched the lives of numerous institutions, including the Ark-La-Tex Sports Museum of Champions, Friends of the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, Shreveport Water Works Museum, American Heart Association, Diocese of Shreveport, and Eye Samaritans International.

Their philanthropic endeavors are a testament to the positive impact that individuals can have when they combine their resources, dedication, and compassion. The Bakowskis embody the spirit of giving and community-building, and their legacy will undoubtedly continue to benefit Shreveport for years to come.

As we celebrate their extraordinary contributions, it’s important to note that tickets for the NPD event are still available. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this remarkable occasion. Purchase your tickets today at NPD Event Tickets.

The story of Dr. George and Sandra Bakowski is a testament to the incredible potential of philanthropy to transform and uplift our community. Their generosity serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring us all to make a positive impact in our own way.

 Photo Courtesy of Facebook


Notice of Death – November 1, 2023

Kathleen James
December 5, 1930 — October 28, 2023
Service: Saturday, November 4, 2023, 10am at Grand Cane Cemetery

W. L. Marney
April 22, 1939 — October 28, 2023
Service: Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 1:30pm at Northwest LA Veterans Cemetery.

The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. 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)

Arrest warrant issued for accused child molester

Jamie Davis

Investigators with Shreveport Police Department’s Sex Crimes Unit have issued warrants accusing a 42-year-old man of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 10.

On October 4, Shreveport Police received reports that a young girl disclosed that she was sexually assaulted by an adult male. Detectives with the SCU launched an investigation. During that investigation, they were able to develop enough evidence to procure a warrant charging Jamie Davis (08/03/81), with one count of Molestation of a Juvenile. No Bond was set.

Police are asking anyone with information as to Davis’s whereabouts to contact Shreveport Police Immediately at 318-673-7300 #3. Those wishing to submit information anonymously can do so through Caddo Shreveport Crime Stoppers at P3tips.com, through their app P3Tips, or by telephone at 318-673-7373. Crime Stoppers pays cash for the arrest of individuals wanted for crimes.

New Assistant DA sworn in for Caddo Parish

Caddo parish District Attorney James Stewart swore in Hilary Hileman on Oct. 31 as the newest Assistant District Attorney, First Judicial District. Hilary is a native of Dallas, and graduate of Texas Woman’s University and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. She comes to us from the Caddo Parish Public Defender’s Office and private practice. She also previously worked at Legal Services of North Louisiana. Welcome aboard Hilary (aka “Wednesday Adams” in her Halloween outfit)!


This week with the History Geek

Question of the week: What was the first radio broadcast in Louisiana?

On October 19th, 1932 Henry Ford gave his first radio address. The event was notable. Ford was a world-renowned celebrity by 1932. Most people of his fame had already embraced and used the new medium of radio to further their own causes and reputations. Ford in his own way was one of the first to do so, but not in person. In other words, the Ford Motor Company was an early key sponsor on radio. In fact, in the long history of advertising, Ford was a genius and as early as 1922 the airwaves were dominated with his name and products. But, in all that time he never gave a speech or talked for any great length over the radio. That changed in the fall of 1932 when he endorsed the re-election of Herber Hoover. Much of the content and the original recording are lost. He did compare Hoover to Lincoln and asked for patience from the 7 million unemployed. Ironically, Hoover’s opponent, Frankline D. Roosevelt, was already famous for his own use of the radio, appealing directly to the hearts and minds of the people. Ford’s endorsement this time was rather lackluster and ill-timed. Nevertheless, it was clear by 1932 that communication was totally revolutionized. News, entertainment, and politicians began to send their voices straight into the homes of their constituents. What was once reserved for the charm of the pen, became the clamor of sound thrust across the airwaves.

But what about Louisiana? What was the first broadcast and was it used for such consequential purposes? The answer depends on what defines consequential. The first known radio program was at 10:52am on March 31st, 1932 from WWL a station created by Loyola University. The presenter was Father Edward Cummings, a priest employed by the school. His address was part homily and part commercial. The entire venture was a ploy to raise $1.5 million in endowment funds. As part of his plea Father Cummings announced “We are organizing the radio operators in the state to spread the story of Loyola’s needs. Will you lend your support to our campaign, both by radio and individual effort which will aid us in making Loyola University one of the greatest institutions of learning in the Southland?” Following this overture was a slate of musical selections, mostly recordings of local choirs. In Louisiana the first of this great medium was not a president, great captain of industry or popular entertainer. It was a parish priest passing the plate.

The Loyola broadcast may seem benign. But it is actually very symptomatic of the age. Radio from the beginning was a commercial enterprise. It was either going to rely on advertising to pay the freight or make public appeals to raise cash. This reality has not changed in over 100 years. Telethons and quarterly fundraisers are still a common feature for public and non-profit radio stations. Like Father Cummings they make a direct appeal to the audience for funding.

Furthermore, radio was quickly embraced by many preachers and celebrity pastors. Across the south hellfire and brimstone preachers began to wail into the microphone and were quite entertaining. Churches sponsored gospel hours and Bible societies sold prayer cards, books and other assorted goods. The first printing presses printed the Bible. Many of the first radio stations aired the Gospel. Which is where the story of Louisiana’s first broadcast takes a turn. Father Cummings was chastised by his immediate authorities for commercialization. Apparently, he had run afoul of canon 142 which read “Clerics are forbidden to engage personally or through another in business or to carry on commerce whether for their own benefit of for that of others.” For a short period WWL went silent. This did not last long. Cummings and Loyola pointed out that other parishes were selling advertisements in their magazines and newsletters to cover the cost of printing. If most of the programming was entertainment the station was not really a commercial enterprise. This argument must have been compelling because WWL not only stayed on the air, by 1929 the stated purpose of the station was to promote the welfare of the school’s endowment!

Radio and its successor television were culture transforming. Like the iPhone, it was not long before these devices were wholly embraced by the population at large. But, all change comes with a price tag. In Louisiana that price tag was $1.5 million dollars. Enjoy the choir folks, they are singing for a good cause!

This Week With the History Geek is the work of Dr. Timothy Kovalcik, Head of School at Ascension Classical School in Shreveport, Louisiana. Be sure to like his page “This week with the history geek” on Facebook or follow him on X (Twitter) @drtkovalcik


‘Must Saw TV’

The brutally sad and tragic death news of writer and extremely talented actor Matthew Perry this weekend brought to mind happier times when reality, an acquired taste for sure, was moved to the back burner every Thursday night for “Must See TV.”

In the post-Cheers, post-The Cosby Show landscape of NBC Thursday night programming, Perry and the gang took over the TV comedy series world with Friends, and the addition of Seinfeld made it a one-two punch lethal for other networks. Icing on the cake was ER, a drama like spicey forerunners Falcon Crest or Dynasty or Dallas, only set in an emergency room where George Clooney was breaking hearts and mending wounds, all at the same time. (Mostly everyone on ER wore scrubs: what a break for Wardrobe.)

Hard to believe it’s been — 30 years ago? Seinfeld moved to Thursdays in the fall of 1993-94, then Friends came along to join it and ER. An NBC TV exec dubbed it “Must See TV,” and for millions, it was.

My spousal unit, a Friends disciple, says she never missed it. I will never forget getting the cold vocal cord shoulder in a late-’90s Thursday night call to Ramz, as close to a brother as anyone I have. The chillingly brief conversation went something like, “Must See TV night. Thursday. Call you tomorrow.”

Long distance and everything. And not a big TV watcher, I had no idea. Completely out of touch with TV-watching America, was I.

I love Seinfeld, but I’ve caught them all on reruns. Any Friends or ER episode I’ve seen has been by accident. (Chandler was Matthew Perry and Joey was that other guy and Ross was The Guy Who Was Briefly In Band of Brothers and one of the girls was Monica and I don’t know the other two. Blissfully ignorant.)

I was way in the minority because America was NBC’s best friend on Thursday nights in the 1990s. Friends at 7. Then something to get you to Seinfeld at 8—might be The Single Guy or Boston Common or Suddenly Susan, just some sort of half-hour bridge—then something else to get you from 8:30 to 9 when ER aired.

Remember: not everyone had a VCR then. Most did, but many didn’t, and if you had one it was expensive and the size of an ice chest. And often didn’t work well.

No one had a DVR.

(I knew the 1980s monster hit L.A. Law was in trouble when David Spade, during a Saturday Night Live! skit (back when SNL was must-see TV), said, “L.A. Law. Didn’t watch it. Didn’t tape it.” Tons and tons of water cooler talk involved whether or not you “saw” a show or at least “taped” it. “You mean you forgot to TAPE it?!”)  

No one under 35 or so will grasp this, but if you didn’t see or tape a show in the fall, it was gone until spring reruns. So, you HAD to see it. Must See TV.

Those days are gone forever, of course. No comedy shows anymore, much less comedy nights. No variety shows. Those days gave way to the DVD and to the glorious option of streaming (which I’ve fully embraced) and to what is falsely billed as “reality TV.” The only real reality TV is sports, and I’m not so sure even THAT’S true when it comes to the NBA playoffs — but that’s another story. And definitely not Must See TV.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu


Ribbon cutting for the LTRI facility

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, Commissioner Jay Dardenne, Louisiana Tech University President Les Guice, and staff, a host of elected officials, along with Bossier Parish President Doug Rimmer and several members of the Bossier Parish Police Jury gathered at the Bossier National Cyber Research Park for the ribbon cutting of a new building for cyber research and national defense.
 
The Louisiana Tech Research Institute (LTRI) building will house 400 employees, including faculty and staff, who will conduct classified research in cyber technology. LTRI is a collaborative project between Louisiana Tech and the Cyber Innovation Center (CIC).
 
Governor Edwards said the new LTRI facility will provide a significant competitive edge in attracting the most talented and brilliant students and retaining them in North Louisiana. “The I-20 Cyber Corridor is thriving, and it has caught the attention of everyone in the private sector to the Department of Defense,” said Governor Edwards.
 
The LRTI building is one of three in the park aimed at creating high-paying, highly skilled jobs.

Ivy & Stone’s 10th Annual Christmas Party: A holiday extravaganza you won’t want to miss

The holiday season is just around the corner, and what better way to kick off the festivities than by joining Ivy & Stone for their 10th Annual Christmas Party? This local gem, located at 4320 Benton Rd. in Bossier City, is hosting a spectacular event on Thursday, November 2nd, from 5 PM to 8 PM, and it’s a celebration you won’t want to miss.

A Winter Wonderland in Bossier City

Mark your calendars for an evening of merriment and cheer as Ivy & Stone transforms into a winter wonderland. The 10th Annual Christmas Party promises an array of exciting activities and a chance to discover unique home decor items for the upcoming holiday season.

Outdoor Market Extravaganza

One of the highlights of this event is the outdoor market, featuring a plethora of local vendors with a wide range of offerings. From handcrafted gifts to home decor, you’ll find something special for everyone on your gift list. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the vendors you can expect:

  • Simply Shic: Discover elegant and stylish accessories.
  • Hibiscus Honey: For all your natural skincare needs.
  • JR Kitchen Creations: Gourmet treats and culinary delights.
  • Allison Santos Art: Unique and captivating artworks.
  • Sandy + Rizzo: A treasure trove of fashion and accessories.
  • Beauty Counter: High-quality beauty and skincare products.
  • Adelyne Elaines: Handmade jewelry and accessories.
  • Luxe Links: Elevate your style with luxurious jewelry.
  • Allison Rhymes Designs: Beautiful, handcrafted jewelry.
  • Cane River Soap Co.: Indulge in luxurious soaps and body care.
  • Copper Whisk: Discover culinary essentials for your kitchen.
  • Branded Boutique: The latest in trendy fashion.
  • Resinate In My Heart: Unique resin creations.
  • Art by Sarah Katherine: Original and captivating artworks.
  • Everything Oyster: A world of oyster-themed delights.
  • Sugah Cotton Candy: Sweet treats for kids and the young at heart.

Live Music and More

To keep the festive spirit alive, Magnolia Mae will be performing live music, creating the perfect ambiance for your shopping and socializing. Plus, there’s something for everyone when it comes to food and drinks. 318 Food Truck will tantalize your taste buds, and you can enjoy free bourbon tasting, beer, wine, and even cotton candy for the kids.

This event promises surprises and delights around every corner, making it an ideal way to embrace the holiday season and explore fantastic local businesses. Ivy & Stone’s 10th Annual Christmas Party is not just a shopping extravaganza; it’s a community celebration you’ll want to be a part of.

So, mark your calendar for Thursday, November 2nd, from 5 PM to 8 PM, and head to 4320 Benton Rd. in Bossier City, Louisiana. Join Ivy & Stone for their 10th Annual Christmas Party and start the holiday season with a touch of local charm and festive spirit. We’ll see you there!

Photo Courtesy of Facebook


Loyola’s Carpenter to face his former Calvary team Friday

FLINGIN’ FLYER: Loyola senior quarterback Bryce Carpenter, who transferred from Calvary a few years ago, will compete against his former team Friday night. (Photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL)

By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

You didn’t really expect Loyola senior quarterback Bryce Carpenter to say that this week’s game against Calvary was just another game, did you?

Or that the Cavaliers are nothing more than the next opponent on the Flyers’ schedule? 

Not from someone who attended Calvary, starting in pre-kindergarten until … he didn’t.

That was September, 2022, when Carpenter, who had started the first three games of the season at quarterback for the Cavaliers, decided to transfer after being informed that he was no longer the starter.

He had to sit out for a full calendar year from the date he enrolled at Loyola before becoming eligible to play again. 

But Carpenter always knew the date of Nov. 3, 2023, was out there — when his new school would take on his old school. And now, here it is.

The Flyers will travel to Jerry Barker Stadium Friday night to take on Calvary for the final game of the regular season. Even though the game could decide the District 1-2A championship, you have to admit that Carpenter is an interesting story line.

And he knows it.

“I think it will be interesting,” Carpenter says.

You think?

“I think there will be some talking going on,” he says. “It will be pretty competitive. But I think it will be all love at the end of the game.” 

Since becoming the starter for Loyola in Week 4 this year, Carpenter has led the Flyers to four wins in five games. He has brought a mixture of running and passing to the Loyola offense – he passed for 206 yards in his second start, and a week ago, rushed for 131 yards in a win over North Caddo.

But most of all, he’s helped the Flyers get into the end zone as he has accounted for 14 touchdowns in five games.

Changing teams and taking over in mid-season at quarterback is not a transition that many high school football players have to make in their careers.

“I had to meet new people and become a leader in a new locker room,” Carpenter says. “These are not guys I had been around my whole life. Plus, it’s a whole new offense, but I feel like I’ve learned a lot more about the game.”

Yet, having 12 months off wasn’t easy to overcome. There was an adjustment period before getting comfortable again at quarterback.

“Just being older, I feel like my confidence is back,” he says. “I understand defenses a lot better and have a better ability to make decisions.”

Carpenter says he keeps in touch with a few of his former teammates, and he is well versed in what Calvary has accomplished this year, as well as what he can expect once the game starts.

“I know they are athletic, I know they are competitive and I know they will probably be coming after me,” Carpenter says. “I think they are expecting to win and I’d like to prove them wrong.”

But he also knows what a tall order that is. Calvary is 9-0 this season, ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 2A and has outscored its previous district opponents 215-6. It’s the first time the Flyers have played a team ranked No. 1 in the state since 2015 (Sterlington).

“I think this week is an opportunity to show the improvement that we have made this season,” Carpenter says. “I’d like to show them that we are a better team than maybe they expect us to be.”

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com


Halloween costumes and escapades then and now – or not

JOURNAL SPORTS 

What did you wear for Halloween? What did you see people wearing? 

What about when you were little? Or maybe, when you were in high school?

Was Halloween just not a thing for you back then? How about now?

All of those questions and more, answered below by some of our local high school football coaches in the Week 10 edition of the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Coaches’ Roundtable.

There are treats, and a trick or two.  

RODNEY GUIN, Calvary – “Growing up, I was always some type of sports figure.  

“Now I’m the grinch of Halloween.  We go out to eat until the madness is over.”

AUSTIN BROWN, Northwood – “I don’t really remember back when I was little, but my wife and I were Blake Shelton and Gwen Steffani last night. I didn’t have to change anything. She did buy an outfit!” 

REYNOLDS MOORE, Benton – “I can’t remember much from when I was too young, but in high school we put on a haunted house at our high school, and I thought the ‘Scream’ mask (from the movie) with fake blood running down it was cool. 

“We don’t do much for Halloween now. When my kids were younger and we first moved to Alexandria, I took turns dressing up with them for a year each. Now we just give out candy like normal folks.” 

ADAM KIRBY, Captain Shreve – “I love Halloween! Candy and costumes – how does it get better than that? ! I really enjoy it more now than ever because I can watch Everett and Jackson enjoy it, so as a father, it’s an awesome time of year!”

MIKE GREENE, Loyola – “We would get a Jason mask and just scare the little kids in the neighborhood! All in fun. But we also would get a fishing line and tie it to an old purse and put it in the middle of the road — you would be surprised at how many people stopped! 

“When they bent down to get it, we would jerk it and jump out of the ditch and scare them! Not a good idea nowadays.  But we had no phones or computer games, and we made our fun.

“I had a blast as a kid. Today’s kids have no idea how fun it is to create things to do!  

“We used to have to make costumes. My mother’s sheets usually had two holes in them for our eye holes. We put the holes on the bottom of the bed, and it usually took three days for her to find the holes!  I loved Halloween.”

CHASE THOMPSON, North Caddo – “I don’t get into the Halloween spirit much anymore but as a kid, I was SpongeBob three years in a row!”

COY (younger brother) BROTHERTON, Parkway – “As a kid I always seemed to be a coach or a player.  We didn’t live in a neighborhood, so some years I was nothing.  

“Nowadays I spend Halloween with the kids.  I don’t dress up, but the kids do.  Blair and her friends are Dalmatians this year and Broox is a coach or Dak Prescott for the fourth straight year.” 

JASON (older brother) BROTHERTON, Haughton – “I think I was a football player every year. I’m not a big Halloween guy. Seems like a fake holiday to me!”

GARY SMITH, Bossier – “My favorite costume was being Randy White in a Dallas Cowboys’ uniform.”


LSU’s McMahon, coming out of ‘dumpster fire,’ cool about exhibition win

BATON ROUGE – Normally, an 88-point basketball victory by an NCAA Power 5 conference program over an NAIA school with an enrollment of around 1,100 is nothing to beat your chest about.

Which is why LSU second-year men’s head coach Matt McMahon’s tempered reaction Monday night of his team’s 132-44 un-Christian-like home exhibition game beatdown of little ’ol Louisiana Christian perfectly fit the occasion.

“Not really worried about the score, but I liked the look of our team, the athleticism and size and unselfishness,” said McMahon, who almost won by 90 without three of his best players.

He could have ended his post-game presser with those 20 words, walked out the door and everybody in the room would have understood that’s all he needed to say.

Because if you watched McMahon sit stoically smoldering in last season’s post-Will Wade era dumpster fire (as McMahon finally truthfully described it recently) that produced a 12-3 start before losing 16 of its last 18 games to finish 14-19 overall and 2-16 in the SEC, you understood that having a team that looks athletic and tall and can make outside shots is a Eurostep or two forward progress.

When LSU gave McMahon a 7-year contract nine days after it fired Wade in March 2022 for being an exceptionally indiscreet cheater in recruiting (though he averaged 21 wins per year in five seasons with an SEC regular season title and three NCAA tourney appearances), it was a subtle reminder the school understood the obstacles McMahon faced.

The NCAA sanctions from an investigation into Wade’s purchasing players had yet to be announced. It made it impossible to sign quality players – especially transfers – as soon as Wade’s 10 top players jumped ship (7 transferred, 3 entered the NBA draft) before McMahon was even hired away from mid-major power Murray State.

Maybe because McMahon was trying to look ahead and not backward, he refused last season to publicly acknowledge the massive challenges he faced.

Ask him any question and he answered politely while measuring each word he said. There was no crack in his poker-face façade.

It wasn’t until a week or so ago – maybe because he felt he and his staff finally had time to thoughtfully piece together a roster rather than the frenetic fallout of immediately having to replace just about an entire team upon his hiring – that McMahon spoke honestly about the deep mess he stepped into.

“Coach Wade did a good job here at LSU and won a lot of games during his time here,” he said. “When I got here, all of that was gone. No players, no foundation, no culture, no nothing. So, it was essentially a little bit of a dumpster fire.

“The other reality is there was a NCAA investigation hanging over the program that was a black cloud. It made it very challenging to start a program over from scratch.”

McMahon’s recruiting consisted of finding enough warm bodies to form a team.

No matter how hard he coached last season, McMahon couldn’t overcome a disjointed roster that didn’t do anything particularly well in games consistently for more than 5-minute stretches.

Once the NCAA announced its sanctions this past June – no postseason ban and a loss of one scholarship for each of the next two seasons – McMahon was finally armed with positive news for recruits.

He signed eight new players – six transfers and two freshmen – to replace the 11 players he lost (three 5th-year or graduating seniors, eight chose to transfer or quit).

“This year, we were able to be very intentional and selective in how we approach the portal,” McMahon said. “So, we wanted to identify players with proven track records of success coming from the top nine leagues in the country. We also wanted guys that came from winning programs – five of the six transfers we signed came from teams that won 21 or more games on their teams last year. We also wanted to address getting the best players in Louisiana (who signed and played with out-of-state schools) to come back through the portal and play at home.

“And then from a style of play standpoint, identifying size and athleticism for the frontcourt for this league. Also, having some versatile pieces that can guard multiple positions and also attack multiple positions offensively was important for us.”

Just from LSU’s exhibition – even against overwhelmed Louisiana Christian – it appears McMahon addressed much of what the Tigers lacked last season.

They are tall with five players 6-9 or more. They are athletic with four players 6-5 to 6-8 who can defend multiple positions and rain 3-pointers from the wings and corners. They have guards who understand when to shoot and when to find the open shooters.

LSU’s six transfer signees have started a collective 263 college games and four are Louisiana natives. Three are grad students and three are juniors.

“Having guys that have played basketball everywhere, not just in the SEC who have seen everything that you could imagine from every league and having been successful is going to help this year,” said Jordan Wright, a 6-6 Baton Rouge native who came home as a grad student after starting in 73 of the 123 games he played for Vanderbilt.

Even with some recruiting light at the end of the tunnel, LSU was picked at the league’s media day to finish 13th in the 14-team SEC.

If the NCAA clears guard Jalen Cook, the Tigers should have a shot of at least getting an NIT berth. Cook is a former Walker High star who spent his freshman season playing sparingly for Wade at LSU in 2020-21 before transferring to Tulane two years ago. With the Green Wave he averaged 19 points in 50 games.

It’s a baby step forward, but it’s what Wade accomplished in his first season at LSU before his frequent trips to the ATM.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com


State’s biggest college football success story driven by Shreveport native

Don’t look now, but just like that, the best record in Louisiana in college football is not at LSU or Tulane.

It’s in Pineville, at what is now known as Louisiana Christian University, where only a few years ago, the program was floundering.

The Wildcats’ PR drums are banging about this fall’s team having the best season winning percentage (.889) and most season wins (8) in the state, and in the modern era for Louisiana Christian University, formerly known as Louisiana College.

Parenthetical note: It’s still privately known as Louisiana College among many alumni, who weren’t consulted about the name change that happened out of the blue (and orange) almost two years ago.

Nonetheless, it’s a marvel to think the little college “on the hill” in Pineville is enjoying such unprecedented football success, even if the Wildcats are doing so at the NAIA level, rather than the previous NCAA Division III level.

The architect of this upsurge is a 36-year-old Shreveport native, Andrew John Maddox, who answers to the name “Drew.”

A former Army cavalry scout who did two tours of duty in Iraq, Maddox inherited a football program in 2020 that had deteriorated significantly from the days when he played defensive tackle for the Wildcats under Dennis Dunn, his former Dixie Youth baseball coach in Shreveport. It had bottomed out in an even shorter time since he had risen through the assistant coaching ranks to be defensive coordinator at LCU under Justin Charles in 2017.

In the meantime, Maddox built a head coaching resume by resurrecting a high school football team at Glenbrook High School in Minden over two seasons. Then he got the call to try to do the same at LCU. To make the challenge tougher, he took over on Feb. 6 in 2020 and had all of two meetings with his new team when Covid and the feds shut everything down for several months. The Cats played an abbreviated schedule in the spring of ’21, finishing 2-3 in the American Southwest Conference.

LCU then switched from NCAA Division III to NAIA, but the football team was a lone wolf in finding a conference in which to play because all the other sports teams at LCU went to the Red River Athletic Conference, where none of the schools play football. The closest NAIA football league LCU could find, said Maddox, was the Sooner Athletic Conference, which has eight other teams from Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona.

“That allowed us to get some scholarship money,” said Maddox, who doles out that money along with some academic scholarship funds to recruit players. In his first full season, the fall of ’21, his team finished 4-7 but lost four games by less than a touchdown. Last year, the Wildcats finished 7-4 for the first winning season since his senior year, 2014 (remember, he served two tours with the Army in Iraq), when the Wildcats went 6-4.     

Now, they are 8-1, and their lone loss, by three points at Ottawa University of Arizona (OUAZ) two weeks ago, is one that haunts them because the Wildcats muffed a makeable field goal earlier in the game because of a fumble on the snap, and they fell 5 ½ inches short of a fourth-quarter first down that could likely have led to a tying field goal, forcing an overtime and decent prospects for a victory.

How did it get to this point, where a victory in two weeks at Texas Wesleyan – after an exhibition game this weekend against John Melvin — can clinch at least a share of the SAC title?

For one, Maddox made a bold and impressive hire last spring, bringing his old high school coach, David Feaster, to LCU to be the offensive coordinator. Yes, Parkway Panther fans – your former head coach.

Feaster boasts an impressive 188-77 record as a high school head coach at six stops over two decades: Many, Minden, Leesville, Parkway, D’Arbonne Woods and Glenbrook Academy. As a senior in 2004 at Minden, Maddox played for Feaster, his first season as head coach of the Crimson Tide.

Feaster’s trademark has been dynamic offenses. This season, in his college coaching debut, Feaster has overseen an LCU offense that leads all of NAIA teams in total yards (4,397), red zone scores (42), red zone touchdowns (35) and first downs (240).  

Feaster’s son Sammy is a Wildcats’ receiver. A younger son, Ty, the former Glenbrook star, is the senior QB at Alexandria Senior High, one of Class 5A’s stronger teams.

Adding Feaster to the staff has helped Maddox take the Wildcats to another level, with a simple core philosophy.

“Work hard and believe in what you do,” said Maddox. “God’s been good to me. The players bought in. If players buy in, you can probably turn things around.

“I took a discipline approach,” he added. “If you don’t lift weights, you don’t practice. If you don’t practice, you don’t play. It’s built on hard work and trying to do the right thing. There are no short cuts to being good.”

Sal Palermo III, the fifth-year senior quarterback from the Denham Springs neighboring town of Watson, calls Maddox “a great leader, not just in football but in life as well. He’s a great Christian leader, he helps us be good men, and that translates to us being good football players.”

On a team blessed with several fourth- and fifth-year players, Palermo said Maddox “preached from Day 1 that all our work will pay off. He said, ‘If you work, things will change.’ We’re seeing that.”  

Contact Bob at btompkins1225@gmail.com


Independence Bowl strengthens staff by adding former LSU, Arkansas administrator

JOURNAL SPORTS

The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl is adding nearly 30 years of on-campus SEC experience to the staff, naming Matt Shanklin as Director of Partnership Development in an announcement Tuesday.

“I am very excited to join the Independence Bowl team and the Shreveport-Bossier City community,” said Shanklin. “It is a great opportunity to be a part of a bowl game that has been a mainstay of the college Bowl Season and a bowl that is so ingrained in the fabric of the community.”

Shanklin spent nine years at LSU, helping grow revenues by over $11 million through his dual role as general business manager of LSU Sports Properties and associate athletic director for marketing. Before his time at LSU, Shanklin spent 20 years at the University of Arkansas. He spent 12 years as the university licensing coordinator, while also being the Razorbacks’ first director of marketing.

His multi-media experience has seen Shanklin negotiate major partnerships with top brands such as Nike, Adidas, Coca-Cola, Gatorade, Capital One, AT&T/Cingular, Tyson Foods, Wal-Mart, Papa John’s, Anheuser-Busch, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, FujiFilm, Fanatics and Sodexho.

“We are very excited to add Matt Shanklin to our staff,” said 2023 Independence Bowl Foundation chairman Bryan Roppolo. “Matt brings extensive experience to this position and will be a great addition to our already excellent staff.”

At LSU, Shanklin was responsible for the launch of the SkyLine Club at Tiger Stadium, the creation of the first all-inclusive tailgate village at LSU Football and led the implementation of LSU logos on packaging and point of sale for the Bud Light and UPS Tiger programs. He also spearheaded all the marketing, ticket promotions and digital campaigns to drive attendance and increase revenues – resulting in attendance records for football, men’s basketball, gymnastics, softball and baseball.

In his time as director of marketing at Arkansas, he built the Razorback Marketing Office from the ground up with in-house multi-media sales, marketing and promotions, negotiating the school’s most significant partnerships – including, at the time, the largest single school sponsorship in college sports with an $11.3 million partnership with Southwestern Bell/Cingular.

As the Arkansas licensing coordinator, Shanklin grew the Razorback brand into a consistent top-15 CLC school. He was also responsible for creating one of the largest college baseball radio networks while at Arkansas and developed the school’s Hispanic radio network. During his tenure in Fayetteville, he also served as sport administrator for the highly successful Arkansas Razorback baseball program.

A 1988 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Shanklin earned his master’s degree from the highly regarded Ohio University Sports Administration program in 1989. 

The 47th edition of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl is set for Saturday, December 16 at 8:15 p.m. between bowl-eligible teams from the Big 12 Conference and Pac-12 Conference.


‘Kings Highway Clash’ tonight between Centenary, LSUS

READY TO GO: Centenary men’s basketball coach Chris Dorsey, shown talking with his team last season, is ready to lead the Gents into tonight’s contest against crosstown rival LSUS. (Photo by CENTENARY ATHLETICS)

JOURNAL SPORTS

Centenary and LSUS square off tonight in a men’s and women’s basketball exhibition doubleheader, the 2023 edition of the “Kings Highway Clash,” at the Gold Dome.

The Centenary Ladies and LSUS Lady Pilots will begin the evening at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Gents and Pilots at approximately 7:30 p.m. The award-winning Centenary choir will sing the national anthem prior to the women’s game.

The Gents and Pilots are meeting for the eighth time, with the Pilots holding a 6-game edge while the Ladies and Lady Pilots are meeting for the fourth time but for the first time since Dec. 9, 2014 when LSUS defeated the Maroon and White, 79-48 at home. Wednesday’s game is the season opener for both the Gents, Ladies and Pilots and the second contest for the LSUS women after they fell 79-72 at home in overtime to Texas Wesleyan last Friday.

Kyle Blankenship, the veteran and highly successful Pilots’ coach, is also coaching the Lady Pilots this season.

The Gents, led by seventh-year head coach Chris Dorsey, will begin the regular season at home on Wednesday, Nov. 8 against Texas College in a non-conference contest set for 7:30 p.m.

Dorsey, one of the top young coaches in the country, has taken the program to new heights in his six-year tenure. He is 85-60 with the Gents, including a 56-34 mark in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play. Centenary has now finished .500 or better in all six seasons under Dorsey.

Last season, the Gents had one of their best seasons in program history as they finished 18-9 overall and 10-6 in conference play and tied the Division III era (2012-present) single-season record for wins. Centenary earned the No. 3 seed in the SCAC Tournament as the Maroon and White made their 10th-straight appearance in the event, where they defeated Southwestern in the quarterfinals before falling to host and No. 2 seed Trinity in the semifinals.

The Ladies, led by interim head coach Paul Reed, will begin their regular season on Nov. 8 at Jarvis Christian University for a non-conference game scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Centenary landed three players on the All-SCAC team last season, the most in six seasons.

Centenary’s homecoming court will be announced between the basketball games on Wednesday night and homecoming week wraps up with men’s and women’s swimming teams holding their annual Intrasquad/Alumni Meet on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m.

Admission is FREE to all Centenary home athletic contests. Live stats and live video stream are available for all Centenary home contests.