JOURNAL SPORTS
No other district in the state lights up scoreboards like 1-5A, and two of the most prolific teams collide tonight when Captain Shreve visits Airline in a rematch of a 137-point eruption this time last year.
Both clubs are at it again, with offenses featuring two of the state’s top seniors – Airline receiver/returner/part-time running back Kenny Darby, an LSU commitment, and running back/occasional quarterback Jamarcea Plater, who is pledged to Wake Forest.
Other matchups locally include some spicy 1-4A battles. They are headlined by unbeaten Loyola hosting 1-4A rival Minden, with Bossier squaring off against Southwood with both teams showing improvement this season. Booker T. Washington (3-1, 1-0) goes to unbeaten North DeSoto, the state’s top-ranked 4A team. The Lions battled the Griffins to a 20-14 loss last season.
ANOTHER BENTON RALLY FINALLY GETS IT DONE: They mounted a fierce but futile comeback against Huntington in a 59-57 loss two weeks ago. Did it again last week at Captain Shreve, falling 59-48 in a game they trailed 38-7 in the third period.
Stephen Dennis knew his first Benton team wasn’t done, trailing 28-7 at halftime Thursday night in Leesville. Wampus Cat fans had little clue even if their team had to be on alert.
Dennis got his first win as Benton coach, a 42-35 thriller. The visitors (1-4) outscored the Wampus Cats 35-7 after halftime, including 14-7 in a frantic final five minutes sealed on an end zone interception by Tigers’ defensive back Jon Hollis on the final play.
Greg Chambers ran for four touchdowns (5, 6, 1, and 32 yards) and a pair of two-point conversions, scoring 28 for Benton, while Malachi Zeigler threw TD passes of 46 and 62 yards to Case Austin – who also made an interception playing defense.
Their 62-yarder with under five minutes left coupled with Chambers’ conversion run to give Benton its first lead, 34-28. The Wampus Cats (1-4) answered less than a minute later to regain a 35-34 edge.
Ending a game-winning 60-yard drive, Chambers went 32 yards around and up the right side with 1:34 remaining to push Benton on top for the second time, and added another two-point conversion run.
The Wampus Cats moved near the red zone in the final minute but Hollis’ pickoff of a desperate last-play heave set off a celebration by the purple and gold team and fans. The team’s resiliency defied adversity, and the Tigers’ mental toughness shone through.
“That’s due to our senior leadership,” said Dennis. “It can be tough for a senior group to buy into a new coaching staff but these kids have. I’m thankful for their leadership, their fight, their grit.”
After Plater and the Gators ran over Benton last week before a magnificent surge led by Zeigler, Benton demonstrated defensive progress. Leesville was the first Tiger foe not to score at least 49.
“We played the run a lot better tonight than we had, but struggled against the pass before we cleaned it up in the second half,” said Dennis. “I’m proud of the defense for that.”
Benton, which snapped an eight-game skid, plays at Haughton next week, the last team the Tigers topped until Thursday night.
The Week 5 prep schedule involving Shreveport-Bossier teams:
THURSDAY’S SCORES
District 1-5A
Evangel 62, Huntington 14
Non-district
Benton 42, Leesville 35
TONIGHT’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
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)
D’Arbonne Woods (3-1, 0-1) at Green Oaks (1-3, 0-1), Leonard C. Barnes Stadium, BTW
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)