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