By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
NATCHITOCHES — Kenny Darby had a sick night.
Despite barfing on the sideline, Airline’s sensational senior receiver turned in a rather sick performance, scoring five touchdowns, four at tailback and another on an 85-yard kickoff return, and had career-high totals of 175 rushing yards and 15 carries as the Vikings posted a tough 41-21 District 1-5A triumph over Natchitoches Central at Turpin Stadium.
Darby, who is committed to LSU, scored on runs of 5, 62, 1 and 37 yards, and an 85-yard kickoff return. He scored four first-half TDs to carry Airline to a 27-7 advantage, then broke four tackles with just under five minutes left on the 37-yarder that clinched the victory.
“Credit coach (Justin) Scogin and how he’s found different ways to get him the football,” said NCHS coach Brad Laird, a longtime college defensive coordinator. “The more touches he gets, the more dynamic he is. He made big plays to put them over the top. There’s a reason he’s going to LSU.”
Scogin concurred.
“He’s a generational-type talent. When it goes bad, you just get him the ball and he makes plays. He was struggling in the first half, he was sick and throwing up. He was weak, but he’s always ready to make plays.”
Darby admitted to feeling puny as game time approached, then went out and looked like Michael Jordan in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, with a fever.
“I knew I could play, but I knew it was going to be tough. Beginning of the game, I was feeling pretty weak, threw up, but I scored three in the first quarter, and got two more. So it was pretty fun,” said Darby.
“It was a good game. It was my highest scoring game, but it wasn’t one of my best games. I can definitely do better.”
Probably not the case for Kang Noh, a smallish senior linebacker who had a pretty extraordinary last 36 hours. On Wednesday, thanks to credentials including a 4.0 GPA and a 33 ACT, he was named Airline’s Student of the Year. Thursday night, for all of Darby’s dynamics, Noh provided the game-breaking moment.
“He’s not the most athletic guy you’ll see,” said Darby, grinning at his teammate, “but he can make a play, and he did it tonight.”
NCHS scrapped back into contention after halftime, mostly behind Kelton Howard’s 223 rushing yards. Down 33-21 late in the third period, the Chiefs pounded downfield, but the drive’s 11th play was unlucky for the home team.
On first down from Airline’s 11, poised to make it a one-score game, NCHS ran an inside flanker screen that looked like a perfect call. Then Noh said no.
“Over the summer I was known for having the worst hands on the team, but not this time. It felt like a dream,” he said. “I saw the guard pass set, so I dropped back, but then he came up, tried to hit me and ran past me, so I’m thinking, ‘he can’t do that.’
“I was wondering where the quarterback was going, and he threw it up. My heart dropped a little bit, I got my hands up there and caught it. I started running and was thinking, ‘let’s not fumble this football.’ It was a heck of a moment.
“It’s been a heck of a week,” said Noh, who ran the interception almost to midfield. Five minutes later, Darby sealed the deal with his last TD.
Scogin thought the much-maligned Vikings defense had a heck of a night.
“Natchitoches Central has a phenomenal team on offense and we held them about 20 points below what they’ve been scoring on everybody else,” he said.
It was the second consecutive hard-fought win for the Vikings (5-3, 3-3) after three league losses by a combined 17 points. The Chiefs (4-4, 2-4) lost for the first time in four weeks.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com