I’m not sure why oatmeal became the de facto punishment for unthankfulness in my house when the kids were younger but, nonetheless, complaints about dinner resulted in a plate of hot food being removed the table and replaced with a lukewarm bowl of plain oatmeal.
Not the good kind with apples and cinnamon or brown sugar and raisins. Plain ole mush.
I suppose I was taking a page from Miss Hannigan’s playbook but it worked. My son came up with adjectives for my culinary mishaps. “This orange chicken is…unique.”
False enthusiasm peppered the pre-dinner meal. “Salmon and broccoli again! Yay! We love eating healthy.”
Most of the time they loved the food. I love to cook and multi-course calorie-laden meals were the norm. But every so often, I’d try a new recipe or get on a health kick and the murmuring would start. At least until the oatmeal arrived. Then it was hats off to the chef at every meal.
Oatmeal shouldn’t have gotten such a bad rap in my household. They’d loved it in their high chairs. I loved it in cookies and granola bars.
Oatmeal is healthy and good for you and well-deserving of its national holiday on October 29th each year.
Among the many benefits of oatmeal:
• A bowl of oatmeal daily can lower cholesterol.
• It may reduce the risk of heart disease.
• It may reduce your risk of cancer. (According to the American Cancer Society, eating a diet high in fiber may help reduce your risk for cancer.)
• The grain is low in fat.
• Oatmeal is low in calories.
• Oatmeal is a good source of iron and fiber.
• Oatmeal can be used as an exfoliant on your skin.
Have a bowl of oatmeal. Wear a bowl of oatmeal. Share your favorite recipes using oatmeal. No matter how you celebrate, be sure to use #NationalOatmealDay to post on social media.
Just remember also to be thankful!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
Eugene Victor Porter August 8, 1953 – October 23, 2024 Service: Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Ollie Joseph Fauré November 1, 2001 – October 22, 2024 Service: Saturday, November 2, 2024, 3pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Brian Douglas Crowe March 24, 1961 – October 22, 2024 Service: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 4:30 pm at Arthur Ray Teague Parkway Pavilion Scenic Overlook #1 in Bossier City.
Nina Holmes Russell September 24, 1934 – October 17, 2024 Service: Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 2 pm at The Chapel at the Oaks of Louisiana in Shreveport.
Kenneth Ray Wells July 3, 1955 – October 15, 2024 Service: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 1 pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in 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)
Frequently, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s always-hungry reporter has lunch at a local restaurant and tells you about the experience.
By ANON E. MUSS, Journal Services
With so many chain restaurants in Shreveport-Bossier, it’s easy to forget about the small, locally-owned places which have stood the test of time. There aren’t many, but one of them is Jacquelyn’s Cafe (1324 Louisiana Avenue, Shreveport).
Frankly, I had forgotten about Jacquelyn’s. But the restaurant’s name recently came up in discussion. So, on a Monday not long ago, I asked a friend to join me there for lunch.
You know the old saying ‘Never judge a book by its cover?’ That certainly applies to Jacquelyn’s. It’s in a non-descript, non-attractive building to say the least. There is nothing on the outside which suggests you will enjoy a delicious lunch. But looks can be deceiving.
Jacquelyn’s dining room, which has ceiling fans throughout, isn’t large. (Neither is the men’s restroom, by the way.) But when we arrived at 12:30, there was only one open table. That tells you something about the cafe’s popularity. And you know what I noticed? Everyone looked happy. There were smiles and laughter. There were even a couple of people dining solo who looked like they were enjoying themselves.
If you’re into fancy, big-board menus, Jacquelyn’s is not your place. Their menu is hand-written in chalk on two boards near the front counter. (What’s keeping someone from being mischievous, and erasing the first number in the price of a sandwich?) On those boards, you will find a variety of salads, sandwiches, a soup of the day (along with New England Clam Chowder every day), house specialties, and desserts.
At Jacquelyn’s, like at other places, you pay before your meal. That’s fine, except for one thing. Unless you’re paying cash, you must leave your tip in advance. How can you tip based on the quality of service you haven’t had? If I didn’t like the service, do you go back to the counter and ask for your tip back?
On previous, though long ago visits to Jacquelyn’s, I was a fan of their shrimp salad. But on this day, I was in the mood for a sandwich. Lucky for me, Jacquelyn’s offers a Shrimp Salad Sandwich ($9.50). I also ordered a cup of Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya ($4.75). My friend chose a Chicken Salad Sandwich ($9.50), and a cup of New England Clam Chowder ($5). Thinking ahead to dessert, we decided to split a slice of Almond Jacq Pie ($6).
I need you to believe me when I tell you that within three minutes of my friend and I sitting down, our food was served. Three minutes! And remember, I told you the place was packed. I was very impressed.
I was also impressed with the look of our food. The cups of chowder and jambalaya were almost overflowing. My friend’s chowder was up to the top of the cup, and if there was any more jambalaya, it would have been falling out of the cup. The jambalaya was spicy, like jambalaya is supposed to be. It was close to being overcooked but turned out fine. My friend loved the chowder – she wants to have it again when the temperature outside is a lot cooler than what it was on this day
Our sandwiches looked just as good and filling as the jambalaya and chowder. The bread was thick and soft, but didn’t overwhelm what was on the inside. The servings of chicken salad and shrimp salad were more than fair, especially when you consider the price. Each sandwich came with shredded lettuce, a tomato, and a pickle, all on the side.
My shrimp salad was as promised – chopped gulf coast shrimp (I appreciated the shrimp wasn’t imported from overseas), tossed with eggs and relish, and served on untoasted wheat bread (my choice). It was outstanding! The sandwich tasted so fresh, and the mix of shrimp, eggs, and relish was just right.
My friend’s sandwich was made up of chopped chicken with celery and egg, and served on untoasted wheat bread (her choice). While her sandwich looked every bit as good as mine, my friend didn’t care as much for hers. She said the chicken salad was watery and tasted bland. I took a bite of the sandwich, and I thought it was good. That just goes to show how two people can taste the same thing and have different opinions.
Jacquelyn’s has been around 41 years. As Tina brought our pie, you would have never known she’s worked there 37 years. Tina, too, had a smile on her face, and was happy to chat it up with people throughout the restaurant. It’s nice to see someone who appears to enjoy their work, especially after they have worked in one place for so long.
The Almond Jaq Pie is Jacquelyn’s signature pie, named after “Jacquelyn.” It’s a combination of shortbread cookie crust, vanilla ice cream, amaretto, and ground almonds. It’s also a slice of heaven. To me, the best part was that it was cold. Think of eating an ice cream pie. It was so good.
The cost of our meal, before tax and tip, was $37.25. I thought that was an outstanding price, for the quality and quantity of what we ate. That Jacquelyn’s can serve sandwiches that size for $9.50 each is impressive. It makes you wonder why other places charge so much for what they serve.
Jacquelyn’s Cafe is very deserving of Four Forks, and that’s what they’re getting. The atmosphere, quality of food, prices, and friendly faces, make it a place where I would go out of my way for lunch. Hopefully, my enjoyable experience will help me remember them the next time I’m hungry.
1 Fork: Would rather eat a box of dirt 2 Forks: Will return, but only if someone else is buying 3 Forks: Will return and look forward to it 4 Forks: Will return and go out of my way to do so
Is there a restaurant you would like the Journal to visit for lunch?
The Shreveport Police Department is actively searching for three individuals wanted in connection with separate sex offense cases. Warrants have been issued, and SPD detective are asking for the public’s help in locating these suspects.
Willie Bryant (DOB: 03/22/1957) is wanted for one count of Indecent Behavior with Juveniles and one count of Sexual Battery. Bryant, a registered sex offender, is accused of abusing an 18-year-old victim.
Kerwin Kennedy (DOB: 04/25/1996) is wanted for one count of First-Degree Rape of a juvenile victim. If convicted, Kennedy could face life in prison.
Chadrick Bates (DOB: 01/26/1983) is wanted for one count of Sexual Battery of a juvenile victim.
The SPD remains committed to protecting vulnerable members of the community and is dedicated to investigating all crimes involving juveniles thoroughly.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these individuals is encouraged to contact SPD at 673-7300 or Caddo Crime Stoppers at 673-7373. Tips can remain anonymous.
Improvements to the P.B.S. Pinchback Park ballfield will begin today, Monday, Oct. 28. This project, in partnership with Major League Baseball and the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development, will provide upgrades to the youth baseball field.
The park will remain open from 6am – 9pm, but the ballfield construction area will be barricaded and closed to the public. Please obey all posted barricades and caution signage. Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation thanks the public for its cooperation during the project.
Over the past two months, residents of Broadmoor and South Highlands experienced a string of residential burglaries, all following a similar pattern. The suspect would knock on the front and back doors of the homes for several minutes and, when unanswered, break into the residence through a rear window. Once inside, the burglar targeted firearms and jewelry, often helping himself to food and drinks, with an affinity for Blue Bell ice cream – indulging in three of the eight reported incidents. All break-ins occurred during morning hours.
Through community involvement and surveillance, SPD Property Crimes detectives received multiple videos of a man knocking on doors of various homes and burglarizing them when no one responded. A vigilant SPD officer identified the suspect as Foster Anderson, a man with 15 prior burglary arrests dating back to 1979. Anderson had most recently served 20 years for Aggravated Burglary and was released in 2019.
On October 24, 2024, while SPD officers patrolled South Broadmoor looking for Anderson, Dispatch received a call from a concerned citizen. The caller reported seeing an older Black male dressed in all black peering into houses at the intersection of Leo Avenue and Anniston Street and entering a backyard. This matched the description of a suspect seen attempting to break into an apartment on Youree Drive earlier that morning.
Officers quickly arrived, surrounded the residence, and observed damage to the back door of the home at 186 Leo Avenue. Anderson attempted to flee through the front door, but officers apprehended him after a brief physical struggle. Anderson was found with stolen items linked to the multiple recent burglaries.
Foster Anderson has been charged with the following:
7 counts of Burglary of an Inhabited Dwelling
4 counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm
1 count of Attempted Aggravated Burglary
1 count of Resisting an Officer by Force or Violence
1 count of Battery of a Police Officer
1 count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Chief Smith commended the SPD Property Crimes Division and the dedicated patrol officers for their outstanding work in swiftly apprehending Anderson, ensuring neighborhood safety, and preventing further burglaries. SPD thanks the vigilant community members who provided valuable information, playing an essential role in making Shreveport a safer place.
On Thursday, October 24, 2024, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Shreveport Police Department, and Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, conducted a Saturated Enforcement Detail on I-220 in Caddo and Bossier parishes.
The operation took place from 7:00am to 11:00am. During this period, a total of 60 citations were issued, along with 3 written warnings and 7 verbal warnings. Additionally, there were 1 arrest for a fugitive warrant and 2 arrests for local warrants, making a total of 73 traffic stops.
The Bossier Parish Police Jury has partnered with Everbridge, the worldwide leader in unified critical communications, to keep residents and businesses safe and informed with quick and reliable emergency notifications and public service announcements.
Officials with the police jury will use the Everbridge emergency notification system to alert residents about various events, ranging from severe weather, fires, floods, boil advisories, and other emergencies to more routine announcements, such as road closures and water utility maintenance. Messages will be sent to residents on their preferred contact paths—cell phone, SMS, home phone, email, and more—to ensure real-time access to potentially lifesaving information.
“We are committed to ensuring public safety, community awareness, and emergency response. To uphold this, when critical information and public service announcements are available, we need to reach our residents as quickly and reliably as possible,” said Butch Ford, Parish Administrator. “The Everbridge emergency notification system allows the parish to disseminate this information across all types of devices, ensuring residents have access to real-time public information when they need it the most.”
When it comes to the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s weekly Top 10 prep poll, it’s a simple formula: lack of upsets = lack of movement.
Led by No. 1 Airline, the top five teams won last week and all did it rather handily. The next two — Huntington and Captain Shreve — both lost. No. 8 Evangel did win, but the Eagles have already lost to both Huntington and Shreve, so it’s hard to justify moving them up with a worse record and having been defeated by both.
No. 9 Loyola won its third straight game for the second time this season and the Flyers will have their biggest test of the season Friday when they play host to district leader North DeSoto.
There is, however, one change as North Caddo sneaks back into at No. 10. The Titans are officially 3-5 but they are 4-4 “on the field,” having lost a win to an eligibility ruling. North Caddo was also at No. 10 after Week 3.
This week’s only Top 10 matchup will have No. 1 Airline taking on No. 3 Byrd at Lee Hedges Stadium on Friday.
HEADED DOWNFIELD: Airline receiver Kenny Darby looks for room to run on a flanker screen Friday in the Vikings’ 76-52 triumph over Natchitoches Central. (Journal photo by KEVIN SHANNAHAN)
JOURNAL SPORTS
Unbeaten Airline can clinch at least a share of the District 1-5A championship Friday night, but will have to do it while facing the most productive running attack in Shreveport-Bossier.
The high-scoring Vikings (8-0, 6-0) will cross Red River to face Byrd in a 1-5A showdown Friday at Lee Hedges Stadium. Byrd is 7-1 overall and 5-1 in district.
The Vikings have won this matchup in the last two years after the Yellow Jackets had won 18 of the previous 19. It showcases Airline’s pass-heavy attack — averaging 57 points — featuring senior quarterback Ben Taylor and receivers Kenny Darby and Jarvis Davis Jr., and Byrd’s prolific triple-option Wing T running attack.
All local games are slated for Friday night, one day after rainy weather is forecast for Halloween.
In District 1-4A, two games will sort out the top of the standings. League unbeaten North DeSoto will play at one-loss Loyola trying to clinch at least a share of the district crown, while a pair of one-loss teams collide when Northwood goes to Minden. The other two games match win-hungry squads hoping for some late-season positivity, Bossier-Woodlawn and BTW-Southwood.
After forfeiting last week because it couldn’t field 11 players, Plain Dealing hopes to resume action at home against Lincoln Prep in a 1-1A game.
An appealing non-district contest will be Lafayette Christian making the trip up I-49 to play at Evangel. LCA is 3-5 against a demanding schedule that has allowed it to stay in the Class 2A state rankings. Evangel has sensational sophomore quarterback Pop Houston and company lighting up scoreboards.
Week 9 local prep football schedule
Friday
DISTRICT 1-5A
Airline (8-0, 6-0) vs. Byrd (7-1, 5-1), Lee Hedges Stadium
Benton (1-7, 1-5) at Parkway (7-1, 5-1), Preston Crownover Stadium
Captain Shreve (4-4, 3-3) at Haughton (2-6, 1-6), Harold E. Harlan Stadium
Huntington (4-4, 4-2) at Natchitoches Central (1-7, 0-6), Turpin Stadium
NON-DISTRICT
Lafayette Christian (3-5) at Evangel (3-5)
DISTRICT 1-4A
Southwood (0-7, 0-5) at BTW (3-5, 2-3), Leonard C. Barnes Stadium
Bossier (3-5, 1-4) vs. Woodlawn (2-6, 1-4), Independence Stadium
North DeSoto (6-2, 5-0) at Loyola (6-2, 4-1), Messmer Stadium
Northwood (7-1, 4-1) at Minden (7-1, 4-1), W.W. Williams Stadium
DISTRICT 1-2A
Calvary (6-2, 4-0) vs. Green Oaks (1-6, 0-5), Jerry Burton Stadium, Northwood
North Caddo (3-5, 2-3) at Homer (3-5, 2-3)
Magnolia Charter (0-7, 0-4) at Union Parish (3-4, 3-1)
DISTRICT 1-1A
Lincoln Prep (5-3, 2-2) at Plain Dealing (0-8, 0-6)
COLLEGE STATION – Coaches push a myriad of strategic buttons during games.
Some result in liftoff toward a victory orbit. Just ask Texas A&M first-year head football coach Mike Elko.
“We couldn’t get the passing game called right, I couldn’t get them to run it right, we couldn’t get open, we couldn’t throw well at times,” Elko said. “We felt we just needed a spark and I pulled the trigger (on a quarterback change).”
On the opposite end of the spectrum, little or no decisions often lead to launching pad implosions. See LSU’s third-year head coach Brian Kelly for details.
“We didn’t have the answers necessary on defense nor offense to help our guys,” Kelly said of him and his coaching staff. “We’ve got to have those adjustments handy for them.”
In a battle of the SEC’s last two unbeaten teams in league play here Saturday night in a packed Kyle Field, Elko made the necessary tweaks for the 14th-ranked Aggies to flip a 10-point halftime deficit into a 38-23 victory that put the 7th-ranked Tigers’ College Football Playoff hopes on life support.
Elko’s insertion of backup redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed near the halfway point of the third quarter, plus A&M’s defense rendering LSU’s rushing game useless, allowed the Aggies (7-1 overall, 5-0 SEC) to gleefully beat the Tigers’ rear end like an old school principal issuing corporal punishment licks.
All the Tigers could do was grit their teeth, bend over, and take it again and again.
After LSU (6-2, 3-1 SEC) led 17-7 at halftime – a cushion that should have been larger but normally automatic placekicker Damian Ramos missed 48 and 49-yard field goals – the Aggies erased the Tigers in the second half.
Once Elko yanked struggling starter Connor Weigman and replaced him with Reed, A&M outscored LSU 31-6 in the final two quarters.
On 26 offensive snaps in A&M’s final six possessions of the game consuming 12:07, Reed accounted for 132 of the Aggies’ 195 total offense yards. He ran for 62 yards and 3 TDs on 9 carries and completed 2 of 2 passes for 70 yards.
“I got a lot of opportunities to get some space and run, and they (LSU’s defense) didn’t really make any adjustments,” Reed said. “I like it when people rush (me). It’s like playing backyard football.
“You go `one Mississippi, two Mississippi’, they rush and that means you can run. So, when they rush, if something’s not open to pass, I’m gone.”
Since he had already appeared in five games this season and started in place of the injured Weigman in wins over Florida, Bowling Green and Arkansas, it’s unconscionable that LSU’s defense acted like they’d never studied one minute of film on Reed.
“Him coming in the game caught us off-guard,” LSU linebacker Greg Penn III said of Reed. “We didn’t think he was going to come in. We didn’t know what runs they would run. We weren’t ready for it.”
Offensively, the LSU rushing attack that ran for 158 yards on 37 carries and provided the Tigers’ necessary balance in last Saturday’s 34-10 victory at Arkansas was vaporized by A&M.
The Aggies lived up to their billing of possessing the SEC’s best rushing defense that had allowed just 86.25 yards in their four previous conference games. LSU managed a paltry 24 yards on 23 rushing attempts vs. A&M, placing the entire success or failure of the Tigers’ offense on starting QB Garrett Nussmeier’s throwing arm.
After he completed 14 of 26 for 259 yards and two TDs in the first half, Nussmeier was just 11 of 24 for 146 yards and 3 interceptions (the most by an LSU QB since Myles Brennan threw 3 in the 2020 season-opening loss to Mississippi State) in the second half. He finished 25 of 50 for 405 of the most inconsequential passing yards you’ll ever see.
“That’s on me, I own it,” said Nussmeier of his trio of picked passes, including one off a scramble, another as he was hit by a pass rusher and another on coverage misread. “I’ve got to do a better job of taking care of the football.”
Kelly didn’t condone Nussmeier’s mistakes, but he understood why they happened.
“We did not get the kind of (rushing game) production that would keep Garrett Nussmeier from having to stand on his freaking head and making plays he feels like he has to,” Kelly said. “I just don’t think we give him enough balance within the offense, and it makes him vulnerable because he has to do so much.”
And to round out a night of complementary football gone wrong, the Tigers’ special teams were horrendous with the two Ramos missed field goals and botched 36-yard attempt with 4:53 left in the third quarter.
It happened when long snapper Slade Roy unexpectedly fired a snap off the chest of holder Peyton Todd who was looking at Ramos to see if he was ready to kick. A&M turned the mistake into a 60-yard drive featuring 7 straight rushing plays and the TD that gave the Aggies the lead for good at 21-17 with 1 minute left in the third quarter.
“That’s twice now (this season) they weren’t ready for it,” Kelly said of the unexpected placekick snap. “It’s unacceptable. We’ll get it fixed. It’s never going to happen again. Ever.”
Heading into its second and final open date of the season this week before hosting Alabama on Nov. 9, LSU is now one of four teams in SEC play with one loss behind unbeaten A&M. However because the Tigers lost their season opener to Southern Cal, Kelly understands the loss to Texas A&M gives his team no margin for error in the final four regular season games if LSU wants to sneak into the newly expanded 12-team playoff.
“We need better balance offensively,” Kelly said. “We need to be really good at a few things, that’s what we do and let’s get really good at it. Defensively, we’ve got to stop running quarterbacks. We’ve got to clean up our field goal team.
“It was a bad half of football for us, and we’ll go back to work. We’ll get ourselves ready to play better football.”
(Photo by ISABELL GONZALES, courtesy Centenary Athletics)
By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director
The Centenary football team recovered from two early deficits and finished strongly in a 41-21 homecoming victory over the Austin College ‘Roos on Saturday evening at Atkins Field.
In their first season of official intercollegiate football in decades, the Gents (4-4, 4-2 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) completed a season sweep of the ‘Roos (1-7, 1-5 SCAC). Centenary won 36-17 in Sherman, Texas last month.
Austin College found the end zone first, on a 1-yard touchdown run by Zyan Stewart to take 7-0 lead just four minutes into play after recovering a fumble.
Junior Kobe Chambers returned the kickoff 67 yards down to the Austin College 27-yard line. The Gents didn’t move much but got on the board as Vance Feuerbacher (Plano, Texas) kicked a 38-yard field goal to make it 7-3 two minutes later.
The Gents took their first lead following an impressive drive that covered 83 yards in just nine plays capped by a 3-yard run by quarterback Zin’Tavious Smith at the 13:34 mark of the second quarter. Smith broke free for a 37-yard gain on 3rd and 5 at the Centenary 32 for the big play of the drive.
Jaylon Talton connected with Michael Cress on a 48-yard TD pass just over a minute later for a 14-10 Austin College edge.
The ‘Roos scored on their next series when Talton and Barnes connected on a 22-yarder giving the visitors a 21-10 lead with 2:48 left in the half.
The Gents reached into their bag of tricks as Chambers hit Trent Smith with a perfectly-executed halfback pass and Smith went 60 yards untouched to the end zone. Feuerbacher’s PAT was blocked but the Gents were down just 21-16 with 2:30 left before intermission.
Centenary’s defense notched a three-and-out and the fired-up Gents moved 47 yards on 10 plays in 1:39 to produce Feuerbacher’s 25-yard FG on the final play of the first half, closing within 21-19.
Zin’Tavious Smith’s 1-yard TD run and Feuerbacher’s PAT gave the Gents a 26-21 lead with 2:08 left in the third quarter. Two possessions later, Feuerbacher’s 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked but after it was touched by an Austin College player and fumbled, Centenary’s Isaiah King recovered it at the 8-yard line to cap a wild play. Two plays later, Smith’s third rushing TD of the game and Feuerbacher’s PAT made it 33-21 with 9:01 remaining.
On AC’s next drive, Gents’ freshman Delarrious Marshall from Green Oaks High school stepped in front of a Talton pass for his second interception of the season. The Gents made it to the AC 19-yard line but were stopped on a fourth-down attempt.
On the next snap, Talton was picked off again, this time by sophomore Bryan Washington, his third of the season. Zin’Tavious Smith then found the end zone on the ground for the fourth time and rushed for the two-point conversion to make it 41-21 with just 3:04 to play.
The pick party continued as another AC pass found the open arms of Evangel product Jacob Wilson who hauled in his team-leading fourth swipe of his freshman season. The coup de gras came when Talton was intercepted again by freshman Dwayne Mills Jr.
Centenary had a balanced and productive offense with 202 yards rushing and 209 passing.
Trent Smith topped Centenary receivers with five catches for 94 yards and a score. Zin’Tavious Smith led the rushing attack with 16 carries, four TDs, for 89 yards, and completed 19 of 28 for 149 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore Kris Mesloh from Parkway made five solo tackles (10 total) with a sack and two tackles for loss yards to lead the Gents’ defense.
The Gents will enjoy their bye week and return to action at home on Saturday, Nov. 9 against the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs in a SCAC contest.
PINCH-HITTER: Backup quarterback Kareame Cotton Jr. breaks free for a 21-yard run against Lamar on Saturday. (Photo by CHRIS REICH, Northwestern State)
By JASON PUGH, Northwestern State Sports Information Director
NATCHITOCHES – The margins for the Northwestern State football team have shrunk week by week through the first eight weeks of the 2024 season.
That razor-thin slice of evidence was on display Saturday afternoon when the Demons saw a couple of gambles go against them and watched visiting Lamar take advantage to trigger a 42-10 Cardinals’ victory on Homecoming inside Turpin Stadium.
“I took a couple of risks today that I probably wouldn’t have normally,” first-year head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “I’m OK with that, because at this point of the season, why not? We go for it with fourth and a few inches in negative territory – did we get it? I don’t know. We’ll see what the tape says. We didn’t get it, and we put our defense on a short field. Then we tried the onside kick coming out of the half because it was there.
“We didn’t execute the kick – Evan (Kern) has been really, really good practicing that – we thought it was a sure thing. Again, a decision I made put the defense on a short field. I’ll take that. At this point in the year, roll the dice. We’re trying to show our kids how to fight. You don’t win a fight if you don’t throw a punch, and we’re trying to throw punches. We’re trying to build a program, and part of building a program is teaching guys to get in the ring and take a swing.”
Those two gambles put the Demons (0-9, 0-4) in less than desirable position to defend a physical Lamar (5-3, 2-1) squad that averaged better than 6 yards per carry in racking up 268 yards on the ground.
Coupled with a 7-for-10 performance on third downs, the Cardinals were able to blend that punishing run game with an efficient day from quarterback Robert Coleman, who
threw for 202 yards and three touchdowns and added two more rushing touchdowns.
With four games remaining in his first season in Natchitoches, McCorkle and his staff began to use their freshman class much more liberally by design against the Cardinals, and the move nearly paid dividends early in the game.
After the teams traded punts on their first possessions, the Demons had as many as six true freshmen on the field on their second possession, which resulted in a 14-play, 66-yard drive that advanced as far as Lamar 4-yard line.
Northwestern missed a chance to convert and score first as a third-down sack and missed field goal scuttled the drive.
“Everybody knows we’ve had a lot of injuries, but this was by design with four games to go to put some guys in there and see what they could do in the fight,” McCorkle said.
“The first thing they did was put together probably one of the most impressive drives we’ve had all year. Unfortunately, we didn’t get any points. We took the sack, and we missed the field goal, which is very uncharacteristic of Reed (Honshtein). He probably hits that 99 times out of 100. He’s that good. It was disappointing to not get any points, but that second drive of the game — with six true freshmen in there – to march down the field against a tough, physical defense, that’s pretty encouraging, and they did it throughout the game.”
The Demons’ red-zone blues continued with Northwestern trailing 21-0 in the second quarter.
For the third time this season, a Honshtein punt led to a fumble that Northwestern recovered in the red zone as Ke’Nard King corralled a muffed punt at the Lamar 14. For the first time this season, however, the Demons did not convert as Dejuan Lewis picked off Quaterius Hawkins in the end zone on the first play following the fumble.
“If we make the field goal and don’t throw the pick down there, you’re looking at 21-17 at the half and a whole different ballgame,” McCorkle said. “Those are things you can’t do. You can’t take the sack when you’re down there to push the field goal back. You have to take care of the ball when you have a chance to take a shot after a sudden change. Our margin is so fine, we’re not in a place to overcome those things.”
The Demons capped the half with a quick-strike drive fueled by three chunk plays – two Hawkins passes to Myles Kitt-Denton that totaled 46 yards and a 21-yard Kareame Cotton Jr. rush – that set up Zay Davis’ 10-yard touchdown run.
Cotton, a junior who has shuffled between wide receiver and quarterback in his Demon career, led the Demons with 40 rushing yards, threw for 92 yards and added a 2-yard reception in a day where he flashed his versatility, filling in at quarterback once Hawkins was injured and unable to return.
“I’m proud of Kareame,” McCorkle said. “He’s practiced one week of quarterback since the spring, because he moved to receiver and really bought into playing receiver. He embraced that move and has done a really good job at that. With our quarterback situation right now with the injuries, we put him back there this week, and he took us down the field. He didn’t back down from anything. He played aggressive, and I’m really, really proud of what he did.”
The Demons get a late open date and will return to action Nov. 9 when they travel to Southeastern. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Strawberry Stadium.
GRINDING IT OUT: Ke’Travion Hargrove (9), pictured during Grambling’s Homecoming game on Oct. 19, led the G-Men with 73 rushing yards on Saturday at Texas Southern. (Photo by T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal)
By T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal
HOUSTON — In a football conference where parity seems to dominate, games often come down to plays in the fourth quarter.
Grambling State was reminded of exactly that Saturday night in a Southwestern Athletic Conference contest at Shell Energy Stadium.
After Grambling scored to tie the game with 9:37 remaining, a long scoring drive in the closing minutes provided the margin in a 24-17 loss to Texas Southern.
The Lincoln Parish Tigers fell to 4-4 overall and 1-2 in the SWAC West, putting GSU two games behind division leaders Southern and Alcorn State, which both stand at 3-1. Alcorn State defeated GSU GSU 17-12 on Oct. 12 in Grambling.
Texas Southern moved to 3-4 and 2-2 after driving 75 yards in 10 plays for the decisive touchdown with 4:32 remaining and containing a still shaky Grambling offense.
Making matters especially frustrating, Grambling’s three SWAC West Division losses have come by a combined seven points.
Against Texas Southern, it didn’t help that GSU starting quarterback Myles Crawley was knocked out of the game with an early injury. After backup Ashton Frye struggled, Grambling coach Mickey Joseph turned to his third quarterback of the game, Deljay Bailey, who directed the GSU offense in the final three quarters.
Both defenses looked strong early. TSU took a 7-0 lead 38 seconds into the second stanza on a six-yard run by Jace Wilson while Grambling’s Reed Harradine hit a 32-yard field goal to cut Texas Southern’s advantage to 7-3 with 4:32 remaining before intermission.
But then came a dagger as TSU quarterback Jordan Davis hit Donald McKinney midstride for a 49-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left in the second quarter for a 14-3 lead at the half.
Grambling used a chunk play of its own to tighten things early in the third quarter. Running back Ke’Travion “Bull” Hargrove powered his way to paydirt from 31 yards out to cut the Texas Southern lead to 14-10 at 4:34 into the second half.
TSU extended its lead to 17-10 with 4:41 left in the third on a 46-yard by Gustavo Romero.
The G-Men weren’t done yet, as Bailey added a game-tying score on a four-yard quarterback keeper to knot things up at 17-17 with 9:37 left to play.
But Texas Southern countered right away with the game-winning, methodical march, culminating with a two-yard plunge to paydirt by Quintrell Quinn with 4:24 left on the clock.
Grambling failed to gain a first down on the ensuing possession, allowing Texas Southern to milk the clock and clinch the win.
The visitors were held to 256 yards of total offense while TSU chalked up 369.
Grambling gained 110 yards through the air, with Bailey leading the way with 70 yards on seven-of-12 passing.
Hargrove led the G-Men on the ground with 73 yards on 13 carries.
The Tigers continued to struggle with penalties, losing 107 yards on seven flagged plays.
Grambling will remain on the road next weekend at Bethune-Cookman (1-7, 1-3 in the SWAC East) in a game kicking off at 2 p.m. Saturday in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Joe Domina came back to Louisiana, this time by car, to revisit the places who’d shown such hospitality as he made his pilgrimage across America earlier this year.
In all Joe walked for nearly a year across the country, setting foot in 17 states, while praying for the nation. Many were inspired and intrigued by the young man known to many as Backpacker Joe.
A former seminary student, Joe toyed with the idea of this walk for nearly five years before making it a reality. He walked east to west, beginning in New Jersey and ending in Santa Monica. It would be New Mexico before he was certain he would be able to complete his journey.
Joe had been through multiple pairs of socks and shoes by the time his feet landed in Louisiana. Like a birthday gift from God, he was showered with love and affection during his time here especially on the day he turned 30 while walking through Natchitoches and discovered a huge banner reading “Happy 30th Birthday Backpacker Joe” along an elementary school fence.
The walk went much slower as people sought him out more than in any other state, but he never minded. Praying with people was the journey. It was never about time or distance.
While Louisiana displayed Southern hospitality, Joe noted that across the entire country people were very hospitable. But he couldn’t deny that the best food came from the state with Cajun roots!
Backpacker Joe is now making his way back east as he returns to his home state of Indiana but he had some specific stops he wanted to make along the way. Revisiting families who’d hosted him and meeting people who’d befriended him along the road, Joe wanted to revisit some places that had been impactful in his journey.
Last week he arrived in Shreveport and spoke with Kelly Lovell’s She Overcame connect group at Riverpark Church. Joe then held a public meet and greet at StoryBrew Coffee Cafe in Natchitoches during NSU’s Homecoming weekend. Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Alexandria hosted a public reception for him Saturday afternoon followed by Father Rusty welcoming him to 4 P.M. Mass.
On Sunday, Backpacker Joe went with hosts Blake and Belle Chatelain to Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. He spoke to Gene Ortis’ Sunday School class before I joined the trio for the worship service. Backpacker Joe and I met my parents and friend Mary for a nice lunch after church before he headed on to Natchez.
Joe plans to arrive back in Indiana in a couple of weeks with writing at the top of his agenda for now. The journey was too powerful to not record every step of it as he adds to the previous eight journals filled throughout the walk.
It was great to see Backpacker Joe again and marvel at the transforming power of a nation that came from one man’s obedience to Christ.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
Today we celebrate National Chocolate Day and what better way to present this column than with a bunch of chocolate experts: middle school students!
Eighth grade students in Ms. Walker’s 1st Period English Class at Brame Middle School in Alexandria dove into the W- words of #NationalChocolateDay.
What? National Chocolate Day celebrates all things chocolate, the flavor Americans have chosen as its favorite.
When? Celebrated on October 28, chocolate itself has been around for 3000 years.
Why? We celebrate chocolate because it is amazing. An impromptu poll revealed all students in Ms. Walker’s class loved chocolate, though opinions differed when it came to adding fruit or nuts to the cacao concoction.
They also noted the importance of the difference kinds of chocolate.
“There’s dark chocolate, milk, white, semi-sweet,” Nagla Abdeljazber explained. Dark was her favorite.
Ways to celebrate: Technically not a typical W interrogative question, the class was nothing if not creative. Their ideas for celebrating the day were intriguing.
“You could make a giant table of chocolate desserts,” Collin Carrazzo suggested.
“You could BE chocolate,” Derrick Carley continued.
“Wait, what?” I’d asked. “How can you BE chocolate?”
“Well, you are what you eat!” Carley replied. I’d forgotten middle school logic!
Whether you bake a batch, stop by your favorite confectionery, pick up a sweet treat at the grocery store, or as student Adam Ivey suggests, cover yourself completely in chocolate, today is the day to celebrate all things CHOCOLATE!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist and former middle school teacher from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
Doris Ray Tatum July 7, 1923 – October 23, 2024 Service: Monday, October 28, 2024 at 12 pm at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport.
Brian Douglas Crowe March 24, 1961 – October 22, 2024 Service: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 4:30 pm at Arthur Ray Teague Parkway Pavilion Scenic Overlook #1 in Bossier City.
Carl Keith Taylor May 8, 1957 – October 21, 2024 Service: Monday, October 28, 2024 at 2 pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Bossier City.
Lee Weldon Stockman December 19, 1937 – October 21, 2024 Service: Monday, October 28, 2024 at 12 pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Shreveport.
Christopher Wayne Smith March 27, 1958 — October 21, 2024 Service: Monday, October 28, 2024 at 1:30 pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Shreveport.
Nina Holmes Russell September 24, 1934 – October 17, 2024 Service: Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 2 pm at The Chapel at the Oaks of Louisiana in Shreveport.
Kenneth Ray Wells July 3, 1955 – October 15, 2024 Service: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 1 pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Shreveport.
William “Will” Henry Laing Jr. June 19, 1949 – October 13, 2024 Service: Monday, October 28, 2024 at 1:30 pm at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Keithville.
Shirley Ann Broughton Potts June 10, 1947 – October 10, 2024 Service: Monday, October 28, 2024 at 11:30am at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Keithville.
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)
MOVING FORWARD: Things are pointing in the right direction for Parkway and coach Coy Brotherton after the Panthers posted another convincing District 1-5A victory Friday night, cracking Captain Shreve. (Journal file photo by KEVIN PICKENS)
By TEDDY ALLEN, Journal Sports
Parkway accidentally dropped the ball twice and turned both snafus into touchdowns, the best lacrosse player on the team threw for two scores and rushed for two more, and every Captain Shreve threat to get close was met with either a door slam or a touchdown as the Panthers beat the Gators, 52-33, in a District 1-5A match on a clear Friday night at Lee Hedges Stadium.
Parkway, 7-1, 5-1, welcomes Benton next week, then visits Evangel as the regular season winds down. Captain Shreve, 4-4, 3-3, is at Haughton and then rival Byrd.
Parkway grabbed a 14-0 first-quarter lead and had an answer whenever Captain Shreve chomped away at the lead.
When the Gators put together an efficient eight-play, 63-yard touchdown drive in the final 70 seconds of the first half to trail just 26-14, the Panthers took the second half kickoff and hammered together the kind of drive you dream of when you come out of a locker room: 80 yards in nine plays, the score coming when lacrosse-guy-turned-QB Gavin Ferrington hit tightly covered freshman wide out Dallas Loche on a slant on third-and-goal from the 9 to make it a three-score game again, 32-14.
When the Gators immediately answered with a long first-possession touchdown drive of their own — the key play a catch-and-run by junior back Jamarcea Plater on fourth-and-four at midfield — to make it 32-21, Parkway countered as quickly as the rules allow: Panther return man Chase Crowder dropped the kickoff at the 1, nervously picked it up, then threaded his way to the 40 before streaking straight to the goal line for a 99-yard return and a 38-21 lead.
A similar situation happened late in the first quarter when Parkway took a 14-0 lead. Out of a tight formation and with Gators crowding the box, Ferrington fumbled the snap and, on an unrehearsed busted play, picked it up to his left, pivoted, and raced around right end 43 yards for a score.
“So deflating when stuff like that happens,” Shreve coach Jeremy Wilburn said. “But we had half a dozen opportunities in that game to make something happen and we didn’t from a lack of execution. We might have let them off the hook a couple of times, times when we had a man-on-a-man and you have to make the play … and we didn’t.”
“A team win,” said Parkway coach Coy Brotherton, who Friday night witnessed a Panther or two limping off the field, a familiar sight in this turmoil’s-knocking-at-your-door 2024. Leading rusher CJ Dudley finished with 100 yards rushing, but the final 32 came on the first play of the second half and ended with him grabbing his left hamstring and falling; he rushed once more before taking his sore thigh to the bench.
And Camaro Mayo, whose 47-yard touchdown run around end on Parkway’s first offensive play from scrimmage opened the scoring (after teammate Trenton Howard’s interception), limped off in the second half after a defensive play, though he later returned.
“So proud of how they played,” Brotherton said. “We’re already so banged up and shorthanded, then had some guys cramping tonight. We’ve got guys playing different roles than we’d planned, but they’re doing what they need to do. To see the guys get rewarded for all the work they’ve put in the past two weeks, it’s pretty cool.”
SUDDEN CHANGE: Moments after stripping the ballcarrier, Loyola’s Alex Mitchell takes off for a 55-yard fumble return. (Photo by AVERY BROWN, Loyola Student Media)
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
The Loyola Flyers gave Booker T. Washington a taste of its own medicine in a 35-6 victory over the Lions in a District 1-4A game at Messmer Stadium Friday.
BTW is known for its ability to get a scoop-and-score – the Lions had two in the game last week. What happened late in the second quarter wasn’t a scoop and it wasn’t a score, but it sure seemed like a big turning point in the Flyers’ win.
“Definitely,” said Loyola head coach John Sella.
The Flyers were ahead 14-0, but the Lions were driving in Loyola territory and looking to score. With BTW also getting the ball to start the second half, things were getting a little tense on the Loyola sideline.
But on a carry by substitute quarterback Damion O’Neal, junior linebacker Alex Mitchell stripped the ball right out of O’Neal’s hands and took off in the other direction. Mitchell got caught at the 5-yard line after a 55-yard return, but Mason Drake scored two plays later and the Flyers took a 21-0 lead into halftime.
There were other big plays made by the Flyers and almost all of them were made by Drake. A week after rushing for a career high 171 yards against Woodlawn, he outdid himself against the Lions, running for 230 yards on 24 carries. He scored three touchdowns – the fourth time this year he’s done that – and in the process, went over 1,000 yards for his career.
“We ran the ball really well,” Sella said. “I was real happy with the offensive line. That’s been our strength all year and we just had to lean on them. It feels good to know that we can run it when we need to and that helps me out as a play caller.”
It was Drake’s 68-yard run straight through the middle of the BTW defense that got things started for the Flyers on their second possession.
Loyola added another score on a 20-yard pass from Bryce Restovich to tight end Colby Hamilton to make it 14-0.
The Lions struck quickly in the second half on a 73-yard pass from Devion Stewart to Von’Travious Moore to tighten things up a bit. The teams traded possessions for awhile before the Flyers ran for another touchdown. But this time, it wasn’t Drake. In fact, it wasn’t even by a running back.
Loyola put offensive guard/defensive lineman Jac Ebarb in the backfield on first and goal at the 10 and he reached the end zone on his second carry, a 3-yard run to make it 28-6. Ebarb then had a quarterback sack inside the Flyer 20 to end the next BTW drive.
Drake’s 39-yard run with 5:39 to play put an end to the scoring and raise the Flyers’ record to 6-2 and 4-1 in the district. They’ll get North DeSoto next week at Messmer Stadium.
Loyola had 469 yards in total offense. Restovich was 12 of 21 for 136 yards and also ran for 46.
The Flyer defense had some big fourth down stops that kept the Lions at bay but Sella said “We didn’t do as good of a job as we have in the past of tackling in space, so we’ve got to go back and try to clean that up.”
HEMMED IN: Huntington receiver Jamarion Washington (19, dark jersey) has nowhere to go Friday night thanks to Calvary defenders Titus Stringer (3) and Brent Bigelow (9). (Journal photo by GAVEN HAMMOND, landgphoto.com)
By MATT VINES, Journal Sports
Calvary’s defense had stonewalled Huntington for nearly the entire night Friday, and the Cavs’ unit was needed one more time with two seconds left.
From their own 19-yard line, Huntington completed a pass and started the lateral game, but the Cavaliers forced a fumble and recovered to seal the 21-14 non-district win at Independence Stadium.
The Class 2A Cavaliers (6-2) slammed the door on Class 5A Huntington (4-4) twice in the red zone as a vaunted and deep Calvary defensive front battled the Raiders’ huge offensive line.
“We’re pretty good up front, and we rotate seven and eight guys in there,” said Calvary coach Rodney Guin. “We played hard tonight on the road against a very good team.”
After three touchdowns against Union Parish the week before, running back Julius Moss shared snaps with James Simon IV after Simon missed the previous week with an injury.
A 2-yard Moss touchdown started the scoring late in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.
Huntington drove into the red zone on the ensuing possession, but Calvary’s defense turned the Raiders away on fourth down.
“Not being able to finish drives was the story of the game to me,” said Huntington coach Stephen Dennis. “I am proud of my entire team and staff, but particularly the defense and the way we played.
“It’s a lot more fun to learn while winning games, but we’ve been learning a lot of lessons during our last three games that will benefit us come playoff time.”
Huntington did answer Calvary’s score when Nyles Hullaby plunged in from two yards, cutting the Calvary lead to 7-6 early in the second quarter.
Simon IV found the end zone late in the second quarter on an 11-yard run to put the Cavs ahead 14-6.
Hullaby scored again right before the half, and Huntington’s two-point conversion tied the game at 14-14.
The Calvary defense started the second half by intercepting Huntington quarterback Landon Gibbs.
Calvary quarterback Abram Wardell connected with Kolby Thomas on a third-quarter touchdown pass that turned out to be the game-winner.
The Cavs’ defense made another red zone stop in the fourth quarter and then blocked a punt that limited Huntington’s chances.
Calvary was particularly beset by penalties totaling well over 100 yards that stymied some of their own drives.
But Calvary – ranked second in the LSWA’s Class 2A poll — tacked on its fourth straight win and third over a 5A foe in the past two seasons.
Huntington dropped its third straight contest against the likes of Byrd, Parkway and now Calvary.
