By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
The milestones continue to pile up for the Booker T. Washington Lions.
The latest: last week’s 22-14 win over visiting Istrouma was BTW’s first home playoff game in seemingly forever, and it was the Lions’ first postseason win in 20 years.
That’s reason enough that coach Gary Cooper’s squad is the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Team of the Week as the 13th-seeded Lions take aim at No. 4 U-High, Friday night’s Select Division II second round opponent, on the Cubs’ homefield just off the LSU campus in Baton Rouge.
BTW (7-4) is undaunted, riding a crest of momentum – one that ironically began with mid-season District 1-4A losses to top-ranked North DeSoto, Northwood, Minden and Loyola – all but Minden ranking in the top five in their divisions in power points when they faced the Lions.
“The kids are battle tested,” said Cooper. “You want to win every game you play, that’s true enough, but at the same time, playing in a district like this, getting game reps against teams like that, it gets your kids ready to try to make a playoff run.”
BTW has won its last three games.
“The turning point was when our quarterback got hurt and missed three games, three tough games, and the kids gelled together and fought through it. That said a whole lot about them,” said Cooper.
Every team’s quarterback is a key figure. Devion Stewart is just a sophomore, but he’s the pivotal guy for the Lions in their spread passing game.
Stewart got hurt at the end of BTW’s Week 4 game, the district opener at Bossier – a 42-41 triumph for the visitors.
“He had a helluva game that night and we won it with a two-minute drill, the last drive,” said Cooper. “But we had to go without him the next three games against North DeSoto (10-0), Northwood (8-3) and Minden (5-6) before we got him back for Loyola (9-1).
“North DeSoto was a 22-16 ballgame into the second half. The kids battled against the Number 1 team in the state. That showed a lot about who they were.
“Getting him back allowed us to get back to who we are offensively,” said Cooper, whose team is averaging 41 points in its win streak.
“He’s the guy who makes us go. For a kid who’s a sophomore, we put a lot on his shoulders and he’s handled it. He’s very cerebral, loves the game, and nobody is going to outwork him. He’s our guy and we are going to ride with him.”
Heading Stewart’s list of high priority targets is returning All-State receiver D.K. Mitchell, who is near the 1,000-yard mark this season. Tray Moore is “a possession guy who makes yards after the catch,” said Cooper, and Devondre Johnson is the slot receiver and kick returner who “is very dangerous. When we get him into space, he can score from anywhere.”
Getting Stewart time to operate is an offensive line that “has played very well in spurts,” said Cooper. “They have their moments when they go crazy, but they play their butts off. They make the right adjustments when it matters most.”
On the other side of the ball, the Lions are reliably resistant.
“We have one of the best defensive staffs I’ve seen – Tony Reliford, Mike Green, and Josh Jones. Those guys put it together and have those kids playing extremely well,” said Cooper.
Not only did they hold Istrouma to 14 points, but the Lions’ defense scored the last points to break a 14-all tie on a 5-yard fumble return by junior linebacker Grazier May.
BTW’s eight-point margin didn’t reflect the dominance the Lions displayed.
“The score didn’t tell what it was. We had a lot of wasted opportunities to put it away. We moved the ball up and down the field, but didn’t finish very well. Our defense played lights out, well enough to win the game.”
The anchors are at linebacker: Cameron Page (“our defensive QB, who makes all the calls”), Ladarion Banks and May, “all over 70 tackles this year, playing their butts off,” Cooper said.
Cooper began rebuilding the program three years ago, starting by painting and dressing up facilities, setting a tone so the Lions could take pride in their surroundings. He also instilled discipline and demanded accountability.
“Just being consistent with them – staying on their butts about the way we were going to do things. We didn’t let up on the standard. We kept our foot down and the kids bought in,” he said.
“Year one, we saw progression. We were very young, and had a lot of kids coming back who got a lot of experience. We were in a lot of tough games, and took our lumps. In the second year, we were one win better and got a better playoff position by 5-6 places. We were seeing growth.
“Now we have seven wins, we are in the second round of the playoffs, and this is a byproduct of the hard work of the staff and the kids – kids who have been busting their butts for three years, doing things the right way.”
Getting to host a playoff game at Leonard C. Barnes Stadium on campus was exciting. Going on to the next round, even more so.
“Last week was a great week,” said Cooper, “and this week has been even better.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com