By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director

In its first official season of intercollegiate competition in seven decades, the Centenary football team can get to .500 overall and two games over .500 in league play with a happy Homecoming performance Saturday.

The Gents entertain the Austin College ‘Roos in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference contest on Saturday set for 6 p.m. at Atkins Field. Centenary already owns a 36-17 road win at Austin College on Sept. 21.

The Gents (3-4, 3-2 SCAC) recorded a thrilling comeback 28-21 victory over the Lyon College Scots last Saturday in Batesville, Ark. as they scored the winning touchdown with 15 seconds remaining in the game.

Austin College (1-6, 1-4 SCAC) fell 55-17 at home to Texas Lutheran last Saturday.

HONORS: Freshman defensive back Jacob Wilson, a former Evangel star, was named the SCAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.

Wilson came up with a game-defining play on Saturday for the Gents as he intercepted a Scots’ pass at the Centenary 11 and returned it 24 yards with the game tied at 21-21 and only 53 seconds remaining. The Gents moved 34 yards in five plays and won on a TD pass with 15 seconds left. Wilson added four total tackles and two pass breakups.

Wilson was also recognized nationally as he was named to the D3Football.com Team of the Week on Tuesday. The Team of the Week is D3football.com’s weekly honor roll, in its 26th season of recognizing the top performance at each position from the previous week.

Wilson, who also made the team after Week 1, is the first SCAC football athlete to appear on multiple national team of the week squads in the same season since Austin College’s Kyle Crawford in 2014. His selection marks the third consecutive week and 10th total national honor for an SCAC athlete this year, the most for the conference since the league landed 12 in 2014.

Sophomore Vance Feuerbacher was named the SCAC Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday, the second consecutive week he has won the honor.

Feuerbacher was 4-for-4 on PAT’s, punted four times for 135 yards with a long of 40 and landed one inside the 20-yard line, and was the Gents’ leading tackler on defense. Feuerbacher had a team-high eight solo stops and 10 total tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: The Gents will face the Bossier Parish Community College Cavaliers on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Gold Dome in an exhibition contest. Admission is free.

WOMEN’S GOLF: Centenary finished in sixth place on Tuesday in the Bash at the Bend hosted by Hardin-Simmons at Cypress Bend Resort near Many.

The Ladies shot a 209-over par 785 for the week, opening with a 105-over 393 in Monday’s opening round followed by a 104-over 392 on Tuesday.

The host Cowgirls and Ladies were joined by East Texas Baptist, Howard Payne, McMurry, Schreiner, Southwestern, and Texas Lutheran.

Southwestern won the team title as the Pirates shot a 104-over par 680 (337-343) and Hardin-Simmons finished second at 120-over par 696, and ETBU was third. Schreiner finished fourth, TLU fifth ahead of the Ladies, and Howard Payne finished seventh.

Haughton freshman Haylee Crowder earned the Ladies’ best finish as she tied for 11th place at 34-over par 178 as she carded a 15-over par 87 in Tuesday’s final round which was preceded by a 19-over par 91 on Monday. Crowder recorded her best finish of the season as her previous best was 15th at the 2024 SCAC Preview last month.

The Ladies wrap up their fall season in the Crusader Cup hosted by the University of Dallas on Oct. 28-29 at Hawk’s Creek Golf Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

CROSS COUNTRY: Centenary hosts the 2024 SCAC Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships Saturday, Nov. 2 at South Bossier Park in Bossier City.

The women’s 6K race will start at 9 a.m. and the men’s 8K follows at 10. With the additions of Concordia (Texas), McMurry and University of the Ozarks to the SCAC, there will be 11 men’s and 11 women’s teams competing at this year’s meet — creating the largest fields on both sides since the 2011 championships.

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu

When it comes to bass fishing, there are a lot of great lakes in our region of the country that are loaded with trophy-size largemouth bass. Several lakes come to mind — Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, Caddo and Lake Fork to name a few. Louisiana has another lake that falls into this same category: Caney Lake, in Jackson Parish.

Located in the heart of north Louisiana a few miles east of Jonesboro and south of Monroe off state Hwy. 34, Caney Lake pretty much dominates the landscape and has produced many of the top 10 record bass ever caught in Louisiana waters.

It’s a 5,000-acre lake created by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries in 1986 as a part of its “Trophy Lake” program; and boy, it has not disappointed. Caney has seen a lot of changes over the years especially when it comes to grass (Hydrilla). It also has a great supply of coon-tail moss, dollar pads and milfoil, creating plenty of quality cover for bass to hide.

From the beginning, as part of the Louisiana Trophy Lake program, a slot limit was introduced from 15 to 19 inches. This slot allowed for good quality fish to spawn and reproduce. This means that any fish caught inside the slot must be released immediately.

But it was only a few years ago that Caney was anything but a trophy lake as grass carp were introduced and almost destroyed this great fishery. Today, it has rebounded and is loaded with solid areas of grass (Hydrilla) with good structure as well.

The bass have responded with record fish being brought to the scales. In order to win a tournament on this lake, you’ll need anywhere from 22 to 28 pounds with your best five fish.

On December 28, 2023, a new state record for the largest five-fish stringer came in on Caney as Colby Dark and Gage Struben of the Louisiana Tech Bass Fishing Team weighed-in an incredible 48.6 pound stringer!

But this lake is much more than a bass fishery, as the crappie and bream population is extremely strong. The problem is with great fishing comes a lot of traffic, as anglers from all over the region compete for the better places on the lake. There’s also a good selection of boat docks if that’s your preferred choice of cover.

The lake is such a beautiful place to go fishing but understand that you may have to sit in line to launch your boat. This is especially true during the peak fishing season of early spring, but there are plenty of ramps to choose from around the lake.

It’s also a great family lake with plenty of room to ski, tube or just go swimming. Jimmy Davis State Park is an excellent place to set up camp for a long weekend and enjoy a great playground and a really nice beach area. The state park also offers campsites and cabins along with two large family lodges.

All of this is a testament to how good Caney Lake is today, and it doesn’t appear it will be slowing down anytime soon. If it’s the big bass you’re after, the best time to catch one of these Caney lunkers would be from December through April.

Assuming you’re looking for a great place to enjoy the great outdoors and maybe catch the biggest bass of your life, take the time to explore Caney Lake. It truly is a hidden gem in north Louisiana.

Due to the recent national TV exposure and publicity from Major League Fishing (MLF), it’s no longer a secret! To learn more about this awesome fishery, go to caneylakelife.com

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

Each week, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s Tony Taglavore takes to lunch a local person – someone who is well-known, successful, and/or influential, and asks, “What’s Your Story?”

By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Services

 She knew little to nothing about writing a book. But having found some free time, she sat down and pounded the keyboard. It was a self-taught effort she admits “was not very good.”

But the wife and mother enjoyed the work, and became more serious about her second try. When finished, she went to Kinko’s and had the book printed. Even got it “bound with a little spiral thing.” She reached out to agents and was told 85 times, “Not interested.” On the 86^th try, she found one willing to take a chance on a newbie.

Then came a rainy autumn afternoon in 2011. There she sat in the school carpool line, waiting to pick up her two oldest sons, while the youngest was sleeping in the back seat. The kinda sorta writer’s phone rang. Her agent was calling.

“We sold the book to Disney Hyperion! A two-book deal!”

Words the then 38-year-old will never forget, regardless of where she heard them.

“I remember sitting there thinking, ‘This is probably one of the best moments (in my life) and I’m in this car, in this carpool line. You just want to turn around and say, ‘Do you believe this?’ and there’s nobody there (except a sleeping baby). It was all very exciting.”

As she speaks, tears well up in her eyes.

“It was just such a random place to get some of your best news.”

Shreveport’s Ashley Elston, now 51 years old and the author of seven books – including a New York Times Bestseller – told me that story, and her story, during lunch at a place she chose, Frank’s Pizza Napoletana. Ashley had a Strawberry salad and unsweet tea with Splenda. I enjoyed half of a La Mista salad, half a Vegetariana pizette, and a water with lemon.

“That day was all euphoric,” Ashley remembers. “My husband came home and said, ‘Let’s cook a steak! Let’s have a drink!’ My friends were just so excited for me.”

It’s been an unexpected rise to fame for the LSUS General Studies major, whose grades weren’t quite good enough to get into nursing school. All of her books have been published.

“I was not a writer. I was not one of those who wrote short stories. I did not keep a journal. I loved to read. I read all the time. My mother was a big reader. I started with the Nancy Drew books and went up from there.”

Along the way, Ashley, at her father’s insistence, took piano lessons.

“I hated it at the time because it was a lot of practice. As soon as (he) said I could quit, I quit. Now, I’m kind of mad I quit because I would sure love to be able to play the piano.”

It was in high school that Ashley found an affinity for photography.

“I always had a camera. I was the girl who always had the little camera. I had the disc camera at one point. I loved pictures.”

In fact, Ashley turned her photographic talents into a 10-year career as a wedding photographer. A big part of her success came as the result of her and her husband’s (they met on a blind date on Valentine’s Day) decision to rent a small but expensive building behind the old Sue Peyton’s dress shop off Line Avenue, which was known for its bridal department.

“I thought I needed to put myself in the path of every bride who came out of that store.”

Ashley’s strategy worked.

“I got to be friends with the girls who were selling the dresses upstairs, and then they were referring their brides to me. That’s really what helped my business take off – the investment of the location.”

But having to choose between photographing a wedding and being at the hospital while her child had emergency surgery, – it really wasn’t a choice – brought an end to Ashely Elston Photography.

Ashley had noticed what looked like a pimple on the chin of her two-month-old. But when both woke up on a Saturday morning, Ashley saw that pimple had become “big and red and hard. It was going all down his neck. I freaked out.”

The pediatrician said Ashley’s son had a staph infection. “It’s abscessed,” she was told. “Let me call (what was then Sutton’s Children Hospital) and see if they have a bed.”

“For what?” Ashley asked.

“He’s going to have surgery to remove that.”

“I was like, ‘Ok, but I have a wedding at one (o’clock).’”

The pediatrician replied, “He will probably be in surgery at one.”

“I was crying. You can’t call your bride and say, ‘Today’s not a good day for me. What does next Saturday look like?’”

Ashley’s cousin, and her cousin’s husband, were also wedding photographers. They drove from Monroe and worked the wedding. But Ashley’s mind was made up.

“(My son) came out of surgery. He had all these drain tubes. He was so little. I looked at my husband and said, ‘I will never be in that situation again, where I have to think about do I go to work, or do I take care of my baby.’”

But as time passed, Ashely started itching to do something.

“I think I missed the creative outlet from the photography.”

So, while her baby was sleeping, and after the house had been cleaned, Ashley began to “play around” with writing. Her first try effort wasn’t much more than an exercise. But her second try, which Ashley considers her first real book, was much better. Disney Hyperion bought it less than three weeks after the book was sent to potential publishers. That’s almost unheard of, especially for a beginning author.

“I didn’t realize just how many people were trying to do this, and didn’t succeed, until I started talking to other writers, and hearing how many years they had tried.”

Earlier this year, Ashely’s most recent book, First Lie Wins, debuted at #5 on the New York Times’ best- seller list.

“It’s going to be the first line of my obituary. New York Times best-selling author Ashley Elston has passed away. It’s the thing that attaches to your name forever.”

In addition to a publisher, 20th Television Studios bought the rights to make the book into a movie. And while she says she isn’t materialistic, Ashley recently treated herself to a trio of small but significant items.

On her right hand she wears three rings – stackable bands. The one with green emeralds is for when First Lie Wins was chosen by Reese Witherspoon as her Book of the Month. (A big deal in the book world.) The ring with blue sapphires is for when First Lie Wins hit the NYT best-seller list. The third ring, with diamonds, is for First Lie Wins selling more than one million copies.

“They were literally for myself to say ‘Girl, look what you did!’”

Knowing Ashley was busy putting the finishing touches on her eighth book due out in January 2026, I asked my final question. As always, what is it about her life story that might inspire someone else?

“It’s okay not to do just one thing. It’s okay to change your mind and do something completely different. I didn’t have to do photography for 40 years. I did it for 10 years, then I tried something else . . . . I don’t think it’s too late to do anything. I was 50 before having my biggest success. I don’t need to be 25 to have that success. It’s still great at 50. There’s time. Just keep working. Keep going forward.”

Do that, and the first line of your obituary might begin by recognizing your talents.

Do you know someone with a story? Email SBJTonyT@gmail.com.

The Journal’s weekly “What’s Your Story?” series is sponsored by Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers.

WASHINGTON, DC — Over the next two weeks, Speaker Johnson’s district staff will host satellite office hours throughout Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District to assist constituents who need assistance navigating federal agencies.

The district staff members will be available to assist Louisianians with federal agency programs such as Social Security, Medicare, military and veterans’ issues. Staff are also available to help constituents obtain the status of pending cases and check the status of passport applications.

Additional dates and times will be announced later this week. For additional information or questions, please call Speaker Johnson’s Bossier City Office at 318-840-0309.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23

Caddo Parish

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Vivian Town Hall

112 West Alabama Ave.

Vivian, LA 71082

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25

Claiborne Parish

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Haynesville Town Hall

1711 Main St.

Haynesville, LA 71038

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25

Bienville Parish

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Ringgold Town Hall

2135 Hall St.

Ringgold, LA 71068

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30

Allen Parish

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Kinder City Hall

333 8th St.

Kinder, LA 70648

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30

Union Parish

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Town of Farmerville City Hall

1024 Sterlington Hwy.

Farmerville, LA 71241

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30

Evangeline Parish

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Evangeline Public Library, Ville Platte Branch

916 W. Main St.

Ville Platte, LA 70586

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30

Beauregard Parish

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

South Beauregard Recreation Center

6719 Hwy. 12

Ragley, LA 70657

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31

Vernon Parish

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Hornbeck Town Hall

939 Hammond St.

Hornbeck, LA 71439

The Caddo Parish School Board has announced its first Attendance and Resource Fair of the school year! The Attendance and Resource Fair will take place TODAY, Tuesday, Oct. 22 at the Broadmoor Baptist Church from 11 am to 5:30 pm. Parents and students may attend these fairs; however, it is important that the parent comes!

Caddo Schools Attendance Department staff members will be available to address attendance concerns. During this time, parents will be allowed to write a parent note for three (3) of their child’s unexcused absences, and submit doctor’s excuses (which can be excused at any time during the school year). Also, there will be several community resources available for families who may be dealing with mental health issues, Shreveport Job Corps, Caddo’s Parent Resource Department, McKinney Vento (Homeless), Gingerbread House, and other Mental Health agencies approved by Caddo Parish Public Schools.

The Caddo Parish School Board will host five attendance support fairs throughout the school year.

By LORI LYONS, Journal Sports

Parkway High School senior offensive guard Ethan Plunkett knows that, when it comes to playing football, he’s probably never going to get his name in print. Offensive linemen rarely do.

“We know it’s always going to be like that,” Plunkett said. “We’ve just got to learn to live with it. But our running backs, a lot of time they’ll give us a shoutout, our quarterback will give us a shoutout. That makes us feel good. But we really, I’m going to be honest with you, we’re not in it to be in the paper. We’re just in it to win. We let them do all the shining. We do all the work behind the scenes.”

He did get a couple of mentions as a Parkway wrestler last season when he finished fifth in the state as the No. 4 seed in the 215-pound weight class.

And he hopes to get a mention in the next Louisiana High School Fishing season, which he has decided to take up in place of wrestling.

“I don’t enjoy (wrestling) as much anymore as much as I do fishing,” he said. “I’ve always loved fishing. Within the last year or two I’ve gotten pretty good at it. I think I’m going to be successful and have a lot of fun. And it’s my senior year so I’d rather do stuff I enjoy before I have to go off to school.”

But Plunkett, the son of Wayne and Nicole Plunkett, said he doesn’t plan to go the traditional college route. His plan is to attend trade school to study industrial instrumentation.

“I’m going where my heart’s at,” he said.

A member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and the Parkway Red Jackets Savage student leadership group, Plunkett is one of 21 Shreveport-Bossier seniors who have been named to the fourth annual National Football Foundation McNaughton Chapter Preseason Scholar-Athlete Watch List. Nominees must have at least a 3.2 grade point average, have won all-district honors and be involved in extracurricular activities.

In the spring, one Watch List standout will receive a $1,000 college scholarship award, from those 14 recognized with a Griffin’s Game Ball presented weekly by KTBS and Southern Classic Chicken in honor of the late Bob Griffin, the longtime sports journalist who was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Others will be among nominees for eight more $1,000 scholarships issued by the McNaughton Chapter.

It’s a high honor for the self-described “undersized” 5-foot-11 senior who agreed to play offensive lineman when the team was short a few of them a couple of seasons ago. Now he is just trying to savor every moment of his senior year on the 6-1 Parkway team.

“It’s flying by,” he said. “I try not to think about (the fact) that it’s the last time I’m playing this team.”

This week, Plunkett and the Panthers head over to Lee Hedges Stadium on Friday night for a District 1-5A contest with the Captain Shreve Gators.

While a four-year college isn’t in his game plan, that doesn’t mean he’s skipping out on college life.

Plunkett’s greatest college experience may have already come a couple weeks ago when he attended the LSU-Ole Miss game in Baton Rouge.

“It was an experience,” he said. “I got to go down on the field and wave goodbye to the Ole Miss players. Those were some big ol’ boys.”

Plunkett spends a lot of his time and effort honoring the memory of his older brother, Peyton Plunkett, who was killed in a car crash one year ago. It was Peyton who first got his little brother involved in wrestling and it’s Peyton’s boat that Plunkett now takes out on his favorite spot, Caddo Lake, to practice his fishing.

“He sends me signs,” Plunkett said.

Contact Lori at sportslyons@gmail.com

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Benton didn’t win at Evangel last Friday night, suffering a bitter one-point loss that hinged on a controversial call denying a go-ahead two-point conversion with just a couple minutes remaining.

But here’s the Tigers, recognized as the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Team of the Week – the first time in three seasons of SBJ coverage that a losing team has been spotlighted.

A weekend after Evangel and sensational sophomore quarterback Pop Houston made national news with the biggest offensive performance in national high school football history, it was a plucky Benton team employing unconventional strategies that caught the attention and earned the respect of local fans and coaches.

The Tigers rode home on the wrong side of a 33-32 District 1-5A battle between a pair of teams with only one win each. They’re being celebrated, even if they are certainly not celebrating.

“Sitting here with one win, having come that close, it’s tough,” said veteran Benton coach Reynolds Moore. “Our community, and our parents, are proud of these kids and this team and the effort they gave at Evangel. I think that’s the win. But when you’re scrapping for your playoff life, and the chance to get a landmark win, it’s tough to accept it as any sort of victory.”

But, Moore concedes, few not wearing purple and gold thought Benton would lead at any point, let alone from the outset and into the middle of the fourth quarter. But nobody who wasn’t on the Tigers’ team knew what was coming.

A game-opening onside kick, followed by a scoring drive. ANOTHER Will Petro onside kick converted, and another scoring drive, Diesel-fueled.

“Diesel” is what Benton calls its wildcat offense, which had been used for maybe 15 plays in the first six weeks, in short-yardage situations. Last Friday, it was the cornerstone of a plan to keep Houston and the Eagles’ explosive offense watching instead of doing.

Evangel was down two scores before it took possession. The Tigers, didn’t have a negative-yardage play in the first half and grinded the play clock down inside five seconds before every snap. The Eagles were playing uphill all night.

It was a strategy launched in weekend coaching discussions after Evangel’s national-record 957 yards – 817 on Houston’s passing – in a 77-76 single-overtime loss to Captain Shreve.

“We ran it by the kids a little bit (last) Sunday afternoon, said we felt our best bet was to limit their possessions, limit their points and that gives us the best chance to win, so we’re thinking about being in Diesel,” said Moore. “As the week went on, we didn’t work it in practice a ton. We kept working our regular offense in case it didn’t work the way we hoped.”

Also, the Benton coaches didn’t want to tip their hand in this age of social media. But on game day, in pregame meetings back home, Moore told his troops the Tigers would run Diesel – for as long as it would carry them.

This meant four defensive starters moved over to offense, and some offensive regulars had their roles reduced.

“I had two senior wide receivers who didn’t touch the field until the fourth quarter. We played probably half the (54) snaps without our quarterback (talented sophomore Malachi Johnson),” said Moore, whose Tigers were in the Diesel package for 43 plays.

“Credit to those guys standing on the sideline, for wanting to win more than anything else. I told them at halftime (leading by seven), ‘we’re coming back out in this. I’m sorry.’ They’re like, ‘we’re winning. It doesn’t matter.’ They handled it team first, and that made me very proud,” said Moore.

Linebacker Beckett Moore played nearly every snap on both sides and all special teams. Defensive stalwart Demarcus King played more on the other side of the ball. All-district linebacker Cole Austin ran for two touchdowns. CJ Grigsby switched sides and spent most of the night in the Diesel package. Conversely, Cameron Boxley departed his standard tight end post and played defense.

Tailback Greg Chambers stayed put, running for 210 yards and a pair of TDs on 27 carries. Johnson had a 40-yard scoring run.

“You couldn’t have drawn it up any better, and the kids couldn’t have executed it any better,” said Moore. “It was phenomenal.

“It changed the physicality of the game for everybody. Our defense was the most disciplined we’ve seen them. Our offensive line was as physical and nasty as we’ve seen them,” he said. “It’s a mindset for our guys in that package, which is usually situational, but these guys took it throughout the game and it was awesome to see how hard we fought.”

Evangel finally took the lead midway through the fourth quarter. Benton responded by using 13 plays and scoring with two minutes to go, getting within one. Moore didn’t hesitate to call for a go-ahead two-point play, and Austin plunged toward the goalline. Video showed the ball breaching the goalline, but after huddling to discuss, officials said Austin’s knee hit the turf just before he scored.

“I would go for it again tonight,” said Moore, who to say the least, disagreed then and now with that ruling.

“It is frustrating, because of the kids. For my seniors, something we talked about, being the first from Benton to beat Evangel, that was a big opportunity that didn’t go our way,” he said. “To know how much it meant to our kids, to our fans and to our community, that made it hurt even more.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

There’s movement in the Class 5A Top 10 as selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, but Airline will have to wait a week to have a chance to benefit.

The unbeaten Vikings still sit at No. 10 in the poll, and host one-win Natchitoches Central this Friday. But outcomes elsewhere might provide some upward mobility for Airline.

A 26-21 homefield loss Friday night to Neville dumped Ruston from the poll’s top spot. Third-ranked Ruston and No. 6 Alexandria collide this week and the outcome could create opportunity for Airline to move forward in the Top 10.

Whatever happens, there will be some movement in next week’s Class 5A rankings.

Calvary Baptist stands solidly at the No. 2 spot in Class 2A and will need a stumble by top-ranked Newman to advance. Neville’s victory at Ruston moved the Tigers to No. 2 in 5A. Calvary’s two losses are 42-38 to Neville and 32-28 to Franklin Parish, No. 9 in Class 4A.

The Cavs take on a quality Class 5A opponent Friday night, meeting Huntington at Independence Stadium.

This week’s state Top 10 polls:

CLASS 5A

School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking

1. Karr (9) 6-0, 139, 2

2. Neville (3) 7-0, 131, T4

3. Ruston 6-1, 115, 1

4. Acadiana 6-1, 114, 3

5. Catholic-Baton Rouge 5-1, 97, T4

6. Alexandria 7-0, 82, 6

7. Zachary 5-1, 73, 7

8. Archbishop Rummel 6-1, 52, 8

9. John Curtis 4-2, 39, 9

10. Airline 7-0, 29, T10

(tie) Mandeville 7-0, 29, NR

Others receiving votes: Central 12, Dutchtown 5, Hahnville 3, Jesuit 3, St. Paul’s 3, Brother Martin 2, West Monroe 2, Covington 1, Parkway 1, St. Augustine 1, Southside 1, Terrebonne 1.

CLASS 4A

School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking

1. Teurlings Catholic (12) 7-0, 144, 1

2. North DeSoto 5-2, 121, 2

(tie) Lutcher 6-0, 121, 4

4. St. Thomas More 4-3, 99, 5

5. E.D. White 5-2, 96, 3

6. Archbishop Shaw 5-2, 94, 6

7. Cecilia 5-2, 64, 7

8. Opelousas 3-3, 58, 8

9. Franklin Parish 6-1, 47, 9

10. Franklinton 6-1, 30, 10

Others receiving votes: Westgate 22, Plaquemine 11, Iowa 9, Lakeshore 9, Vandebilt Catholic 3, Belle Chasse 1, Istrouma 1, Leesville 1, Northwood-Shreveport 1, West Feliciana 1, West Ouachita 1.

CLASS 3A

School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking

1. University (12) 6-1, 144, 1

2. Bunkie 7-0, 130, 2

3. Jennings 6-1, 115, 3

4. St. James 4-2, 104, 4

5. Northwest 5-2, 87, 5

6. John F. Kennedy 3-4, 82, 6

7. Amite 5-2, 62, 7

8. Jewel Sumner 6-1, 59, 8

9. Sterlington 4-3, 43, T10

10. Madison Prep 4-3, 40, T10

Others receiving votes: Jena 14, Bastrop 13, De La Salle 13, Erath 12, Iota 9, Kaplan 4, Carroll 1, Haynes Academy 1, Pine 1, Westlake 1.

CLASS 2A

School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking

1. Newman (8) 5-0, 134, 1

2. Calvary Baptist (1) 5-2, 129, 2

3. Dunham (2) 7-0, 118, T3

4. Oak Grove (1) 5-1, 117, T3

5. Ouachita Christian 7-0, 95, 5

6. Catholic-New Iberia 6-1, 83, 6

7. Episcopal-Baton Rouge 6-1, 58, 9

8. Notre Dame 4-3, 53, NR

9. Mangham 5-2, 51, 7

10. Lafayette Christian 2-5, 36, 8

Others receiving votes: Union Parish 23, Ferriday 14, Pope John Paul 7, Welsh 9, Lafayette Renaissance Charter 4, DeQuincy 3, D’Arbonne Woods 1, Northlake Christian 1.

CLASS 1A

School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking

1. Vermilion Catholic (12) 7-0, 144, 1

2. Haynesville 7-0, 130, 2

3. Ascension Catholic 5-1, 112, 3

4. Riverside 4-2, 101, 5

5. Catholic-Pointe Coupee 7-0, 83, 6

6. Covenant Christian 7-0, 81, 7

7. Southern Lab 3-3, 64, 4

8. Kentwood 5-2, 60, 8

9. St. Martin’s 4-2, 39, 9

10. St. Edmund 7-0, 35, NR

Others receiving votes: Jeanerette 25, Ascension Episcopal 7, Logansport 4, St. Frederick 3, Central Catholic-Morgan City 1, Delta Charter 1, General Trass 1, Glenbrook Academy 1, Hamilton Christian 1, North Iberville 1, Westminster-Opelousas 1.

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – LSU head coach Brian Kelly’s definition of `consistency’ has interlocking meanings.

“Look at the teams around college football, everybody’s looking for how can they be consistent,” Kelly said after his weekly in-season Monday conference previewing Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. showdown in College Station between No. 7 LSU (6-1 overall, 3-0 SEC) and No. 14 Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0 SEC), the only SEC teams yet to suffer a loss in league play.

“How can they be the same team week in and week out? For us, it’s about our preparation, the consistent application of what we do and how we do it, and then turning that over to performance.

“Winning, for me, is about how you can get to a level of consistency at all phases. Consistency is about balance and being good in running the ball, throwing the ball, stopping the run, being efficient in terms of pass defense.”

LSU has reached another definition of consistency the last two weeks in wins of 29-26 at home over Ole Miss on Oct. 22 and 34-10 at Arkansas last Saturday.

It’s the ability to endure stretches of games in which one side of the ball struggles and needs the other side to keep it afloat.

The very nature of the Tigers’ 2024 offense – more ball-control drives eating yardage and time – gives more rest to the defense. That unit has taken a huge leap of improvement after the open date three weeks ago when Kelly solidified his rotation, especially finally pairing Whit Weeks and Greg Penn II as starting linebackers.

LSU’s defense has created 11 turnovers this season, including 8 in the three conference wins.

Offensively, the Tigers are getting tougher to deal with weekly. LSU is averaging a league-leading 33 points per game in SEC play.

The one thing that has been evident all season is quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s ability to spread his passes around to so many receivers and the discovery of true freshman running back Caden Durham.

Nussmeier has thrown for 2,222 yards and leads the SEC in TD passes (18) and completions (186). Yet the Tigers have no players ranked in the SEC’s top 10 in TD catches yet have three players ranked in receptions per game.

It’s because Nussmeier completes passes to an average of eight receivers per game and has thrown TDs to eight different receivers.

“You can see that the distribution of where the ball goes it’s much more difficult to defend because you don’t know where the ball is going,” Kelly said. “We’re able to move the ball all over the field, and it makes it much more difficult for defenses to roll coverages and isolate particular players.”

Durham’s emergence in the 36-33 win at South Carolina on Sept. 14 when he ran for 98 yards and two TDs and 11 carries has given Kelly his first legitimate playmaking running back in his three seasons at LSU.

“I’m really impressed with a freshman running back that is not playing at 100 percent,” said Kelly of Durham playing despite some nagging in injuries.

“A lot of guys would not be in the game he’s playing, because he’s playing at about 80 to 85 percent. Injuries are hard to deal with at any position, but when you’re running back and you’ve got an injury and you’re still fighting through it, it says a lot about the young man.”

KNOW YOUR ENEMY

No. 7 LSU (6-1 overall, 3-0 SEC) vs. No. 14 Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0 SEC), Kyle Field, College Station, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. (ABC)

Last game for Aggies: Won 34-24 at Mississippi State last Saturday. QB Connor Weigman threw for 217 yards and a TD.

Series record and last meeting: LSU leads 36-23-3. In his last game as a Tiger, QB Jayden Daniels rallied his team from a 24-14 third-quarter deficit to a 42-30 win over the Aggies in Baton Rouge.

Texas A&M head coach: Mike Elko (22-10 in three seasons overall, 6-1 in first season at Texas A&M).

THIS AND THAT

Early betting line: Texas A&M by 2½

Number of Louisiana natives on Texas A&M roster: 3

Number of Texas natives on LSU roster: 12

Number of transfers on Texas A&M roster from 4-year schools: 33 players from 30 schools including 15 players from 13 Power 4 Conference schools.

TEXAS A&M PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB Connor Weigman (56 of 91 for 718 passing yards, 3 TDs, 4 interceptions), RB Le’veon Moss (674 rushing yards, 8 TDs on 105 carries), DE Nic Scourton (19 tackles, 11 TFL, 4½ sacks, 2 PBU, 4 QB hurries), S Marcus Ratcliffe (24 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 interceptions, PK Randy Bond (13 of 15 field goals, 25 of 25 PATs), P Tyler White (21 for 45.76 ypp, 3 touchbacks, 13 fair catches, 13 inside the 20, 6 50 yards or more).

THREE AND OUT

1. What is the most nonsensical phrase in the Aggie War Hymn?

A. Chiggarroogarem

B. Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck!

C. Rough tough! Real stuff! Texas A&M!

D. All of the above

2. Where is the final resting place after they die of the Reveilles, the collies that serve as A&M’s mascot?

A. Buried north entrance to Kyle Field (the football stadium) facing the scoreboard so that they can always watch the Aggies outscore their opponent.

B. Cremated with their ashes sprinkled over A&M’s game uniforms for positive energy.

C. Preserved by taxidermy and mounted over the A&M Kyle Field dressing room exit door for each player to pet for good luck.

D. Kept in refrigerators in A&M’s football recruiting lounge.

3. In the 88-year history of the Associated Press poll, how many times has Texas A&M finished the season ranked in the top 5?

A. 10

B. 4

C. 15

D. 25

ANSWERS: 1. D 2. A 3. B

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

RUSTON – Which Louisiana Tech football team will trot onto the Aillet Stadium turf Tuesday night to take on UTEP in a Conference USA matchup?

Will it be the Bulldogs who rang up 48 points two games ago in a blowout of Middle Tennessee in Tech’s last Aillet Stadium outing?

Or will the team resurface that struggled offensively as a 10 ½-point favorite on the road last Tuesday against a struggling New Mexico State team, eventually falling 33-30 in double overtime?

Kickoff is 7 o’clock with national television coverage on CBS Sports Network. The Louisiana Tech Radio Network broadcast with Malcolm Butler, Teddy Allen and Jerry Byrd Jr. can be heard on 92.1 The Light in Shreveport.

Tech is 2-4 overall, 1-2 in CUSA. UTEP is 1-6, 1-3.

After scoring a combined 75 points during the first four games. Tech’s 48 points versus Middle Tennessee was the most in a CUSA game since Nov. 9, 2019 (ninth most in a CUSA game in program history). The Bulldogs’ 30 points last Tuesday in Las Cruces came late in the contest.

The Bulldogs’ defense currently ranks first in CUSA and 30th in the country in total defense, allowing just 316.3 yards per game. The Bulldogs also rank first in the league and 24th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 104.2 yards on the ground.

The most consistent offensive weapon in Tech’s lineup is Shreveport native Tru Edwards, who recorded his third 100-yard game of the season at New Mexico State. It was his second straight after finishing with a career-high nine catches for 110 yards against the Aggies. Edwards logged two touchdowns catches, marking his first multi receiving touchdown game of his career. He leads the team with 32 grabs for 445 yards and four scores.

The Miners enter tonight’s game on the heels of their first win of the season, which also marked their first CUSA win. UTEP was able to pull out a 30-21 decision over Florida International.

First-year coach Scotty Walden, who made the move west from Austin Peay, brought many of his former players with him to run his offense. UTEP’s top quarterback, running back and wide receiver all hail from Austin Peay.

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

NATCHITOCHES – A just-discovered 40-year-old, four-page transcript of an interview with basketball superstar Pete Maravich has jazzed up the dynamic “Showtime! LSU’s Spectacular Pistol Pete” exhibit that has been extended for an extra week at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum.

The transcript was compiled by Hall of Fame sportswriter Jim McLain of Shreveport from an interview done in spring 1984 with Maravich, who was being inducted in the Hall of Fame that summer. It provides great insight into the mind of Maravich after his record-shattering LSU career and 10 seasons in the NBA, at a time when he had found Christianity and had altered his lifestyle to share his faith however possible.

It is an unexpected addition to the “Showtime” exhibit featuring nearly 70 photos from the collection of Baton Rouge sportswriter and photographer John Musemeche, who had backstage access to Maravich during his time at LSU. Many of the photos in the exhibit have never been available for public view; others are some of the more iconic images of “Pistol Pete” at LSU, including a Sports Illustrated cover shot and a photo showing LSU players lifting Maravich on their shoulders when he broke the major college basketball career scoring record midway through his senior season of 1969-70.

Musemeche read the recently-discovered transcript of McLain’s interview and was struck by how it mirrored his own insight into Maravich’s later years. The basketball legend died at age 41 in January 1986 from an undiagnosed heart defect after collapsing during a low-impact pickup game at a church in California.

“This is an amazing document. I can hear Pete talking to Jim (McLain) because I heard him share the same things about how finding faith had enriched his life, and how he was dedicated to sharing that joy with anyone he could,” said Musemeche. “I loved reading every word.

“I am thrilled that this has been added to the exhibit in Natchitoches so that fans of Pistol Pete can visit the museum this week and read it for themselves,” he said. “We are proud of the exhibit; this brings it full circle because it is Pete in his own words talking about the joy he found after basketball.”

Musemeche is featured in an eight-minute, award-winning documentary film that plays on a loop in the exhibit. In the film, the photographer reflects on Maravich’s sensational college days at LSU when he averaged 44.2 points in 83 games and displayed showmanship on a level not seen before and rarely since. He also discusses Maravich’s journey through life and inner peace after discovering faith, and his passion for sharing it with others.

A scrapbook of clippings from Maravich’s days at LSU was compiled by Baton Rouge teenager Jay Dardenne, who grew up to become the state’s lieutenant governor and commissioner of administration. It is part of the exhibit, which was funded by support from Raising Canes Chicken Fingers.

The exhibit is open this week from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the museum, located at the traffic circle on the north end of brick-paved Front Street in historic downtown Natchitoches. The museum (800 Front Street) carries a $6 adult ticket price with rates discounted for senior citizens, students and military.

The Maravich exhibit made its debut June 20 and will close Saturday evening.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana – October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and CHRISTUS Health is promoting the importance of support groups, which play a key role in both physical and mental recovery after a cancer diagnosis.

“The physical, mental, and even spiritual healing cannot be separated. They are all part of the journey,” said Brittany Whittington, a licensed social worker with CHRISTUS Shreveport Bossier Health System.
Support groups give patients the opportunity to talk about their journey, help deal with practical problems like work or school, help the patient feel less alone and can help with ideas on dealing with side effects of treatment.

“It is very difficult to go through a cancer diagnosis and treatment without some advanced level of support,” Whittington said. “There are resources available for patients, both inside and outside the hospital, that can really make a difference.”

A supporter can accompany patients to appointments and meetings to help digest and reinforce information.

Lorraine Krajewski knows firsthand the benefits of breast cancer support groups. The retired university professor has been diagnosed with breast cancer twice.

She attends the support group at CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System. Although she was skeptical at first, Krajewski said she eventually realized the importance of not just receiving support, but also providing support to others in the group.

“It’s called a support group, and it doesn’t just mean we get support from others, but we give it to other women,” she said. “If you’re not sure if it’s for you, do give it a try, and if you feel comfortable, that’s great. But you don’t know if you’ll feel comfortable with it until you do it.”

CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System offers support groups for both adults and children. Whittington said young children may not fully comprehend what is happening to their loved one or to themselves, and support systems for them can be incredibly helpful.

“We don’t often think about the mental toll that this can take on children,” Whittington said. “So, you really want to be aware and look for changes in their attitude, in their schoolwork, their activities or friendships.”

Before joining a support group, you may want to ask yourself if you’re comfortable talking about personal issues with others. You can also think about what you hope to gain by joining one.
“The key is to find what you are comfortable with,” Whittington said. “Every support group is different, but every one of them serves a purpose.”

The CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier “Kids Connection Support Group” meets the first and third Tuesday of every month from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the CHRISTUS Healthplex in Shreveport.
Adult breast support groups meet on the second Thursday of every month at CHRISTUS Bossier Outpatient Therapy building in Bossier City, and every fourth Thursday at the CHRISTUS Breast Center in Shreveport. Both meetings begin at 5:30 p.m.
Interested patients or caregivers can call (318) 681-4613 for information about adult support groups or (318) 681-6231 for the children’s support group.

By Kevin Shannahan

Pastor Andrii Andriichuk, his wife Viktoriia and children Ivan and Sviatoslov visited FUMC Natchitoches’ United Methodist Men’s October meeting. The family is originally from Bila-Tserkva in the Kyiv Oblast of Ukraine. Before the Russian invasion, Rev. Andriichuk was pastoring a church when Stephanie Chanthavilay came over from the U.S. for a mission trip in 2019. That trip was to change quite a few lives. She was working at a church camp when she met a group of orphans staying there.

Ms. Chanthavilay felt an immediate connection to the orphans and was able to get them to the United States in 2023. As the war continued, the Andiichuk family’s hometown was caught in the middle of the fighting with drones and artillery striking the city. Victoriia and the children were able to leave, making their way to Western Europe by way of Romania. Friends were able to eventually get them to America and Andrii was able to follow later.

When Stephanie Chanthavilay set out for a mission trip in Ukraine in 2019, she could not know the far reaching effects that decision would have. A group of orphans would have a chance to find a family and a family would find safety from a war on their doorstep.

John B. “Jack” Kelly was a sports fanatic. During World War I, Jack served in the army and became a champion boxer. Following the war, Jack rejoined his father’s highly successful bricklaying firm called “Kelly for Brickwork.” The postwar boom quickly made Jack a millionaire. Jack’s wealth freed him up to spend long hours perfecting his skill at sculling, rowing a long, thin needle-shaped boat with two oars.

Jack’s dedication paid off. In a short time, he won six national championships and was the single scull champion of the United States. Jack’s talents were such that he competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics at Antwerp, Belgium. On that warm August day, Jack’s first event was the single scull, one person per boat. Jack’s competitor, J. Beresford, jumped ahead at the start of the race and held the lead for the first 750 meters. Newspapers said that Jack got a “last spurt” of energy and closed the gap when they were just 150 meters from the finish line.

Jack took the lead and crossed the finish line a full boat length before Beresford. Jack won the gold medal in the single scull. Back on dry land, Jack and Beresford were too tired to even shake hands. Jack had little time to celebrate. 30 minutes later, he competed in the double scull with his cousin as his teammate and they won gold. Four years later, Jack and his cousin competed in the double scull in the 1924 Paris Olympics and won gold again. Jack was the first rower in history to win three gold medals.

In 1923, Jack met a girl named Margaret Majer at a swimming competition. Margaret drew Jack’s attention for multiple reasons. Margaret, also a fierce competitor, won first place in the women’s competition. Margaret was also a cover-girl model with a degree in physical education. She later became the first woman to teach physical education at the University of Pennsylvania and at Women’s Medical College. In January 1924, six months before the Paris Olympics, Jack and Margaret married.

Together, Jack and Margaret had four children; Margaret, whom they called Peggy, John Kelly Jr., whom they called Kell, Patricia, and Elizabeth Anne, whom they called Lizanne. Jack and Margaret expected all of their children to be as competitive in sports as they were. Peggy, Kell, and Lizanne lived up to their expectations. Kell competed in the 1948, 1952, 1956, and 1960 Olympics. He won gold medals at the 1955 and 1959 Pan American Games and the 1949 European Championships. Peggy and Lizanne competed as well at the college level. Then, there was Patricia.

Patricia was absolutely uninterested in competitive sports. She enjoyed swimming but not competition swimming. She liked to swim just for fun, which Patricia’s parents were unable to comprehend. Patricia was only somewhat interested in academia. Her math grades were so low that she was rejected from her first choice of colleges. She eventually enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Soon after graduation, she began working as an actress, an occupation her father thought was “a slim cut above streetwalker.” She appeared in thirty films including “Dial M for Murder,” “Rear Window,” and “High Society,” before she decided to retire at the height of her career. Patricia, the outcast of the family, the girl who was not expected to amount to anything, became the most famous member of the family. Patricia was the middle name of movie star and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly.

Sources:

1. Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), August 30, 1920, p.17.

2. Donald Spoto, High Society: the Life of Grace Kelly (New York: Crown Publishers, 2009) 34.