JOURNAL SPORTS
District 1-5A leader Evangel visits Benton in the only local Thursday night high school football game in Week 7.
The Eagles (5-1, 5-0) have a half-game lead over Parkway (6-0, 4-0) in the 1-5A standings. The Tigers (2-4, 1-3) have been at their best lately after struggling through the first two weeks, when they were outscored 99-34.
Since, the Benton offense has been cooking, averaging 48.8 points per game. But they’ve not been able to stop their opponents in the same stretch, allowing 48.7 ppg.
Bad news: Evangel’s defense has allowed only a combined 39 points in its last two wins. Meanwhile the Eagles have averaged 58 points in their 1-5A games.
Evangel’s five-game win streak is its best since 2018. Benton has won two straight.
Both starting quarterbacks are hot names on the Class of 2027 recruiting lists. Evangel’s Pop Houston has already committed to LSU, while Malachi Zeigler of Benton is raising his stock with recent outings.
Houston is averaging 12.3 yards per carry, most on scrambles, and has six rushing touchdowns. He has thrown for 21 scores and 2,070 yards while completing 66 percent (114-172) of his passes, with just three interceptions, all in a 51-49 win over Airline.
Zeigler has run for four touchdowns and a 6.4 average. He has 1,672 passing yards, hitting on 59 percent (101-170) with only five interceptions while throwing 15 scoring passes.
ECA’s top receivers are Charley Abraham (43-644, 5 TDs) Demarkus Evans (23-421, 6 TDs) and Johnny Casey Jr. (22-458, 5 TDs). All-State linebacker and rugged running back Damari “Dae-Dae” Drake has 10 rushing TDs and a 9.7 average per carry.
Benton also has three productive pass catchers: Case Austin (20-639, 7 TDs, 32.0 yards per catch), Rydon McCormack (21-344, 3 TDs) and running back Greg Chambers (20-194, 1 TD). Chambers has run for 10 scores, one every eight carries, and averages 5.1 yards per rush.
A live audio stream of the game can be found on the Benton Tigers Sports Network Facebook page or by using the Benton Tigers Sports Network link.
The Northwood at Bossier game initially scheduled for tonight has been shifted to Friday.
The Week 7 schedule for Shreveport-Bossier high school football:
TONIGHT
District 1-5A
Evangel (5-1, 5-0) at Benton (2-4, 1-3)
FRIDAY
District 1-5A
Haughton (1-5, 1-4) at Airline (3-3, 1-3)
Byrd (1-5, 0-4) at Natchitoches Central (3-3, 1-3)
Parkway (6-0, 4-0) at Huntington (3-3, 3-2), Independence Stadium
Non-district
Destrehan (4-2) at Captain Shreve (4-2, 4-1), Lee Hedges Stadium
District 1-4A
Northwood (5-1, 2-1) at Bossier (3-3, 1-2)
Booker T. Washington (4-2, 1-2) at Minden (2-4, 1-2)
Woodlawn (2-4, 0-3) at Loyola (6-0, 3-0)
Southwood (3-2, 1-2) at North DeSoto (6-0, 3-0)
District 1-2A
Union Parish (3-3, 3-0) at Calvary (5-1, 3-0)
D’Arbonne Woods (5-1, 2-1) at North Caddo (1-5, 1-1)
Homer (1-5, 0-2) at Green Oaks (1-5, 0-2), Jerry Burton Stadium
Non-district
Ringgold (2-4) at Magnolia School of Excellence (0-5)
District 1-1A
Arcadia (2-4, 1-1) at Plain Dealing (0-5, 0-3)