By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
STONEWALL – In a game that featured two 8-0 teams, you wouldn’t think there wouldn’t be much of a sub-plot involved. But when North DeSoto and Loyola took the field at Griffin Stadium Friday night – despite both being undefeated – they came from different directions.
Both literally and figuratively.
The Griffins came in from the south end zone with all their usual pomp, circumstance and fireworks that is impossible to ignore. The Flyers entered from the opposite direction with the typical break-the-banner-run-through that you see at just about every other high school football game.
As they stood on the sidelines and waited to play this District 1-4A showdown, both teams had something to prove. North DeSoto, which has dominated the district in recent years and been a regular playoff force, had already proven plenty by beating Class 5A No. 3-ranked West Monroe earlier this year. Would this just be another chapter?
Just like the Griffins, the Flyers had been putting up gaudy offensive numbers this season. Sure, it had gotten them plenty of attention … and just as much skepticism about the quality of its opponents this year. How would they stand up against a team with the credentials for North DeSoto?
When it was over, both had proven something in the 64-49 North DeSoto win.
The Griffins used that old line from former NFL coach Dennis Green (“they are who we think they are”) as they clinched at least a share of the district title. And if there were any question as to whether they should be the No. 1 team on Class 4A, that question was answered.
As for Loyola? “I think we showed that we belong,” said head coach John Sella.
There’s not much question that for four quarters, the Flyers answered the bell.
Loyola’s four-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to open the game certainly put everyone on notice, especially when it was followed by the defense getting a turnover and a three-and-out on the first two Griffin drives.
But as the empty possessions began to even out, the Flyers found themselves playing catch up for the last 2 ½ quarters.
Getting the Griffins off the field was really the only way for Loyola to have a chance to go stride for stride. It wasn’t Loyola’s two punts or three turnovers that played the biggest role. After all, the Griffins also had two punts as well and two turnovers.
In a game in which 16 total possessions ended with a touchdown, lots of little moments get lost that could have made a different for the Flyers.
Loyola had two possessions in the first quarter in which it could have added to the 7-0 lead but didn’t. After that, the Griffins scored on the next six possessions, but even in those, there were chances to get North DeSoto off the field.
The Griffins had back-to-back possessions in which they turned a third-and-three into a long scoring run (26 and 62 yards).
Loyola scored to go back ahead on an amazing 27-yard touchdown catch by Jake Black, but North DeSoto converted on a third-and-8 and scored on the following play on a pass to tight end Miller Warren, who treated the end zone like his own personal playground with three scoring receptions.
Even though the Flyers tied it again at 28-all on a 57-yard pass from Bryce Restovich to Ty Walsworth, it was the “middle eight” –the last four minutes of the first half and the first four of the second half — that ultimately did them in.
Expertly using the clock to close the second quarter, the Griffins managed to run 14 out of 15 plays wrapped around halftime. By the time Loyola got the ball for the first time in the third quarter, the Flyers were down 42-28. From there, the two teams simply alternated touchdowns.
“I was happy that our guys got to play in that environment and that atmosphere and proud to see that they didn’t blink,” Sella said. “They didn’t get nervous. They didn’t have big eyes and just fold. And there’s a bunch of times where they could have just given up and they didn’t. They just kept playing.”
There was plenty of playing to be done. Restovich completed 28 of 43 for 403 yards and five touchdowns and was countered by North DeSoto’s Luke Delafield who was 15 of 21 for 237 yards and three scores.
Both teams featured outstanding senior running backs as well. Loyola’s Mason Drake went over 1,000 yards for the season with 189 yards and the Griffins’ Kenny Thomas had 264 yards and four touchdowns.
But to borrow a baseball term, while Drake was hitting doubles (7.0 yards per carry), Thomas was hitting home runs with scoring runs of 62, 44, 56 and 36 for an average of 12.0 yards per carry.
“We forced multiple turnovers and forced them the punt a couple times, but we didn’t do enough with it,” Sella said. “Kenny Thomas only needs a little room before he breaks one. They’re just really good offensively.”
For the Flyers, this is a frying pan/fire situation as they will end the regular season with 8-1 Northwood Friday night at Messmer Stadium.
“I don’t want us to be acting like we just played our Super Bowl,” Sella said. “We competed and that’s it. We had an emotional game (and now) we’ve got another big one against a really good team. How do we respond to that?”
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com