By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

The Plain Dealing Lions won’t have a storybook season like the fabled Homer Iron Men did in 1957, but they are going out fighting – all 13 of them.

Homer, with a squad that included future NFL star and Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Fred Miller, was down to a 13-man roster after two games in 1957. The Pelicans, one year after a two-win season, defied the odds to reach the Class 2A state championship game.

Plain Dealing isn’t going to reach the playoffs this season, but the Lions are determined to finish it.

After being unable to complete a game in Week 7 at Arcadia due to injuries, and forfeiting their Week 8 District 1-1A contest at Jonesboro-Hodge due to not having 11 players available, the Lions are ready to play some more.

Plain Dealing football coach Clint Walker made it official with a simple statement texted Tuesday morning.

“Plain Dealing will be playing football this week and has full intentions on finishing the season,” he said.

Walker said the Lions have 13 players preparing to kick off Friday night at home against Lincoln Prep. That’s only three less than they had in mid-September, when the squad included six junior high boys.

Plain Dealing wraps up its district schedule Friday night, then is slated to visit Rosepine on Nov. 8 to end the season. The Lions are 0-8 and have lost 30 straight games, the second-longest string of consecutive losses in the state.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com