September 27, 2024
Month: September 2024
‘Kitchen Sink approach’: United States Attorney Brandon Brown
Mayor Tom Arceneaux opened a recent press conference by commending the efforts of all the parties involved—the Shreveport Police Department, federal and local partners, and our entire community—for their dedication to making our city safer. He praised the tireless work done over the past three years, acknowledging that it’s the collaboration and unity of purpose that have brought us to this moment of progress.
The Shreveport Police Department, under the leadership of Chief Wayne Smith, celebrated the conclusion of a three-year public safety partnership initiative—an effort that has truly transformed our community. With the support of key public safety partners, we’ve come together not only to combat crime but to address the deeper issues that fuel it.
United States Attorney Brandon Brown spoke powerfully about the coalition’s dedication to a “kitchen sink” approach to fighting violent crime. In simple terms, this means that every resource, every ounce of effort has been thrown into this fight to ensure that our community remains safe from those who would cause harm. This relentless approach is working. By every measure, Shreveport is safer today than it was three years ago. We’ve seen a dramatic reduction in homicides, shootings, and other violent crimes that once plagued our city. Auto thefts and sexual offenses are down, too. We’re not just talking about numbers—we’re talking about lives saved and neighborhoods becoming safer places to call home.
Chief Smith shared a message of hope for the future, emphasizing that while we’ve made tremendous strides, our work isn’t done. Sheriff Henry Whitehorn echoed those words, challenging the local media to highlight the positive momentum in Shreveport and let the people know that our community is turning the tide.
But this isn’t just about crime stats—it’s about our future. Keith Burton, the new superintendent of Caddo Parish Schools was present and interim superintendent Leisa Woolfolk reminded us of the bright future awaiting our young people. They spoke about the promise that the next generation holds and the role we all play in shaping a better, safer city for them.
Shreveport is alive with hope and possibility. We are experiencing a wave of positive energy, unlike anything we’ve seen in decades. Now, more than ever, is the time for all of us to take pride in our city. As citizens, you’ve made your voices heard, and we, as leaders, have listened. We are committed to making Shreveport the safest, most vibrant place it can be—not just for today, but for the generations that follow.
This journey isn’t over. Together, we’ve shown what’s possible when a community pulls together. Let’s continue to stand united, to support one another, and to work toward a future where Shreveport fulfills every bit of its potential.
Thank you for your trust, your resilience, and your partnership in making our city a place we can all be proud of.
Louisiana State Police Investigating Incident Involving Shreveport Police Department
Louisiana State Police Investigators were requested by the Shreveport Police Department (SPD) on Sept. 26 around 5:15 pm to investigate an incident that occurred yesterday evening. The incident happened at approximately 7:20 p.m., as a result of a traffic stop. SPD Officers attempted to stop a vehicle on Broadway Avenue at Hollywood Avenue. The final stop location was at Hollywood Avenue at McAlpine Street.
As a result of the traffic stop, SPD Officers came into contact with a male subject. As Officers were attempting to arrest the subject, a physical altercation ensued, which resulted in him being transported to a local hospital. At this time, the subject remains in serious condition. No Officers were injured during this incident.
This investigation remains active and ongoing. Through coordination with the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office and LSP Investigators,additional information will be provided once it becomes available.
Anyone with information and/or pictures and video are urged to share that information with LSP Investigators by calling 318-741-2735.
In addition to the option above, the public can anonymously report information through the Louisiana State Police online reporting system by visiting lsp.org and clicking on Report Suspicious or Criminal Activity, or calling the LSP Fusion Center Hotline at 1-800-434-8007.
Chiangmai Thai Kitchen Shreveport is open for business
The Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce held a Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening ceremony for Chiangmai Thai Kitchen Shreveport is “Open For Business.” They are located at 1244 Shreveport Barksdale Highway.
Cooking for a Cause chef challenge will take place at Centenary Oct. 1
Two chefs will go head-to-head Oct. 1-2 to help address food insecurity on college campuses. Centenary College Chef Chef Norman Hunt and Northwestern State University Chef Jimier Anderson will compete for votes in the inaugural Cooking for a Cause event sponsored by Sodexo, the universities’ food service partner.
“As we observe Food Insecurity Month, we have organized a cooking competition that not only allows our chefs to engage with our students but also raises awareness of this pressing issue. Students will have the opportunity to make a difference by donating their unused meals to those in need,” said Phoebe Cook, South Louisiana and Mississippi District Manager of Sodexo Universities.
Hunt will prepare Fall Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Soup with Apricot. Anderson will prepare Chicken Street Tacos with Cilantro Lime Rice and Baja Back Beans. The dishes will be served for lunch at Centenary on Tuesday, Oct. 1. On Wednesday, Oct. 2, they will be served front and center at the deli station in Iberville Dining Hall on the NSU campus from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Students, faculty, staff and the community are invited to taste the entries and vote for their favorite.
As part of Cooking for a Cause, Sodexo will match student meal card swipes 1:1 for the Swipe Out Hunger program, which provides free meal swipes to students in need of food assistance. Individuals without meal cards can pay the regular meal price at the door and additional revenue will benefit NSU’s Food Pantry. Guests can sample both entries and vote for their favorite. Final votes will be collected at 1 p.m. and the winner announced.
Student groups are expected to participate to lend a festive atmosphere to the event.
Norman Hunt is representing Centenary College of Louisiana. From Metairie, Louisiana, his love for cooking began in childhood with his grandmother, a skilled Filipino cook who baked bread and grew her own vegetables. He recalls that his family focused on the art of meal preparation rather than documenting recipes. “While everyone can make dinner, true chefs honor the ingredients, enhancing their natural flavors,” he says, a philosophy he aims to pass to his children. Chef Hunt honed his culinary expertise at the Ritz- Carlton in both New Orleans and St. Louis before becoming part of the Sodexo team. His impressive resume includes serving a range of celebrities and U.S. presidents.
For information on joining the fight against hunger visit www.HelpStopHunger.org.
Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier’s Pumpkin Patch at Provenance returns October 1-31
The Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier (JLSB) is thrilled to announce the return of the Pumpkin Patch at Provenance starting Tuesday, October 1st, running through Thursday, Oct. 31 (closed on Mondays). The annual pumpkin patch is located at Windrush Lake Overlook in Provenance neighborhood, at 1968 Bridgewater Avenue. This beloved community tradition offers family-friendly activities, food truck nights, photo opportunities to capture the spirit of the season, and a diverse array of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes, all while supporting the Junior League’s community service initiatives.
Pumpkin Patch at Provenance was created in 2018 as a fundraiser for Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier. For over 90 years, the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier has stayed true to the mission to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. In support of the mission, JLSB develops and supports community projects, bestows grants to organizations in need, and provides scholarships to deserving high school graduates. Funds raised at the Pumpkin Patch at Provenance supports projects like MAGIC (Mentoring Ambitious Girls to Inspire Change), Revel’s Artist for a Day, and the Red Apron Pantry.
The Pumpkin Patch at Provenance Hours of Operation:
Closed Mondays
Tuesday – Friday: 4 pm – 7 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 7 pm
Sunday: 12-7 pm
(Will close early on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2 pm)
Admission is free and pumpkins are available for purchase at a variety of price points. Guests can participate in a raffle to win jewelry. Visit the Pumpkin Patch at Provenance for more information!
Year-long partners of JLSB include Sid Potts, Inc. and CHRISTUS Health. For sponsorship opportunities and information about the event, please contact the Pumpkin Patch Committee, at jlsbpumpkinpatch@gmail.com.
About the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier
Founded in 1933, the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier, Inc. is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
Big district games highlight Friday schedule
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
With all the changes in playoff structure, district play might not as much as it did before. But it still counts for something.
District 1-5A has been involved in it for two weeks and Districts 1-4A and 1-2A hop on board tonight with a full schedule of games.
The highlight games in those two districts will be the 1-4A battle between Northwood (3-0) at North DeSoto (1-2) and 1-2A’s matchup of 3-0 D’Arbonne Woods headed to Calvary (2-0).
North DeSoto is ranked No. 6 in the latest Class 4A poll while Northwood is receiving votes. In the 2A poll, Calvary is ranked No. 2 despite losses in the last two weeks (to higher classification teams).
“All the games mean the same, but we don’t shy away from wanting to be district champions,” Northwood coach Austin Brown said. “So I guess we kinda talk out of both sides of our mouth.”
The premier game in 1-5A play appears to be Evangel (1-2) taking on Airline (3-0) at Viking Stadium. The game will feature two of the area’s top quarterbacks in Airline senior Ben Taylor and Evangel sophomore Peyton Houston.
There should be no shortage of footballs filling the air, but just don’t try to tell Viking head coach Justin Scogin that he needs to try to “outscore” the Eagles.
“I know it comes off like we try to outscore everybody, but we don’t ever go into a game thinking that way,” he said. “We do try to put pressure on people non-stop, which is why we go for it on fourth down a lot. The object of the game is to win the game. I don’t care if we win 10-7.”
The Vikings have scored at least 52 points in all three of their wins so far this year. Scogin knows his defense will have to make some stops against Houston, who completed 24 of 33 passes for 362 yards last week and ran for another 75 yards in a loss to Byrd.
“He’s really good and he makes plays with his legs as well as his arm,” Scogin said. “He’s always making something happen.”
The other four district games all involve one team with a winning record taking on a team with a losing record. Captain Shreve (2-1, 1-1) will travel to Benton (0-3, 0-2), Haughton (1-2, 0-2) will play Huntington (2-1, 2-0) at Independence Stadium and Parkway (3-0, 1-0) will hit the road and travel to Natchitoches Central (1-2, 0-2).
Byrd has a non-district game in the New Orleans-area against the John Ehret Patriots.
North DeSoto is the pretty clear favorite in District 1-4A, but the Falcons have been rolling through the non-district schedule, having scored 135 points in three games.
Most would agree that this looks like a matchup of the top two teams as district play begins.
After those two, it’s hard to tell in the newly formed district. Minden is still unbeaten at 3-0 and Loyola and BTW are both 2-1. Of the 18 non-district games played by teams other than Northwood and North DeSoto, 17 have been against lower classification teams – and eight have been against Class 1A.
Loyola will be at home to take on Southwood in the first meeting between the two schools since 1976. The Flyers have allowed only four touchdowns through the first three games.
The other two games will have Woodlawn (1-2) traveling to The Pit to take on Minden while Bossier (1-2) will be at BTW (2-1).
In 1-2A openers, Green Oaks is at home (Jerry Burton Stadium) against new district opponent Union Parish (0-3) and Magnolia (0-2) will be in Vivian to play North Caddo (2-1).
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com
GAME BROADCASTS TONIGHT
Benton — The Benton Tiger Sports Network, https://network1sports.com/station/benton
Byrd — 1130 AM The Tiger
Calvary — Promise 90.7 FM
Captain Shreve — The River, 95.7 FM
Burns’ timely birdie helps USA roll on Day 1 of President’s Cup
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
QUEBEC, Canada – A pivotal 10-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole Thursday put Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay in control, and they did not waver down the stretch in winning their opening day four-ball match at the 2024 President’s Cup event.
Burns, a Shreveport native and Calvary Baptist alumnus, and Cantlay capped an historic 5-0 opening day rout by Team USA over the International squad. It was the first time since 2000, and the second time ever, in 25 President’s Cup competitions that a team swept all five matches. It has happened only once, in 1984, in Ryder Cup play.
The Americans prevailed 2&1, closing out the match against former Masters champion Hideki Matsayuma and Corey Connors on the 17th green with a par when Burns putted within gimme distance from 30 feet on an undulating green, and Matsayuma couldn’t convert a 12-foot birdie putt at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
Burns is one of two Americans who will sit out today’s alternate shot format, but USA captain Jim Furyk is expect to send him back in action Saturday as play will feature eight matches, with four-ball in the morning and foursome play in the afternoon. Singles play is Sunday. Coverage today begins at noon on Golf Channel before NBC provides wall to wall coverage Saturday and Sunday.
Burns provided the 224-yard par-3 13th hole birdie Thursday and changed the complexion of the match. The Americans fell behind early, but Cantlay birdied twice to get them 1-up going to the back nine.
“Typically, this format is going to come down to making a birdie on a really hard hole,” Burns said. “Fortunately for us, we did that there.”
The 28-year-old former LSU All-American, a Choudrant resident whose home course is Squire Creek Country Club, finished the 2024 PGA Tour season strongly with two top 5 finishes in the FedEx Cup playoffs and won $6.1 million in official purse money. This is his second President’s Cup and third international competition as a pro, along with last year’s Ryder Cup. Burns helped the USA win the 2022 President’s Cup.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com
Hey Oakland, I know how you feel (sort of)!
They played the last major league baseball game ever in Oakland Thursday. The A’s plan to move to Sacramento for three years as they await a stadium – which isn’t even in the planning stages yet – to be built.
How City of Oakland and the A’s ownership got into this mess doesn’t affect me one way or another, though I do give the team a hat tip for wearing those classic green-and-gold uniforms for the final home game.
The A’s beat the Texas Rangers 3-2 and afterward, the sellout crowd stayed and … celebrated? Mourned?
It’s one of those sports moments when nobody really knows what to do.
It’s also one of the saddest sports moments, when a team and/or a city and/or a stadium are to be no more.
Particularly in baseball, where nostalgia runs deep and sentiment is always in the on-deck circle. (Yes, even in Oakland.)
I watched the final out — and subsequent whatever-that-was that followed — and thought of Mansfield native Vida Blue and Catfish Hunter and Rollie Fingers’ mustache and Barry Zito’s curveball and Rickey Henderson stealing third base and proclaiming “today I am the greatest” after breaking Lou Brock’s record.
And I couldn’t help but think about baseball stadiums in Shreveport.
SPAR Stadium and Fair Grounds Field – two dramatically different structures with two wildly different histories. Both are still standing (insert your own joke here) but both are empty as far as professional baseball is concerned.
I was at the last game ever played at SPAR Stadium because I desperately wanted to be. I wasn’t at the last game played at Fair Grounds Field because I was determined not to be.
A crowd of 1,539 came out on the last day of August, 1985, to watch the final game at SPAR Stadium, a facility that had long outlived its usefulness. Future MLB players Robby Thompson and Matt Nokes were in the starting lineup for the Captains, who won 9-3.
That part was meaningless to me and it wasn’t as if the Captains were going away. (They moved a few miles away to Fair Grounds Field for the 1986 season).
But SPAR Stadium was the first baseball facility I had ever seen. I saw two major league exhibitions played there. I played there during American Legion summer baseball. I got Joe DiMaggio’s autograph there. I saw Darryl Strawberry get mercilessly heckled there. I saw Denny McLain pitch there, just five years after he had posted one of the greatest individual seasons in the history of baseball.
And I still remembered that thrilling feeling I’d get when my father would tell us to load up get in the car because we were going to see a game.
Fresh out of college, I cut my sports writer teeth by covering the Captains night after night at SPAR Stadium.
So on that final night, yeah, I shed a tear or two as I drove away, knowing that no more memories would be made at SPAR Stadium.
When the end came for Fair Grounds Field, however, it was a different story. In that case, minor league baseball was going away to a different city in a different state and though independent league baseball would try to take its place, that never worked.
That Captains had been sold and became the Swamp Dragons, which pretty much summed it all up – going from a traditional nickname to a goofy, let’s-do-something-different nickname. The locally-owned team was sold to a corporation and run by a general manager who lasted about a week after the higher-ups saw how Shreveport wasn’t buying what they were selling.
After two years (2001-02), it was obvious that the end was coming fast so I decided to make that one last visit to Fair Grounds Field, where I had joyously been a part of a baseball renaissance in the late 1980s and early ‘90s.
It wasn’t the final night at FGF, but it was close to the end of the season. And it was sad in so many ways that were completely different than what it had been like that final night at SPAR Stadium.
I left in the fifth inning because it was time to go. Not just for me, but for minor league baseball.
Stadiums come and go. Franchises come and go.
But memories don’t.
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com
Kelly’s commitment to sustainability evident as LSU gets final non-conference test at home
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – LSU head football coach Brian Kelly has never deviated from his philosophy of building a sustainable program.
Not a one-hit wonder like previous head coach Ed Orgeron, fired effective at the end of the 2021 season just two years after the Tigers won the 20198 national championship with a 15-0 record.
Because former Notre Dame coach Kelly signed a 10-year LSU contract with an annual salary of around $9.5 million – a high figure required to make the rare hire of swiping a proven head coach from another major power – there have been unreasonable expectations from LSU’s fanbase of an immediate turnaround of a program whose roster was bankrupted by Orgeron.
When Kelly went 10-4 and 10-3 in his first two LSU seasons, the anticipation of the Tigers challenging for a playoff spot accelerated this season even though he was just three years into rebuilding a roster with just 38 scholarship players when he took over.
Yet there is still work to be done. And as the 14th-ranked Tigers (3-1, 1-0 SEC) close the non-conference portion of their schedule vs. South Alabama (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) at 6:45 p.m. Saturday in Tiger Stadium, Kelly’s belief remains strong about constructing a championship program based on high school recruiting classes rather transfer portal signees.
His number of transfer portal signees has dropped with each recruiting class while the number of true freshmen Kelly signed who have played has increased.
Kelly played 15 true freshmen in his first season with four starting at least one game. Last year, 22 true freshmen played with four starting at least one game.
This season after just four games, 16 true freshmen have already played including 10 on defense (with three starting at least one game).
The influx of the newbies on defense is not only to get experience but to fill crucial roles such as the defensive line with three linemen taken in April’s NFL draft.
And then just in September, LSU has already lost senior starting tackle Jacobian Guillory with a season-ending torn Achilles and junior linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (torn ACL). Senior reserve tackle Jalen Lee has been sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Consider all that and mix in an all-new defensive coaching staff in the off-season, the defensive performance weekly progresses inches forward trying to reduce coverage busts and increase fundamental soundness.
“With first-year (defensive) coaches and new players, they’re starting to get to know who their guys are and who they can lean on in certain situations,” Kelly said. “You’re going to see more guys we’re gradually bringing along thrust into the action.”
True in-state freshman defensive linemen like Evangel product Gabe Reliford, Ahmad Breaux of Ruston and Dominick McKinley of Lafayette’s Acadiana High been moved into more prominent roles. So has safety Deshawn Spears of Denham Springs.
Breaux weighed 245 pounds when he enrolled at LSU last January, which was ideal for playing linebacker as he did in high school but undersized to play on the defensive line.
“I played the whole spring trying to keep my weight down, but that didn’t work,” Breaux said. “So, when they (the coaches) told me to eat whatever I wanted (to gain weight), I just started eating a lot of protein.”
Breaux now weighs 282. Despite the added weight, he lost body fat even though his eating habits included frequent visits to What-a-burger and Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers.
Breaux, who credits veteran LSU defensive line coach Bo Davis with his transformation to tackle (“He made me a totally different player – I didn’t know how to use my hands or how to use my leverage,” Breaux said), was well-prepared mentally to play early in his college career.
Breaux’s defensive coordinator at Ruston was former LSU All-American defensive tackle Kyle Williams, a six-time Pro Bowl selection in his 13-year NFL career before the Ruston High alum retired in 2018 and moved back home with his family.
“Coach Kyle told me to do every drill full speed with your hair on fire,” Breaux said. “He taught me to have that mindset to never quit. He taught me how to work, how to play, how to be a man, everything that he had to learn growing up. He made me a way better player than what I would have been with anybody else.”
Kelly said he’s been happy with what’s seen upfront defensively from the young tackles as well as newbie Wisconsin senior transfer Gio Paez, second-year end/tackle Arizona senior transfer Paris Shane and vastly improved ends senior Sai’vion Jones and sophomore Dashawn Womack and second-year senior Oregon transfer Bradyn Swinson.
With 10 sacks in the last two weeks in wins over South Carolina and UCLA, the Tigers’ season total of 12 sacks is three ahead of last year’s pace.
“This is an important week for us as we continue to develop,” Kelly said. “After next week’s bye week, it’s welcome to the SEC with seven games in eight weeks.”
GO FIGURE
0: interceptions thrown by South Alabama, one of 14 FBS teams that haven’t had a pass picked
1-6: South Alabama’s record against SEC teams
14: LSU players have caught passes this season
19: Straight games in which the Tigers have thrown a TD pass
37-2: LSU’s record vs. Sun Belt Conference teams
73.3: Percent of South Alabama’s total offense this season produced by redshirt freshmen or true freshmen
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com
Bulldogs look primed for breakthrough win in CUSA opener at FIU
JOURNAL SPORTS
MIAMI – Hurricane Helen has menaced much of the state of Florida, but swept west of Miami.
Saturday at 5 CST, the Louisiana Tech football team hopes to blow by Florida International in the Conference USA opener for both teams.
The Louisiana Tech Radio Network with Malcolm Butler and Teddy Allen calling the action can be heard locally on Light 92.1 FM. The game is available to watch at ESPN+.
The game site, Pitbull Stadium, might be a positive omen for the Bulldogs (1-2) against a 1-3 Panthers team just upset by FCS Monmouth 45-42 at home last Saturday night. Tech topped FIU 22-17 in Ruston in last season’s opener, and is 5-1 all-time against the Panthers.
The Bulldog football program has not lost a CUSA opener since the 2016 season and will aim to win its eighth straight conference opener.
Tech coach Sonny Cumbie eyes his third straight CUSA opening win after defeating South Alabama in his first season and FIU in 2023.
But the Bulldogs are licking their wounds after a bitterly disappointing 23-20 overtime loss at home last Saturday night to Tulsa. Tech used three quarterbacks looking to spark a struggling offense.
Redshirt freshman Evan Bullock took over for an injured Blake Baker in the fourth quarter and led a five-play, 43-yard scoring drive to put the Bulldogs up late. Bullock finished 4-of-6 for 49 yards while tossing his first career touchdown pass. Starting quarterback Jack Turner went 7-of-14 for 41 yards. Baker is expected to miss time after leading the team with 107 yards through the air.
Through three games, Tech’s defense ranks amongst the top half in several FBS categories, while sitting atop the C-USA ranks. The Bulldog defense ranks 37th in total defense (298.0), and rushing defense (106.5), while the team’s 192.0 passing yards allowed per outing ranks 57th. Tech leads CUSA in total defense, rushing defense and fewest touchdowns allowed.
A different linebacker has led the team in tackles in each of the first three games. Kolbe Fields led the defense with 10 stops in the opener against Nicholls, followed by CJ Harris who tallied 10 tackles at North Carolina State. Zach Zimos became the third of the starting trio to lead the team, collecting 13 tackles against Tulsa. The starting trio of Zimos (29 tackles), Fields (22 tackles), and Harris (16) tackles has combined for 67 stops through the first three games
FIU was picked to finish eighth in the CUSA preseason poll. The Panthers opened the season with a 31-7 loss to Indiana before defeating Central Michigan 52-16. They’ve dropped the last two, to Florida Atlantic Monmouth. They are averaging 30.3 points per outing while giving up 32.5 per game.
After Saturday, Tech comes home for an Oct. 10 CUSA contest at Joe Aillet Stadium against Middle Tennessee, starting a stretch of three games in 12 days as the league chases national TV exposure with midweek kickoffs.
Gents ride momentum from win into visit to ETBU
By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director
MARSHALL, Texas – After posting its first win in decades, the first-year Centenary football team wraps up a three-game road swing nearby Saturday evening as the Gents will face the East Texas Baptist University Tigers.
The non-conference game kicks off at 6 p.m. in ETBU’s Ornelas Stadium. The Tigers are 2-0, while the Gents are 1-2.
Centenary achieved a milestone moment last Saturday as it recorded the program’s first NCAA victory since the 1940’s with a 36-17 triumph over the Austin College ‘Roos in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference contest in Sherman, Texas.
But Gents’ head coach Byron Dawson expects a much stiffer challenge at ETBU.
“Coach (Calvin) Ruzicka and his staff have done a good job developing his team this season,” said Dawson. “They have several new talented players on their roster. On Saturday night, we’ll need to excel in all three phases of the game.
“It’s crucial that we continue improving each week — learning from last week’s mistakes, and building on our successes. We’re also excited that our fans will have the chance to attend a road game so close to home in Marshall.”
The Gents’ defense recorded four sacks, had six tackles for loss, and forced four fumbles, recovering three in the win over Austin College. Centenary also posted season highs in both rushing yards (246) and total offense (382).
Centenary scored three times on defense in the game, all coming in the second half.
Sophomore defensive lineman D’Qavion Lemons, a Southwood High School product, was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week following an outstanding performance against Austin College.
Lemons, who was named the SCAC Player of the Week on Monday, recorded a team-leading eight total tackles and had a team-best two sacks with a team-high two tackles for loss. Lemons also forced a fumble to lead a Gents’ defense that recorded four sacks, had six tackles for loss, and forced four fumbles, recovering three.
Lemons becomes the second Gent to earn a spot on the prestigious national team this season after freshman DB Jacob Wilson, an Evangel product, made the team on Week 1. Last Saturday, Wilson forced a fumble and freshman Jacob Black picked it up and raced 90 yards for a 15-3 lead.
ETBU has started with a pair of blowout wins over LaGrange (57-12) and Hendrix (63-28). The Tigers have finished 5-5 in each of the last three seasons.
For live stats visit https://goetbutigers.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Streaming video will be available at https://goetbutigers.com/watch/live
Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu
Rising Grambling opens SWAC season with Prairie View in Dallas
By T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal
DALLAS — Now it gets real.
Riding a three-game win streak, the Grambling State Tigers open their 2024 Southwestern Athletic Conference season when they take on Prairie View A&M at 6 p.m. Saturday in the State Fair Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Grambling stands at 3-1 on the season while Prairie View is 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the SWAC West. Grambling’s homefield 41-20 victory over Jackson State last Saturday did not count on the SWAC schedule.
The Tigers, who moved up for No. 4 in the BOXTOROW HBCU poll this week, lead the State Fair Classic series 28-10.
GSU head coach Mickey Joseph let defensive coordinator Jason Rollins handle the bulk of interview work this week. Joseph spent Monday in Dallas doing promotional work for the upcoming contest, but got a few words in from the Big D.
“We’re honored to be playing in this game,” Joseph said during a Dallas press conference. “We won’t get caught up in the sideshow. I’m excited and the team is excited.
“It’s a great atmosphere and a great crowd. We’re playing pretty good football right now, but that was last week. “We’re going to get ready for this one and hope we put on a good show. We’re happy, we’re excited and we’re ready to roll.”
Rollins’ crew was much of the talk Monday during the SWAC virtual press conference.
Grambling’s defense scored a pair of touchdowns against JSU with Caleb Collins returning a pick six 22 yards to paydirt and Patrick Marshall pouncing on a fumble in the JSU end zone for another TD.
Defensively, Grambling leads the FCS in defensive touchdowns with four and takeaways with 10, and is tied for second in fumbles recovered with four, and second in interceptions with four.
The G-Men also are atop FCS turnover margin statistics at 2.75 per game.
Rollins said the turnovers created by his defense haven’t been a coincidence.
“You get what you emphasize,” Rollins said about his defense. “We chart. Every strip attempt, it’s charted. Coach Joseph has certain segments of practice that are about protecting the ball and taking the ball away. So it’s kind of what you emphasize, and we’re getting a lot out of it.”
Rollins said the Tigers didn’t do anything different on defense last Saturday.
“We kept it simple and let our guys play fast and play with confidence. We didn’t do anything different from what we’d done in the past. We just kept it simple so they could get lined up and play as fast as they possibly could and as physical as they possibly could.”
Rollins said the Tigers are prepared to face a challenge against a talented Prairie View offense.
“They’re big and physical up front,” Rollins said. “They can put a body on a body and make and can move people.
“The quarterback (Cameron Peters) is very athletic and they have some explosive wideouts, so we’re going have to say on our Ps and Qs, be gap sound and play a solid game.”
Peters is averaging 177 yards passing per game and has hit on 46-of-90 attempts with four touchdowns and three interceptions while Shemar Savage leads the Panthers with 15 catches for 282 yards.
“We’ve got to work on containing him because it’s hard to totally stop a guy of that caliber,” Rollins said of Savage. “We’re going to have a lot of eyes on him, I promise you that. He’s going to have our full attention.
“If I say anything else, they’re going to game plan for it. So I’ll leave it at that.”
Grambling’s run-heavy offense features transfers Ke’Travion “Bull” Hargrove and Tre Bradford handling the bulk of the rushing chores.
Hargrove, a Ruston product who is a senior transfer from Memphis, leads the Tigers with 190 yards and three touchdowns on 44 rushing attempts while Bradford, who came to Grambling from LSU, has added 175 yards and two scores on 47 carries.
GSU quarterback Myles Crawford has connected on 65-of-122 passes (58 percent) for 762 yards and seven touchdowns while Javon Robinson leads the G-Men with 14 receptions for 136 yards and one TD.
Contact Scott at tscottboatright@gmail.com
Demons face a different challenge at SEMO
By JASON PUGH, Northwestern State Sports Information Director
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Missouri – The Northwestern State football team’s 2024 non-conference schedule concludes Saturday, giving the Demons a shot to put the lessons learned from the first four weeks of the season into action.
The challenge for the second straight week is another Football Championship Subdivision team that has burnished itself as a perennial top-25 team in 14th-ranked Southeast Missouri State. One week after facing a Weber State team that traditionally makes its home in the national polls, the Demons will do so against a similar program on the road at 3 p.m. inside Houck Stadium on ESPN+.
“We know what quality opponents feel like,” first-year head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “One of the best ways to get better is to play against good people, and we’ve done that. Our kids are somewhat battle tested. We’ve learned form those battles we’ve been in, and we know we have to clean up those mistakes and play cleaner football and try to turn one of these into a win.”
The Redhawks (3-1) come into Saturday’s matchup after a 38-21 win at then-No. 7 Southern Illinois that jumped them up eight spots in the FCS Top 25 presented by Hudl. The rebuilding Demons (0-4) are seeking the first win of the McCorkle era after falling 39-0 at home to Weber State a week ago.
That win moved Weber State back into the STATS Perform Top 25 at No. 25. Now, the Demons face a team that is solidly in the top 25, albeit one that does it in a much different way.
Weber State came into last week’s game with the No. 11 rushing attack in the FCS. This week, the Demons face a SEMO passing attack that ranks sixth nationally at 292 yards per game.
“They can throw the ball, and we have to be prepared for the run as well,” linebacker Blake Gotcher said. “Everyone needs to do their job, practice well and good things are going to happen.”
SEMO quarterback Paxton DeLaurent ranks in the top 10 nationally in passing touchdowns (12, 2nd), completions per game (25, 6th), passing yards (1,068, 7th) and passing yards per game (267, 10th). His receivers Dorian Anderson and Mitchell Sellers have combined for nine touchdown catches with Anderson sharing the national lead with five.
“It’s definitely a change of pace,” McCorkle said. “Two weeks ago against Tennessee-Martin, they threw the ball 64 times and had only four or five called runs. We joked in the coaches’ office that they only have two runs in their offense – they run on the field and they run off the field. DeLaurent can make every throw. If I were a fan, I’d really love watching him. I’m not really excited about facing him this week, but he’s a fun watch. They also have a true freshman running back, Payton Brown, who’s a very talented kid, fun to watch on film. They have the ability to play several different ways.”
The challenge for the Northwestern offense is a similar one – although more introspective.
Through four games, the Demons are losing the time of possession battle by more than six minutes per contest. One key behind that stat is third-down conversions.
In its first four games, Northwestern has converted 10 of 55 third-down conversions (18.2 percent) while its opponents are 26-for-55 (47.3 percent).
“The main thing we need to do offensively is maintain drives,” running back Kennieth Lacy said. “You maintain drives you wear a defense down and give our defense a chance to stand up and make stops. That will be one of the key points Saturday we need to do to win.”
Part of that could be attributed to the youth movement that has permeated the Demons’ 2024 roster – one that McCorkle acknowledges.
“We’re young,” McCorkle said. “I think we have 19 redshirt freshmen and sophomores getting significant snaps on both sides of the ball – really in all three phases. Battle tested we are in a hurry. Long term down the road the rest of this year and years down the road, that will pay dividends because those are guys the Northwestern State fans will get used to hearing their names for a long, long time as we continue to grow the program.”
Contact Jason at pughj@nsula.edu
National Day of Forgiveness
By Jeanni Ritchie
September 27 is National Day of Forgiveness. It was created by author Melissa Reese (The Pursuit of Forgiveness 2.0) to encourage us to develop realistic methods for incorporating forgiveness in our lives. Forgiveness is a potent tool on a journey of spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health.
#NationalDayOfForgiveness
The act of forgiveness is powerful. But, granting forgiveness is more than an act – it’s a process. Forgiveness teaches us about ourselves as much as it teaches us about others. Whether a person suffers from mental or emotional pain, grief, or trauma, forgiveness can set us on a path of healing. Forgiveness can also develop into a practice that teaches us to value compassion, kindness, and love.
We recently completed a study on forgiveness in my Sunday School class. It is one of the hardest lessons to learn, especially when the pain is deep. Whether your goal is better mental health or a closer relationship with God, forgiveness is mandatory.
Even when the one you have to forgive is yourself.
Bible Study Leader Carolyn Boniol shares:
What you give up when you forgive: The right to demand that the one who hurt you pay you back or be made to suffer for what they’ve done. God will handle it and even if you never see how God handles it, you have faith to know He will.
What you get when you forgive: The freedom to move on.
Forgiveness is a release, not to be confused with reconciliation, which is an effort to rejoin.
(Author note: I’ve had many people in my life I’ve had to forgive with no need or desire to reconcile with. There have also been loved ones I’ve had to forgive while praying mightily for reconciliation. Ask God for the spiritual wisdom to know the difference.)
Forgiveness is a decision to release the offender. Reconciliation is the effort to rejoin.
Forgiveness involves a change in thinking about the offender. Reconciliation involves a change in behavior by the offender.
Forgiveness is extended even if it is never earned. Reconciliation is offered because it has been earned.
Forgiveness is a free gift to the one who has broken trust. Reconciliation is a restored relationship based on restored trust.
Remember, the gift you give the one you choose to forgive comes back tenfold, as it is also a gift for yourself.
Read more faith essays from Jeanni Ritchie on www.faithunfaded.com.
Bossier Library Homebound Delivery
Annie Gilmer, Bossier Parish Engagement Librarian, operates the Bossier Parish Library Homebound delivery service, which brings the library to patrons who need help to make it out to the library.
Once a month, she delivers books, DVDs, audiobooks, and e-books on tablets for patrons. Gilmer stops at local residences, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities but hopes to expand the service parish-wide.
To sign up for this free service, you can apply online, in person at any of the locations, or call (318) 746-8079 or email communityengagement@bossierlibrary.org.
Notice of Death – September 26, 2024
Jennifer Kay Gatti
March 3, 1972 — September 23, 2024
Service: Friday, September 27, 2024, 10am at Cypress Baptist Church, Benton.
Robin S. Harvill
August 25, 1960 — September 24, 2024
Service: Saturday, September 28, 2024, 10am at Rose Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City
Margaret S. Murphy
November 2, 1924 – September 21, 2024
Service: Saturday, September 28, 2024, 11am at Forest Park East Cemetery.
Thomas Fortson Murphy
October 11, 1935 – August 12, 2024
Service: Saturday, November 30, 2024, 11am at Osborn Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Celia Diane Hassell
January 30, 1954 — September 24, 2024
Service: Saturday, October 5, 2024, 3pm at Rose Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
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)
September 26, 2024
Caddo Parish School Board names Keith Burton as next Superintendent
In a special-called meeting on Sept. 25, the Caddo Parish School Board voted to name Keith Burton as the 14th superintendent in the board’s history. Burton, a seasoned Caddo educator with 33 years of experience, brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the community.
Burton, who has served in various leadership capacities, including as Chief Academic Officer, has been instrumental in initiatives that have enhanced student performance and fostered strong community partnerships. His leadership in academic transformation within Caddo Parish Schools has contributed to increased graduation rates, more students performing on or above grade level and a strengthened focus on career readiness for graduates.
“I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to serve the students, families, and educators of Caddo Parish in this capacity,” Burton said. “Together, we will continue to build on the district’s successes while addressing existing challenges as well as those that will undoubtedly come our way. We must listen to the voice of our community and engage our stakeholders in a collaborative, productive conversation on the current and future needs of this school system and the children we serve. The key will be to maintain a laser focus on ensuring every student has the opportunity to achieve academic success and be prepared for the next step in life after high school.”
Throughout his career, Burton has been known for his emphasis on collaborative leadership and his dedication to providing educators with the support they need to thrive. He has served as a champion for expanding advanced academic programs and career and technical education pathways in Caddo Parish, preparing students for both college and the workforce. His commitment to professional development for teachers and administrators has also been a critical part of his strategy for school improvement.
Burton’s long-standing ties to the Caddo Parish community further underscore his dedication to the district. In addition to his work with Caddo Schools, Burton has spent much of his spare time working to create and better Shreveport and Caddo Parish through his service on multiple boards including Step Forward, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Foundation and Sci-Port Discovery Center. He is also deeply involved in his church and other community organizations, reflecting his belief in the importance of service beyond education.
The appointment of Keith Burton marks a new chapter for the Caddo Parish School Board as Burton outlined in his interview with the Board on Sept. 11 a desire to bridge community involvement in the district while maintaining an unrelenting focus on academic achievement, fiscal responsibility, and fostering a supportive and innovative learning environment.
Burton will begin his new role as superintendent on Oct. 1.
Inmate booking report for September 24-25
Shreveport man pleads guilty to sex crime
A Shreveport man accused of committing sex acts with a juvenile female relative numerous times in 2016 and early 2017 pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court on Sept. 23 just as his trial was to begin before District Judge John D. Mosely Jr.
Parrish Lynn Bernard, 53, pleaded guilty to molestation of a juvenile for sex acts committed when the female victim, a step-relative aged 4-5 and a younger girl blood-related to him, were alone with him and under his supervision while their mother worked. The offenses occurred between January 6, 2016 and January 5, 2017.
After the pleading, Bernard was sentenced by Judge Mosely to serve 20 years in prison at hard labor.
Bernard was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kendra Joseph and Jasmine Cooper. He was defended by Casey Simpson.
The case was docket No. 383472.
Nine youth graduate Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines Program
Nine boys and girls earned to right to be called Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines following a graduation ceremony late last week for Class 38 at the Viking Drive Substation in Bossier City that culminated two weeks of indoctrination training.
Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington oversees the youth program that teaches leadership skills, physical training, teamwork, discipline and confidence-building skills. The program also instills the Marine Corps values of honor, courage, and commitment, and promotes a healthy drug-free lifestyle.
“I am thrilled to see these young folks make a commitment to the Young Marines program,” said Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington. “The skills and discipline they learn here will help them develop into the future leaders of tomorrow…they are problems-solvers and team builders, and these are traits will carry them well in life.”
The honor graduate was Frank Williams, Jr.; while Quinn Eason received the Physical Fitness Award.
Retired Marine and Pastor Lee Jeter of the Marine Corps League Detachment #875 presented the Floyd L. Baxter Leadership Award to Lexa Kunath.
Pastor Jeter also delivered the commencement speech to the graduating class.
Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines Class 38 graduates were: Eric Eason, Quinn Eason, Riley Harris, Nicholas Houston, Hakeem Johnson, Lexa Kunath, Waylon Richmond, Jamie Smith, Frank Williams, Jr.
The Color Guard presentation was performed by former BSO Young Marines: London Brown, Alaina Rivera, Benjamin Forker, and Luis Gonzalez.
The Young Marines program is a national program founded in 1958 and is the official youth program of the United States Marine Corps. More than 1,200 young men and women have graduated from the Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines program since its inception here in 2002.
The Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines is sponsored and administered by Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington and is commanded by Deputy Lex Webb and he is assisted by Deputy Marie Modica.
To find out more about the Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines program, call 965-3500 or visit the Viking Drive Substation at 2510 Viking Drive in Bossier City.
Crime Stoppers’ Burgers 4 The Badge – Police Appreciation Day
Crime Stoppers of Caddo-Shreveport (a 501c3 nonprofit) is hosting the 3rd annual Burgers 4 the Badge outdoor luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 9 for all Officers that support Caddo Parish (Shreveport Police, Caddo Sheriff, City Marshall, State Troopers, Federal Agencies, etc.).
Burgers 4 the Badge is the community’s way to thank an Officer for their service. For just $10, citizens and businesses “buy an Officer’s lunch” via https://www.cscrimestoppers.org/burgers.
New for 2024, Willis Knighton Health will match the public’s support, dollar for dollar.
“Most people want to show their appreciation to our brave Officers but don’t get the opportunity. Burgers 4 The Badge let’s everyone ‘THANK’ an Officer by buying them lunch” said Terry McNaight, President of Caddo-Shreveport Crime Stoppers.
Remaining proceeds from the event fund Crime Stoppers’ Tip Fund, providing crime-solving rewards.
Over 400 officers attend the event, and over 100 To-Go orders are sent across the Parish to those Officers that can’t attend. Food & Beverage provided by: Shane’s Seafood & BBQ, Louisiana Seafood Council, Mrs. Fields Cookies, Abita Root Beer, Eagle Distributing, Blue Bell ice cream. For more information on Crime Stoppers visit cscrimestoppers.org/history.
Taking a Flyer on an interesting tight end prospect in the Class of 2025
By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
One of the most common positions in high school football where players tend to be late bloomers is tight end, because the young men just need to fill out in weight and perfect a few fundamentals like developing hands, running good routes and becoming good at blocking.
There’s a below-the-radar prospect locally that I really like, Colby Hamilton of Loyola College Prep. This is a kid who has filled out his frame, standing 6-4 almost 6-5, and now weighs 220 pounds.
Hamilton runs a 4.85 forty, and has close to a 4.0 GPA. He also competes for the Flyers on the track team in the 100 and 200 meters and is a forward on the basketball team.
Hamilton lined up at quarterback and receiver his first three years in his high school football career. That experience helps him make the transition to tight end much faster than normal.
“Colby switched from quarterback to a hybrid tight end/wide receiver for us in the spring,” said new Loyola coach John Sella. “It was a fairly seamless transition because moving from quarterback, he already knew all the plays and the roles of each position.
“He got a lot stronger over the summer to prepare for the new position. He’s almost 6-5 and has good size for the position at 220 pounds, and he can run,” said Sella. “He’s kind of the X factor in our offense because there’s so many things we can do when he’s out there and we move him around all over the field.
“He’s a tireless worker and willing to do anything for the team,” said Sella.
Hamilton is an engaging young man who has a really good handle on what he brings to the Flyers, and what lies ahead.
“I played quarterback on the JV team my freshman and sophomore year,” he said. “I was a backup on varsity my junior year but got a good many reps in games and lettered.
“I am still learning the position of tight end. Bryce Restovich, our quarterback, and I spent all offseason every Sunday training and running routes. Bryce is a phenomenal quarterback,” said Hamilton.
He put in the work before pulling on the pads for preseason. He spent time on the track, working with a speed trainer. He honed his pass-catching skills and hit the weight room every day.
“I spent the summer working as hard as I could be to be as good a player as possible at my new position in 2024,” said Hamilton.
The Flyers are off to a 2-1 start that if not for a very muddy field and a 8-6 loss in the season opener at St. Frederick, could be perfect. How is his role unfolding?
“This year as a tight end, the coaches move me into the slot on a lot of pass plays. I had some good catches against Logansport that got us first downs in some key third-down situations, and I had a touchdown catch this past Friday against Cedar Creek,” he said.
“Coach Sella and coach (Steven) Geter have really been working with me to refine my blocking and perfect my route running as well,” said Hamilton.
“Being a part of the Loyola football team is an incredible experience. My teammates are an unbelievable group of players,” he said. “Coach Sella has been the offensive coordinator my first three years. His knowledge of football is impressive. He has taught me so much.
“He is also very good at keeping us working as a team. We play for each other, not as individuals. This starts at the top with the coaches and they have installed this mindset in us. I think it will carry us a long way this year,” said Hamilton.
Loyola’s moved up to Class 4A to avoid unreasonable travel for district games in 3A. That will expose Hamilton and Flyers to even stronger competition and my guess is that this brand new tight end will blossom from a sleeper to a legit prospect that recruiters will notice.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com
Lee Brecheen has been covering high school football and recruiting in Louisiana since the early ‘90s. He is owner of Louisiana Football Magazine and can be followed on X @LeeBrecheen. He hosts a YouTube show, The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen. Previews of all state high schools are available on lafootballmagazine.com.