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

By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Services

He walked off a plane in New Orleans with two years of community college under his belt, not much in his back pocket, and two suitcases. One was plaid, and the other “looked like a saddlebag”.

“Here I am like country come to city.”

Mom had given him 50 bucks, which wasn’t going far. So, the 19-year-old Florida boy, who was transferring to Tulane University (“I applied to Harvard and Tulane, and Harvard said ‘No’), planned on moving right into a dorm room.

Problem was, he arrived on a Sunday, and the school was closed.

“I took a cab expecting to see banners and balloons and open doors. I had no place to go.”

He walked, and walked, and walked around campus, looking for somewhere to lay his head for the night.

Finally, around 2am and “totally exhausted”, he came across Tulane Stadium, which was being torn down.

“My first night in college, my first night in Louisiana, I slept in the rubble. I wound my way back into a cavern and thought, ‘I won’t get mugged here.’ I unpacked the little suitcase and made a pillow. That was my introduction to both college and Louisiana.”

Bill Sabo, Director of Economic Development for the City of Shreveport, told me that story – and his story – during lunch at a place he chose, The Missing Link. Bill, who seldom eats lunch anywhere other than in his office, had a Chicago Hot Dog and unsweet tea. I had the Greek Salad and a bottled water. Bill took most of his hot dog to go, not wanting to get mustard on his dress shirt. He emailed me after finishing lunch at his desk, saying he got mustard on his shirt.

“I would rather have a good hot dog than a mediocre anything else.”

Bill grew up in Fort Lauderdale, having moved from Ohio with his mother and two older brothers when he was three years old. Bill’s father died from leukemia just two weeks after being diagnosed, and Bill’s mother wanted to live close to her sister.

“She said more than once, ‘My job after your dad died was to raise you three.’”

Done.

“She worked at the high school that all three of us went so she could be close. We didn’t get into trouble. We were the first group of the family to go to college. She knew where we were. She knew how much money we spent. ‘You had five dollars. Where is it? Okay, that only accounts for $4.50, Where is the other .50?’”

Perhaps being held accountable for his money had something to do with Bill’s interest in economic development, but that came after 25 years in the newspaper business.

“I loved writing. When I got out (of college), the way I could make a living was being a reporter. It was less about reporting and more about writing. Then, it became more about reporting and less about writing.”

That’s when Bill found out how much the paper’s advertising folks were making.

“When I saw their commission checks, they were more than I made all month . . . . I was ready to move on with my life. I was ready to make a little money.”

Bill’s advertising career took him to five cities. In all, Bill and his wife of 34 years (Beth) have lived in 10 different cities.

“I think it’s done a lot for our marriage. You’re starting over in a new place. You have no friends . . . . Going through that journey and having somebody to do that with – you’re relying on each other and you’re making friends together.”

It was in New Orleans (city number eight) where Bill, who was in his 50’s and a magazine publisher,  dipped his toe into economic development. Bill found it wasn’t that different from what he had been doing.

“It goes back to journalism. The best stories you write help people. They get things done. That’s what I find with economic development. It is helping people. It is helping neighborhoods. It is trying to make small businesses easier to open. It is helping someone fulfill a dream.”

When Bill isn’t working to streamline processes and bring new business to town, he’s in his kitchen. Bill loves his family. He loves economic development. He loves food.

“It was born from my mother maybe being the worst cook on the planet. She was an Irish-Catholic from Boston who basically put everything in an electric skillet with a little water. It didn’t matter what it was. In fact, she gave me food poisoning twice, because nothing ever really went bad in our refrigerator.”

While as a kid you and I were watching cartoons, Bill was glued to cooking shows. Remember

The Galloping Gourmet?

“I worked at IHOP when I was 14 as a dishwasher. I started experimenting there. Then, I worked at pizza places. I was a cook at an Italian restaurant. Cooking is my love language. I cook for people . . . . We love to entertain. We love to have dinner parties. That’s my favorite thing to do.”

Bill told me he has 100-150 cookbooks. He can whip up anything from a Paul Prudhomme dish, to Italian, or French. But Bill leaves the simple stuff to Beth.

“I will say, ‘Do you want me to make Kraft Mac and Cheese?’ She says, ‘No. You can’t make that. You mess it up every single time. You can make Beef Wellington, but you can’t do Kraft Mac & Cheese.’”

And all that chopping has taken a physical toll.

“You don’t want to have too much wine, because (Bill shows me his left thumb) I have lopped off that part of a finger. So, don’t drink and dice.”

The day Bill and I had lunch, he was not far removed from his 66^th birthday.

“My mind is not comprehending that. My mind is saying, ‘We could go surfing again. We could play tennis like when we were 20. I go clothes shopping, put something on, and my wife will say, ‘You’re kidding, right? You think you’re Keith Urban? Is that what you’re thinking?’ I say, ‘Yes!’ I don’t see myself as getting older, although I know I am, and my ailments are starting to catch up with me.”

But age hasn’t damped Bill’s desire for helping people.

“I wish I was driven more by money. I really do. But that’s not where I get my fulfillment. My fulfillment is doing things that help people. For other people, their bank account is a scorecard. That’s great. It’s just never been mine.”

Age also hasn’t diminished Bill’s ideas.

“I told the mayor before he hired me that if you want somebody to tighten bolts that are already there, I’m not the person for you . . . . I don’t want to do something that somebody has already done. I am motivated by doing things that haven’t been done. I know I piss off people sometimes because I want to get things done.”

Not wanting to keep Bill any longer from doing what he can to boost the city’s economy, I asked my final question. As always, what is it from his life story that others might find beneficial?

“Keep learning new things. Keep trying new things . . . . Blink, and you’re going to be 65. If you’re 30, when you blink, you’re going to be 65. Think about the long term. When you’re 30, you’re bulletproof. You’re going to be rich. Plan, and put some money away. But also enjoy life. Go to Europe. Take a road trip to California. My daughter has a tattoo that reads you will never be younger than you are today. There’s something to be said for that.”

Notice Bill didn’t suggest sleeping in the rubble of a torn down stadium.

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

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

Shreveport Police detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual pictured. He is wanted in connection with multiple thefts from stores along Bert Kouns.

The suspect is known to target large quantities of meat and household cleaning supplies. Since July of last year, he has been linked to at least 11 theft incidents at the Walmart Neighborhood Market located at Linwood and Bert Kouns.

If you recognize this individual or have any information that could help identify him, please contact the Shreveport Police Department at (318) 673-7300. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Caddo Crime Stoppers at (318) 673-7373.

BATON ROUGE — It’s usual for LSU head football coach Brian Kelly not to hold his Monday weekly in-season press conference at the start of an open date week.

But there were so many lingering questions after the Tigers last Saturday suffered their first loss of the season, a 24-19 decision at Ole Miss, somebody needed to provide answers to a horde of inquisitive media boys and girls.

So, since I’ve been a journalist longer than Kelly has been a college head coach, I took it upon myself to fill Kelly’s role and hold a Monday press conference.

Here’s a transcript of the presser:

Coach Higgins: I want to open with an apology, a few remarks about the Ole Miss loss, and then I’ll take questions.

First, I want to apologize to our tremendously loyal fan base. A couple of weeks ago, during a postgame media press conference rant, I said, “You’re spoiled.” Many fans took that personally.

I’m sorry I said that.

What I meant to say was “You’re delusional.” 

OK, I feel better. Let’s discuss this past weekend’s train wreck in Oxford.

Numerous things went wrong. But I want to point out our positives in such a hard-fought SEC game.

We broke our two-game string by not having a player ejected for targeting. The only problem is that when I told our team to avoid using their heads to reduce the chance of helmet-to-helmet collisions resulting in targeting penalties, our offensive line took it literally and tried to avoid any type of contact.

That’s our positive.

With that, I’ll open it up to questions.

OK, third row, annoying TV guy who I burned down on the ground for his Debbie Downer opening question after our thrilling win a couple of weeks ago over Florida.

Annoying TV guy: Brian, . .uh Ron, I hate to sound like a sound loop, but what is wrong with the offense? It hasn’t scored more than 27 points this season against an FBS team.

So, is it quarterback Garrett Nussmeier not being able to throw deep because of his mystery torso injury? Or is it an offensive line that can’t dominate anything except an all-you-can-chicken buffet? Or is offensive coordinator Joe Sloan being placed in conservative playcalling jail, just dialing up predictable plays because all the complex ones involving elements such as men in motion and vertical downfield passing seem to baffle your offense.

Coach Higgins: It’s our job as coaches to put our players in the best possible spots to succeed. It’s about the technical and the tactical. It’s about holding each other accountable. It’s about a lack of execution.

OK, that’s four straight cliches earnestly delivered. That’s a personal record for me.

Next question. Fifth row. Know-it-all-radio sports talk show host whom I can’t stand but treat nicely.

Know-it-all sports radio talk show host: Brian…sorry Ron. . .Nuss seems to really be struggling with an injury no one wants to talk about. He can’t throw deep. He doesn’t want to run. He doesn’t want to answer any questions about how badly he’s hurt. I could keep going because I love hearing my voice, and I never run out of words. But my bottom-line question is why don’t you change quarterbacks?

Coach Higgins: I’ve stood next to you. So, if I change quarterbacks, will you change to using a stronger deodorant?

What I’m trying to say in a very confusing “both situations stink” analogy is this.

Do I continue to use my tried-and-true roll-on knowing it has a proven track record from years of experience? Or do I go with a couple of shots of spray-on for a quick fix that may almost instantly wear off? Or do I just not take a shower or a bath until we crack 30 points in an SEC game?

It’s very complex, as you see.

Next question, the fan masquerading as an internet reporter with no formal journalistic training, who usually asks about our great homefield advantage?

Masquerading fan: Coach Kelly, uh, sorry my bad, Coach Higgins, so sorry about the loss at Ole Miss. I’m honored you’re taking my question, which is a bit different this week

So, do you think we can win a national championship at LSU? Thank you again, and I’ll just sit and listen to your answer. Again, so honored, Your Majesty, and much appreciated.

Coach Higgins: When Nick Saban was at Michigan State, he was attracted to the LSU job when he learned that Louisiana had the highest or one of the highest per capita rates in the nation of players on NFL rosters. He knew it was a state busting with high school talent.

When I was coaching Notre Dame, I wanted to coach at LSU for two reasons.

The first is that I wouldn’t have to pray to Touchdown Jesus daily to get the school to allow me to sign academically borderline recruits who couldn’t find the campus library with a search party.

The second is if Les Miles and Ed Orgeron, not exactly two of the most storied strategists in college football history, can win national championships here at LSU, why can’t I? There’s a ton of fast-as-hell Forrest Gumps within our state’s borders that I can get admitted to LSU. I could probably get some of them academic scholarships if we run out of free rides.

Or I can get them paid a nice chunk of change from Todd Graves, our Cane’s NIL billionaire, just for pretending to work a drive-in at a Cane’s in person for two hours one time a year.

Last question, old veteran reporter who sits in the front row so he can hear my answers and naps with his eyes open

Old veteran reporter: Brian,. . .golly I mean Ron, your offensive coordinator Joe Sloan seems to be bobbing for apples with his random playcalling. There were several possessions against Ole Miss where you had a decent drive going by sticking to the short and intermediate passes that Nussmeier can handle, and then Sloan would call a drive-killing deep shot downfield that Nuss is incapable of completing. How can Sloan not go off the rails in those situations?

Coach Higgins: First, I haven’t heard the phrase “bobbing for apples” for decades. Kudos for the old school cliché.

I believe the best way to help Coach Sloan is to buy him better players while providing him with creative help.

That’s why I’m proud to announce my NIL fundraising project called “Loan For Sloan.” Fans can bid weekly to become Joe’s co-offensive coordinator for every game the rest of the season.

The minimum bid is $50,000, so the fans who submit the four highest bids each week by Thursday noon will get to be Joe’s coaching booth co-pilot for one quarter each.

The only stipulation is that Joe makes all 4^th down conversion gambles.

We’ll raise money for the transfer portal, and Joe can deflect criticism to the highest bidders for their questionable play-calling so the disgruntled fan base can basically blame themselves.

The way I see it, it’s a win-win, which we may not have in any shape or form until we accept our meaningless minor bowl bid.

That’s it for today’s media conference. Coach Kelly will return here on Wednesday. He will have had three days to think of something positive to say to give all Tigers fans the belief that LSU can still win the national title.

Because he’s the delusional master of illusion.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

The usual slate of appealing District 1-5A matchups and a couple 1-4A contests highlighted by what should be Loyola’s first real test of the season top the slate of midseason high school football games locally this weekend.

The three unbeatens in 1-5A – Evangel, Captain Shreve and Parkway – all play away from home this week.

Evangel doesn’t travel very far, playing at Independence Stadium Thursday night against an improving Huntington squad.

Captain Shreve goes to Airline in a rematch of last year’s 69-68 classic won by the Vikings, who lost for the first time in 14 district games last Friday, 51-49 at Evangel.

Parkway has plowed over its four foes but will have to contend with Byrd’s Wing-T option offense and a Yellow Jackets team that threw a Week 3 scare into Evangel and will be playing at home for the third straight week.

Haughton heads to Natchitoches Central in another district contest. The Chiefs have struggled defensively but have been competitive with an explosive offense in their three losses to the three 1-5A unbeatens.

Loyola has outscored its opponents 222-46, opening 1-4A competition last Thursday with a 56-0 romp over Southwood. Minden rolled over Woodlawn last Friday on the heels of a massive upset loss to North Webster a week earlier.

Bossier and Southwood collide in what looks like a good matchup between two 1-4A programs on the upswing Friday at Independence Stadium.

The Week 5 prep schedule involving Shreveport-Bossier teams:

THURSDAY GAME

District 1-5A

Evangel (3-1, 3-0) at Huntington (2-2, 2-1), Independence Stadium

FRIDAY’S GAMES

District 1-5A

Captain Shreve (3-1, 3-0) at Airline (3-1, 1-1)

Parkway (4-0, 2-0) vs. Byrd (1-3, 0-2), Lee Hedges Stadium

Haughton (1-3, 1-2) at Natchitoches Central (1-3, 0-3), Turpin Stadium

Non-district

Benton (0-4) at Leesville (1-3)

District 1-4A

Booker T. Washington (3-1, 1-0) at North DeSoto (4-0, 1-0)

Bossier (2-2, 0-1) at Southwood (2-1, 0-1), Independence Stadium

Minden (2-2, 1-0) at Loyola (4-0, 1-0)

Woodlawn (2-2, 0-1) at Northwood (3-1, 0-1)

District 1-2A

Magnolia School of Excellence (0-3, 0-1) at Calvary (3-1, 1-0)

Non-district

Mansfield (2-2) at North Caddo (1-3)

District 1-1A

Plain Dealing (0-3, 0-2) at Glenbrook (2-2, 1-1)

JOURNAL SPORTS

The Calvary Baptist Academy football team opened District 1-2A competition with a convincing win at previously unbeaten D’Arbonne Woods last week and moved up a spot to fifth in the Week 5 Class 2A Top 10 statewide poll conducted by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Calvary, a 37-15 winner on the road last Friday, took advantage of a 35-34 loss at Notre Dame by last week’s No. 2 team, Catholic-New Iberia, to climb in the rankings. The Cavs’ next game is a visit from winless Magnolia School of Excellence.

Evangel’s 51-49 win over Airline got noticed by the 11 LSWA voters. The Eagles earned 10 points and are now just three spots out of the Class 5A Top 10.

Also receiving votes in 5A are unbeaten Parkway and Airline.

The Week 5 LSWA Top 10 polls:

Class 5A

School (1^st place votes), points, last week’s rank

1. Karr (11), 4-0, 132, 1

2. Ruston, 4-0, 116, 3

3. Central, 4-0, 95, 4

4. St. Augustine, 4-0, 92, 5

5. Alexandria Senior High, 4-0, 83, 6

6. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 3-1, 80, 2

7. John Curtis, 3-0, 73, 8

8. Zachary, 3-0, 56, 9

9. Brother Martin, 4-0, 36, 10

10. West Monroe, 3-1, 33, NR

Others receiving votes: Neville 16, Terrebonne 16, Evangel Christian 10, Ouachita 5, Destrehan 5, Parkway 2, Archbishop Rummel 2, Carencro 2, Airline 1, East Ascension 1.

Class 4A

1. North DeSoto (9), 4-0, 127, 1

2. Teurlings Catholic (2), 4-0, 120, 2

3. St. Thomas More, 2-2, 102, T3

4. Franklin Parish, 3-1, 101, T3

5. Franklinton, 3-1, 78, 5

6. Lakeshore, 4-0, 76, 6

7. St. Charles, 4-0, 70, 7

8. Plaquemine, 3-1, 58, 8

9. Iowa, 4-0, 46, 9

10. Archbishop Shaw, 2-2, 40, 10

Others receiving votes: Vandebilt Catholic 14, Tioga 7, Belle Chasse 5, E.D. White 5, Lutcher 5, Westgate 3.

Class 3A

1. Jewel Sumner (5), 4-0, 117, 1

2. St. James (2), 3-1, 113, 2

3. Sterlington (1), 3-1, 110, 3

4. Madison Prep (1), 3-1, 95, 4

5. Bunkie (1), 4-0, 94, 5

6. Jena, 4-0, 78, 6

7. University (1), 2-2, 73, 7

8. Lake Charles College Prep, 3-1, 50, 8

9. Erath, 4-0, 42, 10

10. Church Point, 3-1, 36, 9

Others receiving votes: Jennings 29, Marksville 8, Amite 6, John F. Kennedy 5, Westlake 2.

Class 2A

1. Ouachita Christian (8), 4-0, 125, 2

2. Dunham (1), 3-1, 113, 4

3. Lafayette Christian Academy, 3-1, 108, 1

4. Calvary Baptist (1), 3-1, 97, 5

5. Notre Dame, 3-1, 91, 6

6. Catholic-New Iberia (1), 3-1, 82, 3

7. Lafayette Renaissance Charter, 4-0, 58, 7

8. Oak Grove, 3-1, 54, 8

9. Ferriday, 4-0, 40, 9

10. South Plaquemines, 3-1, 37, 10

Others receiving votes: Kinder 13, Mangham 13, Newman 9, Union Parish 9, Northlake Christian 6, East Feliciana 3.

Class 1A

1. Haynesville (11), 4-0, 132, 1

2. Jeanerette, 4-0, 115, 3

3. Covenant Christian, 3-1, 99, 4

4. Southern Lab, 3-1, 93, 5

5. Hamilton Christian, 4-0, 83, 6

6. Opelousas Catholic, 3-1, 79, 2

7. Riverside, 3-1, 72, 8

8. Kentwood, 2-2, 59, 9

9. Ascension Episcopal, 4-0, 26, NR

10. Vermilion Catholic, 1-3, 22, 7  

Others receiving votes: Sacred Heart-Ville Platte 18, North Iberville 15, Logansport 13, Ascension Catholic 12, Westminster-Opelousas 10, St. Edmund 7, Grand Lake 2, General Trass 1.

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Considering the pregame buildup, the obvious collision of what many consider the two best teams in Shreveport-Bossier, and the reward of having a huge District 1-5A W on the wall, last Friday’s Evangel-Airline meeting may well wind up being the game of the year locally.                

It may not. There is a lot of season left and no shortage of capable teams and dynamic players.

But the statement the Eagles made in rallying past the Vikings 51-49 is certainly enough to earn Evangel the Week 5 Shreveport-Bossier Journal Team of the Week label.

There’s no surprise factor that Evangel has emerged in any conversation about the best teams around here, in north Louisiana, and perhaps even statewide. Some preseason observers ranked ECA in a mythical all-classifications state top 20 based on returning talent combined with the savvy leadership of Pastor/coach Denny Duron.

They’re a one-point loss at perennial power Neville away from a 4-0 record that would certainly have the Eagles smack dab in the middle of the LSWA’s Class 5A Top 10 poll.

Evangel is built around the prodigious talent of Class of 2027 LSU commitment Peyton “Pop” Houston at quarterback, but he’s got plenty of help. That gave the Eagles the edge needed to come back from a two-TD deficit and become the first district team since late in the 2023 season to top Airline.

“I can’t say enough for people coming in and making big plays,” said Duron.

It happened up front with an offensive line that created room for Damari “Dae-Dae” Drake to rumble, and gave Houston enough protection most of the night from a ferocious Vikings pass rush. It happened on defense, where returning All-State linebacker Drake was a menacing presence, and where the game’s pivotal play unfolded – a “Peanut punch” fumble forced by Nick Lopez on the goalline, picked up and returned 99 yards for a touchdown by Jayden Hicks.

Even though Houston was intercepted a career-worst three times, including a first-quarter pick six, the Eagles didn’t falter.

“It’s great. It takes a lot of pressure off,” said Houston. “At the end of the day, it’s always a team thing. I know I hurt them a lot but this team just kept finding ways to stay together.”

Duron pointed to Houston’s brilliance despite the three INTs. Otherwise, he was 17 of 22 for 427 yards and three touchdowns.

“I know they intercepted Pop three times but every one of the passes was the attempt of a guy with the heart of a lion to make a big play. When you’re trying to make big plays, you’re going to have some (bad) moments,” said Duron. “Overall, he played out of his mind. It was wonderful.”

Houston said the players around him made all the difference – especially the Eagles’ flock of receivers.

“Those guys have the speed, the hands, the knowledge of the game, and the work we put in, there’s no better place than Evangel to pass the ball with a bunch of receivers like Johnny Casey, ‘Poo’ (Seth Collins), Demarkus (Evans) and Charley Abraham, all those guys,” he said. “They make my job a lot easier. All I have to do is get them the ball in space and they will do what they do.”

Duron had praise for the Eagles on the other side of the ball, and his coaching staff.

“Our defense played much, much better than the score indicates, because of turnovers and other things that put them in tough spots.

“I’m so proud of every one of these kids, and every one of our coaches. They put the game plans together, the intricasies of how we’re going to attack, what we’re going to do strategically. They’re learners, they’re always interested in growing, they’re very knowledgeable. They coached their hearts out tonight,” he said.

For all of the splash plays made by Houston and the receivers, and the game-changing turnover for a TD, the most compelling performance last Friday may have been by Drake, said his quarterback.

“It’s not enough things I can say about Dae-Dae. He’s making plays on both sides of the ball. He’s a dude,” said Houston. “He comes on the field tired and still produces. He’s a great player. I love him.”

As for Drake, he’ll tell you about all the offseason and summer workouts that have molded the tough mentality of this Eagles team – one determined to get the local area’s most accomplished program of the last quarter-century plus back to elite status.

Wins like last Friday’s are products of a united effort, steered by Duron and cheered, encouraged and nurtured by former players.

“We’re still Evangel at the end of the day,” Drake said.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

This past weekend’s Ryder Cup did nothing to “lower the temperature” in our hot-tempered country.

Not only did the feverish rally by the previously inept Americans on Sunday increase the voltage, tempers flared between the two squads and between the Europeans and the rowdy crowds at the Bethpage Black course in Farmingdale, N.Y. To show how pervasive it got, even Scottie Scheffler’s laid-back caddie, Ted Scott, nearly blew his stack on Saturday. 

Scott grew up in Lafayette and has fond memories of playing golf at Bringhurst Golf Course in Alexandria as a youngster with his father, Ted Scott Sr., and grandfather, Don Scott, who were from Alexandria.

His grandfather, Don, was one of the first players from Menard ever to be named to an all-state football team, in 1936, as a center. He later coached golf at Menard and, as a city employee, lived in what is now the clubhouse at the Bringhurst Golf Course. He had two sons, Don Jr., and Ted, the caddie’s father. Both were athletic, playing multiple sports. His uncle, Don Jr., was once the golf coach at McNeese State.

During four-ball play Saturday, Ted had a brusque reaction with European vice-captain Francesco Molinari that stunned many, given how calm Scott usually is.

The tension between the two teams was so heavy at one point that Molinari decided to step between Scott and Tommy Fleetwood, despite the two simply walking alongside each other and not even speaking. Scott and Bryson DeChambeau had just been in a heated discussion with Justin Rose after Rose, at the 15^th green, had asked DeChambeau’s caddie to move away from his line.

It doesn’t take much at a Ryder Cup to trigger irritation between rivals from the different countries.  When Molinari stepped between Scott and Fleetwood, he reportedly put his hand on Scott’s shoulder. Scott removed Molinari’s hand from his shoulder and was quickly jawing in his face, and Fleetwood’s caddie, Ian Finnis, acted as the peacemaker.

To his credit, Scott tried to bury the hatchet Sunday morning. He released a video on his Instagram account apologizing to Molinari for his actions Saturday. In the video, he puts his arm around Molinari’s shoulder, said some nice things about him and acknowledged the “heated moment” they had.

“But what many of you don’t realize,” he added, is they soon got over it.

“Neither of us want to make this competition about us,” he went on. “We want to let the players go out there and do their thing. Ultimately, I just want to spread love and joy. It’s a great competition, it’s great fun and this is a great man right here, so I just want to say I’m sorry.”

After the two shook hands, Molinari said, “I appreciate you. I have huge admiration for you, and I love you.”

If only the crowds at Bethpage would’ve followed Scott’s example, but no. They continued to be crass as they harassed the European golfers, especially Rory McIlroy. I found that odd since he was the darling of the patrons in Augusta, Ga., when he won the Masters last spring.

As an example, they made noise with squeaky rubber ducks, free giveaways with cocktails, when Rory was at the 10^th tee. Many spectators were removed over the course of the tournament, but not enough, as European captain Luke Donald accused the crowd of “crossing the line.”

“Crossing the line” didn’t work. It backfired. On one occasion Sunday, McIlroy stepped away from a putt twice because of the fans’ disruption and wouldn’t play for four minutes until the atmosphere cooled, but he answered their taunting by making a 34-foot putt.

What looked like an unprecedented rout by Europe, which led by seven points going into Sunday’s single matches, became a tense duel Sunday. No team has ever come back from such a deficit to win, but the Americans came close. The Americans rallied from four down to win in 1999, and the Europeans came back from a four-point deficit in 2012 to win.

That was the last year an away team won on foreign soil.

Although disappointed in defeat, the Americans got some solace in knowing they fought valiantly at the end in nearly pulling off the most remarkable comeback ever. Scottie beat Rory. Cam Young and Justin Thomas won white-knuckler duels at 18 against Justin Rose and Fleetwood. Xavier Schauffele crushed Jon Rahm 4&3.

The Europeans clinched it before Shreveport native Sam Burns, the former LSU star, finished his match tying Rob MacIntyre, the Scotsman who played a season at McNeese before getting homesick.

The Irish like limericks, even when the stories are sad. Well, here’s one for us that’s sad:

There once was a caddie named Scott,

Who, touched by Molinari, got hot,

He said he was sorry,

And Scheffler nipped Rory,

But ‘twere not enough wins in the pot.

JOURNAL SPORTS

When people step into the Spring Street Museum, arguably Shreveport’s oldest existing building, most would expect to find exhibits on topics or events from the distant past.

But the museum curated a display on something much more recent – LSUS baseball’s perfect season, the first ever in college baseball history.

“When most people hear the word historic, they think of long ago,” said Dominick Mercer, coordinator of museum services. “But that’s not always the case.

“When something is the first of its kind, so great a feat that in the moment people understand it’s an historic accomplishment, it’s part of history at that moment.”

The Pilots put together a 59-0 season, breaking a multitude of records that included most consecutive wins at any level.

The NAIA national championship trophy is the crown jewel of the exhibit, LSUS’s first national title in any sport despite being an NAIA power in baseball and men’s basketball for more than two decades.

The exhibit includes game-used items like bats, helmets and a signed baseball by the entire team. The feat garnered national and international attention, and the exhibit shows off a sample of the media attention the team received.

“It feels incredible to be able to display a historic event in the present as it speaks to the accomplishment of the team and the community,” Mercer said. “People can expect to learn just how difficult of an accomplishment this is for any baseball team, and the pride the community should have for a team that’s written Shreveport’s name as the first city to host a team to do it.”

While LSUS handled many opponents in blowout fashion, the season certainly had its share of drama.

The Pilots fell behind 4-0 to Southeastern in the first 1 ½ innings of the national championship game, but LSUS scored 13 of the final 16 runs to cruise to a 13-7 win.

Pitcher Isaac Rhode, coach Brad Neffendorf, athletic director Lucas Morgan and athletic trainer Meghan Neffendorf all won NAIA national awards in their respective disciplines.

Josh Gibson, Draven Zeigler, Vantrel Reed and Cobe Reeves joined Rhode as NAIA All-American selections.

The Spring Street Museum exhibit will run through October. The museum is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

For the final time, 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

I haven’t run the numbers, but my perception is that we have just about as many Chinese food restaurants in Caddo and Bossier parishes as we do Mexican food restaurants.

It seems you can’t drive far before coming upon either a sit-down-and-order Chinese restaurant, or one that serves a buffet. I used to be big on my buffets in my younger days, but now, I’m more interested in enjoying one really good entrée, instead of piling on my plate a lot of different food that’s been sitting under a heat lamp.

On a recent Friday, I asked a friend if she had ever heard of Lin’s Kitchen (4717 Palmetto Road, Suite B, Benton). She had, but had never been there. So, off we went.

My friend and I arrived at 11:30, and as I walked in, I felt the need to walk back out to my car and get my flashlight. The inside of Lin’s was dark and, frankly, dingy. What I found interesting is that there were shades covering most of the windows on the front of the building, which if removed, would had let in much needed light.

Needless to say, I was hoping that old adage about the best food being served in some of the not-so-best-looking places would apply here.

At Lin’s, you order and pay at the counter. However, it took my friend and I a while to decide what we wanted. Lin’s offered so many choices, it would have taken us half a day to thoroughly read its menus. I say “menus” because in addition to Lin’s extensive printed menu, there was a hand-written poster board on the wall featuring 23 – that’s right, 23 – Lunch Specials. The selections were familiar – everything from Sweet & Sour Chicken or Pork, to Moo goo gai pan, to Mongolian Beef or Chicken. I found it interesting that there wasn’t a price indicated for any of the specials. I had to ask how much certain specials cost.

After attempting to digest all Lin’s offered, my friend and I were ready to order. I asked the nice, very hard-working lady at the register about lunch special #8—Pepper Chicken ($9.75). She explained it was white meat chicken mixed with onions and bell peppers. That sounded good to me, so that’s what I went with. Each lunch special came with my choice of fried or steamed rice (I chose fried), and my choice of soup, egg roll, or a drink. I ordered egg drop soup.

My friend wanted to sample a few different things, so she chose to have lunch special #20 – Chinatown ($10.55). That would be a combination of beef, chicken, and shrimp. My friend went with fried rice, and wonton soup.

Now, you can’t go to a Chinese restaurant and not have an egg roll, can you? Not in this case, as we added two pork egg rolls ($3.10). Also, I had a fountain drink ($2.35) and my friend had a bottled soda ($2.75).

In its dark dining room, Lin’s had seating for 26 people. By the time we sat down, the restaurant was becoming crowded with plumbers and electricians on their lunch break. It was obvious they knew all about Lin’s. I took that as a good sign. If all those workers chose to get their fill at Lin’s, the food must be good.

It wasn’t long before we found out for ourselves. The lady who took our order also brought our soup. There was so much white smoke coming from each Styrofoam bowl, I thought a new Pope had been elected. My egg drop soup was delicious. The broth was light and the beaten eggs were soft. My friend’s bowl had two large dumplings with meat.  This was her first time to have wonton soup, and it won’t be her last. She said the broth had lots of flavor, the dumplings had good texture, and the meat had a touch of spice.

While I very much enjoyed my soup, there was one thing that made it hard to eat – the plastic spoon. In particular, the size of the spoon. It was way too small for soup. I found myself scooping up soup in quick-bite succession.

Our egg rolls were served with our soups. Each roll was well fried, stuffed with the good stuff.

My friend and I didn’t have much time to savor our soup and egg rolls before the same nice, hard-working lady served our meals. They came in Styrofoam boxes. My friend opened hers first, and I immediately said, “Oh my goodness!” I’m telling you, there was so much food, I don’t know how the container top closed. The container was filled – and I mean filled – with fried rice, beef, chicken, and shrimp. And, like our soup, there was smoke rising from the food.

My friend was impressed by the meat’s tenderness. She said the shrimp were much larger than what is normally served with a Chinatown entrée. She also enjoyed the fact the chicken, meat, and shrimp each had its own taste.

When I opened my container, I had the same reaction as when I saw my friend’s portion of food. My container was loaded with fried rice, topped with chicken strips, onions, and bell peppers. If you are a frequent reader of these reviews, you know I love my food hot. No complaints on this day, as my entrée was so hot, I had to blow on the first couple of bites so I could eat.

A staple of eating at a Chinese restaurant is getting a fortune cookie. At Lin’s, the cookies are up front with the sauces and utensils. You know how some fortune cookies are hard as a rock and taste like they were made years ago? Lin’s cookies were crunchy and tasted fresh. Neither of our fortunes were particularly inspiring, but the little pieces of paper did offer suggested numbers in case we wanted to play the lottery.

The cost of our meal before tax and tip (I tipped $3 when we ordered because I saw the lady we paid working so hard) was $33.43. That included a .91 surcharge for paying with a credit card. Also, I didn’t notice it until I was home, but we were each charged .50 for egg fried rice. The poster board did not indicate there would be an upcharge for fried rice.

Here’s the bottom line. I give Lin’s Kitchen Three Forks. The food was outstanding. The atmosphere, not so much. So, if all you care about is good Chinese food, I think you will enjoy your visit. The quality and quantity of the food was terrific. If you like your lunch experience with plates, silverware, and light (from bulbs or the sun), you will be disappointed. But the next time I want delicious Chinese food, and that’s all I care about, I would not hesitate to go to Lin’s.

1 Fork: Would rather eat a box of dirt
2 Forks: Will return, but only if someone else is buying
3 Forks: Will return and look forward to it
4 Forks: Will return and go out of my way to do so

Is there a restaurant you would like the Journal to visit for lunch?

Email SBJRestaurantReview@gmail.com.

Lump Sum Bid

Sale Type:
Lump sum sealed bid opening 1pm (ct), Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 with bid luncheon at 12pm ct. 

Overview Caddo Parish, Louisiana:

3-tracts totaling
1,944 acres (1,958deed acres) with 1,042-acres in planted pine (averaging: age 27, dbh11.5”, tpa250), 377-acres in natural pine (averaging: age 30, dbh12.6”, tpa119)

372-acres in natural hardwood with scattered pine (averaging: age 29, dbh7.6”, tpa126)

153-acres in roads and non-timber (rows, decks, pads, & ponds). All 3-tracts have active hunting leases $6-$10/acre, which transfers with sale.

Paved road access on state highway LA1(2), paved Parish Rd 150 and paved Parish Rd 117 (Boyter Road). Tracts within 3-miles southwest of Vivian city in northwest Louisiana. Logging capabilities average 8-months per year on roadside stands. A dozer and bushhogs are currently clearing roads, along with a culvert installation.

Complete detailed prospectus package with original tally workups by stand in adobe and excel, kml/shp based stand maps, and npv excel interactive program are available by emailing or calling Colleen 870-299-0978 or Ted 870-299-0977.

A Reynolds Forestry 4-wheel drive large SUV is at the Vivian airport for anyone who flies in; Reynolds Forestry has a p210n 6-seater which is also available to transport prospects within 4-state area; call Ted/Colleen to schedule.

Bid Opening:
Reynolds Forestry Office, 2315 North Vine Street, Magnolia, Arkansas 71753 (bidder attendance welcome). Lunch provided in conference room at 12pm (RSVP for meal) and bid opening at 1pm. Drive round to back porch door.

Bid Options:
Sealed bid by individual tract and/or cumulative for all 3-tracts and/or any 2-tract combination. Acceptance based on highest of cumulated individual bids compared to highest cumulative and highest two-tract combination (with highest single added for comparison to cumulative bids).

Contact: colleen@reynoldsforestry.com

Website: Land Sales Link

Google Maps Link: Click Here

Phone: 870-299-0978

LEGAL:

Reservation: Minerals reserved and seller reserves right to reject any and/or all offers.

Closing: Within 60 days of acceptance, overseen by RFC&RE, attorney, and abstractor. 2% Earnest of winning bid (minimum $20,000) due within 5 business days of offer acceptance. Title insurance, revenue stamps, and closing admin fee divided equally. Taxes prorated. Closing costs increased by buyer paid by buyer (10% per annum daily prorate fee for buyer closing extension). No other terms exist outside this document unless duly executed by all parties. Submitted offers (verbal & written) legally binding to all terms stated in this prospectus, deviating party responsible for reimbursing legal costs related to ensuring compliance.

Disclosure: Reynolds Forestry does not guarantee boundaries or volumes

VIEW & DOWNLOAD BID PACKAGE

STAND DETAILS

AERIAL MAPS

SOIL MAPS

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Close games turn on a handful of plays. Friday night’s battle between District 1-5A stalwarts Airline and Evangel turned on a bucketful.

And it lived up to billing, down to the last snap. For the first time in 14 district games, Airline wound up disappointed, but the Vikings lingered on the field at Evangel’s Rodney Duron Stadium for quite a while after the Eagles’ 51-49 victory.

Maybe it was because they realized it was going to take a while for the traffic to crawl out of the front gates of the ECA campus and their buses were going nowhere fast.

But that was a convenient consequence. Airline (3-1, 1-1 in 1-5A) and Evangel (3-1, 3-0) players chopped it up, not so much because there was nowhere to go fast, but they were in the afterglow of a big game that fit every syllable of the pregame hype.

Mutual admiration. Each coach marveled at the opposing offense – and bragged about his defense.

“I felt like we did a really good job at times, that’s the crazy thing,” said Airline’s Justin Scogin,  “and they still scored 51.”

“What he did out there offensively tonight was masterful,” said Evangel’s Denny Duron about Scogin’s play calling.  “He was floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee. We had quite a battle. Airline, they’re for real. They can score points on anybody.”

Duron was deservedly delighted in the aftermath.

“This isn’t the Super Bowl, and I’m talking like it is,” he said, “but this is a pretty big game for us.”

After a 5-5 regular season in their return to 1-5A last year, the Eagles had better things in mind. Expectations were higher inside and outside the program. So were the stakes Friday night – maybe not a must win, but no doubt, a statement win for the survivor.

“This doesn’t define us, but it hurts,” said Scogin. “I hope they understand we’re a really good team, and we gotta bounce back.”

Bounce back is what each team did again, and again, and again.

Take Evangel’s passing fancy, Peyton “Pop” Houston. The junior quarterback, who two weeks ago pledged to sign with LSU in the 2027 recruiting class, was intercepted only six times last year in 443 attempts.

He was victimized three times Friday night, one for a first-quarter 19-yard pick six by Airline’s Braylyn Jackson that helped Airline to a 28-14 halftime advantage.

“When you throw three picks in a game, you feel like you’ve hurt the team, but knowing you’re the quarterback, you’ve got to be the leader … find a way to keep the morale up,” he said, “and we did a great job of fighting back.”

Houston’s resiliency, tested like never before in only his second season of high school football, was added to his resume’ Friday. He finished 17 of 25 for 427 yards and three touchdowns, including third-quarter strikes of 69 yards (to Demarkus Evans) and 52 yards (to Johnny Casey Jr.) on successive plays early after halftime.

Take his teammate, linebacker and battering-ram running back Damari “Dae-Dae” Drake. Felled in the first half by what turned out to be a neck stinger (“I almost thought I was dead,” he said afterward), and pulled from the game in the third quarter after an usportsmanlike conduct penalty (“I knew I just needed to not be childish and not act out again … God gave me the chance to redeem myself”) Drake dominated the closing minutes both ways.

He rammed through five Vikings to blast in from the 1 for the decisive TD with 3:40 to go, and his power running helped Evangel evaporate the final 2:23 after Airline closed within two points.

“He just determined we were not going to lose, and took things into his own hands,” said Duron. “He took the game over, ran it down their throats. A lot of it was blocking, but he did a whole bunch on his own. He’s a warrior.”

The game pivoted over and over and over early in the fourth quarter.

Evangel almost tied it at 35 with 11:24 left, but for a missed extra point slightly dimming a series including an astonishing scramble by Houston to evade a big loss that instead was a 7-yard completion. (“No way!” Airline’s standout linebacker, Keadre Garner, exclaimed to the Eagles’ QB as the chase ended.)

Airline’s Kenny Darby promptly housed the kickoff, finding a lane up the left hash and going 97 yards for a 42-34 advantage.

Said Duron of Darby: “Not only does he live up to billing, but I’ve rarely seen anybody like him on a high school field. That’s as big a talent as there is in the country.”

Four snaps later came Houston’s last interception, a nifty swipe by Jaylan Bradley that set up Airline at the ECA 45.

The Vikings quickly gained first-and-goal, and from the 4, Darby (who shared the feature back role with D.J. Allen, along with his usual 5-star receiver duties) knifed over left tackle to the brink of a clinching TD – until the plot twist of the night.

“He was going into the end zone and probably would have sealed it,” Duron said, “but Nick Lopez timed it and punched it out. A couple of bounces and it went right into the hands of a guy who can really run.”

That was receiver and cornerback Jayden Hicks.

“I didn’t see it come out. I just saw it on the ground, picked it up and took off running,” he said,  “I was looking at it on the (videoboard) screen and knew I was going all the way.”

That 99-yarder gave Evangel a chance to tie. Houston dropped back, tucked it, and weaved in for a two-point conversion that knotted it at 42-all with 7:26 left.

The Eagles’ defense, at a fever pitch, got the game’s only three-and-out, helped by a third down botched snap and a 17-yard loss back to the Airline 6. The deep snap for Airline’s only punt attempt was more costly – it sailed over the back of the end zone for a safety and a 44-42 ECA edge.

A late hit flag at the end of the return of the free kick got the Eagles to the Vikings’ 28. Three rugged runs by Drake got them a two-possession 51-42 advantage. Naturally, Airline traveled 80 yards in just over a minute behind Darby and Allen, and quarterback Chase Williams, who looped a perfect 15-yard score to Allen that trimmed the deficit down to two points.

Evangel smothered the onside kick, then picked up a 12-yard sweep by Houston before Drake discarded defenders right and left on a 36-yard jaunt to first and goal.

Just when the Eagles seemed to have iced it, they provided one more unintended thrill. Trying to score, an ECA back lost the ball just shy of the goalline and it squirted a few feet sideways, For a moment, Airline players had a shot to recover, but failed. The last half-minute faded away.

But the memories will not, on either side.

“This is definitely the most satisfying game I’ve played. It’s always fun playing Airline. I know a lot of those guys,” said Houston. “The fans came ready. We came ready. Airline came ready. It was a great game of football.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

Sure, it’s just the luck of the draw, but you can’t help but notice how the Northwood schedule is laid out.

After three non-district games, it wasn’t as if the Falcons were going to be able to ease into the District 1-4A schedule.

The Falcons and North DeSoto have been dominating the district this decade, but until a couple of years ago, things set up so that the two played for the title in the final game of the regular season.

Seemed perfect.

But when the redistricting deck got shuffled two years ago, lo and behold the Falcons-Griffins matchup got moved. A lot. Instead of the last game of the district schedule, it became the first game of the district schedule.

Not exactly the easiest way to get things started.

But then again, Falcons coach Austin Brown said, it might not be the worst thing after all.

“If you think they are rolling now, wait until you see them Week 10,” Brown said.

The Griffins, ranked No. 1 in the latest Class 4A statewide poll, rolled into Jerry Burton Stadium Friday night and did all sorts of North DeSoto things in a 52-26 win.

They made sure nobody ever noticed the play clock even existed. They scored fast. They scored often. They just kept coming and coming.

Funny thing is, the Falcons never waived the white flag. The Falcons came out strong, scoring first and reached the Griffins 12-yard line with a chance to go up two touchdowns, but a holding call stalled the drive.

The Falcons still had a chance to get points, but when a Falcons’ field goal was blocked, some air went out of the Northwood balloon. Especially when North DeSoto scored five plays later. And then scored again. And again.

All of a sudden, it was 21-7 North DeSoto.

“Their tempo is next-level,” Brown said. “There’s nobody in the state that I know of that can run the tempo that they do. I thought we handled it well. For a while.”

Actually, the Falcons (3-1, 0-1) did their best at trying to beat the Griffins at their own game. Northwood ran plays as often as it could – the only team that huddled the whole game was the officials – but just couldn’t quite execute as well as North DeSoto did.

Mainly because the Griffins (4-0, 1-0) were able to run inside with the 1-2 combination of running backs Kenny Thomas and Braelyn Latin. When the Falcons started stacking their defense to try to stop the relentless between-the-tackles running of the Griffins, quarterback Luke Delafield loosened things up with a couple of touchdown passes on 169 yards.

Things got a little out of hand scoring wise for Northwood – the Griffins scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter including a 25-yard interception return for massive sophomore lineman Jonathan Perry – but the statistics told a story of the speed at which this game was played.

Both teams ran more than 75 plays and the first down and total yardage totals were similar.

“The score looked a lot worse than it was,” Brown said. “We stayed with them tempo-wise but you can’t make mistakes against good teams like that. We had penalties in the first half and special teams problems in the second half.”

“We knew they were going to play well and were going to play hard,” North DeSoto coach Dennis Dunn said. “We knew they were going to fight and battle and they did. But I thought our kids answered every response from Northwood and kept it a two-score game. When were able to do that, I really felt like we were in control.”

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

By MATT VINES, Journal Sports

While there’s always a mad scramble in District 1-5A, Airline had to be considered the favorites and the standard with an undefeated 2024 regular season and a 13-game district winning streak.

Evangel (3-1) ended that streak with its 51-49 win Friday and earned a spot in the catbird’s seat with a 3-0 district record.

But now the Eagles turn around and get Huntington (2-2, 2-1 District 1-5A) on a short week (Thursday game) in Independence Stadium.

Everybody knows about Evangel quarterback Pop Houston, but Huntington quarterback Justin Whitaker joins his counterpart in the 1,000-yard passing club through four games.

Whitaker has thrown for 1,102 yards with 14 touchdowns and just one interception while also being Huntington’s leading rusher (213 yards).

The Raiders (2-2, 2-1) have their flaws for sure, but Evangel certainly can’t ride the high of its Airline win and not prepare adequately for Huntington.

Parkway throws hat into 1-5A ring

It’s not that Parkway shouldn’t be considered among the elite in District 1-5A – it’s that the Panthers’ traditional early-season schedule can make it difficult to determine how good they really are.

Lopsided wins against Carroll, Woodlawn and Haughton certainly looked nice, but this 69-40 win against Natchitoches Central feels like an official toss of the hat into the District 1-5A race.

The Chiefs don’t lock up anybody defensively, but this is a team that has talent and is dangerous – ask Captain Shreve, who had to rally for a 43-36 win a week earlier at NCHS.  Friday night at Preston Crownover Stadium, Parkway dumped 36 points in the second quarter, led 48-27 at half and kept NCHS at bay the rest of the way.

The Panthers hit the road for the first time all season in Week 5 at a resurging Byrd team, who blanked John Ehret 33-0 and nearly beat Evangel the previous week.

“Left for dead” may be a strong term for Byrd through its 0-2 start (big loss vs. St. Amant and serving as Haughton’s only win), but a near-miss against Evangel and this blowout of Ehret proves the Yellow Jackets are far from done and can give Parkway a run.

North DeSoto applies chokehold to District 1-4A

While North DeSoto’s 26-point win against Northwood was deceivingly large, the Griffins grabbed District 1-4A by the horns with the rivalry win.

Leading by four points early in the fourth quarter, North DeSoto halted Northwood on fourth down and proceeded to quickly widen its margin to the final score.

The Griffins leaned on their offensive line and rushing game as they added Northwood to teams they’ve physically handled in the trenches.

North DeSoto, No. 1 in the Class 4A poll, may get a challenge from a surging Loyola squad in Week 9, but the Griffins should be able to coast through the rest of the regular season as they prepare for what they anticipate to be another deep playoff run.

Loyola posts fourth straight game of 45 points

In an area rich with quarterback talent, Loyola’s Bryce Restovich puts his name in the hat among the best.

Restovich threw for six touchdowns (four to Charlie McKenzie) as the Flyers routed Southwood in 56-0 fashion Thursday.

Loyola has scored at least 45 points in all of its wins – 55 against St. Frederick, 47 against Logansport, and 64 against Cedar Creek – before the District 1-4A opener.

Restovich is nearing 1,000 passing yards and has 16 touchdowns to zero interceptions.

No opponent on this list is a defensive juggernaut, and we may get a more true view of the Flyers when Minden visits this week.

Calvary clears toughest battles

While Calvary Baptist certainly has more obstacles than North DeSoto left, the Cavaliers went 3-1 against a schedule that includes Oak Grove, Neville, Franklin Parish, and now D’Arbonne Woods Charter (37-15 win).

The Cavs still have Union Parish (Week 7) and a non-district tilt with Huntington (Week 8), but battle-tested Calvary will be favorites the rest of the way as Rodney Guin’s team is riding a 66-game district win streak.

The Hudson Price to Braylun Huglon connection is one of the strongest in the area, and Price will continue to become more efficient in his first season as a starter.

Week 4 Shoutout: Green Oaks

Look at the final scoreboard, and a 30-8 loss to Union Parish might not warrant a second thought.

But Green Oaks led that game 8-6 in the third quarter against a Class 2A power with loads of tradition, state titles and lots more state title game appearances.

A third-quarter lead tells me that depth was the biggest problem, not scheme or effort or fight.

With the Giants coming off a huge Soul Bowl victory (38-16) to give first-year head coach Nicholas Peoples his first career win, one couldn’t blame a bunch of teenagers if they celebrated all week and weren’t prepared for a heavily-favored Union Parish team.

But these Giants were, and that signals that good things are happening on Cooper Road.

Contact Matt at sports@journalservicesllc.com

JOURNAL SPORTS 

The points piled up on both sides of the scoreboard at most District 1-5A and 1-4A prep football games in Week 4.

Three 1-5A teams put up 40 points or better – and lost.

Three of the four winners in the first week of 1-4A competition scored half a hundred. The exception:  Booker T. Washington squeaking out a 42-41 triumph over Bossier.

District 1-2A play also got going with a full slate.  North Caddo got its first win, outpacing Magnolia School of Excellence, while Calvary rolled to its 66th straight league victory on the road while knocking D’Arbonne Woods from the unbeaten ranks.

WEEK 4 SCORES

District 1-5A

Captain Shreve 59, Benton 48

Evangel 51, Airline 49

Huntington 42, Haughton 28

Parkway 69, Natchitoches Central 40

Non-district

Byrd 33, John Ehret 0

District 1-4A

Booker T. Washington 42, Bossier 41

Loyola 56, Southwood 0

North DeSoto 52, Northwood 26

Minden 51, Woodlawn 6

District 1-2A

Calvary 37, D’Arbonne Woods 15

North Caddo 38, Magnolia School of Excellence14

Union Parish 30, Green Oaks 8

District 1-A

Haynesville 70, Plain Dealing 0

JOURNAL SPORTS

Evangel unseated, barely, Airline from the top spot in District 1-5A and the No. 1 ranking in the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Top 10.

So you might think the Eagles’ 51-49 victory, their third straight, with only a 33-32 loss at Neville to keep them from being unbeaten, would elevate them from fourth to first in the new SBJ Top 10 for Week 5.

Not so fast, friends. Parkway would like a word.

The Panthers are perfect. And by a two-point voting margin, they’re the new No. 1 in the Journal’s rankings, moving up from No. 2 last week.

While ECA has played the stronger schedule so far, one comparison tilts ever so slightly toward Parkway: its 69-40 domination Friday of Natchitoches Central, who Evangel had a little more trouble dispatching in Week 2, although ECA finished with a 63-42 margin.

If the teams hold serve, and in 1-5A that’s a very big IF, they don’t meet until Week 10. Last year, Evangel rallied to win, and reach the playoffs,   on a walk-off field goal at Parkway.

Airline didn’t fall far in this week’s poll, dropping two spots to third.

This week’s SBJ Top 10:

1. Parkway (4-0), 5 points
2. Evangel (3-1), 7
3. Airline (3-1), 9
4. Calvary (3-1), 18
5. Loyola (4-0), 19
6. Captain Shreve (3-1), 25
7. Northwood (2-1), 26
8. Huntington (2-2), 36
9. Booker T. Washington (3-1), 35
10. Byrd (1-3), 41

Also receiving votes:  Bossier (2-2), 41 ½; Woodlawn (2-2), 42 ½