Kenneth Ray Wells July 3, 1955 – October 15, 2024 Service: Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 1pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Charles Grant Bailey July 28, 1936 – October 13, 2024 Service: Friday, October 25, 2024, 12:30pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Ronald Jay Hixson December 3, 1935 — October 11, 2024 Service: Friday, October 25, 2024, 10:30am at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Bonnie Boothe Nichols May 25, 1957 – October 11, 2024 Service: Friday, October 25, 2024, 4pm at Osborn Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Shirley Ann Broughton Potts June 10, 1947 – October 10, 2024 Service: Monday, October 28, 2024 at 11:30am at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
Robert W. Gillespie, Jr. July 16, 1948 – October 2, 2024 Service: Saturday, October 26, 2024, 12pm at Jude Catholic Church, Benton.
Chester Eugene Simmons Jr. August 15, 1943 – October 1, 2024 Service: Saturday, October 26, 2024, 11am at Elm Grove Baptist Church, Bossier City.
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
Few local restaurants have opened with as much fanfare as The Pearl Shreveport (6871 Fern Avenue). Last year, there was an incredible social media blitz for the eatery, which occupies the building where la Madeleine used to be. The Pearl was the place to see and be seen.
I had only been there once, and that was by invitation before the restaurant opened to the public. But on a recent Friday, I invited a friend to join me for lunch.
We arrived at one o’clock and walked into an almost empty restaurant. There were three other diners. I realize 1pm is on the back end of lunchtime, but was surprised to see so few people. A small crowd – is three a crowd? – meant we were immediately greeted by the hostess and asked if we wanted to sit at the bar, or a table.
The Pearl has a long bar which seats approximately 20 people. There are four televisions for easy viewing. The restaurant also has a small oyster bar at the back of the restaurant. There are two dining rooms, an enclosed patio, and a small, private dining room.
We chose to sit at a table, and within seconds of being seated, Caleb was there to take our drink order. Caleb was kind, efficient, and apologetic throughout our dinner. Apologetic? More on that in a minute.
The Pearl is only open for lunch on Friday. It serves dinner the rest of the week, and brunch on the weekend. But for some reason, I thought the restaurant offered a lunch menu. When my friend and I were given the “regular” menu, I asked Caleb if there was a lunch menu. He said the restaurant had one “for a little while”, but no longer.
That’s my bad for not calling ahead and asking, So, my friend and I were left with no choice but to order dinner entrees for dinner prices. It seems to me that if a restaurant like The Pearl serves lunch, it should offer smaller-than-dinner portions, for less cost.
There was no shortage of items to order. The Pearl has appetizers, salads, and entrees such as Sauteed Sea Bass, Seared Scallops, and a Red River Ribeye. The entrees varied in price, from $23-$49. Again, the choices – and their prices – seemed better suited for dinner.
But The Pearl is best known for their oysters. In fact, you can choose from five kinds of cooked oysters, and five types of raw oysters. On this day, I learned something about my friend. She “loves” oysters. So, after toying with the idea of ordering something else, my friend chose The Bienville ($19). At my urging, she also ordered a cup of Alligator Gumbo. ($8).
I’m not a big fan of oysters, and I didn’t want something heavy for lunch. So, I went with the Cilantro Lime Salad ($14), and added chicken ($8), which at $22 was just one dollar less than the least expensive entrée. I asked Caleb about the Seasonal Soup which was on the menu. He said the restaurant was out of soup. So, I ordered a cup of Duck Gumbo ($8).
In a reasonable amount of time, we were served our gumbo. I took one bite and was immediately disappointed. The rice was cold and clumpy, and the roux was cold. I don’t mean lukewarm – I mean cold. My friend said her gumbo wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t hot, either. I told Caleb the issue, and he immediately offered to take both cups of gumbo back to the kitchen. Not long after, Caleb returned with two cups of freshly made gumbo. Unfortunately, my gumbo tasted the same. My friend said hers was “a little warmer.” I told Caleb I would not eat my cold gumbo. He sincerely apologized – more than once – and said it would be taken off the ticket. Caleb also offered us a dessert “on the house.” That was a very nice gesture to make a wrong a right.
It wasn’t long before our entrees arrived. As promised, my friend was served eight cooked oysters – “the holy trinity sauteed with Creole seasoning in chardonnay sauce with breadcrumbs and parmesan.” The presentation was nice, and my friend said her oysters were very good. “They were cooked just right, had good flavor, and tasted fresh.”
My salad also looked good, but small. The shallow bowl had spring mix, roasted corn, red onion, avocado, cherry tomatoes, cornbread croutons, cilantro lime vinaigrette, and the grilled chicken I added. The salad didn’t taste different from any other salad I’ve had, but was smaller and more expensive. For $22, my expectations were not met.
Caleb asked if we wanted to accept his offer of a complimentary dessert to make up for my cold and clumpy gumbo. When we originally looked at the menu, my friend expressed excitement upon seeing Key Lime Cheesecake. So, we told Caleb that’s what we would like, only to learn The Pearl was out of Key Lime Cheesecake. Disappointed, my friend regrouped, and decided we would have the Seasonal House-Made Bread Pudding.
We were told each of the restaurant’s four desserts are made in-house and from scratch. The bread pudding certainly looked and tasted the part. We were served a large portion of what was described as “the perfect blend of Pearl waffles, brioche bread, topped with hot butter rum sauce.” The bread pudding came with a scoop of ice cream, and a drizzle of caramel. I’ve been on a run lately. The last three servings of bread pudding I’ve had at restaurants, including at The Pearl, have been delicious.
Minus the $12 complimentary dessert, the cost of our meal before tax and tip was $49.24. The Pearl charges 3.5% if you pay with a card, and discloses that on the menu.
I left with the impression The Pearl Shreveport is a place much more suited for dinner than lunch. If I had dined in the evening, my takeaway may have been different. But the restaurant was open for lunch, I went for lunch, and overall, was disappointed. I give The Pearl Two Forks. I would return for lunch, but only if someone else was paying.
Again, this was my lunch experience. No atmosphere, cold gumbo with clumpy rice, and the restaurant was out of soup, as well as one of their desserts. If you visit, I strongly suggest going for dinner. Hopefully nighttime is the right time for a good dining experience.
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
Caddo Parish Commissioners Thursday called for a meeting with Mayor Tom Arceneaux and the Caddo Parish School Board over the future of Fair Grounds Field. The Commission’s Long-range Planning and Special Needs Committee voted unanimously to invite the mayor and School Board to its Nov. 7 meeting. The purpose would be to discuss new ownership for the endangered ballpark as presented by Friends of Fair Ground Field.
Members of the Friends group described their plan for new ownership for City-owned Fair Grounds Field at last week’s Caddo Parish Commission meeting. The plan, which Friends member Bill Robertson characterized as tentative for purposes of discussion, calls for the City, Parish, School Board, and a private entity to share in the facility’s ownership, renovation, and management.
Robertson told Parish Commissioners that Friends would drop its lawsuit against the City once new stadium owners pause demolition, allow reconstruction plans to take shape, and “commit to a safe reconstruction process aligned with health guidelines.”
The health guidelines refer to a population of bats found at Fair Grounds Field and the threat of toxic histoplasmosis from bat guano left in their wake. City officials have been warned to follow federal and state directives for removal of bat guano before demolition, but businessman Linc Coleman of Friends said City officials have not certified that the stadium is rid of the bats or their droppings. Coleman warned Parish Commission members Thursday that Arceneaux could rush to sign a demolition contract and then blame others if he is forced to delay demolition and the City incurs penalties.
“We are hopeful that the mayor will see the Parish’s interest in the stadium and agree to delay demolition,” Coleman said.
Caddo Parish Commission President John-Paul Young authored a resolution supporting Friends’ campaign to restore the stadium. He told the Long-range Planning Committee Thursday that he needs a mandate from the Commission before asking Caddo Parish to invest in Fair Grounds Field. Friends of Fair Grounds Field describe a renovated ballpark as a place for youth, high school and college baseball as well as other sports, plus outdoor events, such as concerts. Young said YMCA of Northwest Louisiana officials told him they could arrange as many as 40 youth baseball championship games at Fair Grounds Field. Caddo Parish recently donated $2 million to the YMCA to assist its renovation of the Little League ballfields adjacent to the BHP Billiton YMCA on Knight Street.
Friends member and architect Christopher Coe told Parish Commissioners that Fair Grounds Field was constructed of cast-in-place concrete and is “as stable as can be.” He said much of the public commentary about the facility is not based on facts.
“The reason the building is faced with demolition is that it has not been cared for,” Coe said. “Anything built as well as that should be saved.”
Coleman said renovation of Fair Grounds Field could spur redevelopment of the entire 172-acre Fairgrounds and surrounding inner-city neighborhoods like Queensborough and Werner Park. Coleman described population loss in Shreveport as an “emergency,” with 30,000 people having left the city in the last 30 years.
“Our city is hollowing out,” he said. “We need to save our inner city.”
Parish Commissioner Roy Burrell, who represents Queensborough and the Fairgrounds, echoed Coleman’s remarks. “I’ve spent the last 25 years trying to create opportunities for economic development in this area,” he said. “(Rebuilding Fair Grounds Field) would help the city as a whole.”
Coleman said City officials in 2022 offered to donate Fair Grounds Field to the School Board for use by area high schools, many of which do not have baseball fields. The idea apparently died when Byrd High School built a baseball facility at LSU-Shreveport. Coleman organized Friends in mid-2022 after learning that the City planned to demolish the 38-year-old ballpark. City officials in the Adrian Perkins and Arceneaux administrations have declined to cooperate, including denying Friends’ access to the facility, refusing to release operating costs, and saying they do not want to encourage hope among Shreveporters for the ballpark’s restoration.
Coleman said Queensborough residents and private business owners have encouraged him to pursue renovation despite opposition from the City. Friends asserts that the new ownership plan would satisfy Arceneaux’s desire to reduce Shreveport’s stake in the facility without the City completely forsaking its obligation to City taxpayers, whose tax dollars built Fair Grounds Field in 1986.
“The City’s role shrinks from 100 percent to 25 percent,” Coleman told the Parish commissioners. Friends added that State and Federal dollars could be solicited to aid in redesign and reconstruction. The group said the Legislature allocated $20 million in capital-outlay funds earlier this year for ballparks, all in south Louisiana.
Friends has also contacted Major League Baseball, which has a program encouraging young African-Americans to play baseball by donating equipment and other assistance. Shreveport and Caddo Parish recreation programs have received MLB funds from the program, which is called “Nike RBI” for Returning Baseball to the Inner City.
The Shreveport Fire Prevention Office along with Battalion Chief Latonia Elias, who was Incident Commander of the incident at 1017 Quail Creek Road – the vacant Jolie Apartment complex – orchestrated the complete demolition of the apartment building on Oct. 14. This demolition is a direct result of yet another fire at the complex, this one resulting in a firefighter being injured.
Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention, Janet Ward, utilized the resources courtesy of Property Standards to complete the demolition process. The demolition process began in the morning of Oct.14 and continued through the afternoon.
Asst. Chief Ward stated, “In order to aid in the extinguishment of the fire, resources from Property Standards were called upon to tear down the unstable structure and to prevent rekindles of any kind. This is the second time this year that the same structure caught on fire at this location.”
Asst. Chief Ward also stated, “For safety reasons, no one should enter past the gates of this complex. They are closed for a reason and that reason is for safety.”
Chief Ward also wants the message to be put out as follows: “See Something, Say Something. Anything suspicious needs to be reported to local authorities.”
Mayor Tom Arceneaux announced today that five sites have been identified as prime sites for the upcoming relocation of Shreveport Police Department employees from their current offices at 1234 Texas Avenue.
Three sites have been identified to relocate Patrol Division employees. They are:
1. A former physicians’ office at 3313 North Market Street owned by Willis-Knighton Health Systems. 2. A former CVS Pharmacy at 9194 Mansfield Road at its intersection with Bert Kouns Industrial Loop. 3. One of the buildings within the recently-vacated Sunset Acres Elementary School, located at the intersection of West Canal and Sunnybrook.
One half of Patrol will be located in the former CVS, while one-fourth of Patrol will be located in each of the other locations. The recommended location for the Investigations Division is a portion of a building at 2301 Kings Highway at Mansfield Road which is owned by the Biomedical Research Foundation.
The recommended site for the Support and Administration Divisions is a portion of an office complex located at 1120 South Pointe Parkway.
“Our staff personally toured more than a dozen potential locations throughout the City and has identified locations where we can relocate SPD’s employees with a minimum of remodeling”, said Mayor Arceneaux. “That lets us begin the relocation process quickly, which in turn gives our Police employees a better place to work more quickly.”
City staff has begun lease negotiations with the representatives of these locations. Leases for the Patrol sites will be for approximately twelve to fifteen months, since patrol will be able to move to permanent locations once the three Police substations are constructed. The leases for the remainder of the SPD staff will be for approximately three years, since those employees will need to be housed until the new Police headquarters building is completed. The new building is being designed now, with construction set to start in the second half of 2025.
The timetable for moving each office will depend on how quickly leases can be negotiated, the extent to which interior space planning is needed and how soon the necessary telephone and internet networks can be installed. Patrol and Investigations will likely be the first to move. The City hopes to begin that process before the end of the year.
The estimated cost for this relocation process, including lease payments, any required interior remodeling and moving expenses, is not known at this time. However, a significant portion of the costs will be offset by eliminating the maintenance and utility costs associated with the current Texas Avenue location.
Tackling Hunger Month is an annual designation observed in October. This month, everyone is encouraged to lend a hand in making sure nobody goes to sleep on an empty stomach.
#TacklingHungerMonth
You may not always see it in your community, but hunger continues to affect people in our country. 1 in 6 Americans do not know where their meals will come from on a daily basis.
Once, in ministry, I received a call about a disabled couple surviving on dog food. They didn’t have the resources for groceries or transportation to visit a nearby food bank. I cooked for days, bringing casseroles for the freezer and stocking up their cabinets with nonperishables.
Food insecurity is the official term from the USDA for when people don’t have enough to eat and don’t know where their next meal will come from.
Here are 10 ways to help:
1. Add a few extras while shopping to donate to your local food bank. Canned goods, peanut butter, dry beans, brown rice, olive oil, nuts, and soups are all excellent foods to donate without putting a big dent in your bank account.
2. Donate money. Relief agencies like Action Against Hunger, the Hunger Project, Feeding America, and Share Our Strength are always accepting donations with a goal in mind to make sure nobody goes hungry. Donating to local organizations ensure that your charitable dollars stay in your own community.
3. Serve at food banks and soup kitchens. Help sort donations or distribute to clients. Serve meals at a feeding center. My Sunday School class recently spent the day serving at the local food bank. It was a great day of fellowship and ministering to others.
4. Collect cans as a hostess gift. Host a party where guests brings cans to donate to your local food bank. Note: it’s helpful if you can find lids that don’t require a can opener.
5. Get the kids involved. Talk to your school’s PTA or school administration about holding a friendly competition between classrooms to see who can collect the most of an item like peanut butter or granola bars. Check with a local bakery or pizza place to provide a reward to the winning class as an incentive.
6. Hold a neighborhood drive. Do the same in your neighborhood but divide up by streets. Make it an annual event by having the winning street hold a trophy for the year that rotates between houses!
7. Host a food drive. Go to Foodlifeline.org. Click “How to help” then “Host a fundraiser.” Click “start now” to set up a virtual food drive.
8. Stock a mini pantry. Visit LittleFreePantry.org to find a local mini pantry that you can stock with canned goods, nonperishable food items, and other necessities. No free pantry in your area? Follow the instructions on the site to create your own and register it online for your community!
9. Cook an extra meal. Do you know a family who is struggling to make ends meet? Oftentimes a decision must be made between food or electricity. They could be recently laid off, facing medical hardships, or have had an unexpected mechanic bill. While cooking dinner for your family, make an extra batch and deliver. A simple “I thought you might enjoy this” is all that needs to be said.
10. Feed a child. Support NoKidHungry.org which provides free breakfasts and backpacks full of food for kids. Many churches also participate in these “backpack buddy” programs.
I’ve taught in several schools where kids received these backpacks on Fridays. Oftentimes it was the only food they had to eat over the weekend.
Volunteers help where the need is greatest so check with your local churches or food bank about what opportunities are available. If you or someone in your life is experiencing food insecurity, visit https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
National TV Talk Show Host Day was chosen to be celebrated on October 23, The King of Late Night Television’s birthday. John William “Johnny” Carson was born on October 23, 1925 and served as the host of The Tonight Show for thirty years (1962 – 1992).
I remember watching episodes of The Tonight Show (called Johnny Carson by most) when I’d stay with my Aunt Connie and Uncle Ron in Kansas for summer vacations. Unlike my parents, they were night owls and I never had a bedtime when I visited. Of course, I was asleep within minutes but I always felt so grown up watching that monologue.
I didn’t make it through a whole episode until my firstborn was born in 1990 with her days and nights mixed up. We didn’t have cable so my evenings revolved around Johnny Carson and David Letterman before the national anthem signaled the upcoming snow on the tv as I desperately begged my daughter to sleep.
Four more kids followed in the next four years and television talk shows aired in between episodes of Sesame Street and Barney. I needed to hear dialogue that wasn’t brought to you by the letter “C” and the number “4.”
I discovered a few other talk show hosts over the years that enlightened, informed, and entertained as much as Carson and Letterman.
In honor of Dave’s infamous Top 10 countdown, I give you my own list.
10. Craig Ferguson, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005-2014) Ferguson is brilliant, with a charming Scottish accent. Immediately after his talk show ended, he hosted three seasons of Celebrity Name Game.
9. Montel Williams, The Montel Williams Show (1991-2008) Montel exuded warmth and class, a true gentleman on the talk show circuit.
8. Andy Cohen, Watch What Happens Live (2009-current) I loved Cohen when he started out, an enthusiastic fan as well as host. There was something magical about seeing him light up with excitement when he managed to nab a guest he adored, like watching an elementary school boy meet his hero.
7. Regis and Kelly, Live with Regis and Kelly (2001-2011) Of all the combinations of this show (Regis and Kathie Lee, Kelly and Michael, Kelly and Ryan, Kelly and Mark) this was my favorite combo. At least in the early years when they played off each other, the stalwart and the hipster, each exaggerating their roles and genuinely enjoying each other’s company. It hasn’t been the same since.
6. Maury Povich, Maury (1991-2022) I debated adding this out of sheer shame but the truth is, in the mid-90’s when I was covered in spit up with piles of never ending laundry, it was quite the guilty pleasure to watch men squirm as they were deemed to be the father and insistent women who knew the paternity of their children beyond a shadow of doubt quickly come up with bachelor #2 when Maury uttered “You are NOT the father” to the men they’d been screeching at for half an hour.
5. Steve Harvey, Steve Harvey (2012-2017) This generation’s funny man du jour, Harvey exploded on the scene with stand up, radio shows, talk shows, game shows, reality shows, and a pageant competition where he infamously announced the wrong winner. In his trademark self-deprecation, he poked fun at the gaffe for months afterward. It’s precisely this humanization that makes him so popular.
4. Drew Barrymore, The Drew Barrymore Show (2020-current) Barrymore was America’s favorite child in the 80’s, a young star left largely to raise herself. Now in her domesticated era, the mom of two is both fangirl and popular kid as she interviews celebrities and everyday people on her eponymous show.
3. Wendy Williams, The Wendy Williams Show (2008-2022) Williams was every woman and produced a show that America’s women could relate to. Plagued by health issues, relationship drama, and courtroom battles, her current status remains a mystery.
2. Danielle Fishel, The Dish (2008-2011) Wholesome Topanga no more, The Dish provided Fishel with an opportunity to showcase her acerbic wit while making fun of reality tv that took itself a little too seriously in the late 2000’s.
1. Joel McHale, The Soup (2004-2015) Like The Dish, The Soup was snarky and satirical and poked fun at the week’s pop culture moments. McHale’s deadpan delivery was the perfect blend of wit and sarcasm. I discovered it during my first year as an empty nester and welcomed the distraction.
Who are some of your all-time favorite talk show hosts? Drop me a line and let me know at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation and Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park invite the public to a thrilling family-friendly Halloween celebration at Monsters, Machines, and Mayhem on Oct. 26 from 5:30-8:30 PM at Richard Fleming Park. This event is free and open to the public and promises an exciting night full of spooky surprises, engaging activities, and interactive fun for all ages.
Families will embark on a journey through our Haunted Forest with eerie activities like the Spider Lair, Bat Cave, and the “If You Dare Challenge,” designed to test the courage of all participants. Guests can also engage their creativity by making their own Cicada Noise Maker craft to take home while learning about these fascinating creatures.
This year’s event will feature Trunk-or-Treat, showcasing vehicles from the Caddo Sheriff’s Department, Blanchard Fire District 1, local construction companies including TBA Architects, and unique Jeeps from the Trail Lizard’s Jeep Club. Kids can collect candy and goodies while exploring bulldozers, fire trucks, sheriff’s vehicles, and more.
The night will culminate in the Monster Mash Dance Party, featuring a live DJ, Marco from AMP Entertainment, who will keep the festive spirit alive with spooky tunes for everyone to enjoy. The event will be a memorable, fun and FREE experience for all attendees.
Event Highlights Include:
• Haunted Forest with interactive activities
• “If You Dare Challenge” for thrill-seekers
• Trunk-or-Treat featuring vehicles from local heroes and cool Jeeps
• Pumpkin Shine – bring your own carved and decorated pumpkin to win a prize
• Candy Corn Hole Games
• Costume Parade for kids with cicada noise maker crafts
• Monster Mash Dance Party with a live DJ
Families are encouraged to dress in their favorite costumes and participate in the festive fun.
For more information, contact Anne Lutz, Education Coordinator, Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park at (318) 929-2806.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Before every football season, LSU has made it a tradition to award jersey No. 7 to an offensive or defensive playmaker whose play elevates his teammates.
Arkansas may want to suggest the Tigers change that number, at least on the defensive side of the ball, to No. 40.
Because here Saturday night with the game in the balance, LSU’s Whit Weeks upheld almost a decade-long history started by Devin White and continued by Harold Perkins Jr. of a No. 40 jersey-wearing Tiger linebacker torturing the Razorbacks.
A week after he won SEC Defensive Player of the Week when he stonewalled Ole Miss with 18 tackles and forced a key fumble, Weeks deflected and intercepted an Arkansas QB Taylen Green pass late in the third quarter on the Hogs’ goal line doorstep. LSU freshman running Caden Durham immediately followed with a 2-yard TD plunge, starting a run of 18 unanswered points for a 34-10 Tigers’ road victory.
“The backbreaker in the game,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said of Weeks’ clutch play.
“We couldn’t bounce back from that,” subdued Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman said.
“He’s quick and fast all over the field. . .he just plays like that,” Green said of Weeks.
“That’s the defense you expect us to play,” said Weeks, whose DNA is doing the extraordinary in the most opportune moment.
Like White winning SEC Defensive POW honors for 14 tackles in 2017 vs. the Hogs or Perkins Jr. being National POW for his 8 tackles including 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles two years ago at Arkansas, Weeks’ 9 tackles, a sack and his huge interception off his two-handed tip after roaring coming untouched around an end inspired LSU’s eighth win in its last nine games against the Razorbacks.
The Tigers held Arkansas, which entered the game averaging almost 200 yards rushing, to 38 yards including minus 7 in the second half when the Razorbacks gained 101 yards and scored just a field goal.
Combine that with LSU’s offense grinding for 131 yards and possessing the ball for 14:40 of the game’s final 20 minutes. It was the exact formula the now 7th-ranked Tigers (6-1 overall, 3-0 SEC) must repeat next Saturday at No. 14 Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0 SEC) in a showdown of league co-leaders. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. on ABC-TV.
“Our vision of how we want to play four quarters of football is to start fast, have the great kind of focus that we had in the second quarter, the effort enthusiasm in the third and an eight-minute plus drive to finish this game off,” Kelly said. “I thought we had four quarters of LSU football for the first time.”
Kelly didn’t utter the phrase “complementary football” once in his postgame presser. Because it’s now understood complementary football is Kelly football which is LSU football.
It’s a quest for perfection in every phase of the game. And even if it’s not close to perfect – which it rarely is because that’s the nature of all sports – one side of the ball picks up the other until mistakes are solved, and everybody marches to the same beat.
For instance, LSU led the Razorbacks 16-7 at halftime after the Tigers offense had seven false start penalties and the defense allowed Arkansas wide receiver Anthony Armstrong to roam free to catch six passes for 94 yards and a TD.
But LSU placekicker Damon Ramos kicked field goals of 33, 48 and 33 yards, keeping the Tigers afloat long enough for the offense to shake its penalty bug and take control in the second half when its defense held Anderson to one catch and also reduced Arkansas’ vaunted rushing attack to dust.
Particularly simpatico was synched brainwaves between LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan.
Nussmeier had season-lows of 224 passing yards, 33 attempts and no TDs and tied his season-low of 22 completions set a week ago.
But against a defense armed with quick pass rushers off the edges and determined not to get gouged by Nussmeier’s deep balls, Nussmeier was satisfied to keep his team in positive down-and-distance situations with short passes (17 of 19 for 159 yards on screens or passes of 1 to 5 yards).
“I think we came into the game overcompensating to stop the deep ball,” said Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson, an LSU transfer who was part of the Tigers’ 2021 recruiting class along with Nussmeier.
Sloan anticipated the Hogs’ defensive gameplan.. Not only did he call for numerous passes that got the ball out of Nussmeier’s hands in a blink, but he also ordered a season-high 37 rushing attempts led by a trio of backs (Durham’s 21 carries for 101 yards and three TDs, Kaleb Jackson 5 for 30 yards, Josh Williams 5 for 18 yards).
“Nussmeier is really good, their wideouts were really good and their line was pretty good,” Pittman said. “They ran their stretch (rushing) play so well we knew it was coming and we couldn’t stop it.”
When the game clock struck zero and what was left of a disappointing Homecoming crowd of 75,983 quietly dissipated, a beaming Kelly exited the field.
Although the trip from the penthouse to the outhouse occurs in the ultra-competitive SEC weekly – the league now has seven teams either undefeated or with one loss in conference play – Kelly said his team senses they’ve positioned themselves.
After its game at Texas A&M, there’s an open date followed by three of the last four games at home starting with Alabama in Tiger Stadium on Nov. 9.
“They’ve got to go earn it again on the road, but there’s clearly a different way that they perceive the next six weeks,” Kelly said of his team. “By their standards, they believe they’re getting better, and I believe they’re getting better each and every weekend. This is a good time to get better later in the year.”
HUNTING IT: Tyler Welch of Huntington makes a leaping interception early in Friday night’s game at Parkway. (Journal photo by GAVEN HAMMOND, landgphoto.com)
JOURNAL STAFF
The patchwork Parkway Panthers, coming off an impressive 49-22 Homecoming takedown of Huntington, visit Captain Shreve Friday night in the headline matchup of District 1-5A action in Week 8 of the high school football season.
Captain Shreve fell 46-42 at perennial power Destrehan Friday when the Gators couldn’t convert inside the 5-yard line on the game’s final play. Shreve missed a two-point conversion with 1:05 left that could have upset Airline, leaving coach Jeremy Wilbern’s squad two plays away from a 6-1 mark.
Huntington, which started fast but stumbled after the first quarter at Parkway, will be home in Independence Stadium for an appealing non-district contest against Calvary. The Cavaliers passed their biggest District 1-2A test in a long while last Friday by winning 24-15 at Union Parish, playing without injured senior standout running back James Simon.
There are no Thursday night contests slated locally, for the time being.
Friday’s local high school games:
DISTRICT 1-5A
Natchitoches Central (1-6, 0-5) at Airline (7-0, 5-0), M.D. Ray Field
Byrd (6-1, 4-1) at Benton (1-6, 1-4), Tiger Stadium
Parkway (6-1, 4-1) vs. Captain Shreve (4-3, 3-2), Lee Hedges Stadium
Haughton (2-5, 1-5) at Evangel (2-5, 2-4), Rodney Duron Field
NON-DISTRICT
Calvary (5-2) vs. Huntington (4-3), Independence Stadium
DISTRICT 1-4A
BTW (3-4, 2-2) at Loyola (5-2, 3-1), Messmer Stadium
Minden (6-1, 3-1) at Bossier (3-4, 1-3), Memorial Stadium
Southwood (0-6, 0-4) at Northwood (6-1, 3-1), Jerry Burton Stadium
Woodlawn (2-5, 1-3) at North DeSoto (5-2, 4-0)
DISTRICT 1-2A
Green Oaks (1-5, 0-4) at North Caddo (2-5, 1-3), Sanders-Prudhomme Stadium
Magnolia Charter (0-6, 0-4) at Homer (2-5, 1-2)
DISTRICT 1-1A
Plain Dealing (0-7, 0-4) at Jonesboro-Hodge (1-6, 1-3), Caldwell-Peacock Stadium
There’s not a whole lot of movement in the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Top 10 poll for Week 8.
The top four teams remained the same and the only team to make a significant move is the Northwood Falcons, going from No. 7 to No. 5. The Falcons are 6-1 overall and have won three straight by a combined 134-42. They will take on 0-6 Southwood this week.
The Falcons made a jump over Huntington and Captain Shreve, both of whom suffered a loss in Week 7.
Evangel (No. 8) and Loyola (No. 9) both had wins and held their spots.
There are three matchups this week between Top 10 teams — No. 2 Parkway will play No. 7 Captain Shreve at Lee Hedges Stadium, No. 4 Calvary will meet sixth-rated Huntington at Independence Stadium and No. 9 Loyola will play host to No. 10 Booker T. Washington. All games are Friday night.
HE CALLED GAME: Kobe Chambers had a last-minute, game-winning catch Saturday at Lyon. (Journal file photo by GAVEN HAMMOND, landgphoto.com)
By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director
BATESVILLE, Ark. – The Centenary football team scored the winning touchdown with 15 seconds remaining to record a thrilling comeback 28-21 victory over Lyon on Saturday afternoon in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference contest at Pioneer Stadium.
The Gents (3-4, 3-2 SCAC) picked up their second win this season over the Scots (1-6, 0-5 SCAC) after beating them at home 35-14 on Oct. 5. Centenary is now 2-2 on the road this season while Lyon is 0-4 at home.
Facing a seven-point deficit with only 3:35 remaining in the game, the Gents quickly moved 64 yards in only six plays in 1:41, capped when Bobby Shanklin Jr. delivered a 3-yard TD run and Vance Feuerbacher added the tying PAT to knot the game at 21-21 with just 1:54 left.
Centenary’s opportunistic defense came up with a game-defining play that halted a Lyon threat and ignited the visitors. Evangel freshman Jacob Wilson picked off a pass by the Scots’ Joe Galay at the Gents’ 11 and returned it 24 yards.
The Gents took over at their own 35-yard line with only 53 seconds left and moved downfield quickly. Smith connected with junior Kobe Chambers for a 26-yard TD with 15 seconds left.
Centenary’s Jacob Black sealed the comeback win as he picked off Galay on Lyon’s next snap.
After Lyon opened the game with a scoring drive, Centenary mounted an impressive series ended with a 1-yard TD run by junior quarterback Zin’Tavious Smith. The Gents’ scoring march featured 15 plays and covered 77 yards.
The Scots took a 13-7 lead with 9:55 left before halftime on a 22-yard blocked punt return.
Centenary answered immediately as Southwood product Josh Ware’s 4-yard TD run with 6:13 on the clock and Feuerbacher’s PAT provided a 14-13 Centenary lead, capping a 9-play, 75-yard drive.
Lyon regained the lead after halftime as Grayson Johnson scored on a 24-yard TD run and the Scots tacked on a 2-point conversion to move up 21-14 at the 5:55 mark of the third period.
Then the late dramatics swung the outcome to Centenary.
Smith had a career day, throwing for 310 yards on 29 of 41 aim. Chambers collected nine throws for 134 yards.
Feuerbacher was the Gents’ top defender with 8 solo tackles (10 total tackles with 1 sack and 2 TFL).
Centenary returns home next Saturday to face the Austin College ‘Roos in SCAC play for its Homecoming contest. The ‘Roos (1-6, 1-4 SCAC) fell 55-17 at home to Texas Lutheran last Saturday. The Gents posted a 36-17 win over the ‘Roos in Sherman, Texas on Sept. 21.
ON THE MARK: Grambling quarterback Myles Crawley was 10 of 15 steering the Tigers to a solid Homecoming victory over UAPB Saturday. (Journal photo by GAVEN HAMMOND, landgphoto.com)
By T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal
GRAMBLING — A win to snap a two-game losing skid is a sweet thing for a football team.
Winning on Homecoming makes it even sweeter.
And that’s what made Grambling State’s 31-21 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday afternoon at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium a little more satisfying than most victories.
The win moved GSU to 4-3 overall and more importantly, 1-2 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s West Division. GSU started its divisional season with a pair of two-point losses — 36-34 in five overtimes against Prairie View A&M before falling 17-15 last weekend to Alcorn State.
“It’s a win,” Joseph said of the victory over UAPB. “We’ve got to get more. You can’t stay around here if you get just one SWAC win. Trust me, I know.
“But it’s a good win. Any win is a good win. It wasn’t clean, but it was a conference win, and that makes it a good thing.”
Grambling struck first on the scoreboard after Marquis Harris blocked a UAPB punt to set the Tigers up at the Golden Lions’ 21-yard line. Tre Bradord’s 7-yard touchdown run put the Tigers on top 7-0 exactly six minutes into the contest.
After the Golden Lions tied it up, Reed Harradine’s 48-yard field at the 10:29 mark of the second quarter provided a 10-7 edge the Tigers took into halftime.
The Tigers’ pushed out to 17-7 with 8:41 left in the third quarter as Ruston High School product Ke’Travion “Bull” Hargrove reached paydirt on a 15-yard scoring scamper, but the Golden Lions tightened things up with 3:39 remaining in that stanza to shrink the GSU advantage to 17-14.
Marquis Harris sparkled on a 71-yard scoring reception from Crawley that extended the GSU lead to 24-14 with 2:05 left in the third period.
“He’s come a long way,” Joseph said about Harris. “Marquis hasn’t played a whole bunch of football. He only played two years in high school and was a quarterback. He’s come a long way. He’s a big play guy.
“I think he’ll continue to get even better, but we like where Marquis is at right now.”
Crawley admitted his connection with Harris, a 6-5, 249-pound redshirt freshman, is getting stronger.
“He’s grown a lot, especially since last year,” Crawley said. “He’s starting to understand the game a lot more. He came up big for us. This season he’s been coming up pretty big for us, so I’m proud of him.”
But after Harris’ TD catch, the Golden Lions again cut the GSU lead to 24-21 with 14:05 remaining in the contest.
UAPB had one last chance to earn what could have been its first lead of the game with 3:18, but had to start that possession 99 yards away from the end zone. After GSU forced a turnover on downs for the Golden Lions with 1:46 left on the clock, GSU scored on the next play as graduate transfer running back Dedrick Talbert scored on a nine-yard run.
Andrew Jones once again led the G-Men with 12 tackles, with half a sack, while David Jones added nine tackles to go along with his interception.
Next up for Grambling will be a SWAC West road game at Texas Southern (2-4, 1-2) at 6 p.m. next Saturday.
DEMONS HUDDLE: First-year Northwestern coach Blaine McCorkle talks to his players during a timeout. (Photo by CHRIS REICH, Northwestern State).
By JASON PUGH, Northwestern State Sports Information Director
THIBODAUX – Growing pains are to be expected with a young roster like the one the Northwestern State football team fields.
Couple that with a day when seemingly every close play went in favor of homestanding Nicholls, the Demons found themselves on the short end of a 20-0 Southland Conference score at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium on Saturday.
“Nicholls is kind of the standard in our league right now,” first-year head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “They’re the model of how we want to build our program and hopefully do it bigger and better, but today was a game of just a few plays. I think we dropped three or four interceptions that could have been some big momentum swings. Our defense played tremendously with a lot of energy and effort. On offense, every time we felt we could get something going, the wheels fell off.”
Seemingly each time the Demons (0-8, 0-3) came up short on a potential momentum-shifting play, the veteran-laden and defending conference champion Colonels (3-4, 1-1) capitalized.
Nicholls did not need any help on its first scoring drive of the game, marching 73 yards on 11 plays in the first quarter. Quarterback Pat McQuaide capped the drive with the first of his two touchdown passes on the day, finding running back Miequle Brock for a 7-yard score.
That would mark the last time the Colonels had a scoring drive that did not feature a near turnover.
Northwestern’s defense appeared to have bent and not broken early in the second quarter, forcing the Colonels into a third and 12 at the Demon 23-yard line.
Linebacker Blake Gotcher sniffed out McQuaide’s pass to tight end Lee Negrotto and appeared poised to record his first interception as a Demon. Instead, the pass sailed through his hands, hitting Negrotto in stride for a 23-yard score and a 14-0 lead less than 17 minutes into the game.
With the way the Demons struggled to move the ball Saturday, the two-score lead was enough for Nicholls to win the first matchup between the teams in Thibodaux since 2021.
“We catch a pass and turn it over,” McCorkle said. “We have a good scramble from (quarterback) Q (Quaterius Hawkins) and he finds someone open down the field, and we get a chop block on a protection where there should never be a chop block. There were just some weird plays in the game offensively that didn’t allow us to get ahead. Nicholls played us exactly how I would play us with our current injury situation. They forced us to keep the ball in the box, and we’re not good enough up front right now to win that battle.”
Nicholls, which entered the game with the No. 2 rush defense in the nation, held the Demons to 15 yards on 28 carries. The longest play of the day for Northwestern came when Reed Honshtein galloped 21 yards on a fake punt.
Honshtein averaged 42.8 yards on 10 punts, including a career-long 67-yarder, to provide a complement for a Demon defense that limited Nicholls to six points in the final 43-plus minutes of the game.
“Good for Reed and our punt unit,” McCorkle said. “They gave us a chance to stay in the game. Reed was outstanding today, pinning them back and making a play on the fake punt. When you’re struggling on offense, you need to be really, really good in those phases to try to flip the field and steal some hidden yards.’
On the Colonels’ two drives that ended with field goals, the Demons just missed a chance to get off the field.
Following a fumble that gave Nicholls possession in Demon territory, Caesar Magee III could not corral a potential third-down interception in the end zone. One play later, Gabe Showalter connected on a 35-yard field goal to extend the Colonels’ lead to 17-0.
Redshirt freshman safety Jeremiah Keppard nearly collected his first career pick on the first play of Nicholls’ second drive of the second half. Given second life, the Colonels added a 39-yard Showalter field goal with 6:48 to play in the third quarter to complete the scoring.
“I am still encouraged,” McCorkle said. “Eight games in, our kids are still fighting. They’re still playing hard. We talk about it every week – and I know people get tired of hearing it — but I think we played even more freshmen this week. We had three guys go in for the first time, and they got some good reps against the best there is in the league outside of Incarnate Word. We’ll go back to work next week and see if we can get ready for Lamar.”
In a classy ending to the game, Nicholls coach Tim Rebowe had his offense kneel out the last two plays at the Demons’ 1 instead of scoring a last-minute TD.
The Demons host Lamar for Homecoming upcoming Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Turpin Stadium.
The Shreveport Mudbugs couldn’t hold an early two-goal lead and fell to the Amarillo Wranglers, 3-2 at George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum Saturday night to miss a chance to slip ahead of the visitors into third place in the early NAHL South Division standings.
Shreveport won the opener Friday night 5-1, led by two goals from Gleb Akimov and another strong turn in the net by goalkeeper Aden Gariepy, who made 27 stops. Saturday’s loss halted a five-game win streak for Gariepy and the Mudbugs, who are off this week and will travel to Amarillo in two weeks.
The Bugs (7-5) got off to a fast start for the second straight game Saturday night at George’s Pond as Aidan Puley took a perfect feed from Akimov in the slot and wired home his fourth goal of the year to give SHV a 1-0 lead at 2:05 of the opening period. Shreveport added to the lead at 8:54 when Kyan Haldenby took a gift of a rebound in front and smacked in his third tally of the year to make it 2-0.
Amarillo responded w/ a goal from Grayson Gerhard at 16:23 to make it a 2-1 score after one.
The Wranglers found the equalizer at 5:45 of the second period. Amarillo moved up at 11:43 of the third period and. That lead held up despite a late surge by the Bugs.
Friday night, the Bugs got one of the luckiest goals you’ll ever see at 4:00 of the opening period when Kyan Haldenby was dumping the puck in and it took a lucky bounce and into the net for an improbable 1-0 lead. The refs looked at it on goal review to make sure it wasn’t an automatic icing and they ruled it was a good goal for Haldenby.
Amarillo responded at 18:03 as Corson Maguire threw a shot towards the net which was stopped then pinballed in from the SHV blueline and into the net evening the score, 1-1. The Bugs went on top for good a minute later as Akimov had a shot stopped and then off the rebound it deflected off the Wranglers defender and into the net giving SHV a 2-1 lead at 19:12. Akimov’s third goal of the season was assisted by Bode Wise and Seth Murch.
Shreveport took advantage of an odd-man rush at 2:19 of the second when Haldenby fed a perfect puck for Puley to power through for a 3-1 Bugs lead. At 10:08 the Bugs struck again when Haldenby picked up his third point of the evening as he put a perfect feed to Brent Litchard who fired home his fourth goal of the campaign from the short side to make it a 4-1 contest..
Akimov raced into the offensive zone at 3:29 of the third period and tallied his second goal of the night, clobbering home a rocket from the slot in front to push the SHV lead to 5-1. Liam Doyle earned the only helper.
Winners from “Tee Off for Scholarships” golf tournament
The Southern University at Shreveport Foundation recently hosted its annual golf tournament, “Tee off for Scholarships!” on Oct. 14. The event was a resounding success, raising a significant amount of funds to support the university’s academic mission.
A highlight of the tournament was the presentation of a two $50,000 checks to Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA), totaling $100,000. The first generous donation will directly support the Chancellor’s special projects, which are aimed at making SUSLA the “college of choice” for community colleges in Louisiana. The second check was donated in memory of Mr. Milton Scott, by his sisters Attorney Jackie Scott and Mrs. Mary Ann Scott for student scholarships. SUSLA extends sincere thanks to all.
Dr. Aubra J. Gantt, Chancellor of SUSLA, expressed her gratitude for the Foundation’s support. “These generous gifts will be instrumental in helping us achieve our goal of becoming the preferred choice for students seeking to continue their education,” Dr. Gantt stated. “The funds will be allocated towards programs, scholarships, and university enhancements, all of which align with our seven priorities for Reimagining SUSLA.”
(SHREVEPORT, Louisiana) – CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic, the multi-specialty medical group of CHRISTUS Health, has announced the expansion of services in the Shreveport – Bossier region with the addition of neurology.
Neurological services will be offered in a multi-specialty clinic located at 1449 East Bert Kouns in Shreveport.
“We are committed to building the most comprehensive specialty care team in the region,” said Lisa Britt, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic vice president of physician practice operations. “We are constantly looking at ways to enhance the quality of care we can provide to the Shreveport-Bossier region and for patients to know they can get the care they deserve right here at home.”
Dr. Peimin Zhu will see neurology patients beginning Oct. 28.
Zhu joins CHRISTUS after completing his medical school studies at Xiangya School of Medicine in Hunan, China, and neuroscience graduate school at the Louisiana State University Health Science Center in New Orleans.
He is a board-certified neurologist specializing in neurophysiology and epilepsy. Fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, Zhu has been practicing neurology for more than 26 years.
“We are excited to have Dr. Zhu join our team and bring his decades of knowledge to our ministry,” said Casey Robertson, president of CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System. “Residents in the region are accustomed to receiving innovative, quality care from our providers and we are looking forward to making continued strides in the delivery of neurological care.”
The addition of neurology services comes after CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic recently added podiatry services, located in the same building that neurology will occupy.
Patients can call (318) 681-4282 to schedule an appointment.
I did my student teaching in a first grade classroom where apples were a big part of the curriculum. Johnny Appleseed, planting apple seeds, apple varieties, apple math, an apple for the teacher, an apple a day keeps the doctor away…
One of the activities we did was to chart our favorite apples. We sampled Granny Smith green, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Golden Delicious, and Gala. Much like the 6-year olds, I was surprised at how different they tasted.
I deemed Red Delicious my favorite and bought them faithfully for the next 30 years.
Today we celebrate #NationalAppleDay to raise awareness about the diversity of apple varieties, encourage the preservation of traditional orchards, and promote the consumption of locally grown apples.
And it wouldn’t be fall without covering at least one of these apples in caramel!
Check out the Sheet Pan Caramel Apple recipe below for a super easy treat for your family:
Ingredients
– 4 large apples, sliced
– 1 cup caramel sauce
– 1/2 cup chocolate chips, melted
– 1/4 cup chopped peanuts (or your favorite nuts)
– 1/4 cup mini marshmallows
– 1/4 cup sprinkles (optional)
– 1/4 cup crushed graham crackers (optional)
– 1/4 tsp sea salt (optional, for garnish)
Directions
1. Prepare the Apples: Wash and slice the apples into thin wedges. Arrange them in a single layer on a parchment-lined sheet pan.
2. Drizzle the Caramel: Heat the caramel sauce in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds to soften. Drizzle the caramel sauce evenly over the apple slices.
3. Add the Toppings: Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the caramel apples.
4. Decorate: Sprinkle the chopped nuts, mini marshmallows, sprinkles, and crushed graham crackers over the caramel apples as desired.
5. Serve: Let the caramel and chocolate set for a few minutes. If you’d like, garnish with a light sprinkle of sea salt for a sweet and salty combo. Serve immediately!
ENJOY!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
Kenneth Ray Wells July 3, 1955 – October 15, 2024 Service: Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 1pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Rae Ann Patton October 11, 1944 – October 15, 2024 Service: Monday, October 21, 2024, 10:30am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Shreveport.
Charles Grant Bailey July 28, 1936 – October 13, 2024 Service: Friday, October 25, 2024, 12:30pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
The Honorable, Rev. Bobby Joe Cooper, Sr. May 3, 1953 – October 12, 2024 Service: Monday, October 21, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, Shreveport.
Ronald Jay Hixson December 3, 1935 — October 11, 2024 Service: Friday, October 25, 2024, 10:30am at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Bonnie Boothe Nichols May 25, 1957 – October 11, 2024 Service: Friday, October 25, 2024, 4pm at Osborn Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Shirley Ann Broughton Potts June 10, 1947 – October 10, 2024 Service: Monday, October 28, 2024 at 11:30am at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
Marolyn H. Wolf July 20, 1934 – October 10, 2024 Service: Monday, October 21, 2024, 11:30am at St. Jude Catholic Church, Benton.
Robert W. Gillespie, Jr. July 16, 1948 – October 2, 2024 Service: Saturday, October 26, 2024, 12pm at Jude Catholic Church, Benton.
Chester Eugene Simmons Jr. August 15, 1943 – October 1, 2024 Service: Saturday, October 26, 2024, 11am at Elm Grove Baptist Church, Bossier City.
William Bobby Carter November 10, 1943 – September 30, 2024 Service: Monday, October 21, 2024, 11:30am at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 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)
DOUBLE MAYO: Parkway’s Carmaro Mayo races in for the first of his two touchdowns Friday night. (Journal photo by GAVEN HAMMOND, landgphoto.com)
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Friday’s confrontation between visiting Huntington and Parkway shaped up as “big boy” football, an anachronism in the full-throttle District 1-5A offensive showcase, a league featuring prolific passing games along with Byrd’s productive triple option running attack.
The idea of a third-team quarterback, recruited from the student section 20 days ago, throwing a back-breaking, fourth-and-11 touchdown pass in THIS game? You’d be just as likely to say Vandy would beat ‘Bama.
But there was lacrosse standout Gavin Ferrington, in his totally unscripted third start as the Parkway passer, delivering a 25-yard dagger to Gary Burney six plays after halftime. It was the knockout punch that followed a second-quarter surge of 24 points in eight minutes, bringing the Panthers from a score down to a commanding lead in their surprising 49-22 ripping of the Raiders on Homecoming at Preston Crownover Stadium.
Nobody saw it coming. This was gonna be old-school slobber-knockin’ ball. Bet the under, no scoreboard spinning like a pinball counter.
“To lose like that, it’s emotionally shocking,” said veteran Huntington coach (and Parkway alum) Stephen Dennis, whose team endured the Panthers’ stunning run of 43 unanswered points after the Raiders carried a 14-6 lead into the second quarter.
Combining injuries at key positions, most prominently sidelining their top two quarterbacks, and disciplinary action benching several other starters, Parkway has spent this month on the struggle bus, somehow avoiding a collapse, losing only to undefeated Airline last week.
But after Carmaro Mayo sizzled on a 31-yard shovel pass TD and a 45-yard crossfield dash to tie things at 14, Panthers’ power back CJ Dudley bulled his way to four short touchdowns among his 25 carries, linebacker Brady Prine’s two interceptions (one at his own goalline, the other carried back just shy of the Raiders’), and that perfect Ferrington strike to Burney, Parkway was 6-1 overall and 4-1 in district, and Huntington (4-3, 4-2) was in shock after its second straight league loss.
Panthers’ coach Coy Brotherton was bursting with pride.
“It’s been tough around here the last few weeks, and to see them come out and play with a lot of energy, a lot of physicalness, I’m proud of each and every one of them for what they’ve done,” he said. “Tonight was very rewarding for them and us.”
Down by eight after 12 minutes, the Panthers scored the next three times they had the ball and raced ahead 30-14 over the next eight minutes.
Then 2:45 into the second half, Parkway landed the finishing touch when Ferrington fired away.
“A touchdown pass on fourth-and-11 to put them up three scores? That was a chance to swing momentum and we missed it,” said Dennis. “They didn’t.”
Said Parkway offensive guard Ethan Plunkett: “That first drive after halftime, when we scored, we knew we pretty much had ‘em then.”
Who saw this coming?
“I really thought it would be lower scoring,” said Brotherton, who knew where the tide turned, with Plunkett and pals.
“Up front. The O-line played great tonight,” said the Panthers’ coach. “We told the guys Monday, this is the most physical team we’ll play all year, and up front, we got after them.”
Instead of sweating out the final minutes, Ferrington reverted to form. He reconnected with the student section, because he could.
SALTY SAVAGE: Captain Shreve quarterback Brodie Savage faced down a Destrehan blitz to complete a fourth-down, do-or-die pass play to Jamarcea Plater in the waning moments Friday night, but a few plays later, the Gators fell just short. (Journal file photo by KEVIN PICKENS)
By MATT VINES, Journal Sports
DESTREHAN – Ending a back-and-forth game which neither team led by more than one score, Captain Shreve appeared to be right where it wanted with the ball inside the Destrehan 5-yard line and the clock running with under 20 seconds to go.
But sensational Shreve running back Jamarcea Plater was stopped short of the goal line, and the Gators couldn’t get off another play as Destrehan held on for a wild 46-42 win Friday night.
Destrehan (4-3) hadn’t stopped Plater much on a night when he rushed for 193 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries, but the Wildcats’ defense figured out a way to deny the state’s leading rusher (according to maxpreps.com) in the final seconds.
It’s a sequence that never would have happened had Captain Shreve quarterback Brodie Savage not stood in the face of a Destrehan fourth-down blitz to find Plater on a 26-yard connection.
Plater’s third and final touchdown run handed the Gators a 42-39 lead after a Chris Hill two-point conversion, but Destrehan had a trick up its sleeve to take the lead for good.
Receiver Jabari Mack topped 100 rushing yards out of the Wildcat, but Destrehan threw a pass out of the formation for a 55-yard touchdown to go up 46-42 with three minutes left.
“We played like we practiced all week – missed assignments and an overall lack of focus,” said Captain Shreve coach Jeremy Wilburn. “We have to learn how to travel with an elite level of focus before the playoffs or we will find ourselves on the losing end once again if/when that day comes.
“We’ll fix our preparation during the upcoming week. We have a lot of things to clean up, and we get the opportunity to start that on Monday.”
Destrehan started the game with fireworks on a first-snap 80-yard Malachi Dabney breakaway. Dabney finished with 234 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
That kicked off a string of 11 lead changes with Destrehan’s 20-14 halftime advantage being the largest of the night.
Savage erased that lead with a touchdown pass to Car’darrian Devers for a 21-20 edge, continuing the craziness of momentum swings.
Savage counterbalanced the rushing attack with 213 passing yards on 22-of-35 passing with two touchdowns and an interception.
The Gators (4-3) hop back into District 1-5A play this coming week against Parkway in their final home game of the regular season.
EAGLE EYES: Decades of coaching wisdom from head coach Denny Duron (center, red shirt) and offensive line coach Danny Palmer (foreground) helped Evangel rally for a one-point win over Benton Friday night. (Journal file photo by GAVEN HAMMOND, landgphoto.com)
By MATT VINES, Journal Sports
How to game plan for a quarterback that broke national records the previous week?
Play keepaway. Run the ball well, and recover onside kicks.
Benton executed that early game plan to near perfection, building a pair of two-score leads Friday at Evangel, but the Eagles clawed their way back to a 33-32 win.
“Benton could have easily come out on top tonight, and hats off Benton and (coach) Reynolds Moore because it was a fantastic game plan,” said Evangel coach Denny Duron, whose team improved to 2-5, 2-4 in District 1-5A. “We weren’t ready for the onside kicks, and I honestly thought, ‘Were we ever going to get the ball tonight?’
“But we made adjustments on special teams and defense. It was just a game that wasn’t over until we made our final kneel down.”
While the “diesel” package has been a facet of Benton’s offense all season, the Tigers (1-6, 1-4) leaned more heavily on the run Friday.
Cole Austin bulled his way for a 1-yard touchdown run to pull Benton to within 33-32 with two minutes remaining, and Moore dialed it up again on the two-point conversion to go for the lead after unexpected troubles in the kicking game Friday.
Video from the game appeared to show Austin stretch his entire arm with the ball into the end zone on the conversion, but the attempt was ruled short after a lengthy discussion among officials.
Benton’s defense, which had contained Evangel quarterback Pop Houston and Co. relatively well, had one more shot to get the ball back on a fourth-and-three with 1:30 remaining.
But Houston called his own number and picked up the first down with his feet.
“I don’t call a lot of plays anymore, but whatever we did call, I wanted the ball in Houston’s hands,” Duron said. “That was the biggest first down of our season.
“(Running back) Joshua Isaac and (defensive lineman) Kaleb Duncan played out of their minds tonight as well. It was a great team effort and a team win.”
Benton’s offense was stopped twice on fourth downs in the second half that also limited opportunities as both defenses picked it up in the second half.
But the start couldn’t have gone any better, said Benton’s veteran coach.
“It went exactly like I told our guys I envisioned it,” said Moore, who added that he’d let the video evidence speak for itself on Benton’s two-point conversion late in the game. “We talked about that in our team meetings today.
“We were happy with the start. The (fourth-down stops) were tough to overcome in the second half. We put ourselves in a hole with a holding call on one.”
Benton surged to a 12-0 lead and built leads of 19-6 and 26-19 in the first half as they gained more than 200 of their 325 rushing yards before halftime.
But Evangel’s Kionte Mims and Damari Drake scored touchdowns as the Eagles surged ahead 33-26 with 6:39 remaining.
Following his national record 817-yard passing eruption last week at Captain Shreve, Houston finished with 243 yards on 28-of-36 passing and threw for two touchdowns.
AIRLINE 56, HAUGHTON 13: The Airline-Haughton matchup was the only District 1-5A game quickly resolved Friday night as the Vikings remained the sole unbeaten local squad with a 56-13 road win.
The Vikings (7-0, 5-0), ranked 10th in the LSWA’s Class 5A Top 10 for the second straight week, scored the game’s first 21 points and led 42-7 at the half.
“I think we have done a really good job the last few weeks starting out fast,” said Airline coach Justin Scogin. “We’re not entirely sure of the reason, but I’m a big fan.
“It’s something that we’ve really preached this year along with the kids playing really hard for each other.”
Six different Vikings reached the end zone led by DJ Allen’s two rushing scores. Other touchdown makers included Ayden Baker, Jarvis Davis and Kenny Darcy with scoring grabs from quarterback Ben Taylor, who also added a score with his feet.
Micah Johnson added a rushing touchdown as well.
The Vikings close out their home schedule next Friday against Natchitoches Central, while Haughton (2-5, 1-5) heads to Evangel.
