Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator expressed heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated deputies of CPSO (Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office) and the generous public for their unwavering support and contribution to yet another successful Thanksgiving Food Drive. In a spirit of community and compassion, a remarkable total of 3,613 pounds of nonperishable food items were donated to the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana.
This year marks the fifth consecutive year of partnership with the non-profit, a testament to the enduring commitment of the sheriff’s office and the community to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those facing hardship.
Sheriff Prator took a moment to extend sincere appreciation to every individual who took part in the food drive. Their collective efforts have become a beacon of hope for many families and individuals grappling with the challenges of food insecurity in the local area.
The impact of this substantial donation cannot be overstated. It symbolizes the power of collective action and the significance of community-driven initiatives. These donations will serve as a lifeline for those in need, ensuring that during this season of gratitude, the warmth of a shared meal reaches the tables of many who might otherwise go without.
As the Thanksgiving season heralds the spirit of giving and sharing, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office remains steadfast in their dedication to serving the community, fostering hope, and making a tangible difference in the lives of their fellow citizens.
HOT PURSUIT: Calvary defenders including Heath Gross (50) and David Weeks (35) closed in on elusive Parkview Baptist quarterback Abram Johnston during the Cavaliers’ 49-28 quarterfinal playoff victory Friday night at Jerry Barker Stadium. (Journal photo by KEVIN PICKENS)
By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
Calvary Baptist advanced to the state semifinals for the eighth time in school history with its win over Parkview Baptist last Friday.
The Cavaliers moved past Bossier (7 times) on the list of semifinal appearances by Shreveport-Bossier schools and one behind now defunct Fair Park (9). CBA made its first semifinal appearance in 2007 under current Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson.
It’s the third time in four seasons the Cavs had reached the semis, the last coming in 2021. Calvary won it all in 2020.
Evangel leads the list with 21, the first in 1993 and the latest in 2018. The Eagles had a streak of seven straight from 1993 to 1999. They won state titles nine straight times after getting to the semifinals from 1996 to 2006. They have been to the semifinals nine times during the same time period as Calvary (2007-current).
Byrd is second on the list with 17 that dates to 1926. The Yellow Jackets have been three times since 2011.
Calvary’s semifinal opponent, Isadore Newman of New Orleans, is making its ninth trip to the semifinals, six of those coming since 2014. It has never won a semifinal.
The Greenies and Cavaliers have played each other three times but never in the semifinals. Newman won the last meeting of the two in the 2018 quarterfinals (31-28) after losing two previous playoff encounters in 2008 (49-27) and 2012 (49-14).
List of years each school has been to the semifinals (through 2023) with state championships won in bold.
Spending some Friday nights on the sidelines at high school football games this fall presents a vastly different perspective than my longtime perch in press boxes at the college level.
I’m still chuckling at John James Marshall’s hysterical Shreveport-Bossier Journal column last Friday providing insight on the high school press box experience. Even while I was sports information director for many years at Northwestern State, I made occasional visits up high for prep games at NSU and elsewhere which confirmed JJ’s take. Absolute truth!
Coaches at all levels scream from above. Plenty of them cuss. Some pound countertops, or windows. It is interesting to note we rarely see that wildness on televised games. As coaches reach higher levels, they seem to understand keeping their composure is vital in the heat of competition – and they know TV cameras are trained on them.
Way back in my days as a student at NSU, the Demons were visiting the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin, when A.L. Williams was head coach and the late, great Billy Laird was his offensive coordinator. Laird was in the coaches’ booth in the press box calling plays, on a headset to the sideline talking with receivers coach and proud Loyola grad Herbie Smith, a faithful Shreveport-Bossier Journal reader these days from his Grant Parish home.
There was a communications gaffe and the headsets stopped working. We knew this moments later, and so did the entire home side of Homer Bryce Stadium.
“Herbie, can you hear me?” said Laird, surely at first in a somewhat normal game-night tone of voice, then louder, and louder, and loudly enough so not only those of us a level below in the press box could hear, but so could the fans in the stands cascading gradually down to the far-away field.
“Herbie! Herbie! Can you hear me?” Laird was shouting, to no avail.
But Herbie finally did hear – not Laird, but the fans.
“Her-beeeee! Her-beeeeeee! Can you heeeeaaaaarrrreeee me!” they derisively chanted, almost musically.
Nothing like that has happened on the sidelines this season, that I’ve seen or heard, but much more has taken place.
I’ve seen little kids. Plenty of little kids. Adorable kids, who look at the players and coaches like they’re live action heroes.
I saw a cheerleader sponsor knitting. I’ve heard cheerleaders talking about anything but the football game. I’ve watched homecoming court members introduced, to varying degrees of excitement and awkwardness, some absolutely glowing in their moments in the spotlight, others eager to get out of the dress and into some jeans and good times with their pals. Some crestfallen when they weren’t announced as queen, others indifferent.
I’ve seen boys and girls working relentlessly as managers and trainers. Those kids never, ever get enough credit. I’ve seen student photographers and videographers hustling as hard as anyone else out there.
I’ve watched the “chicken eaters,” as one state high school coaching legend called the boys who didn’t play, probably were never going to play, but were out there for the excitement of Friday night lights and the joy of being part of a team. It’s a great experience for them if they never break a sweat, either because they’re too young, too small, or not good enough.
Some are intensely interested in what’s going on out on the field. Others, not so much. These are boys, not men, after all. Even some of the star players aren’t always as focused on the action when they’re not part of the action.
I’ve seen players watching their own big plays on iPads, with teammates huddled around congratulating them, oblivious to the action on the field.
I’ve heard fans. Most are great. But there are inevitably a few wastes of space, too full of themselves, who don’t hesitate to chide coaches and even high school kids when things haven’t gone as that side had hoped.
I’ve heard some great public address announcers, and a couple who weren’t ready for prime time. But overall, those stadium voices serve the audience well. At a couple of games, they also serve the sponsors exceedingly well – “the tee for kickoff is brought to you by Bob’s Boots, where you can always get your kicks” – and some don’t realize their voices are already amplified. But they all have fun.
And I’ve heard music. Most of it from the bands, always enthusiastic, sometimes not exactly pitch-perfect, but joyful.
I heard a blend at Calvary’s Jerry Barker Stadium Friday night – mostly an eclectic mix of canned music off a playlist (didn’t expect to hear Neil Diamond crooning Sweet Caroline, but can’t deny the appeal), and sound effects (those seem to be a more recent arrival on the prep football scene, and at only a handful of stops), with some occasional tunes from the two small but spirited bands.
Can’t get enough of it. We’ve got one more Friday night. It may be a damp night at Calvary, but it will be a memorable evening with a state championship game berth at stake. Get there early. Seats will be scarce, for all the right reasons.
BOWING OUT: Terry Bowden was fired Sunday as ULM’s football coach after three seasons. (Photo courtesy of ULM Athletics)
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
MONROE – With a new athletic director and a 10-game losing streak ending his third season as football coach at ULM, Terry Bowden’s status was already shaky.
A 52-21 loss to UL Lafayette Saturday apparently was the final straw. ULM athletic director John Hartwell informed Bowden Sunday morning and announced later that “he will seek new leadership for the Warhawks’ football program.”
ULM assistant and former Grambling head coach Broderick Fobbs was named interim head coach later Sunday. Fobbs is a Monroe native and Grambling graduate who was assistant head coach and running backs coach for the Warhawks this season.
Bowden was the 16th head coach in school history, and the seventh since ULM left the Division I-AA (now FCS) Southland Conference in 1994 and joined the Sun Belt Conference. There’s been only one highly successful season since, coming in 2012, when the Warhawks posted their only overall winning record in FBS history, reaching the Independence Bowl after an early-season win at Arkansas.
ULM did win a Sun Belt Conference title in 2005, but finished with an overall 5-6 record including a 5-2 league mark.
“I want to thank coach Terry Bowden for all he has done over the last three years for our football program and our university,” said Hartwell in a press release, which noted he has begun a national search for a new coach.
Hartwell was named AD at ULM in January. He had previously served in that role at Troy and Utah State.
Bowden’s teams went 4-8 in each of his first two seasons and 2-10 this fall. ULM was 5-19 in conference play in those three seasons.
“Although our record took a step backwards due to critical injuries,” said the 67-year-old Bowden in a social media post, “I feel we have continued to make progress in becoming more competitive in the Sun Belt Conference.”
The Sun Belt has emerged as a quality Group of Five conference while Bowden’s been at ULM. This year, 12 of the 14 members have qualified for bowl games.
Bowden’s overall 10-26 record made ULM “the first place (he) … didn’t turn around as he’d done at so many other stops in his career, highlighting the difficulties of this situation,” wrote college football reporter Chris Vannini in The Athletic.
ULM’s $435,000 head coaching salary is the lowest publicly available figure of any FBS program, reported Vannini.
Among potential candidates mentioned by Vannini were Tulane offensive coordinator Slade Nagle, a former assistant at Northwestern State and McNeese, and Nicholls head coach Tim Rebowe, who coached at ULM as an assistant from 2001-03. LSU quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan was a finalist before Bowden was hired, when Sloan was on Skip Holtz’ staff at Louisiana Tech.
Highly-regarded ULM offensive coordinator Matt Kubik, a former Tech quarterback and Northwestern State assistant, was also under strong consideration for the post before Bowden was hired, as was Fobbs.
Looking for something fun to do with the kids during this holiday season? Step into a world where winter’s enchantment meets the wonders of science—a place where families converge for an immersive snowy escapade unlike any other. Sno-Port, the interactive snow-themed exhibit, has emerged once again, transforming into a hub of holiday joy and scientific exploration.
Nestled within the heart of our community, Sno-Port has been a beacon of seasonal delight since its inception in 2019. Now, in its latest iteration, this imaginative playground has unfurled its snowy curtains, welcoming visitors from far and wide to experience its frosty allure.
Spanning from November 24, 2023, to January 29, 2024, Sno-Port beckons with a lineup of activities that blend winter-themed marvels with scientific engagement. Each year brings a fresh design, and this season boasts an array of captivating experiences that promise to captivate the young and the young at heart.
Exploring the Winter Wonderland:
The very essence of Sno-Port lies in its amalgamation of interactive snow-themed activities. New additions this year promise an engaging fusion of science and play:
Sock Skating Rink: Amidst laughter and delight, visitors glide gracefully—or not so gracefully—across a specially designed polymer rink using nothing but their socks.
Freeze Frame: With the aid of mobile devices, participants craft their own snowy backdrops, crafting mini-movies against a backdrop wall adorned with magnetic wonder.
Snowball Pong: A unique rendition of the classic video game Pong, this overhead snowball game challenges players to hone their aim and reflexes.
Igloo Experience: Stepping into an igloo becomes a surreal journey as the hues of the Northern Lights dance above, allowing guests to alter the colors of the sky, transforming the experience.
Timeless Favorites Return:
Sno-Port’s charm extends beyond new additions, revisiting perennial favorites that have warmed the hearts of attendees in previous years:
From the melodic notes of the Xylophone Tree to the friendly competition of Snowball Toss, the magic of the Snow Globe’s picture-perfect moments to the creative wonders of the Snow Factory Wall, every corner promises discovery and delight.
Sno-Port isn’t merely an exhibit; it’s an immersive journey into the intersection of fun and education. Families and friends flock here not just to experience the thrill of winter-themed activities but also to partake in a collective exploration of scientific principles hidden amidst the snowy landscape.
As visitors immerse themselves in these engaging activities, the air is thick with laughter, curiosity, and the joy of discovery. It’s a space where learning becomes an adventure, where kids and adults alike embrace the wonders of science through a lens of wintry fascination.
So, as Sno-Port opens its doors to eager visitors, it invites everyone to embark on a journey—a journey not just through snow and science but through shared moments of joy, discovery, and holiday cheer. Step inside and experience the enchantment yourself, for in this wintry wonderland, every snowflake holds a world of fascination.
Someplace in my collection of books is 14,000 Things to be Happy About. It is a pick-me-up kind of book. These books and others remind us of all the small things for which we can be thankful. I know I need a nudge every now and then.
Take this article, how are you reading it? Back in the day, the television was in the den. The stereo was often in your bedroom. It was never far enough way from the adult who insisted that you turn it down. The telephone was on the wall, usually in the kitchen. If you were lucky there was an extension phone in your bedroom. The news was delivered daily. In the morning some nice person threw a newspaper onto your driveway. In the evening, Walter Cronkite would tell you everything, so that you would know “that’s the way it is.” On rare occasions your favorite television show would be interrupted by a “News Bulletin.” Where I grew up, you were more likely to have a “weather bulletin.” Mail came once a day, except on Sunday. The mailbox was eagerly watched for the daily delivery. There could be almost anything in your mailbox. Everything I have described is residing on your phone. I am thankful for technology that allows me to be productive and stay connected.
Speaking of connections, are you thankful and happy about the connections in your life? This week we find out about our connections, don’t we? This is the week that family descend upon us. Ready or not, here they come! Thanksgiving is also the time when we find out that those family connections come with traditional culinary expectations.
I wish to announce that this year for Thanksgiving, my tribe has shunned turkey! I put my foot down! No one likes turkey, why do we do the annual complaining about the dry turkey, or worse come up with some exotic recipe to try and outsmart the dry turkey? Eat steak!
There was a vote of the people coming to Gibsland this week. The quorum approved my motion to get rid of turkey in favor of steak. The change was approved with two amendments. I cook steaks and we have dressing. They have not figured out that the menu change gave me the right to hang out by the grill, ALONE. Have I mentioned that I am thankful for solitude on Thanksgiving? I’m grateful for people who understand introverts!
I am thankful for my family and my friends. I am thankful for the stories that will surround this Thanksgiving. I know with a menu change there might be a revolution in the tribe. I could be overthrown. I’m thankful that in my house on Thanksgiving there will be four generations represented. What stories will you tell about this Thanksgiving?
I am thankful that for just a few minutes I was a part of your life. Thanks for reading these articles! I know not everything in your life brings you joy, but there is so much for which you can be thankful. If nothing comes to mind quickly, you can borrow my book.
Let me quote from another book: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!” That’s all it takes to be thankful. A good God loves you with a love that endures, no matter what!
Margie A. Chisholm May 22, 1940 — November 24, 2023 Service: Monday, November 27, 2023, 5pm at Rose Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Leona “Lee” Hill May 27, 1931 — November 20, 2023 Service: Monday, November 27, 2023, Noon at Lakeside Baptist Church, Converse.
Jerry Barron “Mamère” August 19, 1940 — November 23, 2023 Service: Tuesday, November 28, 2023, 5pm at Rose Neath Funeral Home, Southside.
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)
ENOUGH?: LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels led the Tigers from a 10-point deficit to a 42-30 victory over Texas A&M Saturday in the regular-season finale for both teams, but it remains to be seen if his performance was enough to satisfy Heisman Trophy voters. (Journal photo by PETER FOREST)
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – For one last time this season in Tiger Stadium, the inviting fragrance of another Heisman Trophy-like clutch performance by LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels overcame the stench of the Tigers’ defense doing its best to cement its place as one of the worst in school history.
Daniels, a senior playing the final home game of his two-year LSU career after transferring a year ago from Arizona State, threw for three of his game total four touchdowns in the fourth quarter as he rallied the Tigers from a 10-point deficit to a 42-30 regular-season closing SEC win over Texas A&M on Saturday.
Daniels accounted for 244 of his 355 total offense yards (235 passing, 120 rushing) in the game’s last 26 minutes, flinging final-period scoring strikes of 23 yards to Brian Thomas Jr., 21 yards to Malik Nabers and 15 yards to Kyren Lacy. He also threw a 6-yard TD to Nabers in the second quarter.
“I think I’ve made my case to get invited (as one of the Heisman finalists to the Dec. 9 awards ceremony in New York City),” said Daniels, who finished the 12-game regular season averaging 412.16 total offense yards (317.66 passing, 94.5 rushing) with 50 TDs (40 passing, 10 rushing) and 89 plays of 20 or more yards.
Though it was Daniels’ lowest total output in an SEC game this season for the Tigers (9-3 overall, 6-2 SEC West), LSU had the ball for 24 fewer plays than Texas A&M (76-52 favoring the Aggies) and for 13:18 less in time of possession (a 36:39 to 23:21 edge to A&M).
Until the Tigers’ defense was able to finally get the Aggies’ offense off the field without points on four of its last five possessions, the Aggies (7-5 overall, 4-4 SEC West) had LSU on the ropes by making good on their first 6 of 7 third-down conversions.
“We couldn’t stop them, we couldn’t get them off the field in the first half,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said.
Texas A&M sophomore QB Jaylen Henderson, a Fresno State transfer starting just his third college game after spending most of the season as the Aggies’ No. 3 QB, engineered TD drives of 67, 78, 75 and 64 yards that ate massive amounts of clock.
“Our job was to sustain drives,” said A&M’s Elijah Robinson, named interim coach two weeks ago after six-year Aggies’ coach Jimbo Fisher was fired.
“Our offense did a good job with that.” So well, in fact, that A&M edged LSU, college football’s No. 1 offense, 390 to 389 in total offense yards, with Henderson throwing for 294 yards and two TDs.
But in the LSU comeback, which started with Daniels’ fourth-and-four 47-yard scramble to the A&M 4 that set up running back Josh Williams 1-yard TD plunge to cut the Aggies’ lead to 24-21 with 7:51 left in the third quarter, the Tigers changed their defense.
“Coach (defensive coordinator Matt) House started using Harold Perkins as a spy (on A&M quarterback Henderson),” said LSU linebacker Greg Penn III, whose fourth-quarter interception paved the way for the Tigers’ go-ahead score on a Daniels TD throw to Thomas for a 28-24 lead with 11:52 left in the game.
When Perkins started spying Henderson, the Aggies’ left-hander couldn’t scramble for third-down conversions and was hemmed in the pocket. The Tigers were able to record four sacks, including two by defensive end Ovie Oghoufo. Perkins finished with a team-high 9 tackles along with safety Andre Sam.
“They (LSU) changed some things up in the second half and there were some plays I wish I had back,” Henderson said. “I tip my hat to them. They played a great second half on defense.”
When that happened, the Tigers’ offense found its rhythm. Nabers and Thomas LSU’s 1,000-yard receivers who had been held to a combined 4 catches for 36 yards through 2½ quarters, came alive.
Nabers, college football’s receiving yardage leader, finished with 6 catches for 122 yards and 2 TDs. Thomas, the national leader in receiving TDs, ended with 5 catches for 58 yards and 1 TD.
“They (A&M’s offense) were chewing up the clock, so it caused us to start out a little bit slow,” said Nabers, who became LSU’s career leader in receptions on the Tigers’ final TD drive. “When we got back in the locker room at halftime, our coaches got us way amped up.
“It’s our last game in Tiger Stadium. They wanted to know why were we so quiet. We should be playing with a chip on our shoulder. We had to come in the second half and prove that we’re the best offense in college football.”
Once more, Daniels, Nabers, Thomas Jr. and company did so in the third win this season (the others were 34-31 over Arkansas, 49-39 at Missouri) in which the Tigers’ offense had to find another gear to steal the win.
Because of it, LSU will likely end up in a Florida-based bowl such as the ReliaQuest in Tampa on Jan. 1 instead of a lower-tier bowl. Bowl bids will be announced next Sunday (Dec. 3) after the College Football Playoff committee reveals its four teams contending for the national championship.
Nabers will likely be among the three finalists announced Tuesday for the Biletnikoff Award which goes to college football’s best receiver.
Daniels is a virtual lock to be one of three Heisman finalists announced a week from Monday (Dec. 4). He’ll join QBs Bo Nix of Oregon and Michael Penix Jr. of Washington, who have the advantage of playing each other in the Pac 12 title game next Friday before Heisman voting closes just before the finalists are announced.
“This (A&M) is a top 10 defense in the country,” Kelly said, “and he (Daniels) threw four touchdown passes and put up 42 points. And to obviously run the way he did, I just think he strengthened his case for the Heisman.”
LATE SURGE: LSU’s defense didn’t provide much of an obstacle Saturday for Texas A&M until halftime adjustments led to pressure like this on Aggies’ quarterback Jaylen Henderson. (Journal photo by PETER FOREST)
LSU – Daniels 11-120; Diggs 5-17, 1 TD; Noah Cain 3-12; Williams 6-6, 1 TD; Kaleb Jackson 1-1; Team 2-minus-2.
PASSING
TAM – Henderson 25-35-1-294, 2 TDs.
LSU – Daniels 16-24-0-235, 4 TDs.
RECEIVING
TAM – Ainias Smith 8-59; Jahdae Walker 4-80; Noah Thomas 4-32; Wright 2-60, 1 TD; Johnson 2-17, 1 TD; Moss 2-16; Moose Muhammad 2-14; Bailey 1-16.
LSU – Nabers 6-122, 2 TDs; Thomas 5-58, 1 TD; Mason Taylor 2-9; Chris Hilton 1-25; Lacy 1-15, 1 TD; Williams 1-6.
TACKLES
TAM – Jacoby Mathews 6-2—8; Edgerrin Cooper 3-5—8; Bryce Anderson 3-4—7; Demani Richardson 4-2—6; Taurean York 1-5—6; Deuce Harmon 2-1-3; Chris Russell 2-1—3; McKinnley Jackson 1-2—3; Malick Sylla 1-0—1; Albert Regis 1-0—1; Shemar Stewart 1-0—1; Shemar Turner 1-0—1; Walter Nolen 0-1—1; Fadil Diggs 0-1—1.
LSU – Harold Perkins 6-3—9; Andre Sam 4-5—9; Greg Penn 4-4—8; Omar Speights 3-5—8; Major Burns 3-3—6; Sai’vion Jones 1-5—6; Javien Toviano 4-1—5; Sage Ryan 3-1—4; Maason Smith 1-3—4; Ashton Stamps 1-3—4; Jacobian Guillory 2-1—3; Whit Weeks 2-1—3; Bradyn Swinson 2-0—2; Ovie Oghoufo 2-0—2; Paris Shand 2-0—2; Ryan Yaites 1-1—2; Jordan Jefferson 0-2—2; West Weeks 1-0—1; Jordan Allen 1-0—1; Slade Roy 1-0—1; Matthew Langlois 1-0—1; Latterrance Welch 1-0—1; Jackson McGohan 0-1—1; Da’Shawn Womack 0-1—1.
NEARLY HOUSED IT: Calvary’s Landon Sylvie made a pivotal interception in the end zone at the end of the first half and nearly returned it for a pick-six touchdown. (Journal photo by KEVIN PICKENS)
JOURNAL SPORTS
Here are the semifinal pairings for the LHSAA state football playoffs after Saturday’s final quarterfinal game won by No. 8 Acadiana 28-14 over No. 1 Holy Cross in Select Division I.
Calvary Baptist will play host to Isadore Newman of New Orleans in the Select Division III semifinals Friday night. Calvary pulled away for a 49-28 victory over Parkview Baptist in the quarterfinal round, and is the only remaining local team still in the hunt to win a state championship.
Non-Select
Division I 21-Mandeville (9-4) at 1-Ruston (12-0) 7-Dutchtown (11-1) at 6-Zachary (11-1)
Division II 12-Opelousas (10-3) at 1-North DeSoto (12-0) 22-Northwest (10-3) at 2-Cecilia (11-1)
Division III 4-Union Parish (8-4)) at 1-Jena (12-0) 3-St. James (10-2) at 2-Sterlington (11-1)
Division IV 4-Haynesville (11-1) at 1-Logansport (11-1) 3-Oak Grove (10-2) at 2-Kentwood (10-2)
Select
Division I 8-Acadiana (10-2) at 5-Karr (10-1) 18-Rummel (7-6) at 3-Catholic-BR (10-2)
Division II 5-Shaw (11-2) at 1-St. Thomas More (12-0) 7-Teurlings Catholic (10-3) at 3-Lafayette Christian (10-2)
Division III 4-University Lab (11-1) at 1-St. Charles (12-0) 3-Newman (10-1) at 2-Calvary (12-0)
Division IV 5-Riverside (11-1) at 1-Vermilion Catholic (12-0) 3-Ouachita Christian (11-1) at 2-Southern Lab (10-1)
Photo by MARCUS PLUMMER, Grambling State Athletics
By T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal
NEW ORLEANS — So close, so far away.
It was that kind of game to end that kind of season.
So it was for the Grambling State University football team Saturday afternoon at the 50th annual Bayou Classic.
After falling behind early in the game before battling back, GSU’s hopes for a late come-from-behind to victory crashed to the Caesar’s Superdome turf on an incomplete fourth-and-goal attempt that allowed Southern to complete a goalline stand and escape with the 27-22 win over the G-Men.
The loss ended GSU’s season at 5-6 while Southern finished at 6-5 and with a 26-24 Bayou Classic series advantage.
It was also Grambling’s third loss of five or fewer points during a season that the G-Men at times seemed on the brink of something special but never seemed to click into any kind of consistent gear.
Grambling opened scoring with a one-yard quarterback sneak by Myles Crawley, who went low and used his 6-3 frame, along with a little help from his big offensive linemen, to stretch his way for the touchdown that put the Tigers on top 7-0 with 1:17 remaining in the opening stanza.
But after that strong start for Grambling, Southern surged into control late in the second quarter, tying things up at 7-7 early in the period on an eight-yard pass thrown by former G-Man Noah Bodden before the Jaguars took a 14-7 lead with 2:02 left in the first half on a two-yard run by Kendric Rhymes.
The Tigers had a prime opportunity to cut into the Southern late before halftime. Runs of 26 and 10 yards by Floyd Chalk IV followed by a 28-yard pass from Crawley to Javon Robinson pushed Grambling down to the Southern 18-yard line before three straight incompletions forced a field goal attempt.
That play ended up being a game-changer as Southern’s Horacio Johnson blocked the field goal, sending the ball bouncing backwards on a journey that continued that direction as players scrapped and scrummed to secure it.
Southern’s Demetri Morsell finally snatched the ball and down the sideline for a TD that pushed the Jaguars’ lead to 21-7 with 32 seconds left in the first half.
It didn’t take long for the Jaguars to extend that lead after intermission as Bodden threw a six-yard pass before handing off to Rhymes who went 73 yards to stretch Southern’s lead to 28-7 only 49 seconds into the third quarter.
But Grambling’s defense wasn’t ready to call it a day.
Andrew Jones’ pick six interception return at the 8:36 mark of the third quarter cut the SU advantage 27-14 before the G-Men forced a Southern punt attempt near its own goal line.
With the ball placed near his own goal line, Southern punter Robens Beauplan had to dip his knee onto the turf to receive a low snap in his own end zone for a safety that cut the Jaguars’ 27-16 with 6:58 to play in the third quarter.
Grambling moved into prime scoring opportunity early in the fourth quarter as Crawley directed the Tigers down to the Southern 8-yard line before being intercepted by the Jaguars’ Jordan Carter.
But still the Tigers battled back, cutting the Southern lead to 27-22 on a three-yard scoring scamper by Chalk with 7:02 left on the clock.
After another defensive stop forced a Southern punt, Grambling took possession at its own 36-yard line with 3:59 remaining.
Runs of four,15 and 13 yards by Chance Williams followed by a 28-yarder by Chalk set Grambling up with a first-and-goal situation at the Southern 4-yard line.
But Grambling only managed one yard on three consecutive runs before Crawley’s attempt to loft a pass over the back shoulder of receiver Lyndon Rash for the score sailed high and was batted down to the turf by Morsell, allowing Southern to run off the final 1:11 off the clock.
Chalk was the offensive workhorse for the Tigers, rushing for 172 yards and his score on 22 carries while adding a pair of receptions for 16 yards.
Williams added 87 rushing yards for GSU on 19 carries while Jones and Robinson totaled five catches each, with Jones totaling 49 receiving yards and Robinson adding 45 more.
Crawley finished with 183 passing yards, connecting on 19-of-30 attempts.
Defensively, Sundiata Anderson led the Tigers with six tackles, including a half-sack, while Lewis Matthews and Jones added five takedowns each.
UNSTOPPABLE: Calvary unleashed junior running back James Simon Friday night. He broke the school’s single game rushing record and powered the Cavs to a quarterfinal playoff victory. (Journal photo by KEVIN PICKENS)
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
James Simon knew coming in.
It certainly didn’t surprise Parkway Baptist coach Stefan LeFors.
Friday night’s Select Division III quarterfinal between the Cavaliers and visiting Eagles, two of this century’s elite in LHSAA football with a combined eight state titles and a slew of victories, pivoted on the performance of Simon, Calvary’s 6-foot, 200-pound junior running back, who had previously been an intentionally underutilized attribute in CBA’s offense.
Finally, in the season’s 12th game, given primary responsibility, he thrived, and so did Calvary. Simon produced 350 total yards – 326 rushing on 22 carries, including four second-half touchdowns – powering the unbeaten Cavs past the Eagles, 49-28 going away, at Jerry Barker Field.
Calvary scored – make that Simon scored – three fourth-quarter TDs to polish off a determined Parkview squad which entered the final period with a shot, but went home to Baton Rouge finished at 10-3.
“We got it to a one-score game, 28-20, and I felt like hey, if we could put some pressure on these guys, because they’ve boat-raced a lot of people, let’s see what happens,” said LeFors. “It came down to them making a whole lot more plays than us. 31 just took over.
“He’s a great back. You could tell right when you cut the film on, he’s a special back, the total package.”
Simon had 110 rushing yards on eight carries by halftime as Calvary led 21-13, in typical Cavs style with three Abram Wardell touchdown passes. Two went to Kolby Thomas, a catch-and-run twister of 34 yards followed by a 5-yard slant. A 10-yarder to Taylor Guerrero midway through the opening quarter opened the scoring, and Thomas’ first TD early in the second period came 28 seconds after the Eagles tied it at 7.
Simon made sure they never got even again, with a second-half showcase (216 rushing yards on 14 carries, including TDs of 4, 2, 77 and 3 yards) that head coach Rodney Guin had saved for when it mattered most – in a rugged playoff battle, one that rewarded second-seeded CBA with a homefield semifinal contest against No. 3 Newman (10-1) next Friday.
All his attributes were evident – agility, speed, strength, vision, and desire – a blend which enchants college recruiters. One trait stood out to his coach.
“He runs with so much effort,” said Guin.
“That dude, he makes our job easy,” said junior offensive guard Hayden Darner. “He hits holes downhill, he does what the coaches say.”
He hit those holes more impactfully than ever after Calvary missed a chance to carry a three-score lead into halftime. The Cavs dodged a threat and created one, then immediately saw the margin trimmed to 21-13 following a crazy two-play sudden change sequence in the closing minute.
Parkview had first-and-goal at the CBA 9 when safety Landon Sylvie (who blocked a field goal earlier) intercepted in the end zone and nearly pulled off a pick six, hauled down at the Eagles 23. On the next play, Wardell was walloped on a blind-side sack and fumbled. Parkview’s Jackson Byerley snagged it on a short hop, then raced 69 yards to tighten things considerably.
The Cavs didn’t blink.
“It’s a veteran team. They know we can score,” said Guin. “They fought right back, came out in the second half and started with a touchdown, and that got the momentum back with us.”
Wardell’s 37-yard strike to Aubrey Hermes on the second snap after halftime triggered a five-play response, ended with Simon’s 2-yard plunge for a 28-13 advantage. Although Parkview narrowed it with a 10-play answer, Calvary’s fierce pass rush eventually harried Abram Johnston into a costly interception by Julius Moss near midfield late in the third period.
Wardell and Thomas connected on the next three plays to start a nine-play, 73-yard march finished by Simon’s 2-yard score. It was 35-20 with 10:27 left, and Simon was off to a 168-yard fourth quarter.
Calvary’s defense bent but didn’t break again, forcing three straight PBHS incompletions, the last on fourth down when linebacker Heath Gross batted down a Johnston toss at the Cavs’ 23.
Then Simon took complete command. He dashed the distance on the next snap for a 42-20 lead as 5:55 remained. The Eagles struck back quickly on a 35-yard TD pass but Hutch Grace collected their onside kick. Simon slayed them on the following play with a 37-yard burst, when he passed the Cavs’ single-game rushing record, followed right away by the clinching 3-yard TD with 4:58 left.
“He is the man. People wonder all year why we don’t give him the ball a bunch,” said Guin. “This is the reason, right here. He is healthy and ready to go. In these big games, you saw what he can do. He’s a fantastic football player.”
Simon embraced the task.
“I knew from the start of the game I was going to have to take over. You have to establish the run coming in, and I knew for a fact I was going to establish it,” he said. “I was going to do all I could to establish it. I did.
“We were expecting when the run was going, they would jump into a different (defensive) formation, and we’d throw it, but they didn’t. You saw the second half. We just ran it all over them. That was the plan, and it happened.”
The secret to his success? Not to overlook the O-line’s quality work, cited by Guin and Simon, but the key was apparent:
“I came out here and played as hard as I could,” said Simon.
BATTLE ROYALE: Airline’s Kenny Darby (3) and Mandeville’s Michael White fight for possession. (Journal photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL)
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
In a game in which the losing team scored half-a-hundred, it’s hard to identify a turning point.
But if there were a key moment involved in Mandeville’s 56-50 win over Airline Friday night at Viking Stadium, it might have been this one: when Skippers’ junior running back Nate Sheppard climbed on the bus back in St. Tammany Parish.
Because once he arrived in Bossier City to meet the Vikings in the Non-Select Division I quarterfinals, Sheppard did a little bit of everything.
Check that. He did a lot of everything.
He scored on short runs (1, 5). He scored on long runs (32, 63). He scored on a short pass (4). He scored on an acrobatic, did-we-really-just-see-that pass (17).
Afterward, Sheppard couldn’t even remember if it was six touchdowns or seven that he scored.
“I wasn’t keeping track,” he said. “I was just worried about securing that W.”
The answer was officially six, but he was kind of responsible for a seventh, since he was headed for a touchdown shortly before halftime when he fumbled just before the goal line. Teammate Wesley Price fell on it for the “official” touchdown.
On the other side, Airline‘s Ben Taylor was exactly what you’d expect the state’s passing leader to be. The junior threw for 379 yards, completing 32 of 46, and three touchdowns. He also ran for two touchdowns. He even caught a pass.
Here’s the best indication of what kind of game this was. There were eight times during game when one team scored and the opponent responded with a touchdown of its own on the next possession.
Nobody ever got comfortable, right up until the end when Airline scored with 15 seconds to play and had a shot at the onside kick, which was recovered by Mandeville’s Nate Guidry.
That onside wasn’t unusual in the least, since Airline did it on the opening kickoff and almost every kickoff afterward.
No wonder. The one time they kicked deep, it was returned 89 yards to the Airline 4 by Mandeville’s Michael White.
Airline coach Justin Scogin knew his team was going to have to take chances in the game and the opening onside kickoff was the first of many. There was also a double reverse, an attempted hook-and-lateral and even a “hidden man” onside kick that would have worked had it gone at least 10 yards.
“That’s just what we do,” Scogin said. “It’s what we have done all year. I’m not going to start playing conservative now.”
On the kickoffs that didn’t go out of bounds, Mandeville had starting field position four times in Airline territory. Of those seven kickoffs, the worst first position for the Skippers was at their own 47.
Sheppard rushed for 235 yards and four touchdowns and caught two touchdown passes, neither of which was routine.
The first came at the end of the third quarter when Sheppard bent down to catch a Ben Hendricks pass and almost took a knee while doing it, but scored from four yards out to give the Skippers a lead they would never lose.
“That’s a hard pass for a quarterback to throw across his body,” Sheppard said. “I knew it was going to be low.”
But the highlight-film play of a highlight-filled night came on Mandeville’s first possession of the fourth quarter. On third-and-seven from the Airline 17, Sheppard went on a pass route out of the backfield and turned upfield. Airline linebacker Sincere Walker had perfect position the entire way as they battled for the ball in the back corner of the end zone.
The ball was tipped by Walker, then tipped again, then again, before it started to fall to the ground. Somehow, Sheppard grabbed it from behind before it landed.
“I hit it four times I think,” Walker said. “He just grabbed it right before it hit the ground.”
“I really thought he (Walker) picked it,” Sheppard said. “It kept hitting his hands and I just dove down and grabbed it.”
That didn’t win the game for Mandeville, but it was the first time either team had a two-touchdown lead and, for the first time, a little breathing room.
“There were so many huge plays tonight,” Scogin said. “The ball just didn’t seem to go our way tonight.”
Seeded 21st, Mandeville (9-4) will advance to the semifinals to take on top-seeded Ruston next week. The No. 4 Vikings finished at 10-2.
“It was a great season,” Scogin said. “We set some records and did things right. But it’s hard to put into words right now.”
DANCING IN: Kolby Thomas skips through the end zone at the end of his 34-yard catch and run touchdown connection with Abram Wardell Friday night as Calvary Baptist outpaced Parkview Baptist 49-28. (Journal photo by KEVIN PICKENS)
ICONIC MOVE: In his final Tiger Stadium appearance in 2019, Joe Burrow paid tribute to Louisiana and LSU with a specially made nameplate on his jersey, and proceeded to lead a 50-0 rout of Texas A&M. (Photo courtesy LSU Athletics)
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE — LSU had a football history with Texas A&M long before the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012.
Though the Tigers have won 8 of 11 meetings with A&M as fellow SEC West Division members, this rivalry is rarely boring because of the subplots surrounding it or how the game transpires.
There have been Heisman Trophy winners (A&M’s Johnny Manziel in 2012 and LSU’s Joe Burrow in 2019) and a coach who was almost fired after the game but wasn’t (Les Miles in 2015).
And LSU interim coach (Ed Orgeron in 2016) trying to win the game and the permanent head coaching job, a 7-overtime thriller at A&M won by the Aggies (in 2018 featuring a postgame fight between an LSU staffer and A&M coach Jimbo Fisher’s nephew) and Burrow’s emotional home finale (2019) as the eventual national champion Tigers closed the regular season 12-0.
Two years ago in 2021 in Baton Rouge, the quarterback (Max Johnson) who threw the game-winning TD pass for LSU in a 27-24 win 20 days later transferred to Texas A&M where he has started eight games in the last two injured-riddled seasons.
Saturday’s regular-season finale between the 14th-ranked Tigers (8-3 overall, 5-2 SEC West) and the unranked Aggies (7-4, 4-3 SEC West) brings some fresh storylines.
Like an 11 a.m. kickoff, the earliest ever in the 62nd game between the teams.
Like Texas A&M coached by an interim since Fisher was fired two weeks ago after six seasons of mostly mediocre records.
Like an LSU senior quarterback in his last home game, who’s now the favorite of some Las Vegas oddsmakers to win the Heisman Trophy, needing a huge performance in his last chance to impress Heisman voters.
Like the Tigers, despite their season-long defensive woes, trying to stay on track to reach their revamped goal of a second straight 10-win season under head coach Brian Kelly.
“This is about leaving a legacy and that is another opportunity to win 10 games,” Kelly said. “They have that chance to finish the season strong and this is an important game.”
Kelly said earlier this week he expected A&M, an 11-point underdog, to play hard for interim coach Elijah Robinson. Last week, Robinson got his first win as the boss man in the Aggies’ 38-10 win over Abilene Christian.
The Aggies have talent. A&M’s last four of Fisher’s last five recruiting classes ranked in the top 6 nationally according to Rivals.com, including having the nation’s No. 1 class in 2022.
Fisher’s downfall – he was 45-25 overall and 27-21 before he was fired with a record buyout of $77 million – was he never developed a consistent playmaking quarterback or could keep one healthy.
Also, A&M, as it is this season, has been top-loaded with defensive talent. The Aggies rank No. 1 nationally in tackles for loss with 94, No. 2 in sacks with 40 and No. 1 in the SEC in total defense (286.5 ypg allowed) and rushing defense (102.4 ypg allowed).
A&M has three defenders with double-digit TFL totals, led by junior linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (16 TFL, 7 sacks), a former Covington (La.) High star.
“There’s depth on the defensive line and physically gifted versatile athletes,” Kelly said of A&M’s defense. Cooper’s all over the field, you’ve got to know where he is. They have an aggressive defensive playcaller. They mix things up very well, especially the third down packages.”
It might be the biggest defensive challenge of the season for LSU senior quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has virtually come from nowhere to put himself on the cusp of winning the Heisman Trophy.
The Tigers rank No. 1 nationally in total offense (562.2 ypg), scoring offense (46.8) ppg, passer rating (195.98), yards per play (8.6), and plays of 20+ yards (94), 30+ yards (49), and 40+ yards (27). LSU is No. 2 in passing TDs (37), offensive TDs (67), first downs (287) and third-down conversions (63-of-111, 57 percent).
It’s all because of Daniels and his two 1,000-yard receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas, a solid corps of running backs and a veteran offensive line. Daniels leads the nation in total offense (417.4), passing TDs (36), TDs responsible for (46), passer rating (208.34), and rushing yards by a QB (1,014). He’s No. 2 in passing yards (325.2).
The former Arizona State transfer, who has an 18-7 record as a starter in two seasons at LSU, has thrown for 3,577 yards and 36 TDs and rushed for 1,014 yards and 10 TDs this year. He has a chance to become the third player (joining Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray and Clemson’s DeShaun Watson) in NCAA FBS (Division 1 history) to pass for 4,000 and rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
“I knew I could come here and make an impact.,” Daniels said of his transfer to LSU “but not of this magnitude like being in the Heisman conversation and stuff like that. That’s not what I dreamt about.
“For me, it was trying to get a fresh start, just to make a name for myself and go out there and find the joy in football again. Just to refocus myself and rebrand who I wanted to be as a football player.”
GO FIGURE
5: Rushing TDs allowed by Texas A&M’s defense this season
LEGACY GAME: How Javon Robinson (8) and the Grambling State Tigers close the season against Southern in the Bayou Classic will determine how well this team is remembered by GSU fans. (Photo by T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal)
By T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal
NEW ORLEANS —No shot at a berth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship football game on the line.
No problem. Not today, for Grambling or Southern.
On a few occasions — take the annual Army vs. Navy showdown as an example — a single football game can become bigger than a season itself, boiling emotions down into a thick Louisiana stew of college football fanaticism.
Grambling State and Southern will collide in the 50th annual Bayou Classic at 1 p.m. with both teams both chasing the same goal — “just win, baby!” — in order to secure a winning season which has been an often-frustrating three months for both the Tigers and the Jaguars.
The G-Men go into the contest at 5-5 in 4-3 in the SWAC after winning 43-14 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 10.
Southern has the exact same record but has dropped two straight, including a 27-21 home loss to Prairie View on Nov. 11.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome with the game being broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
For both Grambling and Southern, this one is all about bragging rights.
Grambling coach Hue Jackson said the keys to victory for his Tigers begins with trying to play their first full 60 minutes of effort and execution this season.
“I think the offense came out and kind of steadied themselves,” Jackson said of his team’s most recent game at UAPB.. “(GSU quarterback Myles Crawley) did a good job of protecting the football and we didn’t have any turnovers. We were able to throw some touchdowns and run the ball into the end zone, so I think that was important for the confidence of our offense to get back to where we were.”
So now Jackson hopes his Tigers go to where he feels they need to go to do what they need to do.
“At the end of the day, we need to go win the (Bayou) Classic,” said Jackson, who admitted surprise last year at the hoopla surrounding a Bayou Classic showdown. “This is our biggest rival. I get it. I know what it’s like now having participated in it a year ago.
“It’s something that you want to win. It’s something we need to win for our football team and our coaching staff. This is a very, very big game for us.”
GSU assistant head coach John Simon said that while the Bayou Classic is always big, it holds even more meaning for the Tigers’ seniors.
“That’s a big part of all of this for our program and our seniors,” Simon said. “The last time we had a winning season was 2019 and the team is well-aware of that. And to have the opportunity to send our seniors out with a winning season is big for us.”
The Jaguars lead the Bayou Classic series 25-24, so squaring that total is another incentive for the G-Men.
There’s also some coaching drama to deal with. Two years ago Terrence Graves had to take over as interim coach for Grambling’s final game of the season, leading the Tigers to a surprising win over Southern.
This season Southern fired head coach Eric Cooley after the Jaguars’ last game and tabbed Graves, now an SU assistant, to take on the interim coach role again, this time against the Tigers.
“At this point we know who they are, they know who they are,” Simon said. “We’re familiar with coach Graves He’s been around the SWAC for years and if you’ve been around the SWAC that long, you know who he is and what he does.
“But at the end of the day, coaches are not going to be playing in this game, so who leads Southern out of the tunnel out on the field doesn’t matter. It’s about our players. When coach Jackson leads our team out the tunnel, he’s not going to be wearing pads. He’s not going to take a snap. He’s not going to make a tackle. This is an emotional game where we know the records don’t matter, the coaches don’t matter. They’re going to come play for Southern University and we’re going to go out and play for the Grambling Tigers.”
By Matt Bankston, CFP® Shreveport Bossier Journal Columnist
Greetings, fellow voyagers in the realm of financial understanding! As we embark on this ongoing journey through the seas of fiscal wisdom, we’re thrilled to introduce a series of enlightening columns dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of money management and financial planning.
In a world where financial decisions shape our lives, understanding the language of money is akin to possessing a superpower. Financial literacy empowers you to navigate economic tides, make informed choices, and build a secure future. It’s the cornerstone of sound decision-making and a vital skillset for everyone, regardless of age or income.
Within this column lies a treasure trove of insights, tailored to enhance your financial acumen. Each installment aims to equip you with practical knowledge and actionable advice. Below is a high level list of the topics we aim to cover:
1. General Principles of Financial Planning: Understanding the core principles of personal finance lays the groundwork for sound decision-making. Topics such as the time value of money, risk management, and taxation principles form the bedrock of financial understanding.
2. Education Planning: The pursuit of knowledge often comes with financial considerations. Exploring strategies to fund education costs and the myriad options available for education savings will be our focus here.
3. Risk Management and Insurance Planning: Life’s uncertainties necessitate protective measures. We’ll delve into the world of insurance—life, health, disability, and more—to mitigate risks and safeguard against unforeseen circumstances.
4. Investment Planning: Creating and managing an investment portfolio is integral to wealth building. We’ll uncover the nuances of asset allocation, diversification, and the myriad investment products available.
5. Retirement Savings and Income Planning: A comfortable retirement requires meticulous planning. Understanding retirement needs, different plan types, and strategies for generating retirement income will be at the heart of this discussion.
6. Estate Planning: Planning for the future involves more than just the present. Estate planning, including estate taxation, wills, trusts, and wealth transfer tools, ensures a lasting legacy.
7. Tax Planning: The impact of taxes on our financial decisions is undeniable. We’ll explore strategies to minimize tax liabilities and navigate the complex world of taxation.
Each topic within this series will delve into the intricacies of its respective domain, offering insights, strategies, and actionable steps. By comprehensively addressing these aspects of financial literacy, we aim to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the financial terrain confidently.
The first stop on our educational voyage through financial literacy is exploring the fundamental principles of financial planning. These principles serve as the compass guiding your financial decisions.
1. Time Value of Money: This principle underscores the concept that money today is worth more than the same amount in the future due to its potential earning capacity. Understanding this allows for smarter decision-making regarding savings, investments, and debt management.
2. Risk Management: Every financial decision involves risk. This principle teaches us how to assess and manage risks effectively, whether in investments, insurance, or even career choices. It’s about finding the right balance between risk and reward.
3. Principles of Taxation: Taxes are an integral part of personal finance. Learning about the different types of taxes, deductions, and tax-efficient strategies helps minimize tax liabilities and maximize savings.
4. Understanding Cash Flow: Tracking income and expenses is essential. This principle emphasizes the importance of budgeting and managing cash flow effectively to achieve financial goals.
5. Debt Management: The prudent use of debt can be a powerful tool. This principle delves into strategies for managing and reducing debt while leveraging it effectively for wealth-building purposes.
Let this column serve as your guide, illuminating the path toward financial independence and security. Welcome aboard!
In the bustling streets of Shreveport-Bossier, the holiday season beckons—a time when the warmth of community and the joy of giving intertwine. As we approach Saturday, November 25, 2023, mark your calendars not just for Small Business Saturday but for an opportunity to merge the essence of the festive season with supporting our local entrepreneurs.
The pulse of our community resonates within the walls of small businesses—the boutiques, cafes, art galleries, and specialty stores that define the unique character of Shreveport-Bossier. These resilient establishments have weathered the storm of uncertainties, adapting and persevering through challenging times.
This Small Business Saturday, organized in collaboration with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and American Express, isn’t solely about shopping; it’s an invitation to infuse the spirit of the holidays into our local economy. It’s a call to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that enriches our community.
Consider the impact of your purchases: Last year, nationwide consumer spending at independent retailers and restaurants on this day soared to an estimated $17.9 billion. Imagine the collective power of channeling a portion of that support into our local shops and boutiques, elevating Shreveport-Bossier’s economic vitality.
Making the Most of Small Business Saturday for Your Christmas Shopping:
Shoppers in Shreveport-Bossier:
Discover Local Treasures: Explore the diverse offerings of our small businesses for unique and thoughtful gifts. Find presents that carry the essence of our community.
Effortless Community Support: While checking off your Christmas list, you’re simultaneously supporting local artisans and entrepreneurs who pour their hearts into their crafts.
Small Business Owners in Shreveport-Bossier:
Marketing Boost: Access free marketing materials for Small Business Saturday to enhance visibility during the holiday rush. Attract shoppers seeking distinctive gifts.
Fostering the Festive Spirit: Create an inviting and festive atmosphere in your store. Engage customers with holiday-themed events and offerings.
Partner Organizations in Shreveport-Bossier:
Spreading Cheer: Amplify the message of supporting local businesses during the holiday season. Use social media and community events to encourage participation using #ShopSmall.
Small Business Saturday aligns the joy of gift-giving with the act of supporting our community. By choosing local, you’re not just purchasing gifts; you’re fostering economic growth, sustaining local jobs, and preserving the soul of Shreveport-Bossier.
This November 25, let’s intertwine the festive cheer with supporting our small businesses. Let’s #ShopSmall while we shop for Christmas, weaving a tapestry of generosity, resilience, and community spirit that embodies the true essence of the season in Shreveport-Bossier.
After church one Sunday a few years ago, my husband asked our five-year-old daughter what she learned in Sunday school. She said that she learned about Jesus and the cheetahs. The theologian in him was immediately curious because he was not familiar with that story in the Bible. He asked for more information and she told him the whole story. Then he listened closely to her lesson.
Jesus and the Cheetahs
Once upon a time, Jesus was walking down the road. There were ten cheetahs that came to him. They were sick. (In Sunday school she put dots all over our clothes with cotton balls and baby powder to look like cheetahs. It was fun.) Jesus made the cheetahs better, but only one cheetah said “Thank you.”
Eventually my husband got it…she was talking about Jesus and the Lepers not CHEETAHS! We always get a good belly laugh from her version of the story especially since I was her Sunday school teacher that day!!
There is also a lot to truth to her story. There are a lot of cheaters in this story. Nine to be exact. In Luke, we learn that Jesus encountered ten lepers on his way to Jerusalem who begged him for mercy and healing. He did exactly what they asked. They were healed and they had their lives back. They could return to society, their families, and their careers. He had given them all that they could dream of having and more. Out of the ten healed lepers, only one returned to thank him. Only one.
This Thanksgiving we have the opportunity to be the one that returned to give thanks. Think about all the people in your life that have made your life better this year. Be the one to thank them. People like your doctor who helped you stay healthy, your friend that remembered your birthday, your co-worker who helped you meet your deadline, or your neighbor who pulls your trash bins back to your fence after they are empty. Be the one to thank them. Think about the people you see each week at the grocery store, school, bank, gas station or in your neighborhood. Be the one to thank them. Recall how they helped you have a better day or a better life. Be the one to thank them.
Since Thanksgiving is on our minds, our family took a moment after dinner this week to make a list of all the people we want to thank. We signed cards and wrote notes together. We had fun talking about why we wanted to thank someone. What is a creative way your family can give thanks?
When we bow our heads and give thanks to God with our family on Thursday, we will also be giving thanks for all the people God sent us this year to make our lives better. If we don’t take time to pause and give thanks, aren’t we really only cheating ourselves?
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!”He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.” Luke 17:15-19
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!
THE SEARCH IS ON: Airline’s Bob Patterson looks for room to run. (Journal photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL)
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
It’s Thanksgiving Week, and with that come a few certainties: people will eat too much, people will shop too much and here come the Christmas decorations out of storage.
And when it comes to the high school football playoffs, there is another certainty. After the game tonight, there are going to be coaches of really good teams who have to give the turn-in-your-equipment-on-Monday speech.
Airline coach Justin Scogin is trying to avoid that awkward discussion. The Vikings are the No. 4 seed in Non-Select Division I playoffs and will be at home tonight when the quarterfinals get cranked up.
The Vikings (10-1) take on 21st-seeded Mandeville (8-4) at 7 o’clock at Airline Stadium.
There are plenty of other coaches across the state who have already given the equipment speech. With only eight teams remaining in each division, Thanksgiving week becomes even more special for those who aren’t yet worried about whether the shoulder pads are going to fit in the storage room.
“Thanksgiving week is kind of an anomaly,” Scogin said. “It’s different than anything else than you’ve done all year. “The mystique is that if you are practicing on Thanksgiving, you have a good program. So that adds to the atmosphere this week. Sometimes you worry when school is going on about kids showing up. But everybody wants to practice this week.”
Airline is playing for a spot in the semifinals for the first time since reaching the state finals in 1972 and will have to do against a Mandeville team than stunned fifth-seeded St. Amant 42-21 in the second round.
The Skippers play a spread offense featuring junior running back Nate Sheppard, who rushed 25 times for 328 yards and three touchdowns in an opening round win over Sam Houston and followed it up with 105 yards and three touchdowns a week ago.
Quarterback Ben Hendricks threw for 208 yards, completing just 9 of 13 passes, in the second round.
“The running back is really good,” Scogin said. “He’s an explosive back. He’s dynamic because he can also line up at receiver and they will throw him routes. But they aren’t afraid to run the quarterback either.”
The Skippers play a defense that is a little more conventional than what Airline saw from Southside did last week.
“Last week we had no idea where they were going to line up,” Scogin said. “We should have a better idea this week. It’s a little more traditional.”
The Skippers have certainly been stingy on defense this year with six games during the regular season of allowing only one touchdown or less. Airline has scored at least 33 points in every game this season.
Mandeville finished third in District 5-5A but only lost by three points to district champion St. Paul’s, the No. 7 seed in the Select division playoffs.
The Vikings are coming off an exciting 36-35 win over Southside that might have been less exciting had Airline had two game-altering turnovers.
“We’ve done a good job of limiting turnovers and being efficient until last week,” Scogin said. “It all goes back to the ability to run the ball, throw the ball, catch the ball, and make tackles. And that’s it.”
Last week: Airline beat Southside, 36-35; Mandeville beat St. Amant 42-21
Rankings: Airline #3 in SBJ poll, #10 in LSWA 5A poll
Radio: none
Notables: Airline enters the game averaging 45.4 points a game, Mandeville 31.7. The Vikings allow 29.5 points a game and the Skippers 18.3. … Airline quarterback Ben Taylor passed for just more than 300 -yards for the 10th time in 11 games in last week’s win … WR Kenny Darby caught a touchdown pass from Taylor and Tre’Von Jackson … Jarvis Davis caught a touchdown pass and ran for one. His 2-point conversion run ended up being the difference when Southside was unable to convert on its onside kick following the final TD. … Mandeville defeated No. 12 Sam Houston 50-36 in the first round. The Skippers have been to the playoffs 26 times and has an overall record of 22-25. This is their sixth time to reach the quarterfinals. They have been to the semifinals three times … the last was in 2015.
