By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – LSU senior forward Aneesah Morrow makes an opposing defense pay.

If not now, invariably later.

Sunday afternoon after uncharacteristically getting in early foul trouble, Morrow had plenty left in the tank late against pesky UAlbany.

And that, unfortunately for the visiting Great Danes, proved to be their undoing.

Morrow had 20 points and 18 rebounds, including 10 points and 10 rebounds in the fourth quarter when the 6th-ranked Tigers ended the game on a 25-2 run in an 86-61 victory at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Her offensive rebound and follow shot led to a three-point play that ignited LSU’s closing burst, then two minutes later she made a steal and fed Flau’Jae Johnson for a swoop to the hoop.

“I want to be the dependable teammate every night,” said Morrow, who recorded the 87th double-double of her career (35 for LSU, 52 in her first two college years for DePaul. “I got in foul trouble and I wasn’t rattacking the boards in the first half as I should have. In the fourth quarter, I know foul trouble wouldn’t be an issue, so I attacked the boards as much as I could.”

LSU fourth-year head coach Kim Mulkey, whose team is off to a 15-0 start which ties the second-best in school history, is still tweaking her starting lineup as the Tigers prepare to open SEC play at Arkansas on Thursday.

But Mulkey’s non-negotiable starting lineup spots belong to returning starters junior guard Johnson and sophomore guard Mikaylah Williams of Bossier City’s Parkway High School (the last two SEC Freshmen of the Year) and Morrow, who has taken complete control of LSU’s inside game since Angel Reese moved on to the WNBA last summer.

“She didn’t get as many touches early because she got in foul trouble,” Mulkey said of Morrow’s performance vs. U Albany. “As an athlete, you’re frustrated. But I tell ballplayers if you don’t think you get enough touches, then go rebound.

“That’s what she does. She went and got rebounds and she got some steals. And she just plays like you want your kid to play. She just plays hard.”

In LSU’s first game since Dec. 19 because of the Christmas break, the Tigers’ rust was obvious early. They committed 6 turnovers in their first 12 possessions, UAlbany, boosted by three first-quarter 3-pointers by Kaci Donovan, led 25-16 at the end of the opening period and 38-34 at halftime.

The Great Danes, concerned that almost 30 of LSU’s 93.3 points per game come off fast breaks, conceded getting offensive rebounds in favor of quickly dropping back on defense. In the first half when UAlbany led at the break, it had just 1 offensive rebound but allowed LSU just 7 fast break points.

By speeding up its fast break and clamping down on UAlbany’s 3-point shooting, the Tigers flipped the game their way in the second half. LSU had 17 fast-break points in the final two quarters when it also held the Great Danes to 2 of 14 3-pointers including 0 of 7 in the fourth quarter.

It took a while for LSU’s defense to decipher UAlbany’s Princeton-style offense with its myriad of motion and cutting. But once the Tigers finally did, especially when they outscored the Great Danes 27-8 in the fourth quarter, the visitors’ upset bid was done.

“The biggest thing for us was just defending those cuts and staying disciplined for the full shot clock,” said Williams, who had 18 points and 5 rebounds. “Once we figured it out and started getting rebounds and giving them one chance to score a ball and getting out of transition, it was good from there.”

Johnson added 15 points and 9 rebounds for the Tigers. Jersey Wolfenbarger had 11 points and 7 rebounds.

“We’re not going to be the type of team that just blows people out,” Mulkey said. “We’ve got too many new pieces. We’ve got roles that have now changed. The longer we play together, the better we will get. The better teams we play, the better we will get, and we will see better teams in the SEC.”

Donovan led UAlbany (10-3) with 17 points. Lilly Phillips and Kayla Cooper scored 14 each.

“I am extremely proud and impressed on how well the team executed the game plan today,” UAlbany head coach Colleen Mullen said. “The final score was not indicative of how close the game was, and we showed an ability to compete with the 6th-ranked team in the country. Not only were we leading at halftime, we were also leading in the fourth quarter and controlled the tempo for much of the game.”

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Louisiana Tech was the biggest underdog in the 2024 bowl season, and the Bulldogs weren’t able to defy the odds Saturday night in their 27-6 loss to American Athletic Conference champion Army in the 48^th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.

Despite the outcome, for the first time since 2020, the Bulldogs reached a bowl game – even if they backed into it as a five-win team that plugged a gaping hole created when Sun Belt Conference champion Marshall backed away from its I-Bowl berth five days after accepting it.

The biggest announced attendance in 10 years (34,283) indicates that tabbing Tech was a good business decision for the local bowl.

Outside of the game’s outcome, it was a great experience for the Bulldogs, said third-year coach Sonny Cumbie, whose team was on the wrong end of three overtime losses in its 5-7 regular season. Most importantly, he said, the bowl appearance can be a springboard for success in 2025.

“From (team visits to) Holy Angels, to Barksdale Air Force Base, to the pep rally, to this morning at our hotel, it was just a great experience. It was a win from that experience but unfortunately on the scoreboard it was not,” he said.

“Otherwise, I think we should understand that it was really sweet at this bowl. We can learn how sweet it was from that experience to the game which was not, and (it can) fuel us into this offseason in 2025,” said Cumbie.

He was firm in his belief that core values displayed by this year’s team will be vital in producing a winning season next fall.

“I love being the head coach of this team and I know that our team will not be defined by a number. They will be defined by the cornerstones of our program. That is our actions, how we are as people and how connected we are and how they give to other people,” he said.

“I am really proud of this team. I am very disappointed that we did not get the win, which is what we came to do, but I think this football team has a bright future. I am extremely excited to grow on this as we transition into 2025.”

One area the Bulldogs must improve was apparent Saturday night. Louisiana Tech, which averaged only 22 points this season, got only two field goals and gained just 218 yards going against an Army defense that ranked 12 nationally entering the contest, giving up 314 per game.

At the outset of December, Cumbie brought former offensive coordinator Tony Franklin back to Tech. Franklin ran two of the Bulldogs’ most explosive offenses just over a decade ago, notably averaging 51 points in his final season as OC. 

Franklin was involved in bowl preparations and game planning, giving the Bulldogs a head start in their redesign.

“I think our kids learned a lot from what we are doing from a verbiage and technology standpoint,” said Cumbie. “I am excited for Coach Franklin to be able to coach these kids for 10 days and what we were able to do moving forward with guys like (redshirt freshman quarterback) Evan Bullock and (sophomore tight end) Eli Finley coming back.

“I think a lot of what Evan did in high school is what Coach Franklin will do moving forward. I think Evan is very comfortable doing that,” said Cumbie. “I think he is just going to get better and better. I thought he had two of the best weeks of practice that he had this season. I am extremely excited to see what he does with our offense and how he does with his leadership.”

As for Tech’s defense, graduating senior linebacker Zack Zimos was encouraged by how the Bulldogs settled down after halftime against the nation’s No. 1 rushing attack.

“The best offensive line in the country. The quarterback (Bryson Daily) obviously a very good runner. Hats off to them,” said Zimos, who drew praise from Daily in Army’s postgame presser. “I think our guys showed fight, only gave up six in the second half. At the end of the day I think our future is bright.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

To put it mildly, a wide range of questions arise in postgame press conferences at bowl games everywhere. It’s the last game of the season; three different media corps are involved, the local media, and those who cover the participating teams. Each has their own different angles.

Sometime after midnight Saturday, about an hour after his team handled Louisiana Tech 27-6 in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, Army coach Jeff Monken was asked, according to the official Independence Bowl press conference transcript, “if the 1996 Army team loss to Auburn in the Independence Bowl was an added incentive for this Army team.”

Some context: that Army team was the first in school history to win 10 games in a season. That game, a 32-29 Auburn win, came down to the final minute. But it was 28 years ago, and none of the Black Knights playing against Louisiana Tech were born yet.

Monken smiled, first mentioning this was Army’s first win in five tries in Louisiana in his 11 seasons, and politely addressed the question posed – but quickly moved to a much more profound message.

Army’s roster isn’t filled by players with NFL dreams. It is populated with young men who have accepted a commission in the U.S. Army and after an extremely challenging undergraduate experience, each will become an officer in charge of Army infantry. They will serve at least five years; some will make a career of it. No doubt some will see active combat duty and all the danger that entails.

Starting tackle Connor Finucane and linebacker Hamilton Baker played in the I-Bowl as second lieutenants, soon heading to their first assignments post-graduation

Said Monken about his team’s motivation in the Independence Bowl:

“That 1996 team was a really good football team and that one went down to the wire against a great Auburn team. Two legendary coaches in coach (Bob) Sutton and coach (Pat) Dye (editor’s note, actually, it was Terry Bowden at Auburn). That doesn’t affect our team. This team wanted to win for this team.

“They wanted to win for each other. The love each other. Brotherhood gets thrown around and used a lot but the shared experiences our players have together are really unique.

“From the moment they show up on campus, the freshmen class reports to the cadets in a red sash and for about a month they get worked over. It’s not easy and every one of our guys has endured that. They’ve gone through that and better and stronger because of it, but they grow together and there’s a bond that’s forged through that shared experience. And, they continue to do that throughout their careers at West Point.

“These seniors, for (senior quarterback) Bryson (Daily) and his class, these guys have being doing it for five years. From prep school through Beast Barracks, which is our cadet basic training. Through summer training sleeping outside at Camp Buckner when it’s 41 degrees and it’s raining on you and there’s no tent and rain is just peppering you in the face and your sleeping bag is soaking wet. Then the next day you’re up with 100-pound rucksack on your back and it’s 90.

“These guys do that. And, it’s not fake. It’s not manufactured, you don’t bring people in to do that. That’s what they train to do to go and be an infantry officer. That’s the thing about West Point and what it does to create leaders of character and tough, hard-minded people that are going to lead our Army, and defend our nation and gives us the freedom and opportunity to sit right here today. It’s because of the commitment that these guys and their classmates and all of our men and women that serve do.

“And so, the brotherhood that’s created and the bond that’s built it’s about this team. Not that we don’t honor the past and honor our graduates and honor the Army football brotherhood from the past, we do, but it’s about this team. These guys were fighting as hard as they could for each other tonight to be able to get that 12th victory.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

(NOTE TO READERS – As 2025 approaches, the SBJ is featuring some of our favorite content from this year. This JJ Marshall column remembering local professional baseball at SPAR Stadium and Fair Grounds Field originally ran in the Journal on Sept. 27. More favorites will follow. Enjoy!)

They played the last major league baseball game ever in Oakland Thursday. The A’s plan to move to Sacramento for three years as they await a stadium – which isn’t even in the planning stages yet – to be built.

How City of Oakland and the A’s ownership got into this mess doesn’t affect me one way or another, though I do give the team a hat tip for wearing those classic green-and-gold uniforms for the final home game.

The A’s beat the Texas Rangers 3-2 and afterward, the sellout crowd stayed and … celebrated? Mourned?

It’s one of those sports moments when nobody really knows what to do.

It’s also one of the saddest sports moments, when a team and/or a city and/or a stadium are to be no more.

Particularly in baseball, where nostalgia runs deep and sentiment is always in the on-deck circle. (Yes, even in Oakland.)

I watched the final out — and subsequent whatever-that-was that followed — and thought of Mansfield native Vida Blue and Catfish Hunter and Rollie Fingers’ mustache and Barry Zito’s curveball and Rickey Henderson stealing third base and proclaiming “today I am the greatest” after breaking Lou Brock’s record.

And I couldn’t help but think about baseball stadiums in Shreveport.

SPAR Stadium and Fair Grounds Field – two dramatically different structures with two wildly different histories. Both are still standing (insert your own joke here) but both are empty as far as professional baseball is concerned.

I was at the last game ever played at SPAR Stadium because I desperately wanted to be. I wasn’t at the last game played at Fair Grounds Field because I was determined not to be.

A crowd of 1,539 came out on the last day of August, 1985, to watch the final game at SPAR Stadium, a facility that had long outlived its usefulness. Future MLB players Robby Thompson and Matt Nokes were in the starting lineup for the Captains, who won 9-3.

That part was meaningless to me and it wasn’t as if the Captains were going away. (They moved a few miles away to Fair Grounds Field for the 1986 season).

But SPAR Stadium was the first baseball facility I had ever seen. I saw two major league exhibitions played there. I played there during American Legion summer baseball. I got Joe DiMaggio’s autograph there. I saw Darryl Strawberry get mercilessly heckled there. I saw Denny McLain pitch there, just five years after he had posted one of the greatest individual seasons in the history of baseball.

And I still remembered that thrilling feeling I’d get when my father would tell us to load up get in the car because we were going to see a game.

Fresh out of college, I cut my sports writer teeth by covering the Captains night after night at SPAR Stadium.

So on that final night, yeah, I shed a tear or two as I drove away, knowing that no more memories would be made at SPAR Stadium.

When the end came for Fair Grounds Field, however, it was a different story. In that case, minor league baseball was going away to a different city in a different state and though independent league baseball would try to take its place, that never worked.

That Captains had been sold and became the Swamp Dragons, which pretty much summed it all up – going from a traditional nickname to a goofy, let’s-do-something-different nickname. The locally-owned team was sold to a corporation and run by a general manager who lasted about a week after the higher-ups saw how Shreveport wasn’t buying what they were selling.

After two years (2001-02), it was obvious that the end was coming fast so I decided to make that one last visit to Fair Grounds Field, where I had joyously been a part of a baseball renaissance in the late 1980s and early ‘90s.

It wasn’t the final night at FGF, but it was close to the end of the season. And it was sad in so many ways that were completely different than what it had been like that final night at SPAR Stadium.

I left in the fifth inning because it was time to go. Not just for me, but for minor league baseball.

Stadiums come and go. Franchises come and go.

But memories don’t.

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

(NOTE TO READERS – As 2025 approaches, the SBJ is featuring some of our favorite content from this year. This coverage of the season-opening matchup of Calvary Baptist and Oak Grove originally ran in the Journal on Sept. 7. More favorites will follow. Enjoy!)

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

His team scored 62 points and rolled up 665 yards against a defending state champion, extending a win streak to 15 games by a three-touchdown margin.

His senior quarterback had a career night, throwing for 417 yards and the team’s first seven scores.

His blue-chip senior running back accounted for 361 yards and two long touchdowns (a 57-yard swing pass, a 64-yard run), posting 255 rush yards on 19 tries.

His top senior receiver snagged nine passes for 146 yards, including touchdowns of 12, 12, 28 and 16 yards.

What’s not to like for Calvary Baptist football coach Rodney Guin in the wake of the defending Select Division III state champs’ 62-41 dispatch of Non-Select Division IV kingpin Oak Grove, a program that has won four LHSAA crowns in the last five years?

Lots. While the Cavaliers scored plenty of points, they lacked in style points, he said.

“It was very sloppy football on our part. If we want to win down the road, we can’t play like we did tonight,” said Guin, citing a rash of penalties, too many instances of lining up incorrectly, and a general lack of attention to detail – his postgame remarks to the team began with pointing out four seniors were wearing the wrong colored undershirt in pregame warmups.

“We’ve got a lot of stuff to deal with and we’re a long way from being good right now,” he said moments later.

But there was more than a silver lining. With the ball, Calvary was glittering.

“Fortunately, our offense was on fire, played lights out. That’s a quality opponent,” he said.

Which made all the gaudy numbers that more impressive.

Quarterback Abram Wardell was the show-stopper.  While stacking up his seven-TD haul, he hit 19 of his first 21 throws including a dropped deep ball that would have been another score.

He finished 23 of 29. And was oblivious that he was one away from tying the Caddo-Bossier single-game record for touchdown throws last equaled by Benton’s Gray Walters two years ago.

“Really? I’m just glad we won. Maybe we can get that in a different game,” said Wardell. “Our offense was just clicking. Our receivers, the O-line, it’s the whole unit.”

It started immediately after a goalline stand by the Cavaliers’ defense repelled the Tigers’ methodical power running game that took the opening kick and drove to the 3 before a fourth-down botched snap halted the threat. Calvary responded by going 93 yards in 10 snaps and went up on Wardell’s 32-yard toss to Brent Bigelow.

The next possession was an 11-play, 85-yard scoring drive capped by a 12-yard strike to senior wideout Kolby Thomas, the same connection that gave Calvary its last-minute state title winning TD last December. Thomas and Wardell dialed up another 12-yard score midway through the second quarter, then added touchdown hookups of 28 and 16 yards after halftime.

“I’m not gonna take credit for that,” said Thomas, grinning. “Abram was spinning the football.”

Even though Oak Grove swung back, closing the first half with a 20-7 burst over the final seven minutes to forge a surprising 27-all knot near halftime, there was not much doubt who was in control. Calvary’s explosive offense sizzled.

“It’s just us being balanced,” said Wardell. “We hit them over the top, they’re going to start backing up. Then we hit ‘em with James Simon. I don’t know what they can do.”

Said Simon: “Once we do that, we know we’re in their heads, they’re confused. They can’t stop us. That’s what happened.”

The 28-yard Wardell-to-Thomas touchdown moved the Cavs up for good, 34-27, 43 seconds before halftime, prefaced by a 29-yard Simon scamper that pushed him to 112 rush yards. Wardell and Thomas made it look easy on a 16-yarder on the fourth snap of the third quarter, then on Calvary’s next chance, Wardell went up top and found Kaleb Tucker over the middle for a 78-yarder and it was 48-27 with a quarter and a half left to play.

“Today was probably the most hyped I’ve seen Abram,” said Simon. “I think it was Kaleb Tucker’s post touchdown, he went crazy. I love that so much, when my quarterback goes crazy, and that’s the craziest I’ve seen Wardell go. I’m excited for the rest of the season with him. I promise it’s going to be amazing.”

It certainly was Friday night.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

Abernathy, Texas, is the home of Army West Point quarterback Bryson Daily. It is a small town (population 2,800) and it is only 1,800 yards from one end to the next. In other words, if you really pushed it and didn’t stop at the Dairy Queen on 10^th Street, you could walk it in about 12 minutes and 21 seconds. 

Which is the same amount of time that the Black Knights took on a drive that was indicative of just how they dominant they were in a 27-6 win over Louisiana Tech in the 48^th annual Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Saturday night at Independence Stadium.

Lots can happen in 12:21 on a single possession. The Black Knights converted four fourth downs on that drive, plus two long down third down chances. If there was a play to be made on that drive, they made it. And mostly likely, it was made by Daily.

“That’s just the toughness of this team,” Daily said. “We’ve done it all year. We are very aggressive on fourth down. We don’t flinch when those big moments come.”

Army ran 21 plays on the possession, which was one less play than Tech had in the entire first half. And it was Daily who either ran or passed on 16 of those 21 plays.

“It definitely felt like forever when we were out there on that drive,” said Army running back Hayden Reed, who ran for 114 yards on 20 carries.

It certainly felt like forever for Tech, who finished the first half with only 7:33 in time of possession.

This was Army football. The Black Knights knew it. And so did Louisiana Tech.

“I thought on that drive we were really good defensively on third down,” Tech coach Sonny Cumbie said. “Unfortunately for us, Army was really good on fourth down.”

The Black Knights weren’t too bad on the other downs either on a night in which they ran for 321 yards. It’s not such much about the long runs that they had (seven plays of at least 10 yards) but more about the yards they didn’t lose.  Care to guess how many times Army lost yardage? Twice – once in each half – for a whopping total of three yards.

The military part of the Army may have secrets, but the football team doesn’t. Everything runs through the former Abernathy High Antelope star, Bryson Daily.

Daily’s influence in the success of Army is obvious – he’s the nation’s leader in touchdowns with 32, breaking the FBS single-season record Saturday night – and has come to be known as “Captain America” after finishing sixth in Heisman Trophy balloting.

Daily had an uncanny ability to pause to find just the right hole at just the right time at just the right moment.

After he ran for a game-high 127 yards on 27 carries and scored three touchdowns, Daily was named as the game’s Outstanding Offensive Player.

The Army offensive line certainly had its way with a transfer-portal damaged Tech defensive front and the Bulldogs also seemed to be a little surprised by the speed not only from Daily, but all of the Black Knight ball carriers and their option scheme.

“Whoa,” said Tech senior linebacker Zach Zimos, “this is real speed.”

Daily averaged 5.0 yards per carry in the first half and his average was the worst of the four Army rushers.

“They are one of the best offensive lines in the country,” Cumbie said. “They didn’t win the Joe Moore Award (for nation’s top offensive line) by coincidence.”

The long drive that resulted in a 21-3 halftime lead made it seem like the game was over because the Bulldogs hadn’t really come up to bat at that point in the game. They had their chances in the second half – Tech got inside the Army 15 twice and only got a field goal to show for it – but with the Black Knights playing almost mistake-free (only one turnover and one penalty), it was going to be a steep mountain to climb.

Then again, just getting a team together on short notice to play in a bowl game (after Marshall decided not to play in the game and made Tech a last-minute opponent) wasn’t exactly a walk in the park for the Bulldogs, who finished the regular season at 5-7.

“I think we should all be very proud of this football team in terms of answering the bell one more time,” Cumbie said. “Without hesitation, without flinching, these kids wanted to play. I’m really proud of this team. Very disappointed that we didn’t get the win, because that’s what we came here to do. But I think this football team has a bright future and I’m extremely excited as we learn from this and transition into 2025.”

For Army, the bowl win capped a 12-win season, best in the program’s 134-year history. “There are not many teams in college football that have accomplished that and that certainly makes us proud,” Army coach Jeff Monken said. “I’m proud of the accomplishments of this senior class. This finished the season off on a positive note.”

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Army got to sing second Saturday night.

“Sing Second” is a mantra for the Black Knights, based on the tradition begun many decades ago when the service academies collided annually. After games against Air Force and Navy, the losing team’s band plays its alma mater and both teams gather respectfully, followed by the alma mater of the victorious team, which prompts a more rousing reaction.

It is one of the most distinct moments of any Army-Navy clash. Two weeks ago, going into the game favored, the Black Knights flopped in a 31-13 loss (albeit to a bitter rival that won its 10^th game Friday) and was sorely disappointed to have to watch a jubilant bunch of Midshipmen celebrating during their alma mater.

If the opponents’ band plays its alma mater postgame, Army always honors the foe by standing in front of that band, win or lose. Snice the Black Knights won 11 times previously this season, they got to sing second plenty.

In a classy move, the Louisiana Tech team not only stood in front of the Band of Pride, but then moved over to stand behind the Army squad for its alma mater.

Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie said it was a late but considered decision.

“We talked about it as a coaching staff before the game, as a token of our appreciation and our respect for Army and for their service to our country. You just had a hard-fought, pretty intense game in the trenches in particular, (it was good) for all of us to come together afterwards and really just to tip our hat, and to say thanks for what you will do for our country, and for what you’ve done.”

DENTING THE NCAA RECORDS:  Army quarterback Bryson Daily earned Most Outstanding Offensive Player honors with his 127 yards rushing and three scores, and those touchdowns gave him a spot in the NCAA record book. Raising his season total to 32 TDs, Daily broke the NCAA FBS record for touchdowns scored by a quarterback.

The old mark was 31 by Keenan Reynolds, a Navy quarterback, in 2013. Daily gave due respect to his predecessor.

“He was a great player. I watched a lot of his highlights growing up, a really good player. To be mentioned with great players like that in record books, I’m extremely proud of this team, this unit, and what we did this year,” he said.

Daily also became the third FBS player in the last 25 years to rush for at least 1,500 yards and score 30 or more touchdowns in a season. He is the national leader in TDs this season, pending Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty’s College Football Playoff performance. Jeanty has 29 going into Tuesday’s playoff game against Penn State.

CHANCE A GOOD GAMBLE:  Captain Shreve true freshman John Hoyt Chance made his college debut as Louisiana Tech’s kickoff man and knocked three boots into the end zone, with no return yardage by Army.

His most impressive effort came after Drew Henderson knocked through a 44-yard field goal in the third quarter. Tech sent out Chance and Henderson threatening an onside kick, trailing 21-3, but Chance took just three steps and drilled his last kickoff into the end zone.

Chance and Henderson, who was 2-for-2 on field goals, were pressed into action when kicker Buck Buchanan, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer with 68 points, entered the transfer portal and opted out of the game. Another Tech mainstay, Shreveport native Tru Edwards, also entered the portal but stayed to play and led his team with 92 yards on a game-high eight catches.

TICKET SALES BRISK:  An announced attendance of 34,283 was the highest for the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in 10 years. Actual attendance was well below that count, with plenty of fans on the East (Army) side along with the anticipated turnout of Louisiana Tech supporters.

ARMY MARCHES:  The Black Knights scored on each of their three first-half possessions (discounting a kneel-out on the final snap of the half), and were finally stopped short midway through the third quarter at the end of a 13-play, 40-yard series that chewed another 7:16 off the clock. At that point Army led in possession time 31:03-7:33.

The Bulldogs responded with their longest possession of the night, taking 5:39 to move 39 yards on 11 plays and get a 44-yard Henderson field goal. Army answered back with its fastest scoring drive, needing only five snaps to move 75 yards in 2:15 and score its last TD on an 8-yard Daily run for a 27-6 lead.

NOT MANY SNAPS:  Tech’s offense managed to run just 50 plays, the second-fewest in I-Bowl history, behind 47 by McNeese in the 1980 game, won by Southern Mississippi 16-14. The Cowboys had 401 total yards but suffered four turnovers. Tech managed only 218 yards against Army and had possession for just 19:42 of the 60 minutes.

DEMONS CHEEERING FOR DOGS:  Former standout Northwestern State safety Randy Bullock and his wife Robin Gatto Bullock, once a steady shortstop for the Lady Demons softball team, were among the Tech fans. Their son is the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback, Evan Bullock, a redshirt freshman from Anna, Texas.

Bullock was victimized by several dropped passes and finished 14 of 26 for 150 yards and a fourth-down end zone interception in the second half.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

SCORE BY QUARTERS

La. Tech                0             3             3             0             –              6

Army                     14           7             0             6             –              27

SCORING SUMMARY

A – Bryson Daily 15 run (Trey Gronnette kick), 9:32 1^st, Drive: 80 yards, 8 plays, 5:28 elapsed; Army 7-0

A – Hayden Reed 12 run (Gronnette kick), 1:28 1^st, Drive: 80 yards, 10 plays, 5:39 elapsed; Army 14-0

LT – Drew Henderson 27 field goal, 14:15 2^nd, Drive: 56 yards, 7 plays, 2:13 elapsed; Army 14-3

A – Daily 8 run (Gronnette kick), 1:54 2^nd, Drive: 75 yards, 21 plays, 12:21 elapsed; Army 21-3

LT – Henderson 44 field goal, 2:11 3^rd, Drive: 39 yards, 11 plays, 5:33 elapsed; Army 21-6

A – Daily 3 run (run failed), 14:56 4^th, Drive: 75 yards, 5 plays, 2:15 elapsed; Army 27-7

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

 RUSHING:  La. Tech (22-49) – Omiri Wiggins 8-40, Marquis Crosby 4-10, Fred Robertson 2-3, Amani Givens 3-2, Jimmy Holiday 1-1, Tru Edwards 1-1, Evan Bullock 3-minus 10. Army (64-321) – Daily 27-127, 3 TDs; Reed 20-114, 1 TD; Noah Short 5-27, Tyrell Robinson 4-25, Carson Smith 5-21, Jake Rendina 1-6, Miles Stewart 1-2, Team 1-minus 1.

PASSING:  La. Tech — Bullock 14-28-1, 169 yards. Army – Daily 2-9, 65 yards.

RECEIVING:  La. Tech – Edwards 8-92, Eli Finley 2-35, Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim 2-27, Jimmy Holiday 2-15. Army – David Crossan 1-52, Casey Reynolds 1-13.

TACKLE LEADERS:  La. Tech – Jacob Fields 10, Zach Zimos 10, Jakari Foster 9, CJ Harris 5, Isaiah McElvane 5, Cedric Woods 4, Blake Thompson 4, Sifa Leota 4, Zion Nelson 4, Christian Evans 4. Army – Kalib Fortner 7, Deshontez Gray 4, Max DiDomeico 4, Dre Miller 4, Elo Modozie 4.

PUNTING: La. Tech – Patrick Rea 3-47.7 avg., long 52; Army – no punts.

KICKOFF RETURNS: La. Tech – Demarcus Griffin-Taylor 3-83, long 32. Army – no returns.

JOURNAL SPORTS

District 1-5A teams put up gaudy offensive numbers that were undeniable when the Louisiana Sports Writers Association selected its Class 5A All-State Team.

Seven local stars, six on offense, made the first team. Another 13 were honorable mention selections. A panel of sportswriters from across the state selected the team.

On the All-District 1 team, league coaches split the quarterback honors between Airline senior Ben Taylor and Evangel sophomore Peyton “Pop” Houston. The LSWA handled the spotlight a bit differently, but made both first-team All-State picks – Taylor at quarterback and Houston as an athlete.

Joining Taylor on the All-State first team was his favorite target, junior Kenny Darby. Captain Shreve’s prolific offense also had two first-team choices, senior tackle Lionel Prudhomme and junior running back Jamarcea Plater.

The other local All-State first-team selection on the offensive side was junior kicker Asher Murray of Byrd.

Evangel provided the only defensive first-team All-Stater, senior linebacker Damari Drake.

The dozen local honorable mention selections included three players from Huntington and Parkway, and two from Airline, Benton and Byrd.

The top offensive and defensive players from Class 5A faced each other in a state championship game, with Edna Karr defensive lineman Corey Adams celebrating with teammates after defeating an Alexandria Senior High team led by running back J.T. Lindsey in the LHSAA’s Division I Select final.

Another state final included the state’s top 5A coach, David Simoneaux of Division I Non-Select champion Central.

Adams, voted the Outstanding Defensive Player for the 5A team, made 47 solo tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 20 quarterback hurries, one interception, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

For Alexandria, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Lindsey was picked as the LSWA 5A Outstanding Offensive Player after compiling 2,476 yards and 33 touchdowns on 324 carries. The LSU signee ran for 100 yards in 13 of the 14 games, coming up two yards short in the one other game. He topped 200 yards six times.

LSWA CLASS 5A ALL-STATE CHART

OFFENSE

Position, player, school, ht., wt., cl.

WR Kenny Darby, Airline, 6-1, 175, Jr.

WR TaRon Francis, Edna Karr, 6-1, 205, Sr.

TE Ahmad Hudson, Ruston, 6-7, 230, So.

OL Ervin Smith, Catholic-BR, 6-2, 285, Sr.

OL Lionel Prudhomme, Captain Shreve, 6-3, 295, Sr.

OL O’Ryan Mosely, Terrebonne, 6-3, 295, Jr.

OL Sam Nations, Ruston, 6-2, 287, Sr.

OL Leon Noil, Edna Karr, 6-4, 275, Jr.

QB Ben Taylor, Airline, 6-1, 185, Sr.

RB J.T. Lindsey, Alexandria, 5-11, 185, Sr.

RB Nate Sheppard, Mandeville, 5-10, 190, Sr.

RB Jamarcea Plater, Captain Shreve, 5-9, 180, Jr.

PK Asher Murray, C.E. Byrd, 5-11, 160, Jr.

ATH Peyton Houston, Evangel Christian, 5-11, 185, So.

DEFENSE 

Position, player, school, ht., wt., cl.

DL Corey Adams, Edna Karr, 6-4, 250, Sr.

DL Richard Anderson, Edna Karr, 6-4, 320, Jr.

DL DK Mays, Central6-5, 255, Sr.

DL Dylan Berymon, Ouachita, 6-3, 305, Jr.

LB KD Mays, Central, 6-0, 195, Sr.

LB Zheric Hill, Ruston, 6-0, 220, Sr.

LB Xzavier White, Alexandria, 6-1, 220, Jr.

LB Damari Drake, Evangel, 6-0, 215, Sr.

DB Jayden Reed, Neville, 5-11, 175, Jr.

DB Aidan Anding, Ruston, 6-0, 170, Jr.

DB Jacob Bradford, Catholic-Baton Rouge, 5-11, 190, Sr.

DB Aiden Hall, Edna Karr, 6-2, 185, Jr.

P Creighton Wilbanks, Mandeville, 5-10, 170, Sr.

ATH Keeman Thibodeaux, Acadiana, 5-9, 175, Sr.

RS Ja’den Williams, Chalmette, 5-9, 160, Sr.

OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER: J.T. Lindsey, Alexandria

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Corey Adams, Karr 

COACH OF THE YEAR: David Simoneaux, Central 

Honorable mention

Eric Anderson, Chalmette; Cole Austin, Benton; Chantz Babineaux, Carencro; Russel Babineaux, Acadiana; Drew Bailey, Sam Houston; Ayden Baker, Airline; Juelz Baptiste, St. Augustine; Payton Bell, Ruston; Taden Bingham, Terrebonne; Brayden Blade, Neville; Arsenio Bolds, Edna Karr; Chris Bourg, Jesuit; Blaine Bradford, Catholic-BR; Jiwaun Brock, Covington; Joshua Brown, Holy Cross; Xavier Brown, John Curtis; Julian Burns, Neville; Thomas Campbell, Neville; Alvin Celestin, Terrebonne; Wydell Clark, Ouachita; Derrick Collins, Southside; Darell Cottonham, C.E. Byrd; Jeffrey Curtis, John Curtis; Malachi Dabney, Destrehan; Jarvis Davis, Airline; Trez Davis, West Monroe; Caden DiBetta, Acadiana; Nick DiGerolamo, Holy Cross; CJ Dudley, Parkway; Kaleb Duncan, Evangel; Luke Dutil, Southside; Jack Elliot, Ruston; Zyron Forstall, Jesuit; Jax Gallier, Parkway; Ty George, West Monroe; Rida Ghazzali, Riverdale; Myd Gilbert, Destrehan; Syre Gilmore, St. Augustine; Jaxson Granier, Thibodaux; Sam Greer, C.E. Byrd; Jordan Hayes, Ruston; Caden Heck, Covington; Royuan Jackson, Huntington; Jacob Jeffrey, Hahnville; Lester Johnson, Rummel; Cayden Jones, Walker; John Johnson, Edna Karr; Jamard Jones, Rummel; Bennan Keim, St. Paul’s; Dan Lane, West Monroe; Luke Leger, Barbe; Jabari Mack, Destrehan; Nate Malek, Brother Martin; Carmaro Mayo, Parkway; Darryus McKinley, Acadiana; Zaccheaus McNabb, Central Lafourche; Noel Mora, Holy Cross; Jakobi Morris, Alexandria; Malik Myles, H.L. Bourgeois; Jaylon Nichols, Neville; Drew Poche, East Jefferson; Dylan Post, St. Paul’s; Steven Ranel, Central; Chase Ravain, St. Paul’s; Tyler Roark, West Monroe; Warren Roberts, St. Augustine; Easton Royal, Brother Martin; Cam Riley, Neville; Davekio Ruffin, Zachary; Braxton Scriber, Acadiana; Ramon Singleton, Southside; Calvin Smith, Hahnville; Daejawn Smith, Edna Karr; Drew Talley, St. Paul’s; Norman Taylor, Rummel; Keeman Thibodeaux, Acadiana; Parker Todd, West Monroe; JQ Turner, West Monroe; Witten Van Hoy, Benton; Thomas Vaughn, Warren Easton; Brennan Villa, St. Paul’s; Darius Washington, Alexandria; Jamarion Washington, Huntington; Jadon Weber, Brother Martin; Tyler Welch, Huntington; Zane Wyss, Captain Shreve.

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Army has something to prove Saturday night in the 48^th Annual Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.

So does Louisiana Tech, which got a late invitation to the festivities and is sensitive to detractors saying the Bulldogs are unworthy bowl participants.

The Black Knights, 11-2 and ranked 19^th in the AP Top 25, could be excused for their first loss, a blowout at the hands of national championship contender Notre Dame. But they are still, and forever will be, miserable about the other defeat, two weeks ago to arch-rival Navy, 31-13.

“We have the opportunity to get a bad taste out of our mouth, with an extra game here. That’s our goal right now, to fight our tails off and get a last win in this brotherhood,” said Army quarterback Bryson Daily.

The Bulldogs, 5-7, might have no business playing Saturday. They didn’t reach the six-win minimum to be bowl-eligible and had stored the equipment after finishing with a 33-0 domination of Kennesaw State.

But two weeks later, they were the best available-and-willing replacement for Sun Belt Conference champion/scaredy cat Marshall, which declined its invite to Shreveport five days after saying yes, apparently unable and certainly unwilling to field a team, blaming player defections following a coaching change.

Army coach Jeff Monken will tell anybody who listens, Louisiana Tech was very close to six, seven or even an eight-win season. The Bulldogs dropped three overtime games, one resulting from a 50-yard Hail Mary pass on the final play of regulation by Conference USA champion Jacksonville State.

While Tech struggled offensively all season, averaging just 22 points, the Bulldogs bit hard on the other side of the ball, ranking 11^th nationally in total defense (302 yards allowed pg).

“As described by an opposing coach is, they are ‘salty on defense.’ They lost some really close games,” Monken said. “I’m really impressed with their personnel. They are very athletic.”

They are also sending mixed signals offensively. Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie hired Tony Franklin as offensive coordinator after the season finale and Franklin has been in Ruston all month, involved to some degree with preparations for the bowl game. Cumbie has been circumspect about Franklin’s role, citing the learning curve with terminology and personnel as possible stumbling blocks. Monken said Army has had to prepare for Tech as it operated before Franklin, and Tech influenced by Franklin, and will adjust as the game unfolds.

The Black Knights’ defense ranks 12^th in the country, giving up 304 yards per game. The Bulldogs offense ranks 105^th with a 342.5-yard average.

Army’s offense is a known quantity, with the nation’s No. 1 rushing attack (299 ypg), guided by a quarterback who was sixth in voting for the Heisman Trophy.  Daily is one touchdown away from becoming only the third FBS player in 25 seasons to run for 1,500 yards and score 30 TDs.

“Bryson had a special year. He’s a really good player, a great leader, coach’s kid, just a rugged, tough football player,” said Monken. “I’ve always said the quarterback at Army can be a Heisman Trophy candidate because we’ve got a platform to put a good player out there in front of the country. He got an opportunity to showcase his ability as a runner this year. It was really nice to see him be recognized.”

He operates behind a unit that won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s best offensive line. That’s a distinction that has the full attention of Bulldog defenders like end Mycol Clark, playing his final game

“Any time as a defensive lineman, you want to go against the best, and playing against the best offensive line in college football, that’s a great challenge,” he said.

Tech’s best offensive threat, Shreveport native Tru Edwards, was born five blocks from Independence Stadium, so even though the explosive receiver has entered the transfer portal, he embraced the bowl invitation.

He is by far the most prominent among 10 local players on the Bulldogs’ roster. One, Captain Shreve freshman John Chance, may begin the game handling the kickoff.  In that capacity he steps in for another Bulldog in the portal, leading scorer Buck Buchanan, who was the team’s only experienced placement kicker.

Kickoff is 8:15 Saturday night at Independence Stadium with ESPN television coverage.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

Shreveport-Bossier’s District 1 football squads got plenty of notice on the 2024 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 4A All-State Team, selected by a panel of sports writers across the state.

Just not on the first team.

A dozen local standouts received honorable mention recognition, but none were among the 29-player first team. North DeSoto offensive lineman Nathan Dubroc was the lone District 1-4A player included in that number.

After a 10-2 season, Northwood had four players in the honorable mention group: Christian Blackmon, Kyran Johnson, John Sneed and Justin Thomas.

Three Woodlawn Knights were included: Brandon Henderson, Marcus Palmer and Quintin Wilson.

Loyola, in its first season in Class 4A,  was represented by Ben Brewer and Jac Ebarb on the HM list.

Booker T. Washington also had two honorable mention selections, DK Mitchell and Jaylen O’Neal.

Jordan Cunningham stood out on a winless Southwood squad and got honorable mention All-State recognition.

Leesville senior running back Xavier Ford earned Outstanding Offensive Player honors with his new state-record 3,467 yards and 52 touchdowns on 332 carries and 13 catches for another 239 yards and four scores.

The Wampus Cats’ star capped a prolific career with his biggest campaign yet to finish with high school totals of 8,592 yards and 120 touchdowns on 997 carries.

District 3-4A swept the top player awards as versatile Iowa senior Cohen Charles won Outstanding Defensive Player honors.

Charles finished with 159 tackles — including 109 solo stops, 13 tackles for loss and two sacks — as well as 16 pass break-ups, four interceptions, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Dennis Skains earned Coach of the Year honors after he, his staff and his senior class helped lead Cecilia to its first state championship since 1995. 

LSWA CLASS 4A ALL-STATE CHART

OFFENSE

Position, Player, School, Ht, Wt, Cl

WR Jakai Anderson McDonogh 35 6-0 165 Jr.

WR Jacob Washington Shaw 6-4 175 Sr.

WR Jeremiah Bushnell Iowa 6-3 190 Jr.

OL Gresham Perry Teurlings Catholic 6-4 300 Sr.

OL Tommy Bower E.D. White 6-4 275 Sr.

OL Beau Webb Franklinton 6-3 255 Sr.

OL Jace Williams Assumption 6-1 280 Sr.

OL Nathan Dubroc North DeSoto 6-1 265 Jr.

QB Dezyrian Ellis Franklin Parish 6-2 175 Jr.

RB Xavier Ford Leesville 5-10 210 Sr.

RB Jaylon Coleman Vandebilt Catholic 5-9 160 Sr.

RB Tyrese Mosby Plaquemine 5-8 185 Sr.

PK Ty Powell E.D. White 6-4 175 Sr.

ATH Jasper Parker Shaw 6-2 185 Sr.

DEFENSE

Position, Player, School, Ht, Wt, Cl

DL Jeremiah Griffith Wossman 5-11 175 Sr.

DL Paul Boudreaux Vandebilt Catholic 5-10 200 Sr.

DL Reshad Sterling Lutcher 6-3 235 Sr.

DL Keith Newsome McDonogh 35 6-2 210 Sr.

LB Luke Jones West Ouachita 6-0 195 Sr.

LB Charlie Diedrich E.D. White 6-1 220 Jr.

LB  Dy’Traevous Lively Westgate 5-11 210 Sr.

LB Ke’Sean Hines Wossman 6-1 225 Sr.

DB Brent Gordon Cecilia 6-0 180 Sr.

DB Rontrae Carter Shaw 6-0 170 So.

DB Cohen Charles Iowa 6-0 170 Sr.

DB Jakobie Anderson McDonogh 35 6-0 170 Sr.

P Cameron Ott Assumption 6-1 175 Sr.

ATH Brian Broussard St. Thomas More 5-10 170 Sr.

RS Diesel Solari Cecilia 5-8 171 Sr.

OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Xavier Ford, Leesville

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Cohen Charles, Iowa

COACH OF THE YEAR: Dennis Skains, Cecilia

Honorable mention

Chris Addison, Franklin Parish; Travis Adams, Tioga; Corey Amos, Opelousas; D.J. Anders, Franklinton; Tashod Badon, Pearl River; Ethan Baer, St. Thomas More; Grant Barbera, E.D. White; Savion Barthelemy, Belle Chasse; Dre Bernard, Washington-Marion; Ben Brewer, Loyola; Roderick Bingham, Plaquemine; Christian Blackmon, Northwood-Shreveport; Braylon Calais, Cecilia; Henry Cardenas, Shaw; Jeremiah Coleman, Istrouma; Jacob Crain, Franklinton; Jordan Cunningham, Southwood; Kaleb Daniels, Teurlings Catholic; Luke Delafield, North DeSoto; Jac Ebarb, Loyola; D’Shaun Ford, Opelousas; Kyle Gegenheimer, Lakeshore; Tavias Gordon, Westgate; Jayden Hagger, Tioga; Landon Hammond, Opelousas; Brandon Henderson, Woodlawn-Shreveport; D’Andre Herron, Leesville; T.J. Hullaby, Peabody; Leesville, Davian Jackson, Westgate; Rylan James, Loranger; Dylan Johnson, Wossman; Kyran Johnson, Northwood-Shreveport; Reece Jones, Lakeshore; Devin Joseph, Loranger; Matthew Lee, West Ouachita; Adam LaMark, Shaw; Chaz Martinez, North DeSoto; DK Mitchell, Booker T. Washington-Shreveport; Gabe Mocek, St. Thomas More; Jaylen O’Neal, Booker T. Washington-Shreveport; Vito Odom, Douglass; M.J. Owens, West Ouachita; Jacob Pajinag, Leesville; Kyree Paul, Istrouma; Marcus Palmer, Woodlawn-Shreveport; Terrance Pitre, South Lafourche; Jack Purser, Teurlings Catholic; Zack Malveaux, Opelousas; Demetrius Robinson, Minden; Darryon Simmons, Istrouma; John Sneed, Northwood-Shreveport; Trenajh Smith, South Terrebonne; Justin Thomas, Northwood-Shreveport; Kenny Thomas, North DeSoto; Uriah Wade, DeRidder; Jordan Veal, Peabody; Jacques Vicknair, St. Charles; Johnathan Walker Jr., Iowa; Carl Williams, Franklin Parish; Mason Wilson, Shaw; John Walker, Plaquemine; Kylin Wheeler, Rayne; Quintin Wilson, Woodlawn-Shreveport.

(NOTE TO READERS – As 2025 approaches, the SBJ is featuring some of our favorite content from this year. This John James Marshall column originally ran in the Journal on Nov. 11. More favorites will follow before New Year’s Day. Enjoy!)

When I appointed myself as Czar of the Sports World a few weeks ago, I didn’t truly understand how deep the issues were. There have been some nagging observations of my own from this year, so it’s time to dive back in to the deep end of the pool.

High school football, step in to the batter’s box. (I can mix metaphors with the best of them.)

There are two things at play here and they may not be popular, but it’s all for betterment of the game.

Let’s start with the one that bugs me the most and the one I would change so fast it would make your tuba spin. It has to do with high school bands and the lack of etiquette thereof.

I’m all for bands and I realize they bring a certain flavor to the game. But they’ve been operating without guard rails for too long now and, more importantly, can be a detriment to the game.

And don’t think I don’t recognize the gamesmanship that’s sometimes at play here.

Why the LHSAA hasn’t legislated some kind of protocol for when bands play during a game is beyond me. Particularly when they strike up “Seven Nation Army” during the middle of a crucial drive.

Here’s the deal: Bands should not – let me repeat that, NOT – be allowed to play during live action. During time outs, have at it. After a change of possession, of course! But not during the actual game for a number of reasons.

The main one, of course, is because it makes it difficult for the teams on the field to call signals and relay important information. What gets me is that if the P.A. guy plays canned music during the pace of play, the referee will stop the game and shut that down immediately. But somehow, they look the other way when a band cranks out “Crazy Train” on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

Difference?

And those of you band people who think you are pulling a fast one, I want you to know that I’m on to you. Listen carefully and see how many bands will play only when the opposing team is on offense. When their team is on offense, it’s like a library over there. I admire the ingenuity, but that’s going a little too far.

One more thing that bugs me about high school bands. Have you noticed how few of them perform at halftime these days? They’ll stay up in the stands and play until their lips bleed during the game, but when it truly is the time to perform and be appreciated during halftime, many of them are nowhere to be found.

OK, next thing: High school chain gangs.

I may not know an oboe from French horn when it comes to the innerworkings of a band, but I do know about chain gangs. I have stood on the sidelines keeping stats for many a game and I have seen quite a few interesting things.

There are some decorum issues that I’ll leave alone for now (I’ve seen two incidents on chain gang guys getting tossed by the refs) but more and more I’ve noticed something that referees need to pay attention to.

Obviously, the chain gang guys are usually pretty invested in their school. Some will even go so far as to have Official Chain Gang uniforms (which I absolutely love), but stand by them long enough and you’ll realize that many of them are paying more attention to the game than the chains.

However, there’s a little detail that gets overlooked and can have an impact on the game. In almost every game I’ve covered on the sideline, I notice that the chains are rarely stretched all the way once 1st-and-10 is established. Not by much and I don’t think it’s being done intentionally, but it’s pretty obvious when you look down and the chain has some obvious slack in it.

Why does this matter? Here’s why: if the referee tries to eyeball whether it’s a first down or not, a foot of slack in the chain – or even a few inches — and can the difference in a first down or fourth down.

If the referee calls for a measurement – which is rarely done these days – that won’t be a problem because he will stretch it like there is no tomorrow. But when it’s done with the eyeball test and you only have to get 29 ½ feet for a first down instead of 30, that changes the game.

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com