OXFORD, Miss. – All it took here Saturday afternoon to expose No. 4 LSU as a College Football Playoff fraud and elevate No. 11 Ole Miss as a legitimate CFP darkhorse contender was simultaneously rapidly descending and ascending Heisman Trophy candidates.

There was Tigers’ fifth-year senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, whose mystery torso injury is the germination of a spreading virus sucking all the confidence and conviction from an offense becoming embarrassingly more inept every week.

“I’m not going to answer any questions about my health right now” has become the mantra of Nussmeier, leader of a unit barely cracking 20 points per game against its four FBS opponents.

There was also Rebels’ senior QB Trinidad Chambliss, a transfer from Division 2 national champions Ferris State, who in his second start in as many weeks became the first SEC player with 300 passing yards and 50 rushing yards in three consecutive games over the past 30 years. 

“I’ve got to thank the whole (coaching) staff here at Ole Miss for giving me the opportunity to come here and showcase what I can do with great athletes,” said Chambliss, who had 131 yards more total offense (385 to 254) than LSU in the Rebels’ 24-19 victory.

The win rocketed Ole Miss on Sunday afternoon to No. 4 in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls.

And the Tigers? After four weeks of victories and zero offensive improvement, they finally fell off the edge of the rankings cliff.

The voters in both polls were kind to LSU. They only dropped the 4-1 Tigers nine spots to No. 13. In the top 25, they are behind in six ranked SEC teams (Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas, Alabama, Georgia) and ahead of three others (Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Missouri) who are the top three scoring teams in the SEC each averaging 45 or more points.

What Chambliss did against the Tigers was follow the blueprint of almost every dual-threat QB LSU has faced in fourth-year head coach Brian Kelly’s 45-game Tigers’ tenure.

With a simple flick of the wrist, they have the arm strength to zing completions of 20 or more yards (Chambliss had six of those vs. LSU) and the speed to escape collapsing pockets for runs of 10 yards or more (he had three against the Tigers, all resulting in first downs).

The Tigers’ defense, which had carried LSU to its unbeaten record and phony top 5 ranking, entered Saturday’s showdown allowing 9.3 points (No. 9 nationally), 246.3 total offense yards (No. 17) and 64 rushing yards (No. 10) per game.

Ole Miss totaled 24 points, 480 total offense yards and 166 yards rushing. While it was substantially more than the Tigers had given up to their first four opponents (Clemson, Louisiana Tech, Florida and Southeastern Louisiana), who currently have a combined record of 9-9, it was considerably less than Ole Miss’ previous averages of 44.8 points, 543.3 total offense yards, and 218.5 yards on the ground.

For the first time this season, LSU’s defense played just well enough to win and just bad enough to lose.

It couldn’t survive Ole Miss converting 2 of 11 third-downs. It couldn’t overcome three 15-yard penalties, with one for roughing the passer, two on consecutive plays for pass interference.

Cornerback P.J. Woodland’s P.I. infraction erased his 71-yard TD interception return that would have given LSU a 14-3 lead with 5:19 left in the second quarter.

Instead, two plays later, the Rebels scored the go-ahead TD for a 10-7 advantage and never trailed again.

Afterwards, Kelly said the Tigers lost because they failed to play complementary football.

“When our offense started to move the ball a little bit, our defense couldn’t make a stop in the first half,” Kelly said. “And when we couldn’t do anything offensively. . .this team has to click on all cylinders, and we’re not clicking on all cylinders right now.”

It appears it won’t happen anytime soon. Run blocking by LSU’s offensive lines has been nonexistent under Kelly’s watch. The only reason LSU set a school single-season TD rushing record (39) two years ago was Heisman Trophy-winning QB Jayden Daniels. He had 10 rushing TDs and accounted for almost 40 percent of the Tigers’ team rushing total (1,134 of 2,859).

That wasn’t because of great blocking. Mostly, it was all Daniels and every ounce of his sprinter’s speed and innate athletic ability.

Kelly knew he’d have a radically different offense last season when Nussmeier filled Daniels’ vacancy after his departure to the NFL.

Nussmeier carried LSU to a 9-4 record with his passing arm, because the team averaged only 116.4 rushing yards. During the Tigers’ late-season three-game losing streak to Texas A&M, Alabama and Florida, he had five of his season total 12 interceptions.

Since LSU had no running game whatsoever, he began forcing throws against defenses that frequently employed three pass rushers and dropped seven defenders into pass coverage.

All because defenses knew LSU couldn’t run, including Nussmeier, who wouldn’t gallop to green open spaces when he scrambled from the pocket.

The same scenario has happened this season in the first month, except Nussmeier’s mystery torso injury has obviously affected his ability to throw deep passes.

LSU has two of the fastest receivers in the country – Kentucky transfer Barion Brown and Chris Hilton Jr. – but Nussmeier can’t put enough mustard on his long-distance lasers.

Instead, his throws fall short, allowing opposing defenders to close on the wide-open Brown and Hilton Jr. and successfully deflect or intercept Nuss’ dying quails.

Nussmeier isn’t going to get miraculously healed during this week’s open date. This isn’t the NFL, so LSU can’t trade for new offensive linemen. Offensive coordinator Joe Sloan is still going to call those predictable first-down swing passes to generate a favorable down-and-distance that the running game can’t provide.

Kelly is going to ride or die with an injured but experienced Nussmeier rather than replace him with a healthy and less inexperienced Mississippi State sophomore transfer Michael Van Buren Jr.

Van Buren Jr. started MSU’s last eight games last season and had a pair of 300-yard passing performances vs. Georgia and Arkansas. In his debut as LSU’s backup QB just more than a week ago, he flashed his dual-threat skills playing most of the second half of LSU’s 56-10 blowout of FCS opponent Southeastern Louisiana.

With four ranked opponents remaining in LSU’s last six regular-season SEC games, the Tigers project to finish anywhere from 7-5 to 9-3.

Like it or not, Kelly will be back for season No. 5 next year. His recruiting has improved year-to-year, especially his NIL buys. He needs to renovate his offensive staff like he did after the 2023 season when he cleaned house on the defensive side.

It’s tough right now for Tigers’ fans pining for a fifth national football title, but there is a bright side.

The three LSU sports that have combined for four national championships since 2023 – baseball, women’s basketball and gymnastics – are right around the corner.

Fall baseball practice starts on Oct. 9. LSU women’s basketball opens its regular season on Nov. 4. LSU’s women’s gymnastics team has its first meet on Jan. 10.

By that time, we’ll know if the Tigers’ football team has won a Florida-based bowl game for the third time in Kelly’s four seasons.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

Shreveport native Sam Burns and the USA team nearly conjured up a magical comeback Sunday at the 45^th Ryder Cup, but could not overcome Europe’s brilliant play over the first two days and clutch shots on the final day in a closer-than-expected 15-13 defeat.

Europe dominated the American side in the first 72 holes of competition, in foursomes and four-ball play on Friday and Saturday, and was on the brink of one of the biggest winning margins in Ryder Cup history.

The USA sparkled Sunday in singles play, as Europe struggled to score the clinching points until very late in the day, before Burns’ match with Scotsman Robert McIntyre was complete.

It ended when Burns’ drive on the 18^th hole found a sand trap leading to his eventual bogey, and allowing McIntyre’s par to earn a tie for the afternoon, giving each side a half point. That completed the day’s competition.

Europe won only one singles match Sunday, but tied in four. The foreigners needed only 14 points for an overall team tie to retain possession of the Ryder Cup that they won in 2023, and bot that when Shane Lowry birdied the 18^th to tie the USA’s Russell Henley. Tyrell Hatton’s draw with Collin Morikawa in the match in front of Burns-McIntyre put the visitors over the top and gave them the overall win.

Though Burns’ forte’, his putting, was not a strong suit over the weekend, the Choudrant resident was competitive in all three of his starts.

Friday afternoon the Calvary Baptist Academy alumnus teamed with Patrick Cantlay, whose sizzling birdie binge on the back nine led the USA pair to a draw with the Irish duo of Rory McIlroy and Lowry.

Saturday afternoon, again in four-ball competition, Burns/Cantlay were in a tight match but this time fell 1-up to Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick.

LINCOLN PARISH JOURNAL

EL PASO, Texas — On a night where the Louisiana Tech offense committed four turnovers, the Bulldogs defense did one better.

Tech’s defensive unit continued its stellar play, recording five interceptions and returning two of them for TDs in the second half to lift the Bulldogs to a 30-11 win over UTEP at The Sun Bowl Saturday night.

“Great team win,” said Tech coach Sonny Cumbie. “The first road trip where you take a plane, the guys were locked in. I think they had a great maturity about how they handled the trip.

“Defensively, I continue to be amazed by our guys. Coach (Luke) Olson and that staff do a great job preparing. They are playing fast. Excited to be 4-1 and 2-0 in conference. There are not going to be any easy games in this conference.”

Tech (4-1, 2-0 CUSA) won for the third weekend in a row. It’s just the third time in its last 21 road games dating back to the start of the 2022 season that the Bulldogs have won away from Ruston.

UTEP entered the game ranked among the nation’s top teams in explosive pass plays, but outside of a meaningless 35-yard TD pass with 3:34 to play in the game and Tech with the outcome in its grasp, the Miners weren’t able to do damage against the Bulldogs.

Miners QB Malachi Nelson, fresh off a 400-plus passing effort in last week’s contest against ULM, completed just 17-of-37 passes for 71 yards and four interceptions before being lifted midway through the fourth quarter with his team trailing 24-3. Nelson’s longest completion was just 11 yards.

Jakari Foster returned an interception 67-yards for a score with 10:22 to play in the fourth quarter to extend Tech’s lead to 17-3. Alonzo Jackson put the final nail in the coffin with a 23-yard interception return for a score with 1:44 to play in the game.

“There are playmakers on the back end,” said Cumbie. “They are football smart. They have great anticipation. It is a huge relief when that happens. When we needed a play, those guys elevated and made the plays. Their confidence is very high.”

Michael Richard, Chief Leota and Kolbe Fields also recorded interceptions in the game. 

The one piece of bad news for Tech’s defense was the fact Fields had to be carted off the field in the third quarter following his interception with an apparent knee injury. Fields is the team’s top tackler and the preseason CUSA Defensive Player of the Year..

Offensively, Tech struggled to find any type of rhythm during the game. 

Blake Baker was 18-of-26 passing but for just 137 yards. He threw an interception in the endzone in the first half with Tech leading 7-0 and the ball on the Miners six-yard line. Baker also lost two fumbles, including one late in the second quarter with the Bulldogs in field goal range.

Baker did find Marques Singleton for a 5-yard TD strike in the first quarter that gave the Bulldogs the early 7-0 advantage. 

Clay Thevenin carried the ball 19 times for 68 yards with a 4-yard TD run with 4:58 to play in the game, putting the Bulldogs up 24-3. 

UTEP outgained Tech 271-232 in total offense with more than 100 yards coming in the final five minutes after the Bulldogs had taken the 21-point lead. 

Tech leads the country in defensive TDs with five and has now forced 13 turnovers in five games.

Tech is open next Saturday and will travel to face Kennesaw State on Thursday, Oct. 9.

JOURNAL SPORTS

DALLAS — Prairie View A&M controlled the ground game and capitalized on timely turnovers to hand Grambling State a 28-13 defeat in the State Fair Classic on Saturday night at the Cotton Bowl Stadium.

Grambling (3-2 overall, 0-1 SWAC) hung close through three quarters but was unable to overcome Prairie View’s 224 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

The Panthers (3-2, 2-0 SWAC) struck first midway through the opening quarter as quarterback Tevin Carter capped an 8-play, 75-yard drive with a 2-yard rushing score. The Tigers responded with a 10-play, 61-yard march that ended in a Theodore Caballero 27-yard field goal.

Prairie View extended its lead to 14-3 in the second quarter behind an 8-yard touchdown run from Cameron Bonner. Grambling answered just before halftime when Caballero hit again, this time from 25 yards, to cut the deficit to 14-6

The Panthers seized control in the third quarter, turning a Grambling miscue into points. After a Tiger turnover deep in their own territory, Lamagea McDowell punched in a 1-yard score to make it 21-6.

Grambling mounted a response early in the fourth. Quarterback C’zavian Teasett engineered a 13-play, 67-yard drive, capping it with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Keith Jones Jr. to bring the Tigers within 21-13.
Prairie View iced the game with 2:09 remaining when Chase Bingmon broke free for a 15-yard touchdown run, closing out a 6-play, 80-yard drive.

Prairie View outgained Grambling 346-266, including a 224-105 edge on the ground.

Tre Bradford paced Grambling’s rushing attack with 88 yards on 14 carries, averaging 6.3 yards per attempt.

Teasett finished 21-of-43 for 161 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. He added 24 rushing yards.

Cavadis Knighten led the Tigers in receiving with 72 yards on four catches.

Marcellius Johnson tallied eight tackles for the Tigers, while Warren Robinson recorded a sack and a forced fumble.

Grambling is home next Saturday night for Homecoming, hosting Texas Southern.

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

President Trump and Sam Burns, figuratively speaking, will probably arrive at the 45^th Ryder Cup competition about the same time today.

The president is expected at Bethpage Black on Long Island outside of New York City in time to watch the afternoon four-ball session between four teams from the USA and Europe.

Burns, the fourth Shreveporter to represent the USA in a Ryder Cup, will not play in the opening early-morning session of foursomes (alternate shot), but most expect him to be announced late morning as part of an American duo teeing it up in the second round of the day.

The 29-year-old, now settled in Choudrant where he plays out of Squire Creek Country Club, was left off the starting lineup for morning foursome (alternate shot) action by USA captain Keegan Bradley when this morning’s four matches were unveiled Thursday afternoon. Bradley said the lineup was set a while ago and was no secret among his players, and that pairings for ensuing rounds were already established. Those might be adjusted, but Bradley said he wants to proceed “according to plan.”

Burns and the other players were not available to media after the mid-afternoon pairings announcement. But earlier Thursday, he was bursting with pride about President Trump’s visit today and a massive charitable gift he will direct back home.

“It’s a huge honor to have our president come to this event, support our team,” said Burns. “This is about representing the United States of America, and who better to represent that than our president. I think we are all excited.”

He was also excited discussing about how he will collect a half-million dollars this weekend earmarked for the folks back home. All 12 USA team members will get $500,000 to allocate as they choose to charitable causes, a stipend increased by $300,000 since the 2023 Ryder Cup.

Hal Sutton and David Toms, locals who played in multiple Ryder Cups, shared their allowances with local charities. No such program was in place when former Shreveport caddie and club pro Tommy Bolt, a Byrd High dropout who learned the game at Lakeside Municipal,  played in the 1955 and 1957 Ryder Cup matches.

Burns was bubbling with gratitude Thursday.

“I’m extremely grateful the PGA of America is doing this. I live in a small town in Louisiana and that amount of money in that community for those charities is going to go a long ways,” said Burns in his morning media session. “It’s going to have a huge impact on our community and I’m just extremely grateful.

“To steward that money in our own communities at home – that’s a great thing,” he said.

But his main focus is doing what he’s done in two President’s Cup competitions as a pro, and two other international matches in his days at Calvary Baptist Academy (2014 Junior Ryder Cup) and at LSU (2017 Arnold Palmer Cup). Burns is in it to win it for America.

That did not happen in his first Ryder Cup appearance in 2023 at Rome. Burns went 1-2 over the weekend in Italy. His victory, when paired with Collin Morikawa in four-ball play Saturday afternoon, rekindled American optimism. They rolled 4&3 over Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg, who had routed two other USA duos, notably the power tandem of Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka.

That sparked a 3-1 afternoon recovery but it was only a temporary surge for the Americans, who were dominated in singles play Sunday and got whipped 16 ½ – 11 ½. That outcome is on the minds of Bradley and his team, determined to prevail on home turf against a European roster that has all but one player and captain Luke Donald back from 2023.

“Losing is never fun. It doesn’t matter what sport or what game, whatever it is you know losing sucks,” said Burns. “We want to use those memories as fuel this week. Everyone that was on that team or watched vividly remembers what that feels like. You don’t want that feeling again.”

Today’s play will be carried on USA Network. NBC picks up coverage Saturday starting at 6 a.m. CT for two more rounds of foursome and four-ball action, and Sunday’s 12 singles matches which are slated to begin at 11 a.m.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

Seems like everywhere you turn, there are people in sports who just need to settle down. Stop overthinking it. Just play and let the rest take care of itself.

Start with the Ryder Cup. You’d think with all the mental gymnastics that are going on that these guys are splitting the atom. Analytics to determine who is best suited to be paired with whom in the alternate shot. But will get they along? What if their chakras don’t match up that do?

But by all means, let’s make sure the ping-pong table is all set up so that proper team building can happen. And if the wives’ outfits aren’t color coordinated, it could lead to another European domination.

Here’s how to handle the Ryder Cup pairings:

“Hey guys, Scottie Scheffler’s going out first … anybody wanna play with him?”

There. That’s your first pairing. The rest of y’all just group up from there.

You can crunch all the numbers you want to make sure you’ve got the perfect lineup, but when somebody hooks a tee ball OB on the first hole, all that is out the window.

Just play.

It’s three days of golf with an interesting format that really doesn’t mean a whole lot in the grand scheme.

Noted philosopher Tiger Woods once asked the media at a Ryder Cup interview session anybody in the room knew what Jack Nicklaus’s record was in the Ryder Cup. Nobody did. (It’s 17-8-3, by the way.)

That’s because nobody measures golf greatness by Ryder Cups, where more than half the matches you play are tied to someone else’s success or failure.

Here’s another one –

Earlier this week, all over the Southeastern Conference, fans with little to do were breaking down the announcement of the three “permanent” football opponents for each school. Who are winners? Who are the losers? What rivalry might be lost that will cause the Earth to stop spinning on its axis?

Answers: Nobody, nobody and none.

OK, so LSU (which got Arkansas, Texas A&M and Ole Miss) won’t be playing Alabama on a yearly basis. Other than one less opportunity to go to Dreamland BBQ for ribs, LSU fans will still get the Crimson Tide every other year.

And in the meantime, how about a nice little roll call of Georgia, Texas and Tennessee to make up for it.

Stop worrying about it. Just play.

The SEC did it perfectly and as fairly as it could. Take a look at each school’s upcoming schedules for the next four years. It is everything you’d want it to be. All teams in the conference are regularly scheduled to play each other at least twice in any four-year period. LSU hasn’t been to Athens, Ga., since Garrett Nussmeier was in the fourth grade.

Georgia has played Texas A&M more times in Shreveport (one) than it has in College Station (zero).

Just play. Stop worrying about who is trying to pull a fast one.

It also filters down to the high school level. This will be a re-shuffling year for the football schedules (2025 is the second year of the two-year cycle) and coaches are already on the phone trying to find non-district games for the next two years against teams that can help their potential power point ratings.  The Holy Grail is when you can find a team in a higher classification that is in a weak district but could still win a lot of games.

Better solution: Just pick up the phone and call a few of your coaching buddies and ask if any of them might want to play in Week 2. Your place, their place … figure it out later.

Instead, there’s all kind of gnashing of teeth to find an opponent that could make a difference in getting a No. 11 instead of a No. 14 seed. Nobody remembers the Nicklaus Ryder Cup record and nobody remembers what seed you were in the playoffs.

Stop complicating things. There’s a reason there’s a particular word involved in so many sports. The umpire says “Play Ball.” The post-season is called the PLAY-offs. Coaches spent their lives diagramming “plays.”

In its simplest form, that’s how this is supposed to go all go down.

So just play.

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

The two marquee matchups of the local high school football Week 4 slate are games that quite likely could resonate into November.

Reigning District 1-5A champion Airline goes to explosive Evangel in a battle of the two league teams on the radar of statewide sportswriters voting on the Class 5A top 10 poll. The meeting between the Vikes and Eagles last year was a 47-42 Airline win.

In a 1-4A rivalry game that has been high stakes for several years, Northwood tries to replicate its homefield upset two seasons ago when North DeSoto rolls up from Stonewall for the league opener for both teams. The Griffins rose to No. 1 in the LSWA’s Class 4A rankings this week after scoring a stirring 39-28 victory at 5A stalwart West Monroe.

All four teams are undefeated through three weeks.

Playing on its home turf at Rodney Duron Stadium, Evangel will follow sensational junior quarterback Peyton “Pop” Houston, who has already pledged his verbal commitment to LSU in the Tigers’ Class of 2027. Houston is the local area’s second-leading rusher (414 yards) and is tops in passing yards, as expected, with 1,008.

Airline has replaced the state’s second-leading career passing yards producer, Northwestern State freshman Ben Taylor, with the versatile Chase Williams. He has thrown for 878 yards, trailing only Houston on the local list, and has shown good running ability while steering a more diverse Vikings’ offense than before under fourth-year coach Justin Scogin, whose team has won consecutive 1-5A games and 29 of its last 30 regular-season contests overall.

Airline’s Kenny Darby (31 catches, 491 yards, 4 TDs) is the local receiving leader while Charley Abraham leads Evangel with 285 receiving yards on 20 catches.

Northwood has lit up the scoreboard, averaging 57.3 points in its 3-0 start. Kyran  Johnson’s 349 rushing yards leads the Falcons.

Week 4 games

THURSDAY’S SCORES

District 1-5A

Captain Shreve 59, Benton 48

District 1-4A

Loyola 56, Southwood 0

TONIGHT’S GAMES

District 1-5A

Airline (3-0, 1-0) at Evangel (2-1, 2-0)

Huntington (1-2, 1-1) at Haughton (1-2, 1-1)

Natchitoches Central (1-2, 0-2) at Parkway (3-0, 1-0)

Non-district

John Ehret (1-2) at Byrd (0-3), Lee Hedges Stadium

District 1-4A

Booker T. Washington (2-1, 0-0) at Bossier (2-1, 0-0)

North DeSoto (3-0, 0-0) at Northwood (3-0, 0-0)

Minden (1-2, 0-0) at Woodlawn (2-1, 0-0), Independence Stadium

District 1-2A

Calvary (2-1, 0-0) at D’Arbonne Woods (3-0, 0-0)

Green Oaks (1-2, 0-0) at Union Parish (0-3, 0-0)

Magnolia School of Excellence (0-2, 0-0) at North Caddo (0-3, 0-0)

District 1-1A

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

By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

Loyola coach John Sella promises he is not the least bit conscious of records being set during a game.

“Not even a little bit,” he said.

If that’s the case, you got to hand it to the guy on maintaining his primary focus while some pretty impressive stats were being posted.

As records were being dropped at his feet all throughout the Flyers’ 56-0 win over Southwood Thursday night at Independence Stadium, Sella remained steadfast in what he was trying to accomplish as the team’s play caller.

“I’m trying to get people involved, trying to stay in a rhythm,” Sella said. “I’m trying to keep in the back of my mind to stay balanced and not just commit to one thing. No, records are not in my head at all.”

Those six touchdown passes by quarterback Bryce Restovich, tying a school record? Didn’t notice.

The four touchdown catches by sophomore receiver Charlie McKenzie? Failed to register.

What about the 92-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Ty Walsworth, the longest pass play in school history (which goes back more than 100 years)? If you say so.

However, there was one number that Sella was interested in and didn’t involve a record.

Zero.

The staggering stats by the Flyer offense is nothing new this season – Loyola (4-0, 1-0 in District 1-4A) is now averaging 55.5 points per game – but there was a marked improvement by the defense in terms of aggressiveness.

“I don’t know what it was about this game,” Sella said. “Maybe it was getting into district and wanting to send a message, but they were on fire tonight. We have a number of starters back on defense and I was happy for them and (defensive coordinator Sherrod) Lewis to get a shutout.”

It’s the first shutout since the Flyers won last year 50-0 against Southwood and the largest margin of victory in a shutout since 1967.

Southwood (2-1, 0-1) only had two trips into Loyola territory in a night that was punctuated with some defensive highlights. J.T. Taylor returned a fumble 28 yards for a score (his second of the season), linebacker Hayden Horton came up with his first career interception and Alex Mitchell continued his assault on gathering turnovers when he recovered a fumble, the sixth time he’s come up with a fumble or an interception in just four games.

Oh, and did anyone mention that running back Mason Drake averaged 11.3 yards a carry as part of a 147-yard night?

“We try to be balanced,” Sella said. “It’s just a numbers game. Wherever we have better numbers and better matchups, that’s where we are going to go with it. Mason ran hard and we made some big plays when we needed to.”

In addition to McKenzie’s four scores and Walsworth’s record-breaker, Jake Black had a 25-yard touchdown, the only score of the second half after the Flyers led 49-0 at halftime.

Loyola (4-0) will get its toughest test so far this season when the Flyers play host to Minden next Friday at Messmer Stadium. The Crimson Tide won 28-12 last year.

“This is the point in the season where we see where we belong in the district,” Sella said. “Are we able to hang with teams like Minden that beat us last year? That’s the message after the game; enjoy the win, but we have to move on to Minden.”

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

Captain Shreve roared out of the gate and held on for dear life Thursday night.

The Gators scored the first eight times they touched the ball, but a plucky Benton bunch got to the end zone the last seven times the Tigers took possession in a 59-48 District 1-5A victory for Shreve on its Senior Night at Lee Hedges Stadium.

Captain Shreve (3-1, 3-0) led 38-7 in the third quarter before Benton (0-4, 0-3) erupted for the second straight week. The Tigers came from way back last Friday to fall just short against Huntington, 59-57.

This time, Benton closed within 52-42 coming down the stretch in the fourth quarter but couldn’t convert an onsides kick and Shreve rode senior All-State running back Jamarcea Plater downfield to the clinching TD, a 5-yard Gabe Lockett run with 1:21 left. The Tigers added a last-second TD.

After rushing for more than 2,000 yards in his first season as a running back last fall, Plater had his first big game this season. He scored four times (runs of 8, 2, 3 and 78 yards) and had 261 rushing yards on 26 carries.

Benton’s rally was led by junior quarterback Malachi Zeigler, who accounted for 432 total yards (362 passing) and five TDs (passes of 54, 11, 65 and 38 yards, and a 6-yard run).

The Gators go to defending district champ Airline next Friday in a rematch of a 69-68 Vikings victory last Oct. 5.

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

OXFORD, Miss. – The last time LSU and Ole Miss played each other as unbeaten and untied football opponents was Halloween night 1959.

Yes, THAT game.

Billy Cannon’s epic 89-yard game-winning TD punt return and a last-minute goal line stand in Tiger Stadium provided a 7-3 victory for the No. 1 Tigers over the No. 3 Rebels.

Here Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on ABC-TV in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, No. 4 LSU and No. 11 Ole Miss collide with spotless records for the first time in 66 years.

Of course, only the third September date for this rivalry since 1940 has much to do with that. There hasn’t been enough of a sample size yet this season for the Tigers (4-0, 1-0 SEC) and Rebels (4-0, 2-0 SEC) to chart a definitive direction for the eight remaining regular-season games and possibly beyond.

In the first month of play, there have already been some unexpected twists and turns. It’s why in a series filled with heroes and heartbreaks, not even Las Vegas oddsmakers who have made Ole Miss a 1½-point favorite aren’t confident about how the 114^th game of this series will transpire.

LSU is being carried for the first time in fourth-year head coach Brian Kelly’s tenure by an aggressive, airtight defense, while the supposedly ultra-talented offense has faltered (among other reasons) because its Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback has been nursing a month-long mystery injury only revealed after the first three games.

“We’re a little short in some areas,” said Kelly, referring to his sputtering offense that has averaged just 20 points and 345.7 yards against three FBS (formerly Division 1-A) foes before blasting FCS (formerly Division 1-AA) in-state opponent Southeastern Louisiana 56-10 last Saturday. “So, we’re now bringing a defense that can stand up against the environment of going on the road.”

LSU is ranked No. 9 nationally in scoring defense (9.3 points allowed per game) and 10^th in rushing defense (64 yards). It faces a potent Ole Miss offense ranked 12th nationally in scoring (44.8 points pgp) and 9^th in yardage (543.2 yards ppg).

Since Lane Kiffin arrived as Ole Miss’ head coach in 2020, the Rebels’ offense has operated mostly no-huddle with a frenetic pace that forces defenses to mentally and physically crack.

For five of LSU’s six transfer portal defensive starters (except for Florida edge rusher Jack Pyburn), it’s the first time they’ll play a Kiffin offense that has averaged 506.5 yards, 74.1 plays, and 36 points per game in his 66 games guiding the Rebels.

“They’re a very up-tempo offense,” said Tigers’ edge rusher Patrick Peyton, a Florida State transfer. “It’s like they average 16 seconds in between plays. So, when you make a big (defensive) play, you celebrate, get back in position, and get the (defensive) signal because they are going to go fast.”

Even with sophomore starting quarterback Austin Simmons sidelined most of the last two games after suffering an ankle injury in Game 2 at Kentucky, Ole Miss continues to short-circuit scoreboards using a little-known Division 2 transfer portal backup QB.

Senior Trinidad Chambliss, who guided Ferris State to last season’s NCAA Division 2 national championship, has averaged 417 total offense yards and has accounted for five TDs (three passing, two rushing) in wins over Arkansas (41-35) and Tulane (45-10).

He didn’t decide to transfer until this past spring. The Rebels paid him more than $500,000 to become backup insurance behind Simmons.

Instead, he’s about to get his second straight start even though Simmons i now healthy enough to play.

“The speed (of FBS football) is a little bit different,” Chambliss said. “There are bigger dudes on the line. The atmosphere is definitely different. But football is football. You just got to go out there, play fast, play hard, and trust that your guys have got your back.”

Unlike Simmons, LSU starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier hasn’t sat out despite having an upper torso injury. The pain has hampered his passing and forced offensive coordinator Joe Sloan to steer away from certain play calls to preserve Nussmeier’s health.

Nussmeier said he was “fine” after he threw for 273 yards and three TDs vs. Southeastern. But he’s going to need help vs. Ole Miss from LSU’s anemic running game, which is averaging 116.8 yards and is ranked 111^th nationally.

Though the Tigers will likely be without injured starting running back Caden Durham (sprained ankle), Kelly expects Ju’Juan Johnson, Harlem Berry, and Kalen Jackson to run with efficiency.

Also, there’s a desire by Kelly for his offense to operate at a fast tempo because it suits Nussmeier’s rhythm.

“There were things seen (concerning Nussmeier) of too much analysis on each play trying to be perfect,” said Kelly, who is 2-1 vs. Kiffin despite Ole Miss holding the lead 70 percent of the time. “Let’s just roll with it. Know where your hot receivers are, flip the protection, and let’s not get to the point we’re stalling the offense.”

GO FIGURE

4: TDs allowed by LSU’s defense in 40 opponent possessions this season.

5: Straight games of the Tigers holding opponents under 100 rushing yards

6-6: LSU’s record under Brian Kelly vs. top 25 teams.

15: Wins by Ole Miss all-time over top 5 opponents (including beating No. 2 Georgia in Oxford last season).

35 Completions by LSU last Saturday vs. Southeastern, tying the school single-game record

.846: Winning percentage (11-2) of the home team of the last 13 LSU-Ole Miss games dating back to 2012.  

 Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

Somehow the duffers’ talk shifted from the Ryder Cup to Saturday’s LSU-Ole Miss football game, eventually settling on who’s the best quarterback in each school’s history.

The LSU view was Joe Burrow, with Bert Jones in the running.

Agreement was unanimous on Ole Miss – Archie Manning. No discussion. 

Spoiler that I am, couldn’t resist asking- what about Jake Gibbs?

These were by no means young men though perhaps not quite my age yet. I was, and still am, shocked by the blank looks.

Who? Never heard of him? You sure he was Ole Miss? Was he old school, nothing personal?

So I tried best my memory would allow:

Three years at helm, twice national champions; member College Football Hall of Fame; two-sport All-American (also baseball).

Chose baseball career over pro football; 10 years or so catcher with New York Yankees; then longtime baseball coach at Mississippi.

Still not a hint of recollection among my table mates. Saw little point in mentioning Charlie Conerly on Rebels’ side or Y.A. Tittle on Tigers’.

Everyone smiled at one last reference:

“Gibbs to punt; Cannon to receive.” October 31, 1959.

Contact Jim at sports@journalservicesllc.com

Jim Butler was an acclaimed writer and editor at the Alexandria Town Talk for 36 years, the last 23 (1977-2003) as editor-in-chief. He led Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of Hurricane Katrina for the Gulfport (Miss.) Sun-Herald in 2005. Butler returned home to Cenla a few years ago, and shares his talents and insight with Rapides Parish Journal readers.

JOURNAL SPORTS

EL PASO, Texas –  Louisiana Tech looks for its first 4-1 start since 2019 when it visits a struggling UTEP team on Saturday at 8 p.m. CT at the Sun Bowl in the Bulldogs’ second Conference USA game of the season and the Miners’ league opener.

The game will be aired on ESPN+. The Tech Radio Network broadcast featuring color analyst Teddy Allen and new play-by-play announcer Kyle Schassburger can be heard locally at KLKL FM 95.7, beginning at 6:30 with the pregame show.

The Bulldogs are 3-1, 1-0 in Conference USA with a rout of New Mexico State two weeks ago. UTEP, under former East Texas Baptist coach Scotty Walden, is 1-3 and will make its league debut after losing at home last week to ULM 31-25.

The Miners trailed 31-7 midway through the third quarter but quarterback Malachi Nelson threw for 404 yards to spur the rally. UTEP allowed 250 rushing yards to the Warhawks and only rushed for 33 yards itself.

This will be the 22nd meeting between Tech and UTEP, with Tech leading the series 17-3-1. Head coach Sonny Cumbie is 3-0 against the Miners since arriving in Ruston. Since the programs became Conference USA foes, Tech has won 11 of 12 matchups, with the only loss coming in 2021. Saturday’s game is expected to be the final meeting for some time, as both teams will depart CUSA after next spring.

The Bulldogs moved to 3-0 at home for the first time since 2019 after defeating rival Southern Miss 30-20 on Saturday.  Quarterback Blake Baker threw for a career-high 238 yards in the win over USM, 154 of which went to tight end Eli Finley, who set career highs in yards and receptions (six).

Finley was named the Week 4 John Mackey Player of the Week. The award is presented weekly to the top-performing tight end in college football.

Baker, Omiri Wiggins and Clay Thevenin all found the endzone for the second consecutive game.

The Tech defense scored its third touchdown of the season, the most in the FBS, while holding Southern Miss to 20 points and 122 rushing yards. Kolbe Fields returned an interception 48 yards for a score, giving the Bulldogs six interceptions on the year, third nationally.

The Bulldogs defense is also seventh in FBS in turnovers forced (7), 21^st in red zone defense and 22^nd in scoring defense (14.25 points allowed per game).

Fields was named CUSA Defensive Player of the Week after adding nine tackles, 0.5 sacks and 0.5 tackles for loss.

Linebacker Mekhi Mason leads the nation with 8.0 tackles for loss. Mason added 1.5 TFLs to his season total against Southern Miss. The second-year dog has tallied 1.5 TFLs or more in three games this season.

By T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal

DALLAS — Throw the records out of the window, because now it gets real.

Grambling State University opens its Southwestern Athletic Conference football season starting at 6 p.m. Saturday as the Tigers face off against Prairie View A&M in the 100^th  annual Texas State Fair Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

Coming off two consecutive nailbiting home wins, GSU coach Mickey Joseph knows his 3-1 Tigers will be playing in a game on a whole new level than that pair of victories.

“Right now, it’s SWAC play,” Joseph said. “These last two opponents came in ‘The Hole’ (Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium), and that was their Super Bowl. I told our kids (for the Prairie View game), ‘Don’t look at the scoreboard. This is a Classic.’ You can throw records out of the door. It’s a Classic. When they say Classic at an HBCU, oh yeah, it’s on.”

Grambling’s recent wins came over Division II Kentucky State (37-31 in overtime) and then Southland Conference member East Texas A&M (31-28) last weekend. Joseph said those two wins are misunderstood by those who feel his Tigers should have won those games by larger margins.

“After watching the film (East Texas A&M) is a very good football team,” Joseph said. “They played SMU and they played Florida State, so they played two money games. So, I take my hat off to them.

“At the end of the day, we fought. It doesn’t matter what level they’re on, when it gets down to DII and FCS, the big difference is Power 5 and the FCS, DII and FCS. If you’ve been in coaching, been in this game, you know that’s not much of a difference. That’s the same type of kids. One university has more scholarships, but it’s the same type of kids.”

Now the Tigers open SWAC play with a game that Joseph expects to be an old-fashioned smashmouth football game featuring a lot of running, at least by the Panthers (2-2, but 1-0 after starting the season with a 22-21 SWAC win at Texas Southern).

“We’re going to have to be gapped out on defense because they’re going to run the ball,” Joseph said of the Panthers. “I think they ran for 352 (last weekend) against Northwestern (State, in a 27-24 home win). I think they had one kid go for 186 and the quarterback ran for more than 100. So, they’re going to run the ball. They’re going to be plus-one with the quarterback run game so we’re going to be gapped out. We need to have gap integrity and use our safeties to try and make them throw the ball over our head.

“Now that’s easier said than done about gapping it out because they’ve got a really good offensive line and a really good quarterback. He started at Memphis, went to Middle Tennessee State and now he’s at PV. I think he was Memphis city player of the year, so he’s a kid to be reckoned with.”

Tevin Campbell is that Memphis product and has completed 33-of-59 passes for 327 yards with one touchdown and one interception while adding 171 rushing yards and four scores on 33 carries.

But Joseph believes the Panthers will also utilize quarterback Cameron Peters, who has completed 33-of-39 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns along with one interception while adding 76 yards and a score on 21 carries.

“I think he’ll play both,” Joseph said of Prairie View’s head coach Tremaine Jackson. “After hearing him on the call-in (SWAC video press conference), I think he’ll play both.”

And while he’s preparing his Tigers to face the pass, he knows his defense will be facing a solid Prairie View rushing attack led by Chase Bingmon, who leads the Panthers with 361 yards on 60 carries.

That averages out to 6.0 yards per rush by the Prairie View freshman.

“I think it’s a well-balanced offense,” Joseph said. “With Tremaine’s background, and what he did at Valdosta, they’re going to run the football. So, we’ll need gap integrity, but we’re going to need to run with them when they throw it.”

Grambling will also stick to the run a lot on the offensive side of the ball, but Joseph said the Tigers are willing to throw if that’s what’s needed.

“I think we do what we have to do to win,” Joseph said. “But I think we do have to take more shots down the field.”

Contact Scott at tscottboatright@gmail.com