By MATT VINES, Journal Sports
And then there were three.
With Airline falling from the ranks of the unbeaten in a non-district contest on the first week that District 1-5A and District 1-4A started league play, just three Shreveport-Bossier teams remain undefeated.
Calvary (4-0) pitched a shutout of Union Parish (53-0), a program that competed for state titles not long ago but is navigating through the first season of a new coach.
The Cavaliers, who zeroed Union Parish for the second straight season, have won their four games by an average of 42 points.
Calvary’s toughest test yet comes in the form of a Loyola bunch that will immensely pressure a Cavaliers defense allowing less than 12 points per game.
Fellow District 1-2A member Green Oaks (4-0) still has a zero in the loss column after a domination of Red River (50-22).
The Giants were the favorites on the road against a winless Red River bunch, but one particular statistic further lends evidence that Green Oaks will present a challenge to Calvary in district play.
Red River had scored first in all three contests (Tioga, St. Mary’s and Parkway), including building a 12-0 lead against the Panthers.
The Giants were on a short week after an emotional Soul Bowl win in the final seconds, and they went down to Coushatta and built a 26-0 lead in the first half.
It’s more than just another win – it’s discipline and preparation in just the second season under coach Nick Peoples.
Haughton (4-0) earned considerable respect for its 50-36 win against Captain Shreve to open District 1-5A play.
The Bucs’ first three opponents combined for an 0-9 record heading into this week, but Haughton backed up its early performances with Friday’s victory.
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Haughton beating Parkway this Thursday on the road in that annual neighborhood rumble can thrust the Bucs fully into district contender status.
What about Airline?
The Vikings had pulled out two close wins against Wossman and Pulaski Academy (Ark.) in the first three weeks, but Airline couldn’t fend off a Franklin Parish team that ranked No. 6 in Class 4A coming in.
Airline led by 10 headed into the fourth quarter but was outscored 27-6 in the final stanza, nearly single-handedly by the Patriots Trey Martin. The LSU commit scored six touchdowns, three in the final period.
The Vikings fumbled on fourth down with Franklin Parish leading by four points midway through the disasterous fourth quarter that sealed the deal.
Airline is still a District 1-5A contender as they are still in a group with Haughton, Evangel and Parkway that appears to have separated themselves.
Evangel whipped Benton (49-14) and Parkway locked down Huntington (29-6) last week.
North Caddo gets off the snide, six still winless
The Titans hung a W on their record as they outlasted Plain Dealing in a battle of winless teams, played earlier than scheduled, with a running clock because the lights at North Caddo’s Johnny Prudhomme Stadium were not working.
North Caddo (1-2), which has already had a bye, logged its first shutout win since 2023 – a 62-0 demolishing of Bolton Academy.
Six Shreveport-Bossier teams are still winless.
Plain Dealing (0-4) showed a lot of fight despite a multitude of injuries, which forced the Lions to play five eighth graders among just 18 players able to dress out. Coach Jerry Byrd reported he had four eighth-graders on defense in the second half, but he was not complaining, simply proud of the effort his team gave in a tough situation.
Class 5A members Huntington (0-4) and Byrd (0-4) are somewhat surprises on this list, but a closer look at their schedule reveals mighty tough roads.
The Raiders, who play Franklin Parish this week, have lost to Calvary, Edna Karr, Evangel and Parkway, scoring single digits in three of those losses.
Byrd did challenge defending state champion Ouachita, Airline and North DeSoto in the first three weeks, but the Yellow Jackets weren’t close to Texas member Pleasant Grove (47-7) on Friday. Complicating the challenge: Byrd is down at least four players at quarterback, plugging in 115-pound sophomore receiver Aden Fullwood, and played Friday without prolific senior running back Christian Maxie, sidelined with an injury.
Two more winless schools hail from District 1-4A.
Southwood (0-4) got on the board for the first time this season in a 44-8 loss to Booker T. Washington (3-1).
Woodlawn (0-4) was held scoreless for the first time this season in a 55-0 romp by visiting North DeSoto.
Magnolia School of Excellence (0-4) is showing improvement each week. While falling to Beekman Charter by a score of 40-6, the Mariners avoided a running clock for the second consecutive Friday night.
Contact Matt at matt.vines@lsus.edu