By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
As District 1-5A competition begins in Week 4, there’s a lot of questions about the pecking order.
Three matchups this week will begin to sort it out.
PARKWAY at HUNTINGTON (Thursday, Independence Stadium): The Panthers (2-1) had a disastrous second half in their season opener against reigning Select Division III state champion Dunham and Alabama commitment Elijah Haven in a 55-15 loss, then built a lead and held off Loyola 42-41. Last week’s 57-13 score indicates Parkway hammered visiting Red River, but the Panthers did all their scoring after trailing a winless Class 2A team by two scores at halftime. No doubt coach Coy Brotherton is stressing playing four quarters going forward.
The Raiders (0-3) took on a salty schedule over the first three weeks and were overwhelmed by Calvary, which played Dunham in a state final last December, then predictably blasted by Edna Karr, the Select Division I champ top-ranked in Class 5A again. There’s nothing easy about playing at Evangel so last week’s loss wasn’t a surprise. But coach John Simon is looking for his offense to launch. It has produced only 22 points and hasn’t scored in two games.
CAPTAIN SHREVE at HAUGHTON (Friday, Dak Prescott Field): The Bucs haven’t traveled while going 3-0, and they’re home again facing by far their most formidable foe. Haughton outslugged Class A Homer 42-30 to begin, then blew out winless Southwood 50-0 and Class A Glenbrook 45-6. Good scheduling, or good team? Coach Matthew Sewell’s roster is maturing after a very youthful first two seasons in charge at his alma mater, and he has some top-shelf talent in quarterback Taylor Weathersby, receiver Ethan Johnson, running back Brandon Craig and cornerback Kyron Turner.
The Gators (2-1) took a surprising stumble in their opener, falling 55-34 to Loyola’s explosive offense. They blasted a bad Bastrop team 50-6 before going to Northwood last Thursday, trailing 21-7 just after halftime and looking shaky. Shreve came back from the brink and then some, ringing up 42 points and not allowing an offensive score or much else in the last 20 minutes of a 49-28 comeback. Coach Jeremy Wilburn’s creative offense has its own set of weapons, headed by receivers Chris Hill and Kaleb Law and running back Gabe Lockett, but if coaching veteran Caleb Guidry can replicate his defense’s finish against the Falcons, the Gators should be very much in the 1-5A race.
BENTON at EVANGEL (Friday, Rodney Duron Field): The Eagles are 1-2 but bowed to two perennial powers, West Monroe and Neville, in competitive losses before blowing out Huntington in a non-district meeting last week. Quarterback Peyton “Pop” Houston has been running more as a new receiving corps has struggled with drops, but Evangel is still averaging 34 points. Coach Denny Duron’s defending champs remain the team to beat in the 1-5A chase.
Benton’s senior class is still stinging from a one-point loss in its last visit to Rodney Duron Field, when an official’s ruling shown to be incorrect on video denied a potentially game-winning two-point run. This year’s Tigers (2-1) started with a 34-26 triumph at Northwood, then got shelled by Booker T. Washington and quarterback Devion Stewart, who threw for 294 yards in a 30-16 surprise that was 24-0 at one point. Benton bounced back with a 38-6 homefield romp over Woodlawn. Coach Stephen Dennis has his own gifted quarterback, Malachi Zeigler, going into a matchup that could turn on which team’s defense plays better.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com