By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
It’s early, two weeks into the season.
But it’s not too early to get excited about Booker T. Washington’s 2-0 Lions, especially as they head into the most ballyhooed game of any season, the 53rd Annual Soul Bowl Saturday afternoon against their rival, the equally undefeated Green Oaks Giants.
BTW blasted Arcadia 54-0 in the season opener as expected. But few thought the Lions could go into Benton and topple the Tigers last Friday night.
They did, and did it convincingly. The 30-16 final doesn’t reflect the 24-0 lead that BTW built.
For their fast start, coming on the heels of a 2025 second-round state playoff appearance that included an opening-round road win at Istrouma in Baton Rouge, the Lions are the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s Team of the Week.
Fourth-year coach Gary Cooper has taken his alma mater (Class of 2002) a step further along every season. While there’s a lot to be said about how well the team is playing, Cooper believes it’s rooted in how they’re being coached and mentored by his staff.
“A big part of this is guys that we got around the kids. We don’t cut them any slack,” he said. “Everybody on the staff, we played college ball, so we go back to what we knew and give it to these kids in moderation. We try to spend as much time we can with these kids while we have them. It’s just the way we do things. It’s a daily grind.”
It gets noticed, around town and most importantly, in the hallways and classrooms and cafeteria at BTW.
“The atmosphere at school is changing, day by day. The students are really rallying behind our kids,” said Cooper. “It’s always been a great place to be. When you’re winning and the rest of the school is buying into what you’re doing, it’s a great thing to see on campus.”
He is the only Lion alumnus on staff, but only one coach didn’t graduate from a nearby school. The senior member of the staff, athletic director and co-defensive coordinator Tony Reliford, is from a few miles east in Ringgold and has been at BTW for 26 years. Floyd Davis is a New Orleans native.
Otherwise, the coaches are locals – one more so than the rest this week. Special teams coordinator Roland Moore graduated from Green Oaks.
That, said Cooper, hasn’t come up, and it won’t.
“I remember coaching at Fair Park, against Booker T., back in the day. Somebody asked me about it, and I said, ‘at this point right now, I’m paying my bills. So, I got to win a game for Fair Park.’
“All these coaches, they are so bought in, you’d think they are Booker T. grads, the way they care and the way they do things.”
Returning quarterback Devion Stewart is the team’s undisputed leader and threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns at Benton, completing 12 of 21. Cooper is proud of his receiver corps, where two All-Staters graduated and a new crop of relatively untested players is stepping in nicely.
“We had to get a new group of kids and this group is responding very well,” he said.
The other key is the offensive line, which protects Stewart and moves defenders in the running game. New coach Tre’ Lester has the big guys producing, notably guard Austin Gant, who “is having a heck of a season so far,” said Cooper.
Other under-the-radar standouts include Tremell Howard Choyce who played receiver, H-back, linebacker, and strong safety at Benton, “played all night long, pretty much almost every snap, and played his tail off.”
Cooper has two freshmen in the secondary, Eric O’Neal and Keyunitae Morris, who have blossomed.
“Those are 14-15 year-old kids. Their ceiling’s through the roof,” he said. “They have very, very high football IQs and play very well.”
While the immediate focus is on Saturday’s game, the Lions aim to contend for the District 1-4A championship, make a fourth straight playoff appearance and this time, move the needle with a second-round win and maybe more. Cooper outlined the necessary steps.
“It’s to remain healthy, that’s the main thing. If we do that and continue to do the things we’re doing, the kids responding to coaching very well, we have the best chance to have a great year,” he said. “They’re handling the attention and success they’re having right now very well. It’s about staying healthy, staying coachable, and just continuing to fight the way they fight.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com