JOURNAL SPORTS
If Neville, a state semifinalist last season, is as good as its No. 3 ranking in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s preseason poll, then Evangel looks ready to soar this season.
Evangel barely missed upsetting Neville Thursday night in Monroe, falling 33-32. The Eagles couldn’t convert a two-point conversion after drawing within one midway through the fourth quarter, then had a potential game-winning 40-yard field goal blocked with 11 seconds remaining.
It was a third straight ECA loss to Neville, and painfully similar to a 30-29 defeat in Monroe two years ago when the Tigers stacked up the Eagles’ two-point conversion try for the win in the closing moments.
Special teams were pivotal, as they often are in season openers. Neville’s final touchdown was a 59-yard punt return, giving the Tigers their only lead of the night. Earlier, Evangel scored on a 7-yard blocked punt return by Ethan Mandigo. Both teams failed on point after tries – the Eagles made only one two-point conversion. Neville also missed a field goal.
The Eagles jumped on top 14-0 as Damari Drake’s powerful runs from the fullback position rocked the Tigers. Neville recovered to tie it at 14 before Mandigo’s TD put ECA up 20-14 two minutes into the second half. The hosts tied it again in the final minute of the third period but a bad snap foiled their go-ahead bid.
Evangel quickly regained the lead, with Pop Houston going up top to Johnny Casey Jr. for an 82-yard bomb just before the end of the quarter, but missed the PAT.
The Tigers recovered a fumble inside Evangel’s 5 and punched in a tying TD, but again botched the extra point kick. Rex Parker finally booted one through for Neville after the punt return TD with 9:23 to go for a 33-26 advantage.
Drake ran 18 yards for Evangel’s last score, but was tackled for a loss on a sweep to the right on the two-point try with 6:48 remaining.
WEST MONROE 41, HUNTINGTON 18: At Don Shows Stadium, the Rebels – edged by Evangel last Friday in the Bayou Jamb – powered away from an early exchange of touchdowns to take a commanding lead and spoil the debut of new Raiders’ coach John Simon.
THURSDAY’S SCORES
Neville 33, Evangel 32
West Monroe 41, Huntington 18
TONIGHT’S GAMES
Barbe at Airline
Northwood at Benton
Booker T. Washington at Lakeview
North Caddo at Bossier
St. Amant at Byrd (Lee Hedges Stadium)
Calvary Baptist at Oak Grove
Captain Shreve at Ouachita Parish
Green Oaks at Woodlawn (Independence Stadium)
Homer at Haughton
St. Frederick at Loyola
Carroll at Parkway
OPEN DATES
Plain Dealing, Southwood