JOURNAL SPORTS
It’s Day 2 of the postseason edition of the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Coaches Roundtable with three more local high school football coaches sharing their thoughts about the 2025 season.
This Roundtable is using a multiple question format that is generating some very interesting responses. We’ll have much more next week.
What was your team’s best game this season?
GARY COOPER, Booker T. Washington: The Bossier game in Week 4 (a 42-41 Lions’ victory, on the road, in the District 1-4A opener). We had to use our two-minute drill that we practiced daily to give us an opportunity to win in the end. The kids ran it to perfection. That was major to see them execute that drill in a live game situation. Secondly, we took a big step in maturing as a team that night.”
MATTHEW SEWELL, Haughton: “The best game our team played in was Week 2 vs. Byrd at home (in the District 1-5A opener for both teams). We were down 13-7 entering the fourth quarter. Then us and Byrd exploded for 51 points in the quarter and one overtime. We were fortunate to come out on top. It was an awesome high school football game and a great memory for all of our guys.
“Our best defensive game was against Airline. We held them to 361 yards offense which is well below what they usually get; that’s a heckuva offense Coach (Justin) Scogin runs. The best game our offense played was against Benton. We had a school record 649 yards that night and scored 40 points.”
COY BROTHERTON, Parkway: “Our best game this year was Week 3 at home against Haughton (a 66-21 rout by the Panthers, who got five TD passes and 254 yards on 16 of 19 aim by senior QB Kaleb Williams). It was our opening district game and we were as healthy then as we were all year.”
What was the best finish you saw, either from your sideline or by other teams, on video or in the stands?
BROTHERTON, Parkway: “It could easily be the overtime win against Hahnville (a come-from-behind 37-31 second-round playoff triumph), but it’s hard to choose that over making a walk-off field goal against Captain Shreve (a Week 8 45-42 victory Oct. 24) or scoring late and then stopping Airline on fourth down to beat them (48-43 Oct. 9 In Week 6).”
COOPER, Booker T. Washington: “The Istrouma game in the first round of the playoffs (a 22-14 Lions’ triumph at home). The game came down to the last play and the defense kept them out of the end zone to secure the win.”
Could you point out some breakout players, or a position group, who really stepped it up this season?
SEWELL, Haughton: “I would say WR Ethan Johnson and RB Brandon Craig. They were awesome players as freshmen and we’ve been excited about them for a long time. They both started last year, and had some great moments, but went into the sophomore blues at times. It’s tough for sophomores in our league. Everyone is really good and it’s the first time they’re playing against kids older than them.
“They both really came into their own this year. Ethan scored 11 times and led Louisiana in receptions (102, Bossier Parish record) and receiving yards (1,477) and Brandon probably had the most under-the-radar season in the city. He had 2,124 yards from scrimmage and 27 TDs. He also had over 500 return yards. He’s scored for us in 16 straight games.”
COOPER, Booker T. Washington: “Everyone knew about (returning All-Stater) D.K. Mitchell and Vontravious Moore at WR, but Devondre Johnson did a great job for us as that third option. He was our big play guy. We just wanted get him the ball in space and let him work. He was also a very dangerous kick returner. Teams kicked away from him a lot during the season.”
BROTHERTON, Parkway: “Our cornerbacks, seniors Cam Hines and Peyton Rayner. Both started full time for us this year, improved every week and had great seasons.” (Notably, Rayner made the fourth-down, 1-on-1 tackle on a “hitch-and-pitch” Airline play in the last minute in that Week 6 win.)