JOURNAL SPORTS
If Haughton’s Matthew Sewell had any nerves prior to his head coaching debut, they probably paled in comparison to what he felt during the Bucs’ 48-46 shootout win over Homer on Friday.
Either quarterback Taylor Weathersby or running back Ethan Johnson had a hand in all seven of Haughton’s touchdowns, and the Bucs (1-0) clung to their second-half lead and fended off a game Homer squad in a game played at Airline High School because the new turf field at Haughton isn’t quite finished.
Homer running back Greg Williams plunged into the end zone and made the two-point conversion to slice the Bucs’ 10-point edge to two with four minutes remaining, but Haughton recovered the onside kick and managed to run out the clock in a game that featured wild momentum swings.
“It was a great high school football game,” Sewell said. “Homer is a really good football team, and we were fortunate to get out of there with a win.
“I told the kids after the game that it doesn’t matter how it happens, it always feels good to win.”
Half of Homer’s starters played both ways, and Sewell said his bunch was able to connect on a few big passing plays and lean into the running game thanks to its depth.
Weathersby threw for two scores and ran for two more while Johnson’s three rushing touchdowns came in the second half.
Homer snatched a 14-7 lead before Haughton scored the next three touchdowns to grab a 28-14 advantage.
But Homer sliced Haughton’s lead to 28-22, 35-30, and to 42-38 before its late charge that threatened the result.
Homer’s Williams piled up the yards and touchdowns, which included a 79-yard jaunt late in the third quarter (35-30 Haughton).
“(Williams) is a warrior, and (coach Richie Casey) has done an awesome job up there,” Sewell said. “They have a chance to make a run to the Superdome again in Class 2A.”
Airline 52, Barbe 49: What’s a wild season-opening day without a heart-stopping Airline game?
The Vikings appeared to be sailing to a road win in Lake Charles, leading 49-35 after three quarters before Barbe charged late to tie the game.
With a sopping field and wind up to 20 miles per hour, Airline kicker Ben Jump knocked through a 22-yard field goal with 1:30 left that proved to the difference.
The Airline defense rallied for one more stop as the Vikings stymied Barbe’s comeback attempt.
Coach Justin Scogin said halftime adjustments (28-28 score) accounted for Airline building its second-half lead.
“Our kids were having fun and playing loose,” Scogin said. “Barbe had a long drive that ended with a touchdown (early in the fourth quarter), and then they returned the long fumble for the touchdown and really stole the momentum.
“We had a four-hour trip to a wet field with some heavy wind, and we had some funny things go against us throughout the game. But our kids showed a lot of guts fighting until the end and getting a big stop.
Parkway 42, Carroll 14: If Parkway fans were late to Friday’s season opener, there’s a good chance they missed the fireworks.
Carmaro Mayo returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown as the Panthers routed Carroll by scoring the game’s first 42 points in the first half.
Quarterback Kaleb Williams threw a pair of touchdowns and ran for another, while stud running back Antonio Gladney accounted for a rushing and passing score.
The second half featured a running clock and a pair of Carroll touchdowns against the Parkway junior varsity squad.
Parkway developed a habit of jumping on opponents quickly in the 2023 early-season non-district slate, and the Panthers continued that trend to start this season.
Carroll suffered through an August coaching change after Gary Hines resigned, paving the way for interim Marvin Williams.
Tensas 16, Plain Dealing 14: Plain Dealing came close to stopping the streak in the season opener, but the Lions couldn’t pull it off in front of the home crowd.
Plain Dealing (0-1) lost its 26th straight contest, although this one was the closest in that streak.
Touchdowns from Jerry Harris and Antonio Taylor matched Tensas’ scores, but the Panthers made the difference in two-point conversions.
“We had our chances,” said Plain Dealing coach Clint Walker. “They won the turnover game (4-3), and that played a role. We had multiple opportunities tonight.”
North Caddo 37, Bossier 16: The visiting Bearkats appeared to have the right formula as they built a 16-15 halftime lead, but the Titans made the right halftime moves and outscored Bossier 22-0 in the second half.
The contest was Bossier’s lone win of the 2023 season. Now the Bearkats will play two home games against Class A powers Glenbrook and Logansport before starting the rough-and-tumble District 1-4A schedule.
North Caddo stays home to play North Webster in Week 2.